NPR News: 10-13-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – October 13, 2025, 8AM EDT

Host: Louise Schiavone
Duration: 5 Minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise, up-to-the-minute briefing on major domestic and international news stories, featuring breaking developments in the Middle East, U.S. political and legal conflicts, international crises, public health updates, and severe weather events.

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1. Historic Hostage Release and Middle East Peace Efforts

[00:18–01:35]

• Release of Israeli Hostages:
  • All 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been freed by Hamas, ending what Schiavone calls “a historic day” in the Middle East.
• President Trump in Israel:
  • President Trump arrives in Israel as the releases begin and addresses the Knesset:

    “For so many families across this land, it has been years since you've known a single day of true peace. But now, at last, not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians and for many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over.”
    (Donald Trump, 00:33)

• Upcoming Peace Summit in Egypt:
  • Trump to attend a peace summit in Egypt with world leaders to mark the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
  • Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declines the invitation, citing time constraints before a Jewish holiday.

    “It would have been the first meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in nearly 10 years. But Netanyahu’s office said he was turning down the invitation... due to time constraints ahead of a Jewish religious holiday this evening.”
    (Daniel Estrin, 01:12)

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2. U.S. Legal Battles Over National Guard Deployment

[01:35–02:33]

• Trump Administration’s Fight Over Troop Deployment in Illinois:
  • The courts have allowed federal control of National Guard troops in Illinois but blocked further deployment for now.
• Vice President J.D. Vance’s Stance:

  “We’re obviously going to litigate this as much as we can. We think that we have the authority to provide proper safety to our citizens all over the United States, but particularly in Chicago.”
  (Vice President J.D. Vance, 02:03)

• Pushback from State Leadership:
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker maintains there is “no need” for National Guard deployment, accusing Trump of overstepping.

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3. Ongoing U.S. Government Shutdown

[02:33–02:52]

• Congress Out of Session on Columbus Day:
  • Government shutdown reaches 13 days; hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been furloughed.
• Potential Deeper Workforce Cuts:
  • Vice President Vance signals forthcoming “deeper cuts” if spending legislation remains stalled.

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4. Attempted Coup in Madagascar

[02:52–03:12]

• Unrest on Indian Ocean Island:
  • President Andry Rajoelina’s office announces an attempted coup, following demonstrations involving youth and elite soldiers.

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5. U.S.-Ukraine Military Support Update

[03:12–03:32]

• Possible Deployment of Long-Range Missiles:
  • Trump considers sending Tomahawk long-range missiles to Ukraine, stating:

    “If Moscow does not settle its war in Ukraine soon, he would not rule out sending what he called an incredible and offensive long-range weapon.”
    (Louise Schiavone paraphrasing, 03:28)

  • Comments follow a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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6. Resurgence of Measles in the United States

[03:32–04:31]

• Record Measles Cases:
  • Over 1,500 confirmed cases this year, highest in three decades.
• Quarantines in South Carolina:
  • 153 unvaccinated school children quarantined for 21 days after exposure.
• Expert Commentary:

  “It spreads incredibly quickly from unvaccinated people to unvaccinated people.”
  (Infectious disease doctor Adam Ratner, as quoted at 04:16)

  • Ongoing outbreaks threaten the U.S. “measles elimination status.”

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7. Severe Weather Along the East Coast

[04:31–04:56]

• Nor’easter Impacts:
  • Washed-out roads and air travel delays in New Jersey, New York, and the Carolinas.
  • Delaware National Guard deployed for flood response.

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Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump (regarding peace in the Middle East, 00:33):
  “But now, at last, not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians and for many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over.”

• Vice President J.D. Vance (on court fight, 02:03):
  “We’re obviously going to litigate this as much as we can. We think that we have the authority to provide proper safety to our citizens all over the United States, but particularly in Chicago.”

• Dr. Adam Ratner (on measles, 04:16):
  “It spreads incredibly quickly from unvaccinated people to unvaccinated people.”

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Summary Flow

This five-minute bulletin delivers rapid-fire yet substantial updates on historic Middle East developments and peace efforts, legal disputes over domestic troop deployments, prolonged government dysfunction, international instability, emerging military support decisions, urgent public health warnings, and weather emergencies. Speakers maintain a factual, urgent tone throughout, matching the rapid news format for listeners seeking an efficient yet comprehensive update.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

In Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. In the Middle east this morning, a historic day as all 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been freed by Hamas. President Trump arrived in Israel as the releases began, later told the Israeli Knesset.

[President Donald Trump]

For so many families across this land, it has been years since you've known a single day of true peace. But now, at last, not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians and for many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over.

[Louise Schiavone]

After his address, he will then head to Egypt for what's being dubbed as a peace summit hosted by that nation. It will include world leaders from dozens of countries. To mark the Israel hamas cease. As NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned down an invitation to participate.

[Daniel Estrin]

President Trump and Egypt's president extended an invitation to Netanyahu to attend the summit alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. It would have been the first meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in nearly 10 years. But Netanyahu's office said he was turning down the invitation to due to time constraints ahead of a Jewish religious holiday this evening. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Louise Schiavone]

Vice President J.D. vance says the Trump administration will continue its court fight to be able to deploy National Guard troops in Illinois. NPR's Joe Hernandez reports.

[Joe Hernandez]

The ruling on Saturday allowed the Trump administration to keep the National Guard troops now in Illinois under federal control, but it blocked the deployment of those National Guard troops for now. Vice President Vance told ABC's this Week on Sunday that the government would continue arguing its case in court.

[Vice President J.D. Vance]

We're obviously going to litigate this as much as we can. We think that we have the authority to provide proper safety to our citizens all over the United States, but particularly in Chicago.

[Joe Hernandez]

Illinois's Democratic governor, J.D. pritzker, has repeatedly said there's no need for the National Guard in Illinois or Chicago and has accused Trump of overstepping his authority. So far this year, the Trump administration has deployed National Guard troops to a number of cities, including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

Congress remains out of session today on the federal Columbus Day holiday as a government shutdown enters a 13th day. Yesterday, the vice president said there could be deeper cuts to the federal workforce as Democrats and Republicans have so far failed to approve critical spending legislation to keep the government running. Hundreds of Thousands of workers have been furloughed in recent days in the Indian Ocean island country of Madagascar. An attempted coup has been reported by the office of the sitting president, Andre Rajolina. The announcement comes after a weekend demonstration against the government involving both youth and members of an elite army unit. This is npr. President Trump is talking about sending Tomahawk long range missiles to Ukraine. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that if Moscow does not settle its war in Ukraine soon, he would not rule out sending what he called an incredible and offensive long range weapon. The comments to reporters Sunday came after an earlier phone call with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Measles continue to spread, with the U.S. confirming more than 1,500 cases this year, the highest number in three decades. NPR's Maria Godoy reports.

[Maria Godoy]

In South Carolina, 153 unvaccinated school children in two schools are now subject to a 21 day quarantine after being exposed to measles. Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000. The recent resurgence comes as vaccination rates in the US continue to slide. Infectious disease doctor Adam Ratner says measles is an incredibly contagious disease.

[President Donald Trump]

It spreads incredibly quickly from unvaccinated people to unvaccinated people.

[Maria Godoy]

He says the ongoing outbreaks put the country at risk of losing its measles elimination status. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

In parts of New Jersey and New York, roads were washed out and air traffic was delayed this weekend as a nor' Easter rolled up the East Coast. Torrential rain and heavy wind also hit parts of the Carolinas. Elsewhere, emergency management officials in Delaware activated the state National Guard in response to rising floodwaters. I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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