NPR News Now: October 16, 2025, 7AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: ~5 minutes
Episode Theme:
Concise roundup of top national and international news, focusing on U.S. operations in Venezuela, the ongoing government shutdown, COVID-19 vaccine eligibility updates, international developments in Gaza and Madagascar, and new scientific findings on animal navigation.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Covert CIA Operations in Venezuela

[00:18 – 01:10]

• President Trump confirms covert CIA actions in Venezuela:
  Trump publicly acknowledged for the first time that he authorized CIA operations aimed at destabilizing the Venezuelan regime as part of a crackdown on drug trafficking.

• Context: Responding to a New York Times report, Trump frames the operations as necessary for U.S. security, stating Venezuelan officials have sent prisoners into the U.S.

• Quote:

  “They authorized me for two reasons, really. Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America.”
  – President Trump ([00:49])

• NPR’s Franco Ordonez notes Trump dismissed criticism about a lack of transparency on these efforts, emphasizing narcotics trafficking as a threat.

2. Government Shutdown: Worker Impact and Legislative Updates

[01:10 – 02:00]

• Senate poised to vote on ending federal shutdown:
  Now entering its third week, the shutdown has affected thousands of federal employees.
• Human impact:
  • Gabriella Paul interviews Tierra Carter, a Social Security Administration worker in Tampa, still working but unpaid.
  • Quote:

    “To be completely honest, I feel ashamed to be an American citizen right now. I mean, who does this to their own essential workers every day?”
    – Tierra Carter ([01:42])

  • Carter shares stress about personal finances, and notes a growing backlog of service requests.
• Judicial intervention:
  A federal judge in California temporarily halts layoffs of federal employees, citing potential illegality.

3. COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility for Pregnant Women

[02:00 – 02:56]

• Clarification from U.S. health officials:
  Pregnant women are confirmed eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, provided they first consult with a healthcare professional.
• Advocacy from medical associations:
  • The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists argues for direct recommendation of the vaccine to pregnant women, noting elevated risk.
  • Quote:

    “The shots should be recommended for pregnant women, not just be an option because Covid can be very dangerous for pregnant women.”
    – Rob Stein ([02:46])

• Confusion resolved:
  The announcement comes after conflicting statements caused uncertainty around this population’s eligibility.

4. U.S. State Governors' Public Health Alliance

[02:56 – 03:15]

• Fifteen Democratic governors launch an alliance to coordinate disease outbreak information and fill public health gaps allegedly left by federal cutbacks.

5. Developments in Gaza

[03:15 – 03:50]

• Ceasefire aftermath:
  • Hamas has handed over 10 bodies to Israel; Israel disputes the identification of one as a hostage.
  • Israel claims 19 more hostages remain missing, highly likely under rubble.
  • Rafah crossing remains closed, tightening restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza.

6. Political Crisis in Madagascar

[03:50 – 04:10]

• Coup aftermath:
  • Malagasy military leader, having overthrown the government amid mass youth protests, will be sworn in as president.
  • Original demands focused on political reforms rather than a military takeover.

7. Earthworm Magnetoreception Study

[04:11 – 04:49]

• New research reveals:
  • Earthworms can detect the Earth's magnetic field, joining a range of animals with this “sixth sense.”
  • Behavioral ecologist Yanni Voortman highlights worms’ usefulness for studying magnetoreception due to their simplicity.
  • Quote:

    “Using these earthworms, we can really learn how to unravel this sense.”
    – Yanni Voortman ([04:27])

  • Light moment:

    “If you want a sample for the earthworms, I know you can go to the next fishing store, right?”
    – Interviewee ([04:45])

Memorable Quotes

• On CIA operations in Venezuela:

  “They authorized me for two reasons, really. Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America.”
  – President Trump ([00:49])

• On the government shutdown's emotional toll:

  “To be completely honest, I feel ashamed to be an American citizen right now. I mean, who does this to their own essential workers every day?”
  – Tierra Carter ([01:42])

• On COVID-19 vaccination guidance:

  “The shots should be recommended for pregnant women, not just be an option because Covid can be very dangerous for pregnant women.”
  – Rob Stein ([02:46])

• On scientific curiosity and earthworms:

  “Using these earthworms, we can really learn how to unravel this sense.”
  – Yanni Voortman ([04:27])
  “If you want a sample for the earthworms, I know you can go to the next fishing store, right?”
  – Interviewee ([04:45])

Notable Timestamps

• [00:18] Start of headline news
• [00:49] Trump on Venezuela
• [01:30] Federal worker testimony on shutdown
• [01:42] Quote on impact of shutdown
• [02:46] COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for pregnant women
• [04:27] Earthworm magnetoreception research
• [04:45] Humorous aside about collecting worms

Overall:
This episode delivers a rapid-fire synthesis of major stories: U.S. foreign actions, domestic political gridlock, critical public health updates, troubled geopolitical areas, and a twist of scientific discovery. The tone remains factual, with potent human moments and concise contextual analysis.