NPR News Now – October 17, 2025, 6AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now update covers the latest developments in US-Russia-Ukraine relations, charges against former National Security Adviser John Bolton, the continued detention of Palestinian physicians in Israel, a US federal government shutdown update, Alaska’s typhoon recovery, and new research on black garden ants' disease prevention strategies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Zelenskyy Visits White House Amid Intensifying Diplomacy

• [00:00–00:49]

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting the White House following President Trump’s extended phone call with Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

  • Reporting by Deepa Shivaram: Plans for a Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary are underway, with US and Russian advisers scheduled to meet in advance.

  • Trump has expressed plans to brief Zelenskyy on his Putin call and has commented on the strained Russia-Ukraine relationship.

    "I mean, we have a problem. They don't get along too well, those two. And it's sometimes tough to have meetings. So we may do something where we're separate but separate but equal."
    — Donald Trump, [00:39]

  • Last Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska yielded no progress, nor did it lead to a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting, which Trump had hoped for.

2. John Bolton Indicted, Accuses Trump of Weaponizing DOJ

• [01:03–01:50]

  • Former National Security Adviser John Bolton claims President Trump is targeting him through the Justice Department after being indicted with 18 counts for alleged mishandling of classified materials.

  • Ryan Lucas reports: The indictment alleges sharing of highly sensitive documents, including intelligence on foreign adversaries’ military plans and covert US operations.

    • Details include:
      • A document revealing plans for a missile launch by a foreign adversary.
      • Another with information on planned attacks against US troops.
      • Sensitive materials on human intelligence sources.

    "These are really very sensitive materials classified up to the highest level."
    — Ryan Lucas, [01:43]

3. Detention of Gazan Medical Staff Continues in Israel

• [01:50–02:58]
  • Despite a ceasefire and exchange of prisoners, over a dozen Palestinian doctors remain in Israeli detention.
  • Eyad Batrawi reports: Focus on Dr. Hossam Abu Safayya, a hospital director in North Gaza. Despite being slated for release, his detention was extended by six months without charges.
  • Dr. Abu Safayya arrested after refusing to abandon his hospital during Israeli military actions.
  • Physicians for Human Rights Israel reports 18 Gazan doctors and at least 35 other medical staff remain imprisoned without charge.

4. Federal Shutdown and Legal Developments

• [02:58–03:12]
  • US government in its third week of shutdown.
  • Today marks a deadline for the Trump administration to provide a federal judge with a list of affected employees.
  • Layoffs are temporarily blocked amid ongoing union lawsuits.

5. Alaska Under Recovery After Typhoon

• [03:12–03:33]
  • Anchorage prepares to receive 2,000 evacuees from western Alaska after a devastating typhoon destroyed towns and left casualties and missing persons.

6. Black Garden Ants Offer a Lesson in Disease Prevention

• [03:33–04:33]

  • New research highlights ants' strategies to combat lethal fungal infections.

  • Social behaviors observed: infected ants self-isolate; healthy ants increase distance.

    "This was a form of proactive social distancing, if you wish."
    — Natalie Stroymit, [04:05]

  • Ant colonies alter their nest structure during outbreaks to limit connections, possibly informing future human architectural design.

    "They were kind of more compartmentalized and they were less interconnected."
    — Luke Leckie, [04:19]

7. Markets Update

• [04:33–End]
  • Pre-market Dow futures reported as lower.

Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump on Russia-Ukraine Relations:
  "We have a problem. They don't get along too well, those two... We may do something where we're separate but separate but equal." [00:39]

• Ryan Lucas on Bolton Indictment:
  "These are really very sensitive materials classified up to the highest level." [01:43]

• Natalie Stroymit on Ants’ Behavior:
  "This was a form of proactive social distancing, if you wish." [04:05]

• Luke Leckie on Ant Colony Architecture:
  "They were kind of more compartmentalized and they were less interconnected." [04:19]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 — Ukraine, Russia, and US Diplomatic Updates
• 01:03 — John Bolton Indictment and DOJ Allegations
• 01:50 — Palestinian Physicians Detained in Israel
• 02:58 — Federal Government Shutdown Update
• 03:12 — Alaska Typhoon Recovery
• 03:51 — Black Garden Ants' Disease Response Research
• 04:33 — Market Update

This NPR News Now episode delivers concise, critical updates on international affairs, domestic politics, humanitarian issues, scientific discoveries, and the day’s financial outlook.