NPR News: 10-18-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — October 18, 2025, 11PM EDT

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, hosted by Dale Willman, covers the day's major happenings, including widespread protests against the Trump administration, rising U.S.-Venezuela tensions, President Trump's meeting with Ukraine's Zelenskyy, British policy on Israeli soccer fans, and notable college football upsets.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nationwide Protests Against the Trump Administration

[00:17–02:02]

• Main Story:

  • Over 2,000 rallies took place across the U.S., including a prominent demonstration in Albany, NY, where more than a thousand people gathered.
  • The protests were a direct response to policies and actions by President Trump’s administration.
  • Participation reflected diversity in age, race, and background, highlighting a broad coalition of dissent.

  Notable Quote:

  • “The age groups are inclusive, color, every aspect of the American culture is represented here, on the move and expressing the sentiment of being really unhappy. The pursuit of happiness has been deep derailed in our country by this administration.”
    — Sandy Gordon, protest participant, [00:40]

• Times Square & Nationwide Turnout:

  • Over 100,000 people rallied in Times Square; similar protests drew hundreds of thousands nationwide, extending to Louisiana, home state of House Speaker Mike Johnson.
  • Johnson labeled the protests as “hate America” events.

• Baton Rouge – ‘No Kings Day’ Protest Insight:

  • Covered by Alex Cox, WRKF.

  • Creative and colorful demonstrations featured costumes, including protesters dressed as crawfish.

    Notable Quote:

    • “We also have a sense of humor about this. I mean, how many crawfish show up and say, you know, I dissent?”
      — Gerald Jeruso, protest organizer, [01:41]

  • Protesters pushed back against being labeled as unpatriotic, claiming protest is a core American value.

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2. U.S.–Venezuela Tensions Escalate

[02:02–02:44]

• Security Warning:
  • The U.S. embassy in Trinidad and Tobago issued travel warnings, cautioning Americans to avoid U.S. government facilities amid fears of reprisals.
  • Trinidad, geographically close to Venezuela, is mourning two fishermen reportedly killed in a U.S. military strike.

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3. Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. Diplomacy

[02:44–03:07]

• White House Meeting:

  • President Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, but delivered few tangible benefits for Ukraine.

  • Despite Ukraine’s attempts to secure U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles in exchange for advanced drones, no significant deals were closed.

  • Trump previously claimed Russia was weakening and Ukraine might win the war, but now is planning a meeting with Putin in Hungary.

    Notable Quote:

    • “Zelenskyy walked away Friday with not much of anything, and Trump said he will meet with Putin soon in Hungary.”
      — Joanna Kakissis, NPR reporter, [03:02]

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4. UK Ban on Israeli Soccer Fans

[03:26–04:11]

• Policy Controversy:
  • Birmingham city officials banned Maccabee Tel Aviv fans from attending an upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa, citing prior violence involving the team’s fans.
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer and others are investigating the ban, labeling it anti-Semitic while seeking ways to balance safety and inclusiveness.

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5. College Football Highlights

[04:11–04:56]

• Multiple ranked teams fell to underdogs in a weekend of upsets:
  • #9 Georgia beat #5 Mississippi 43–35 (Gunner Stockton: 289 passing yards, 4 TDs).
  • #17 Vanderbilt upset #10 LSU with a 31–24 win, their first win over LSU since 1997.
  • Texas Tech lost to Arizona State 26–22.
  • #2 Miami was upset on Friday.
  • #1 Ohio State maintained dominance, shutting out Wisconsin 34–0.
  • #3 Indiana bested Michigan State 38–13.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “The pursuit of happiness has been deep derailed in our country by this administration.” — Sandy Gordon, [00:40]
• “We also have a sense of humor about this. I mean, how many crawfish show up and say, you know, I dissent?” — Gerald Jeruso, [01:41]
• “Zelenskyy walked away Friday with not much of anything, and Trump said he will meet with Putin soon in Hungary.” — Joanna Kakissis, [03:02]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Albany Protest Coverage & National Context: [00:17–01:20]
• Baton Rouge 'No Kings Day' Protest: [01:20–02:02]
• U.S.-Venezuela Tensions: [02:02–02:44]
• Trump, Zelenskyy, and U.S.-Ukraine Diplomacy: [02:44–03:07]
• Israeli Soccer Fan Ban in the UK: [03:26–04:11]
• College Football Weekend Upsets: [04:11–04:56]

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Summary

This NPR News Now episode delivers concise updates on America’s growing protest movement, international security warnings, tense high-level diplomatic meetings, debates over security and inclusiveness in international sports, and a snapshot of dramatic college football results—all in NPR’s signature clear and factual style.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News. I'm Dale Willman. More than a thousand people lined Western avenue in Albany, New York, this afternoon. For one of more than 2,000 being held across the U.S. the rallies are being held to protest actions by the Trump administration. Sandy Gordon says he was pleased to see such a broad range of people participating.

[Sandy Gordon]

The age groups are inclusive, color, every aspect of the American culture is represented here, on the move and expressing the sentiment of being really unhappy. The pursuit of happiness has been deep derailed in our country by this administration.

[Dale Willman]

More than 100,000 people, meanwhile, packed Times Square in New York and hundreds of thousands of other people attended rallies across the country. Rallies were also held in Louisiana, which is the home state of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson has described today's rallies as hate America protests. Alex Cox with member station WRKF reports from Baton Rouge.

[Alex Cox]

Whether it be from the various costumes or the language on the signs, the no Kings Day protest in Baton Rouge, Lou, was colorful. There were many people who wore inflatable costumes. A group showed up as crawfish. Gerald Jeruso, an organizer for the event, says that shows the protesters lighter side.

[Gerald Jeruso]

We also have a sense of humor about this. I mean, how many crawfish show up and say, you know, I dissent?

[Alex Cox]

In reference to comments by House Speaker Mike Johnson, protesters asked, do I look like a terrorist? And said that protesting is one of the most American things you can do. For NPR News, I'm Alex Cox in Baton Rouge.

[Dale Willman]

Tensions between the US And Venezuela are continuing to grow. The US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago is warning Americans to stay away from US Government facilities on that island nation. Trinidad is just miles from the Venezuela coast. And one Trinidad community is mourning the death of two fishermen that they say were killed in a US Military strike on Tuesday. President Trump says he wants the fighting to stop between Russia and Ukraine, but getting to that point remains challenging. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Trump on Friday at the White house, but as NPR's Joanna Kakis tells us, he didn't gain much from President Trump.

[Joanna Kakissis]

Ukraine has also signed a minerals deal with the Trump administration. Zelenskyy offered cutting edge drones in exchange for maybe some Tomahawk cruise missiles. Ukrainian diplomacy did seem to pay off last month. Trump suggested Russia was weak and Ukraine could even win this war. But Zelenskyy walked away Friday with not much of anything, and Trump said he will meet with Putin soon in Hungary.

[Dale Willman]

That's NPR's Joanna Kakissis with our report from Kyiv. And you're listening to NPR News. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government is trying to overturn a ban on Israeli fans attending a soccer match in the UK Next month. Vicki Barker reports from London.

[Vicki Barker]

British soccer team Aston Villa is scheduled to play the Israeli team Maccabee tel Aviv on November 6 in a Europa League game in the city of Birmingham. On Thursday, city officials announced that Maccabee fans will be banned based on current intelligence and previous incidents. That's a possible reference to violent clashes between Maccabee fans and pro Palestinian demonstrators around a Europa League match in the Netherlands last year. But Prime Minister Kir Starmer has been among those condemning the decision as anti Semitic and is said to be investigating what he might do to both reverse the ban and address the security concerns. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

[Dale Willman]

In college football, the upsets continued in the top 10 for this weekend. Gunner Stockton passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns as number nine Georgia rallied Saturday for a 4335 win over number five Mississippi. Number 17 Vanderbilt, meanwhile, beat 10th ranked LSU in Nashville by a score of 31 to 24. It was their first win over LSU since 1997. Texas Tech fell to Arizona State 26 to 22, and number two Miami lost on Friday night. Number one Ohio State took care of business, though, shutting out Wisconsin 34 to nothing. And number three Indiana, beat Michigan State 38 to 13. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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