NPR News: 10-18-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode: NPR News: 10-18-2025 12AM EDT
Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Dale Wilman

This five-minute newscast provides a concise summary of the day’s top global and U.S. news stories. Key topics include President Trump's stance on Ukraine negotiations, the commutation of George Santos' sentence, John Bolton's legal battle, increased National Guard deployments ahead of anti-Trump protests, U.S. opposition to shipping emissions regulations, Prince Andrew’s relinquishing of royal titles, and major baseball results.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. President Trump Urges Ukraine-Russia Negotiations

• [00:01] President Trump calls for Ukraine and Russia "to stop where they are and negotiate" after a meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which he described as “cordial and interesting.”
  • Insight: Emphasis on negotiation marks a notable shift in U.S. posture toward the conflict.
• [00:14] (Michelle Kellerman) Zelenskyy's visit to Washington was aimed at securing long-range Tomahawk missiles and enhanced air defenses but he remains "realistic" about U.S. willingness to supply them.
• [00:33] (Volodymyr Zelenskyy) On Truth Social, Zelenskyy echoes Trump’s sentiment:
  • Quote: “The president is right that we have to stop where we are. This is important to stop where we are and then to speak.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy [00:33]
  • Context: Zelenskyy frames the message as one for “Putin who started the war.”
  • He hopes Trump can pressure Russia towards peace.

2. Trump Commutes George Santos’ Sentence

• [00:53] President Trump commutes the sentence of former Congressman George Santos, who was serving over seven years for wire fraud and identity theft.
• [01:04] (Barbara Sprunt) Trump announced the commutation on his social media, stating Santos was to be released “immediately.”
  • Santos pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges, including stealing identities for campaign donations.
  • Trump praised Santos for his consistent Republican voting record.

3. John Bolton Pleads Not Guilty to Sharing Classified Information

• [01:31] Former adviser John Bolton pleads not guilty to charges of sharing classified information.
  • Bolton, now a critic of Trump, alleges the charges are retaliation:
    • Quote: “Part of a Trump effort to intimidate all of his opponents.” — John Bolton (paraphrased) [01:31]
  • Bolton intends to argue political targeting in his defense.

4. National Guard Deployments Ahead of Nationwide Protests

• [01:31] Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin mobilizes National Guard troops ahead of anti-Trump “No Kings” protests scheduled for Saturday.
• [02:03] (Dean Murshahi) Up to 100 troops are prepared, with more than 2,000 demonstrations planned nationwide (60+ in Virginia).
  • Social media statement by Youngkin: troops and police will "help keep Virginians safe."
  • ACLU organizing protests, emphasizing First Amendment rights:
    • Quote: “While President Trump and his allies are trying to intimidate us into silence by deploying troops to our cities, the best way to protect our First Amendment rights is to keep using them.” — ACLU statement [02:33]

5. U.S. Blocks Global Shipping Emissions Fee

• [02:53] The U.S., led by President Trump, blocks international adoption of shipping emissions regulations at the International Maritime Organization meeting.
  • The meeting ends without new rules to curb fossil fuels in the shipping industry.

6. Prince Andrew Gives Up Royal Titles

• [03:32] (Lauren Frayer) In response to renewed scrutiny from Epstein-related allegations, Prince Andrew relinquishes “Duke of York” and other titles.
  • British media published excerpts from a memoir by Epstein’s accuser.
  • Buckingham Palace says continued accusations distract from King Charles’ work.
  • Andrew retains the title of Prince and residence near Windsor Castle; his daughters remain princesses, but his ex-wife loses her Duchess title.

7. MLB Playoffs Update

• [04:15] Shohei Ohtani leads Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over Milwaukee with 3 HRs and a strong pitching performance. Dodgers sweep the National League Championship Series.
  • Seattle Mariners take a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series over Toronto.
  • Next game: Sunday night in Chicago.

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “The president is right that we have to stop where we are. This is important to stop where we are and then to speak.”
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Truth Social, quoted by Michelle Kellerman [00:33]
• “Jorge Santos will be released from prison 'immediately.'”
  • Donald Trump social media post, via Barbara Sprunt [01:04]
• “Part of a Trump effort to intimidate all of his opponents.”
  • John Bolton (paraphrased), on the charges against him [01:31]
• “The best way to protect our First Amendment rights is to keep using them.”
  • ACLU statement on National Guard deployments, via Dean Murshahi [02:33]

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Key Segment Timestamps

• Ukraine-Russia Negotiations: 00:01–00:41
• George Santos Sentence Commuted: 00:53–01:31
• John Bolton Legal Case: 01:31–02:03
• Virginia National Guard and Protests: 02:03–02:53
• Shipping Emissions Regulation Block: 02:53–03:32
• Prince Andrew Royal Titles: 03:32–04:15
• MLB Playoffs Update: 04:15–end

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This concise news update touches on major U.S. and international news, offering key quotes and details for listeners seeking a quick and informative briefing.

Transcript

[Dale Wilman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump says Ukraine and Russia should stop where they are and negotiate. And he described his meeting Friday with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as cordial and interesting. NPR's Michelle Kellerman has more.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The Ukrainian leader came to Washington with hopes of getting long range Tomahawk missiles as well as more help with air defenses to stop daily Russian missile and drone strikes. He came away saying he was, quote, realistic about the prospects of getting Tomahawks, but he says the meeting was productive and he agree with Trump's message on.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]

Truth Social the president is right that we have to stop where we are. This is important to stop where we are and then to speak.

[Michelle Kellerman]

But he says this is a message for Putin who started the war. Zelensky says he thinks Trump can pressure Putin to stop the aggression. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Dale Wilman]

President Trump is commuting the sentence of disgraced New York Republican Congressman George Santos. As NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports, Santos had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison this past April.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Trump announced the commutation of the former congressman via his social media platform. He wrote that Jorge Santos will be released from prison, quote, immediately. Santos pleaded guilty to a raft of federal charges, including wire fraud and identity theft for, among other things, stealing people's identities to make donations to his campaign. He reported to prison in July. In his post, Trump praised Santos for always voting Republican. Barbara Sprent, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Wilman]

Former Trump adviser John Bolton pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that he shared classified information. Bolton served in the first Trump administration but has since become a critic of the president. Bolton has indicated that he will argue that he's being targeted because of his criticism of President Trump, and he describes the charges as part of a Trump effort to intimidate all of his opponents. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has mobilized National Guard troops ahead of anti Trump protests. On Saturday, Dean Mershahi from VPN News.

[Dean Murshahi]

Reports up to 100 National Guard troops are prepared to respond to what organizers are calling no Kings protest in Virginia, according to an internal document obtained by VPN News. On social media, Youngkin said troops and police will be ready to, quote, help keep Virginians Safe. More than 2,000 demonstrations are planned across the U.S. to protest President Trump's policies, including more than 60 in Virginia. In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Union, one of the organizers said, quote, while President Trump and his allies are trying to intimidate us into silence by deploying troops to our cities, the best way to protect our First Amendment rights is to keep using them. For NPR News, I'm Dean Murshahi in Richmond, Virginia.

[Dale Wilman]

Stocks finished up across the board on Friday. And you're listening to NPR News. The U.S. blocked a global fee in shipping emissions on Friday. Member countries belonging to the International Maritime Organization had been meeting to discuss ways to move the shipping industry away from fossil fuels. The meeting adjourned on Friday without the adoption of the new regulations, and President Trump urged countries on Thursday to vote against those regulations. The brother of the king of England is giving up his royal titles and honors. Prince Andrew has made embarrassing headlines stemming from his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ampere's Lauren Freyr reports.

[Lauren Frayer]

The Epstein scandal prompted Prince Andrew to step down from royal duties more than five years ago. But British media have now published excerpts of a posthumous memoir by Epstein's best known accuser, who said she had sex with the prince when she was 17. Andrew denied. But in a statement from Buckingham palace, he says the continued accusations distract from the work of His Majesty King Charles. So after discussion with the king and with their wider family, Andrew says he will no longer use the title Duke of York. He remains a prince, is expected to keep living near Windsor Castle, and his daughters will still be princesses, but his ex wife, Sarah Ferguson, will lose her Duchess of York title. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

[Dale Wilman]

Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs and pitched a shutout into the seventh inning as the LA Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5 1. On Friday, the Dodgers won the National League championship series with four straight wins and the Seattle Mariners beat Toronto 62 to take a 32 lead in the American League Championship Series. Game six is Sunday night in Chicago. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.