Loading summary
Podcast Sponsor/Announcer
Support for this podcast and the following message come from the University at Buffalo, where researchers have developed an AI powered handwriting analysis tool to screen for dyslexia and other learning disorders. More at Buffalo edunpr Live from NPR News.
Giles Snyder
In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, President Trump called on Ukraine and Russia to, in his words, stop where they are and bring the war to an end. Trump made this statement on social media after seeming to back away from supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. Here's NPR's Dipa Shiverov.
Dipa Shiverov
TRUMP says it could be a point of leverage to help end the war. He said that yesterday on the phone. He asked Putin, would you mind if I gave a couple thousand Tomahawks to your opposition? And he said Putin did not like that idea. Zelensky, though, has been asking for these weapons and he suggested that if the US Were to give Ukraine these Tomahawk missiles, then Ukraine could provide more drones to the US And Trump seemed to be maybe a little bit open to that idea, but he said he'd rather the war be over entirely.
Giles Snyder
The White House meeting came a day after President Trump spoke by phone with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin and announced that the two are planning a meeting in Hungary. President Trump has commuted the sentence of former New York Republican Congressman Jorge Santos. Santos had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison this past April. Here's NPR's Barbara Sprunt.
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 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.
Giles Snyder
One of Santos lawyers has told the Associated Press that Santos was released from a federal prison in Fair to New Jersey late last night and that he was greeted outside the facility by his family. Americans across the country will take to the streets today to protests against the Trump administration. Npres Joel Rose reports that the no Kings rally protests are planned at more than 2,000 locations.
Joel Rose
The organizers of the no Kings protest say they're expecting millions of people to demonstrate against what they call the Trump administration's authoritarian agenda. Leah Greenberg is with the nonprofit group Indivisible, one of the organizers of the events.
Barbara Sprunt
There is nothing more American than saying that we don't have kings and exercising our right to peaceful protest.
Joel Rose
Republicans, meanwhile, are trying to portray the protesters as radical and violent. House Speaker Mike Johnson has described the event as a Hate America rally, while other GOP leaders suggested the events are likely to turn violent. The organizers reject those claims as an attempt to smear the protesters and emphasize that the events are intended to be peaceful. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
Giles Snyder
With Do Kings protestors preparing to rally in communities across the country, President Trump is at Mar a Lago. He is expected to be back in Washington, D.C. tomorrow evening. You're listening to NPR News. Dozens of South Koreans have returned home from Cambodia, where most were detained during a crackdown on online scam centers. They arrived today on a chartered flight, and South Korean authorities say they will face criminal investigations. Their return follows the death of a South Korean college student who was reportedly forced to work in a Cambodian scam center. Delegations from Afghanistan and Pakistan are heading to Doha for crisis talks following more than a week of fighting that has killed dozens of people and injured hundreds of others on both sides. Both sides say they've been responding to aggression from the other. Pakistan also accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who've been carrying out attacks along the border. Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ontani hit three home runs and pitched six innings of shutout ball last night, leading the Dodgers to the World' Series. Chuck Wernbach reports.
Chuck Wernbach
The Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee brewers by a score of 5 to 1, sweeping the team's National League Championship Series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Shohei Ohtani's hitting and pitching was probably the best performance ever in postseason baseball.
Joel Rose
And there's been a lot of postseason games, and there's a reason why he's the greatest player on the planet. You know, what he did on the mound, what he did at the bat.
Chuck Wernbach
Next up for the Dodgers in the World Series will be the winner of the American League Championship Series between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. For NPR News, I'm Chuck Kuernbach.
Giles Snyder
The American League Series heading into Game six tomorrow night, the Mariners hold a three games to two lead over the Blue Jays. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.
Podcast Sponsor/Announcer
This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month, make the switch@mintmobile.com Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month Taxes and fees Extra first 3 months only see.
This five-minute NPR News Now episode, hosted by Giles Snyder, provides a succinct yet impactful briefing on the top headlines shaping the early morning of October 18, 2025. The episode captures headline-grabbing developments in US foreign policy, unprecedented domestic protests, major legal news, international affairs, and a highlight from the world of sports.
“He said Putin did not like that idea.” – Dipa Shiverov (00:50)
“In his post, Trump praised Santos for always voting Republican.” – Barbara Sprunt (01:49)
“There is nothing more American than saying that we don’t have kings and exercising our right to peaceful protest.” – Leah Greenberg, Indivisible (02:35)
“There’s a reason why he’s the greatest player on the planet. You know, what he did on the mound, what he did at the bat.” – Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts (04:23)
“Stop where they are and bring the war to an end.” – President Trump, summarized by Giles Snyder (00:25)
“Trump says it could be a point of leverage to help end the war.” – Dipa Shiverov (00:40)
“There is nothing more American than saying that we don’t have kings and exercising our right to peaceful protest.” – Leah Greenberg, Indivisible (02:35)
“Probably the best performance ever in postseason baseball.” – Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager, via Chuck Wernbach (04:17) “There’s a reason why he’s the greatest player on the planet.” – Dave Roberts (04:23)
This episode distills a whirlwind of breaking news into a concise, informative listening experience, highlighting high-stakes diplomacy, political controversy, nationwide activism, international crises, and the wonder of a once-in-a-generation athlete—all in five impactful minutes.