NPR News: 10-18-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: October 18, 2025, 6PM EDT

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: October 18, 2025
Episode Theme:
The episode provides a concise roundup of the day's most important national news stories, including ongoing political protests, the impact of a continuing government shutdown on farmers, proposed National Guard deployments, a critical Broadway labor deal, and a historic Emmy win.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Anti-Trump Protests in Rural Virginia

• [00:01–01:01]
  • Setting: Shenandoah County, Virginia, where a quarter-mile-long "no Kings rally" was held as part of a seven-month streak of weekly protests against President Trump.
  • Protestor Sentiment:
    • Chants: "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump." (00:16, Unnamed Protester)
    • Purpose: "The reason we are out here is to give a message that we are not his subjects." (00:28, Dr. Mark Pierce, rally organizer)
  • Concerns Raised:
    • Protestors expressed alarm about:
      • Detainment of American citizens
      • Cutting federal funding for research
      • "Apparent destruction of the federal government" (00:36, Joan Griffin, local resident)
  • Local Context:
    • Despite protests, over 70% of local voters had supported Trump in the last election.
  • Reporter: Randy Behge, WMRA.

2. Impact of Government Shutdown on American Farmers

• [01:01–02:03]
  • Ongoing Shutdown: Federal payments are stalled, causing anxiety over disaster insurance and price supports.
  • Farmers’ Worries:
    • Wheat farmers are especially vulnerable due to inflation and tariffs.
    • Delay in details about aid packages for commodity growers has made financial planning difficult for both farmers and their banks.
    • "Not just the farmers, but the banks supplying the farmers with the money to operate need some assurance that the farmers are not going to be going broke." (01:41, Byron Beaney, Northwest Grain Growers Co-Op)
  • Historical Context:
    • In 2018, $12 billion in federal aid was spent due to retaliatory tariffs from China, yet many growers remain unrecovered.
  • Reporter: Kirk Zigler, NPR.

3. Louisiana Governor Requests National Guard Deployment

• [02:03–02:56]
  • Announcement: Governor Jeff Landry (R) anticipates federal approval to deploy the National Guard to address a police shortage in cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
  • Intended Use:
    • Supplement local law enforcement, especially in areas with high violent crime rates. (02:26, Gov. Landry)
  • Political Dynamics:
    • The move is contentious:
      • Democratic governors in Oregon and Illinois are resisting similar deployments.
      • New Orleans officials oppose deployment, citing a “declining crime rate.”
    • Landry pointed to the effective use of the National Guard after the New Year’s Day truck attack in the French Quarter.
  • Reporter: Brooke Thorington, WRKF.

4. Broadway Actors & Stage Managers Strike Averted

• [02:56–04:00]
  • Outcome: A tentative deal has been reached between the Actors’ Equity Association (representing 51,000+) and the Broadway League, averting a strike.
  • Main Issue: Extending the health equity fund that supports actors' health benefits.
  • Union Statement:
    • "It also makes progress toward our other priorities, including scheduling and physical therapy access." (03:23, Al Vincent Jr., Executive Director, Actors’ Equity Association)
  • Additional Negotiations: Musicians are still negotiating on pay, work rules, and health care.
  • Reporter: Chandelyse Duster, NPR.

5. David Attenborough Becomes Oldest Daytime Emmy Winner

• [04:00–end]
  • Achievement:
    • At 99, Attenborough becomes the oldest-ever Daytime Emmy recipient, surpassing Dick Van Dyke's previous record.
    • Won for his documentary Secret Lives of Orangutans, which also took home awards for directing, camera work, and music.
    • Though this is his first Daytime Emmy, Attenborough has previously won three Primetime Emmys.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Mark Pierce (Rally Organizer):
  • "The reason we are out here is to give a message that we are not his subjects." (00:28)
• Joan Griffin (Protester):
  • "The fact that they are grabbing people who are even American citizens off the street, the cutting off of funding to universities and the like for research, and then I'm very disturbed by what is the apparent destruction of the federal government." (00:36)
• Byron Beaney (Northwest Grain Growers Co-Op):
  • "Not just the farmers, but the banks supplying the farmers with the money to operate need some assurance that the farmers are not going to be going broke." (01:41)
• Al Vincent Jr. (Executive Director, Actors’ Equity Association):
  • "It also makes progress toward our other priorities, including scheduling and physical therapy access." (03:23)

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Key Segment Timestamps

• [00:01] – Rural VA protest against Trump, local context and quotes
• [01:01] – Impact of government shutdown on farmers, wheat industry, aid uncertainty
• [02:03] – National Guard deployment in Louisiana; political controversy and rationale
• [02:56] – Broadway labor deal: strike avoided, union priorities, musicians’ negotiations
• [04:00] – David Attenborough's historic Emmy win

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Summary

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a tight five-minute update on the day's top stories: growing anti-Trump protest actions even in conservative regions, the economic strain facing farmers in the midst of a protracted government shutdown, the contested use of National Guard troops in Louisiana, labor negotiations averting a Broadway strike, and historic recognition for David Attenborough at the Daytime Emmys. The coverage reflects a tense and rapidly evolving national moment, with direct voices from affected community members and key stakeholders.

Transcript

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In rural Shenandoah County, Virginia, demonstrators packed a quarter mile of sidewalk for the no Kings rally against President Trump. Randy Behge with member station WMRA has more.

[Protester]

Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump.

[Randy Behge]

The no Kings gathering was part of a seven month streak of weekly protests against the Trump administration. Here's one of the organizers, Dr. Mark Pierce.

[Dr. Mark Pierce]

The reason we are out here is to give a message that we are not his subjects.

[Randy Behge]

Local resident Joan Griffin has been consistently protesting here.

[Joan Griffin]

The fact that they are grabbing people who are even American citizens off the street, the cutting off of funding to universities and the like for research, and then I'm very disturbed by what is the apparent destruction of the federal government.

[Randy Behge]

More than 70% of voters in the county cast their ballot for President Donald Trump last year. For NPR News, I'm Randy B. Hagee in Woodstock, Virginia.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And that's part of some 2500 marches around the country today. As the federal government shutdown drags on, American farmers are getting increasingly worried about federal payments getting cut off for everything from disaster insurance To Price supports. NPR's Kirk Zigler reports. Wheat farmers were already dealing with high costs due to inflation and President Trump's tariffs.

[Kirk Zigler]

Farmers here have been waiting for the agriculture secretary's promised aid package to commodity growers who have seen their export markets cut off due to the administration's trade war. So far, no word or specifics in each day that passes makes financing for next year even less certain. Byron Beaney is with the Northwest Grain Growers Co Op.

[Byron Beaney]

Not just the farmers, but the banks supplying the farmers with the money to operate need some assurance that the farmers are not going to be going broke.

[Kirk Zigler]

During Trump's last trade war in 2018, federal taxpayers spent about $12 billion on relief to farmers affected by retaliatory tariffs from China. Some growers say they still haven't recovered. Kirk Zigler, NPR News, Boise.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Louisiana's governor says he thinks the state will be granted National Guard assistance by the Trump administration. Brooke Thorington from member station WRKF reports troops could be in place by Thanksgiving.

[Brooke Thorington]

Governor Jeff Landry made the announcement in an interview with Louisiana First News. The Republican says he wants to help offset a shortage of police officers in cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

[Dr. Mark Pierce]

And then also use them in other cities that seem to have a very violent crime rate.

[Brooke Thorington]

Landry's comments come as Democratic governors in Oregon and Illinois continue to fight National Guard deployment. Local officials in New Orleans have argued against the idea, citing a declining crime rate. Landry says he saw the value the guard provided following the New Year's Day truck attack in the French Quarter. For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thorrington in Baton Rouge.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A strike of Broadway actors and stage managers has been averted after a deal was reached over health care. NPR's Chandelyse Duster has more.

[Chandelyse Duster]

The Actors Equity association, which represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, says a tentative agreement has been reached with the Broadway League, representing theater owners and producers to extend a health equity fund. The union's executive director, Al Vincent Jr. Says that the three year agreement saves the health fund. It also makes progress toward our other priorities, including scheduling and physical therapy access. The Broadway League says the health fund receives millions of dollars each year from Broadway production grosses that add to the total benefits contributions of the health fund. The union says it will bring the deal to its members for ratification. Broadway musicians are also in talks over wage increases, work rules and health care. Shondalyse Duster, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough has become the oldest person to win the Daytime EMMY award. The 99 year old broke the record set last year by Dick Van Dyke, who won it at the age of 98. Attenborough won for the documentary Secret Lives of Orangutans, which follows a multi generational family of apes in Sumatra. That documentary also won Emmys for outstanding directing, camera work and music. This is Attenborough's first day Emmy, but he has won three Primetime Emmys in the past. I'm Jeanine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.