NPR News Now — October 18, 2025, 7AM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder (NPR)
Episode Overview:
This brief five-minute news update covers nationwide "No Kings" rallies, state and federal responses to ongoing protests and government shutdown, the latest moves on US tariffs under the Trump administration, developments in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage situation, updated US public health alerts for a new strain of MPOX, and Major League Baseball playoff results.

Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. "No Kings" Rallies and State Responses

• Nationwide Protests:

  • Over 2,000 "No Kings" rallies are planned across the country, aiming to draw a large number of Americans into demonstrations ([00:14]).

  • Large presence anticipated in Texas; Governor Greg Abbott is mobilizing National Guard troops to the state Capitol ([00:14]–[00:42]).

    "Governor Abbott says without evidence that the Austin protest is a, quote, antifa linked demonstration. The Republican governor says National Guard troops will be stationed at the state Capitol building to protect Texans and nearby property."
    — Lucio Vasquez, NPR ([00:42])

  • This escalation follows a recent deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Chicago due to similar protests outside immigration facilities.

• Other States:

  • Virginia's Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has likewise mobilized his state's National Guard ahead of the rallies ([01:13]).
  • The protests coincide with the 18th day of an ongoing federal government shutdown.

2. Government Shutdown and Federal Layoffs

• Court Orders and Administration Responses:

  • The Trump administration reports that most of approximately 4,000 federal layoffs during the shutdown are not halted by a recent court order ([01:13]).

  • A federal judge in California issued a temporary restraining order pausing some layoffs, but this only protects employees in union-represented programs or offices ([01:42]).

    "The administration also made clear that it believes most of the employees who receive layoff notices can still be removed. They say that's because the court ordered pause only applies to programs or offices where the union plaintiffs have members."
    — Jacqueline Diaz, NPR ([01:42])

3. New US Tariffs on Trucks and Auto Parts Relief

• Tariff Adjustments:

  • President Trump imposes new tariffs beginning November 1 on medium and heavy-duty trucks, such as delivery vans, 18-wheelers, and buses ([02:13]).

  • Simultaneously, the administration is easing some tariffs on auto parts bound for US factories ([02:32]).

    "Even the most Made in America vehicle relies on some imported parts and those have tariffs. This extension reduces how much those parts tariffs hurt companies. Automaker stocks went up after news outlets reported that this was coming."
    — Camilla Domonoski, NPR ([02:32])

4. Israel-Hamas Hostage and Ceasefire Update

• Hostage Identification:
  • Israeli officials have identified the remains of 76-year-old Eliyahu Margalit, a hostage killed during the October 7 attack of two years ago ([03:12]).
  • Handovers of deceased hostages remain a contentious issue in ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

5. US Public Health Alert: MPOX Clade One Cases

• New MPOX Strain Emergence:

  • Three cases of a more severe strain of MPOX (Clade One) have been confirmed in Southern California; these are the first in the US without recent travel history ([03:12]–[03:52]).

  • All three patients were hospitalized and are recovering. The transmission source remains unknown, with no clear links between the cases.

    "It's not clear how they caught this type of MPOX known as Clade One, which is different from the strain that surged in the US in 2022. This version of the virus has fueled outbreaks in parts of Africa, in particular the Democratic Republic of the Congo."
    — Will Stone, NPR ([03:52])

6. Major League Baseball: Dodgers Reach World Series

• NLCS Results:
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers advance to the World Series after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers; Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani hits three home runs and pitches shutout ball into the seventh inning ([04:32]).
  • The American League Championship Series is heading into game six.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s stance:

  "...without evidence that the Austin protest is a, quote, antifa linked demonstration."
  — Lucio Vasquez ([00:42])

• Federal layoff exemptions explained:

  "The administration also made clear that it believes most of the employees who receive layoff notices can still be removed. They say that's because the court ordered pause only applies to programs or offices where the union plaintiffs have members."
  — Jacqueline Diaz ([01:42])

• Automaker worries over tariffs:

  "Even the most Made in America vehicle relies on some imported parts and those have tariffs."
  — Camilla Domonoski ([02:32])

• MPOX Clade One uniqueness:

  "It's not clear how they caught this type of MPOX known as Clade One, which is different from the strain that surged in the US in 2022."
  — Will Stone ([03:52])

Important Timestamps

• [00:14] – Introduction to “No Kings” rallies, Texas National Guard deployment
• [00:42] – Governor Abbott's statement, national protest details
• [01:13] – Virginia mobilizes National Guard, government shutdown day 18
• [01:42] – Federal layoffs, court order clarification
• [02:13] – Trump’s new tariffs on trucks, auto parts tariff relief
• [02:32] – Implications for automakers and market reaction
• [03:12] – Israel-Hamas hostage identification update
• [03:52] – Confirmation of MPOX Clade One in California
• [04:32] – Dodgers sweep NLCS, advance to World Series

This concise newscast delivers a fast, factual roundup of the day's most pressing national and international developments, with a tone of brisk, matter-of-fact reporting typical of NPR News Now.