NPR News: 10-20-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now – October 20, 2025, 2AM EDT

Host: Dan Ronan (NPR)
Duration: ~5 minutes

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise update on major national and international news stories, including widespread anti-Trump protests, rising US-Colombia tensions, key updates on US economic data amid a government shutdown, a tragic accident in Hong Kong, a major jewel heist at the Louvre, and important baseball playoff results.

---

Major News Highlights & Insights

1. Nationwide "No Kings" Protests Against Trump Administration

[00:17 – 01:07]

• Scale: Organizers claimed events in 2,600 locations nationwide with “millions” participating.
• Purpose: Protesters objected to the Trump administration, accusing President Trump of acting “more like a monarch than an elected official.”
• Administration's Response:
  • President Trump dismissed the protests:
    • “I think it’s a joke. I looked at the people. They're not representative of this country. … Paid for. I guess it was paid for by Soros and other radical left lunatics.” (Donald Trump, [00:44])
  • Called the demonstrations "very small, very ineffective," and described attendees as “whacked out.”
  • Republican Reaction:
    • House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the protests the “Hate America rally.”
    • Other GOP figures called them “un-American.”

2. US-Colombia Relations Hit New Low

[01:07 – 02:16]

• Context: Fallout between President Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
  • Four months of insults between the two leaders.
  • Washington revoked Petro's US Visa.
• Escalating Tensions:
  • Trump’s policy of attacking suspected drug boats in the Caribbean has led to claims of civilian casualties.
  • Petro accused Trump of “murder,” after a fisherman’s death.
  • Trump on social media:
    • Called Petro “an illegal drug leader, strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs.”
    • Threatened to cut off US aid to Colombia.
• Petro’s Response:
  • Described himself as “the main enemy of Colombian traffickers.”
  • Claimed Trump is “uninformed about his country.”
  • Reporting by John Otis from Bogota, Colombia.

3. Key Economic Data to Be Released Amid Government Shutdown

[02:16 – 03:06]

• Highlight: Despite a government shutdown pausing all economic data, an exception is made for this week’s inflation numbers.
• Reason: These figures determine the Social Security Administration’s annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
  • “COLA determines how much Social Security benefits need to be adjusted for the following year.”
    (Rafael Nam, [02:28])
• Implications: The Federal Reserve will have this data for its upcoming policy meeting.
• Reporting by Rafael Nam.

4. Deadly Plane Accident in Hong Kong

[03:06 – 03:24]

• Incident: Two airport security workers killed after a 747 cargo plane skidded off the runway.

5. China’s Communist Party Convenes Leadership Meeting

[03:24 – 03:59]

• Event: A key four-day, closed-door meeting begins in Beijing, led by President Xi Jinping and 300+ top officials.
• Purpose: Shaping China’s political and economic agenda through 2030.
• Backdrop: Rising US-China trade tensions and an anticipated Trump-Xi summit in South Korea later this month.

6. Dramatic Jewel Heist at the Louvre, Paris

[03:59 – 04:38]

• Crime:
  • Three masked, chainsaw-wielding thieves robbed the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in just seven minutes.
  • Stole nine pieces: necklaces, a brooch, and a tiara.
  • Items described as of “inestimable cultural and historical value.”
    (Museum Spokesperson, quoted by Rebecca Rossman, [03:59])
• Details: Thieves broke in via window, used box cutters on cases, escaped on motorcycles.
• Aftermath: No injuries; police investigating.
• Reporting by Rebecca Rossman from Paris.

7. ALCS Baseball Update: Blue Jays Force Game 7

[04:38 – 04:56]

• Sports: Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 6–2, tying the series 3–3.
• Game 7: Set in Toronto; winner goes to World Series vs. Dodgers.

---

Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump (on protests):
  “It’s a joke. … We're checking it out. The demonstrations were very small, very ineffective, and the people were whacked out.” ([00:44])

• John Otis (on US-Colombia escalation):
  “Petro quickly responded by describing himself as the main enemy of Colombian traffickers and by saying that Trump was uninformed about his country.” ([02:16])

• Rafael Nam (on inflation data):
  “Like the full name implies, COLA determines how much Social Security benefits need to be adjusted for the following year. That also means the Federal Reserve will at least have this critical data before its policy meeting later this month.” ([02:28])

• Rebecca Rossman (on the Louvre heist):
  “Seven minutes. That’s how long police say it took three masked men armed with chainsaws to steal nine pieces of jewelry from the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery... The pieces are of, quote, inestimable cultural and historical value.” ([03:59])

---

Summary Table – Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Time Range | |---------------------------|-------------| | Anti-Trump Protests | 00:17–01:07 | | US-Colombia Tensions | 01:07–02:16 | | Inflation/SSA Update | 02:16–03:06 | | HK Airport Accident | 03:06–03:24 | | China Party Meeting | 03:24–03:59 | | Louvre Jewel Robbery | 03:59–04:38 | | ALCS Baseball | 04:38–04:56 |

---

This five-minute update delivers a brisk but thorough scan of top stories, spotlighting political flashpoints and dramatic world events with crisp reporting and impactful direct quotes.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Monday.com, the first work platform you'll love to use. Meet Monday Sidekick, your AI powered work BFF that handles everything for you from daily briefings to risk analysis. Start your free [e-mail].

[B]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. Organizers of this past weekend's no Kings rally say events were held in 2,600 locations across the US and millions of Americans protested the policies of the Trump administration. Many demonstrators said Trump is acting more like a monarch than an elected official. Returning to Washington on Air Force One Sunday night, the president had harsh criticism for protesters.

[C]

I think it's a joke. I looked at the people. They're not representative of this country. And I looked at all the brand new signs. Paid for. I guess it was paid for by Soros and other radical left lunatics. It looks like it was. We're checking it out. The demonstrations were very small, very ineffective, and the people were whacked out. When you look at those people, those are not representative of the people of our country.

[B]

House Speaker Republican Mike Johnson called the peaceful demonstrations the Hate America rally. Other Republicans said the protests were un American. Colombia used to be a key US Partner in the war on drugs, but now President Trump is accusing Colombia's President, Gustavo Petro, of being a leader in the illegal drug trade. Reporter John Otis has more.

[D]

Four months, two Trump and Petro have exchanged insults, prompting Washington to revoke Petro's US Visa. Now tensions are rising over Trump's policy of attacking alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. Petro accused Trump of murder after claiming that one of the victims was a Colombian fisherman. On Sunday, Trump took to social media to call Petro, quote, an illegal drug leader, strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs. He also threatened to cut off US Aid to Colombia. Petro quickly responded by describing himself as the main enemy of Colombian traffickers and by saying that Trump was uninformed about his country. For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia.

[B]

Despite the ongoing government shutdown, the Labor Department will report the latest inflation data later this week. NPR's Rafael Nam says Social Security recipients have a lot riding on it.

[E]

The government has paused all economic data but is making one exception. The Labor Department will report the latest inflation data on Friday. The reason for the exception is that every year the Social Security Administration uses the inflation data for July, September and October to determine what's called the Cost of Living Adjustment, or cola. Like the full name implies, COLA determines how much Social Security benefits need to be adjusted for the following year that also means the Federal Reserve will at least have this critical data before its policy meeting later this month. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[B]

In Hong Kong, two airport security workers are reported to have died when a 747 cargo plane skidded off the Runway. You're listening to NPR News. A closed four day meeting of China's top Communist Party leadership, including President Xi Jinping, begins today in Beijing as the country maps out its goals for the next five years through 2030. Xi and about 300, 170 of China's top Communist Party officials are expected to attend. It's called the Fourth. The meeting comes at a time of increased trade tension between Washington and Beijing, but just ahead of a possible face to face meeting in South Korea later this month between President Trump and President Xi. It was a dramatic scene at the Louvre in Paris. Rebecca Rossman reports. Masked men broke into the museum and made off with millions of dollars worth of jewelry.

[F]

Seven minutes. That's how long police say it took three maske men armed with chainsaws to steal nine pieces of jewelry from the Louvre's Apollo Gallery, including necklaces, a brooch and a tiara. A museum spokesperson told NPR the pieces are of, quote, inestimable cultural and historical value. France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez says the thieves entered through a window shortly after the museum opened and used box cutters to smash display cases. They fled on motorcycles toward a nearby highway. The museum was quickly evacuated. No injuries were reported, and police have opened an investigation to track down the suspects. For NPR News, I'm Rebecca Rossman in Paris.

[B]

There will be a Game seven in the American League Championship Series as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners Sunday night six to two, to tie that series at three games apiece. The deciding game will be Monday night in Toronto. The winner plays the Dodgers for the World Series. You're listening to NPR News.

[G]

Support for this message comes from Bombus. You need better socks and slippers and underwear because you should love what you wear every day. One purchased equals one donated. Go to bombus.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.