NPR News: 10-22-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – October 22, 2025, 11PM EDT

Host: Shea Stevens
Duration: 5 minutes

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Overview

This episode of NPR News Now offers a concise roundup of major national and international news stories for October 22, 2025. Key topics include President Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil companies, North Carolina’s controversial congressional map, recent court action regarding National Guard troop deployment, findings from Florida's school cell phone ban, deadly U.S. military action in the Caribbean, a quirky Danish study on ant-made yogurt, and promising new research on COVID-19 vaccines aiding cancer treatments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Sanctions on Russia

Timestamps: 00:19–01:09

• President Trump imposes sanctions on two Russian oil companies—the first major action of his second term against Russia.
• During a meeting with the NATO Secretary General, Trump expresses hope that sanctions will help settle the war in Ukraine but refuses to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
• Trump’s reasoning: Tomahawks are complex weapon systems requiring extensive training, adding,

  "It’ll take a minimum of six months, usually a year, to learn how to use them. They’re highly complex. So the only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it, and we’re not going to do that."
  (President Donald Trump, 00:50)

• Ukrainian lobbying for missiles has been unsuccessful; the door appears closed for this type of military aid.

2. North Carolina Congressional Map Controversy

Timestamps: 01:09–02:05

• North Carolina Republicans approve a new congressional map aimed at increasing GOP seats, focusing on the state’s sole swing district.
• District shifts affect hundreds of thousands of voters, particularly in the eastern districts.
• Democrats, including State Representative Gloristine Brown, criticize the map for diluting Black voting power:

  "You claim that racial data was not used. You didn’t need to use racial data because every single member of this body knows about the Black population in the northeastern part of this state."
  (State Rep. Gloristine Brown, 01:44)

• While the governor cannot veto the map, legal challenges are anticipated.

3. National Guard & Federal Troops: Immigration Tensions

Timestamps: 02:05–02:31

• A federal judge extends a restraining order blocking National Guard deployment to Chicago.
• Meanwhile, federal immigration troops are being sent to San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon.
• Anticipated delays before the National Guard is deployed in other cities.

4. Florida’s Cell Phone Ban Improves Grades

Timestamps: 02:31–03:09

• A study finds that Florida’s restriction on cell phones in schools leads to higher test scores and fewer disciplinary incidents after the initial adjustment period.
• Governor DeSantis touts the policy:

  "No phones is a win win for students and teachers."
  (Reported paraphrase of Gov. Ron DeSantis, 02:54)

• Now, 30 states and D.C. have some kind of school cell phone restrictions.

5. Market Update

Timestamp: 03:09

• Dow Jones closes down 344 points.

6. U.S. Military Strikes in the Caribbean

Timestamps: 03:09–03:48

• U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hexseth reports a deadly strike on a boat carrying illegal drugs—the eighth such attack in the Caribbean this year, bringing fatalities to 34.
• President Trump justifies the ongoing military campaign as essential to fighting drug trafficking.

7. Ants Used in Traditional Yogurt-Making

Timestamps: 03:48–04:29

• Danish scientists study Bulgarian traditions of making yogurt by fermenting milk with live redwood ants.
• Microbial ecologist Veronica Senat recounts the process:

  "We added four whole ants, dropped them into the top, covered it with a cheesecloth, hiked up the mountain and buried it inside of the ant colony."
  (Veronica Senat, 03:56)

• The resulting yogurt is unique and could inspire new food innovation.

8. COVID-19 Vaccines May Aid Cancer Treatment

Timestamps: 04:29–04:57

• Preliminary research (published in Nature) finds that lung and skin cancer patients receiving COVID vaccines within 100 days of immunotherapy showed improved immune responses and longer life expectancy.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Donald Trump, on Tomahawk missiles:
  "It’ll take a minimum of six months, usually a year, to learn how to use them. They’re highly complex. So the only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it, and we’re not going to do that." (00:50)

• State Rep. Gloristine Brown, on racial data and redistricting:
  "You claim that racial data was not used. You didn’t need to use racial data because every single member of this body knows about the Black population in the northeastern part of this state." (01:44)

• Microbial Ecologist Veronica Senat, on ant-yogurt making:
  "We added four whole ants, dropped them into the top, covered it with a cheesecloth, hiked up the mountain and buried it inside of the ant colony." (03:56)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Sanctions on Russia & Ukraine Aid: 00:19–01:09
• NC Redistricting Debate: 01:09–02:05
• National Guard / Immigration Enforcement: 02:05–02:31
• Florida Cell Phone Ban Results: 02:31–03:09
• Stock Market Recap: 03:09
• US Military Caribbean Action: 03:09–03:48
• Traditional Ant Yogurt: 03:48–04:29
• COVID Vaccine Cancer Study: 04:29–04:57

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This summary captures the essential headlines and stories featured in this fast-paced edition of NPR News Now.

Transcript

[Economist Announcer]

This message comes from the Economist. Introducing the Economist Insider, a new video offering with twice weekly shows featuring in depth analysis and expertise to make sense of an increasingly complex and dangerous world. [e-mail] Insider.

[NPR Host]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump is imposing sanctions on two Russian oil companies. NPR's Mara Liasson reports that it's the first time in his second term that Trump has has done more than just threaten Russia.

[NPR Reporter Mara Liasson]

At a meeting with the secretary general of NATO, Trump said the new sanctions on Russia were tremendous and that he hoped they would help settle the war with Ukraine. But in a move that will disappoint the Ukrainian government, Trump also ruled out sending that country long range Tomahawk missiles.

[President Donald Trump]

It'll take a minimum of six months, usually a year, to learn how to use them. They're highly complex. So the only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it, and we're not going to do that.

[NPR Reporter Mara Liasson]

Ukraine has been lobbying the White House to provide Tomahawks, but Trump seems to have closed that door for good. Mara Liasson, NPR News, the White House.

[NPR Host]

North Carolina Republicans have approved a new congressional map in hopes of creating the state's 11th GOP seat in the U.S. house. The North Carolina Newsroom's Adam Wagner reports from Raleigh.

[NPR Reporter Adam Wagner]

North Carolina's new map shifts hundreds of thousands of voters between the first and third districts in the eastern part of the state. Republicans have said their goal is to gain an advantage in the state's only swing, district, one currently held by Don Davis, a Democrat. But Democrats like state Representative Gloristine Brown say the new map intentionally dilutes the power of black voters.

[State Representative Gloristine Brown]

You claim that racial data was not used. You didn't need to use racial data because every single member of this body knows about the black population in the northeastern part of this state.

[NPR Reporter Adam Wagner]

North Carolina's governor can't veto the new map, but a lawsuit is expected. For NPR News, I'm Adam Wagner in Raleigh.

[NPR Host]

A federal judge has extended her temporary restraining order indefinitely, blocking the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago. Meanwhile, federal immigration troops are heading to San Francisco, and it could be a few days before the Guard is also deployed. In Portland, Oregon, a new study shows Florida's restriction on cell phones in schools has led to higher test scores and improved student behavior. Danielle Pryor has more from Central Florida Public Media.

[NPR Reporter Danielle Pryor]

A report published in the National Bureau of Economic Research found suspension spike during early adoption of Florida's 2023 restrictions on cell phones in schools. But after the first year, disciplinary actions were down, and by the second year, fewer kids were absent from class and test scores had improved. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says no phones is a win win for students and teachers.

[NPR Reporter Adam Wagner]

Who wants to dedicate their life to.

[NPR Host]

Sitting in front of a group of.

[Bombus Advertiser]

Kids that all have their face buried in the phone.

[NPR Reporter Danielle Pryor]

Some 30 states and the District of Columbia now restrict cell phones in some way during school. For NPR News, I'm Danielle Pryor in Orlando.

[NPR Host]

On Wall street, stocks closed lower. The Dow Jones Industrials lost 344 points. This is NPR. U.S. defense Secretary Pete Hexseth says there's been another deadly U.S. military strike in the Caribbean, the eighth such attack this year. Axseth says the boat was hauling illegal drugs. Two people were killed in the strike, bringing the death toll from U.S. attacks to 34. President Trump says the military action is needed to combat drug trafficking. Ants are good at making yogurt. NPR's Regina Barber reports on a Danish study that investigates a traditional method for making the nutritious snack.

[NPR Reporter Regina Barber]

In the mountains of Bulgaria, there are people making yogurt the old fashioned way by dropping live redwood ants into fresh milk.

[Microbial Ecologist Veronica Senat]

We added four whole ants, dropped them into the top, covered it with a cheesecloth, hiked up the mountain and buried it inside of the ant colony.

[NPR Reporter Regina Barber]

That's microbial ecologist Veronica Senat. She's part of a research team that recreated the process to learn what kinds of bacteria living on and inside the ants were causing this fermentation. The team said the ant yogurt had a unique taste and texture, different from commercial brands. The researchers say that these traditional practices can inform future innovations and help recreate new fermented foods. Regina Barber, NPR News.

[NPR Host]

Preliminary research finds a commonly used COVID 19 vaccine can also boost immune systems to help fight tumors. The study shows improvements in the immune systems and life expectancy of lung cancer and skin cancer patients who received Covid shots within 100 days of starting immunotherapy. The findings are reported in the journal Nature. You're listening to NPR News.

[Bombus Advertiser]

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.