NPR News Now – October 23, 2025, 2PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Episode Overview

This concise five-minute NPR News Now update, anchored by Lakshmi Singh, covers urgent national and global headlines. Highlights include the escalating effects of a continuing government shutdown, political fallout in the U.S. House, the Senate's failed efforts to address worker pay, international reaction to the Israeli Knesset's West Bank vote, an NBA gambling indictment scandal, advancements in biological age estimation with AI, and a modest recovery in U.S. home sales.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Escalating Government Shutdown and Political Rhetoric

• Federal Workers Unpaid: Friday marks the first full missed paycheck for federal employees due to the shutdown.
• Impact on Air Travel:
  • Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized consequences for public safety:

    "The longer the shutdown goes on. And as fewer air traffic controllers show up to work, the safety of the American people is thrown further into jeopardy." — Mike Johnson [00:40]

• Sharp Political Accusations:
  • Johnson labeled Democratic leaders "legislative terrorists."
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rebuked the rhetoric:

    "In a climate of political violence, Johnson's remarks are reckless and irresponsible… We should be able to battle it out in the contest of ideas." — Hakeem Jeffries [01:02]

• Shutdown Duration: 23rd day—extended by standoffs over reopening terms.

2. Senate Stalemate on Federal Pay Bills

• GOP Proposal:
  • Republican Senator Ron Johnson led a bill for continued pay for active duty military and essential federal employees working without pay.
  • The bill failed, 54-45 (needed 60 votes).
• Democratic Counterproposal:
  • Sought pay for all federal workers and to block more layoffs.
  • Blocked on the Senate floor, did not advance to a vote.

3. U.S. Outrage Over Israeli Knesset's West Bank Vote

• International Concerns Raised:
  • Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Israeli Knesset action to annex the West Bank.
  • Rubio met with Israeli PM Netanyahu; Vance issued pointed remarks before departing Tel Aviv:

    "If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt and I personally take some insult to it. The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel." — J.D. Vance [02:29]

  • Netanyahu's office denounced the parliamentary move as a "deliberate provocation to sow discord" during the Vice President’s visit.
  • Correspondent: Rob Schmitz reporting from Tel Aviv.

4. NBA Illegal Gambling Indictment Scandal

• Key Figures Indicted:
  • Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers head coach)
  • Terry Rozier (Miami Heat guard)
• Ongoing Review:
  • Both to appear in federal court today.
  • The NBA publicly acknowledged reviewing the matter.

5. Medical Advance: Biological vs. Chronological Age

• Presidential Health News:
  • President Trump's doctor estimates that, at 79 years old, his cardiac age is comparable to a 65-year-old.
• AI-Driven Cardiac Age Tools:
  • Dr. Douglas Vaughn (Northwestern University) explains AI's role:

    "Doctors can use AI to estimate a person's cardiac age... machine learning to detect very subtle changes and patterns that track with heart disease risk." — Douglas Vaughn [03:39] "This tool does things that the human eyes can't do." — Douglas Vaughn [03:59]

  • Still under study for accuracy; could aid disease detection early.

6. Housing Market Uptick

• Mortgage Rates & Home Sales:
  • Mortgage rates are decreasing
  • National Association of Realtors reports:
    • Sales of existing homes up 1.5% month-on-month (September)
    • Year-over-year sales up 4.1%
    • Sales still below pre-pandemic levels, but buyers in healthier financial positions
  • Chief Economist Lauren Yun provides insight via NAR web video.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Speaker Mike Johnson on air safety amid shutdown:

  "The longer the shutdown goes on. And as fewer air traffic controllers show up to work, the safety of the American people is thrown further into jeopardy." [00:40]

• Hakeem Jeffries rebuking rhetoric:

  "We should be able to battle it out in the contest of ideas." [01:02]

• J.D. Vance, sharply criticizing Israeli Knesset vote:

  "If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt and I personally take some insult to it. The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel." [02:29]

• Dr. Douglas Vaughn on AI in cardiac age estimation:

  "This tool does things that the human eyes can't do." [03:59]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:18] – Lakshmi Singh opens coverage; shutdown impacts and political struggle
• [00:40] – Speaker Johnson and Jeffries’ comments
• [01:14] – Shutdown day 23; Senate bill fails, counterproposal blocked
• [02:15] – U.S. leadership condemns Israeli Knesset vote; Rob Schmitz, reporting
• [02:55] – NBA gambling indictments announced
• [03:39] – Advances in cardiac age measurements with AI
• [04:21] – Housing market data and trends

This summary encapsulates essential national and global developments of October 23, 2025, providing a snapshot for listeners who missed this NPR News Now episode.