NPR News: 10-23-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: October 23, 2025 – 5AM EDT

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Windsor Johnston, delivers concise updates on breaking news, U.S. government developments, international rulings, scientific discoveries, and notable cultural moments. Key highlights include the demolition of the White House East Wing, concerns over halted SNAP food aid during a government shutdown, a UN court ruling on Israeli responsibilities in Gaza, severe tropical weather impacting the Caribbean, research on ant-derived yogurt, and Misty Copeland’s retirement from the American Ballet Theater.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Demolition of the White House East Wing

[00:16–01:16]

• The East Wing, built during WWII and long housing the First Lady’s staff, is being demolished to construct a large ballroom as per President Trump's plan.
• President Trump downplayed the structure’s historic value:
  • Quote: "It was never thought of as being much. It was a very small building." – Rob Schmitz quoting Trump [00:45]
• Preservationists are concerned, but the White House maintains that proper preservation steps were followed, dismissing criticism as "pearl clutching."

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2. SNAP Food Aid at Risk Amid Government Shutdown

[01:16–02:13]

• If the federal shutdown continues, millions may lose SNAP (food stamp) benefits—a disruption with no historical precedent.
• Joel Berg (Hunger Free America CEO) warns:
  • Quote: "It would be catastrophic for those low and moderate income families if that aid suddenly stopped." – Jennifer Ludden [01:28, paraphrased]
• Key groups at risk include children, workers, older Americans, veterans, and people with disabilities.
  • Quote: "The vast majority are children, working people, older Americans, veterans and people with disabilities." – Windsor Johnston & Rob Schmitz [01:41–01:49]
• Food banks cannot fill the gap left by an $8 billion shortfall.
• SNAP payments are on hold for November; the Agriculture Department blames Senate Democrats for the ongoing shutdown.

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3. UN’s Top Court Orders Israel to Facilitate Gaza Aid

[02:13–03:11]

• The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must coordinate with the UN to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza.
• The court stated Israel is an "occupying power" under the Geneva Conventions and must provide for the population.
  • Quote: "An occupying power must provide humanitarian aid to the civilians under its occupation." – Rob Schmitz [02:23]
• Israel cannot cite security to halt humanitarian aid.
• The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was cleared of any legal wrongdoing.
  • Quote: "UNRWA has not violated any laws as Israel has claimed." – Rob Schmitz [03:09]

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4. Tropical Storm Melissa Strikes the Caribbean

[03:11–03:42]

• Tropical Storm Melissa has caused wide-scale evacuations, flood alerts, and closures across Jamaica, southern Hispaniola, and nine Dominican provinces.
• Thousands have been forced into shelters; all schools, businesses, and government offices in affected regions are shut.

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5. Ants Used to Make Yogurt: New Scientific Study

[03:42–04:23]

• Bulgarian traditions involve fermenting milk into yogurt using live redwood ants, yielding unique flavors and textures.
• The study, led by microbial ecologist Veronica Senat, explores the role of ant-associated bacteria in fermentation.
  • Quote: "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." – Windsor Johnston quoting research method [03:49]
• The findings suggest that traditional fermentation practices may inspire innovative new foods.

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6. Misty Copeland’s Farewell to Ballet

[04:23–04:55]

• Misty Copeland, the American Ballet Theater’s first Black female principal dancer, has retired at age 43.
• Copeland is transitioning to work promoting diversity in dance and writing children’s books.
• Her trailblazing career was celebrated at a gala in her honor.
  • Quote: "[Copeland] said it was time to move to a different stage, focusing on diversity in dance through her foundation and writing books for young readers." – Windsor Johnston [04:47]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "It was never thought of as being much. It was a very small building."
  — Rob Schmitz quoting President Trump on the East Wing [00:45]

• "The vast majority are children, working people, older Americans, veterans and people with disabilities."
  — Windsor Johnston & Rob Schmitz on SNAP recipients [01:41–01:49]

• "An occupying power must provide humanitarian aid to the civilians under its occupation."
  — Rob Schmitz on the ICJ ruling regarding Israel [02:23]

• "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."
  — Windsor Johnston quoting microbial ecologist Veronica Senat [03:49]

• "[Copeland] said it was time to move to a different stage, focusing on diversity in dance through her foundation and writing books for young readers."
  — Windsor Johnston on Misty Copeland's post-retirement plans [04:47]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• East Wing Demolition: 00:16–01:16
• Government Shutdown & SNAP Aid: 01:16–02:13
• ICJ Ruling on Gaza Aid: 02:13–03:11
• Tropical Storm Melissa: 03:11–03:42
• Ant Yogurt Study: 03:42–04:23
• Misty Copeland Retirement: 04:23–04:55

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Tone & Language

This news round-up maintains NPR’s clear, measured, and direct tone, blending factual reporting with occasional, concise speaker commentary and sourced quotations.

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Transcript

[Jackson (Jackson Financial Representative)]

This message comes from Jackson. Seek clarity in retirement [e-mail] Jackson is short for Jackson Financial, Inc. Jackson National Life Insurance Co. Lansing, Michigan and Jackson National Life Insurance Co. Of New York, Purchase, New York.

[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The entire East Wing of the White House is being demolished. NPR's Tamara Keith reports. It's part of President Trump's plan to make room for a grand new ballroom.

[Tamara Keith]

The East Wing was built during World War II and has been modified over the years. Until recently, it housed the offices of the first lady staff. Explaining that it needed to be torn down, President Trump downplayed its significance.

[Rob Schmitz]

It was never thought of as being much. It was a very small building.

[Tamara Keith]

Trump said it didn't make sense to save the East Wing at the expense of the massive new ballroom he has planned.

[Rob Schmitz]

In order to do it properly, we had to take down the existing structure.

[Tamara Keith]

Images of excavators tearing into a wing of the White House have set off alarms for groups concerned with historic preservation. The White House says preservation work was done and calls the controversy, quote, pearl clutching. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Millions of Americans may lose food aid if the Government shutdown continues. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. A disruption like this has never hit the nation's largest anti hunger program.

[Jennifer Ludden]

One in eight people in the US Get SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. Joel Berg, the CEO of Hunger Free America, says it would be catastrophic for those low and moderate income families if that aid suddenly stopped.

[Windsor Johnston]

The vast majority are children, working people.

[Rob Schmitz]

Older Americans, veterans and people with disabilities.

[Jennifer Ludden]

He also says food banks and other charities can nowhere near make up for the loss of $8 billion in federal funding. The Agriculture Department has told states there's not for full snap funding in November, so payments are on hold. In a statement to npr, an agency spokesperson blamed Senate Democrats for keeping the government shut down. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

The UN's top court has ruled that Israel must work with the world body to get aid into Gaza. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports from Tel Aviv.

[Rob Schmitz]

The International Court of Justice's President Yuji I Wasawa took more than an hour to read the court's opinion that Israel, because it exercises a degree of control over over Gaza, is deemed by the Geneva Convention an occupying power. As such, the court reasoned, Israel is bound by the convention's law of occupation, which states that an occupying power must provide humanitarian aid to the civilians under its occupation, in this case, Gazans. The court went further, saying Israel as an occupying power may never invoke reasons of security to justify the suspension of humanitarian aid and that the population of Gaza has been inadequately supplied by Israel. The court also said the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, or unrwa, has not violated any laws as Israel has claimed. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News. In Washington, Tropical Storm Melissa is sweeping through the Caribbean, triggering flood alerts and raising fears of landslides in Jamaica and southern Hispaniola. In the Dominican Republic, thousands of people were forced to evacuate to shelters. Schools, businesses and government offices are shut down across nine provinces today. A new study shows that ants are good at making yogurt. NPR's Regina Barber has more.

[Regina Barber]

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

[Windsor Johnston]

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.

[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.

[Windsor Johnston]

Ballerina Misty Copeland has taken her final bow. The American Ballet Theater honored the trailblazing dancer with the farewell gala last night. The 43 year old was the first black female principal dancer in the company's 75 year history. In an interview with the Associated Press, Copeland said it was time to move to a different stage, focusing on diversity in dance through her foundation and writing books for young readers. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

[Jackson (Jackson Financial Representative)]

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.