NPR News Now — October 23, 2025, 8PM EDT

Brief Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise five-minute update on major national and international events. Key topics include new oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ongoing White House renovations, shifting alliances in the New York City mayoral race, escalations in sanctions against Russia, mass demonstrations in Hungary, alarming reports of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and a rare paleontological discovery in Wyoming.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Oil and Gas Lease Sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Timestamps: [00:15]–[01:04]

• The Trump administration announces a new lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest wilderness areas in the U.S.
• The area, abundant in wildlife, has been at the center of political debate for decades.
• Two lease sales are planned for later in the winter, but interest is uncertain—previous sales ended with no bidders.
• Quote:
  "It's unclear if anyone will pay place bids." — Ryland Barton [00:15]
  "The last time an oil and gas lease sale was held in the refuge, though, it ended with no bidders." — Nate Rott [00:52]

2. White House East Wing Demolition and Preservation Concerns

Timestamps: [01:04]–[01:54]

• Demolition of the east wing is progressing faster than expected—completion could come as soon as this weekend.
• The National Trust for Historic Preservation urges the Trump administration to pause demolition until expansion plans, including a large 90,000-square-foot ballroom, undergo review.
• The renovations will modernize and expand critical facilities, including the underground Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC).
• Quote:
  "Demolition of the entire east wing could be completed as soon as this weekend, with structures all the way up to the edge of the White House residence coming down." — Tamara Keith [01:15]

3. New York City Mayoral Race: Adams Endorses Rival Andrew Cuomo

Timestamps: [01:54]–[02:45]

• Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, after scandals ended his reelection bid, endorses former adversary Andrew Cuomo in hopes of blocking frontrunner Zoran Mamdani.
• Adams previously called Cuomo “a snake and a liar” but now supports him to stave off a candidate he deems “too far left.”
• Cuomo, running as an independent, trails Mamdani in polls. Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa refuse any endorsement from the scandal-plagued Adams.
• Quotes:
  "At first he declined to back Cuomo, calling the former governor a snake and a liar. But he's reversed course and says he hopes to keep Mamdani, whom Adams described as too far left, from taking over as mayor." — Brian Mann [02:08]
  "We're fighting against a snake oil salesman that has sold us a bill of goods." — Anonymous Political Commentator [02:21]

4. International Headlines

Sanctions on Russia Amid Ongoing Ukraine War

Timestamps: [02:45]–[03:51]

• The European Union imposes further economic sanctions on Russia, following U.S. efforts targeting Russian oil companies.
• Objective: Pressure Moscow to halt its war in Ukraine.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin warns of potential global energy disruptions; immediate oil price spikes are observed.
• Analysts predict higher consumer fuel prices if the situation persists.

Hungary: Competing Mass Demonstrations

Timestamps: [03:29]

• Budapest sees hundreds of thousands in rival rallies.
• The standoff: Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban vs. challenger Péter Magyar, marking the most competitive Hungarian election in 15 years.

DRC: Sharp Wave of Sexual Violence

Timestamps: [03:51]–[04:32]

• The UN reports a 30% increase in sexual violence cases in the DRC year-over-year.
• Doctors Without Borders has treated over 40,000 survivors, a record for the organization.
• Critical services for survivors are threatened by ongoing violence and foreign aid cuts attributed to the Trump administration.
• Call for urgent funding to restore life-saving and mental health support services.
• Quote:
  "Doctors Without Borders said they had treated more than 40,000 survivors, a record for the organization..." — Fatima Tanis [03:54]
  "The agency is calling for an urgent increase in funding to deliver life saving care and mental health support to thousands of survivors." — Fatima Tanis [04:19]

5. Science Discovery: Rare Dinosaur "Mummies"

Timestamps: [04:32]–[04:56]

• Paleontologists discover rare well-preserved dinosaur fossils in Wyoming, with clay layers preserving skin and scale impressions due to microbial activity.
• Such finds reveal new insight into dinosaur preservation processes.

Memorable Moments & Tone

• The new lease sale and White House demolition stories highlight ongoing tensions between development and preservation.
• The New York mayoral race segment stands out for both the reversal in political alliances and the colorful language of the candidates and their surrogates.
• The stories from Budapest and the DRC underscore continued global political and humanitarian crises.
• The dinosaur discovery adds a burst of scientific curiosity and wonder at the tail end of the news cycle.

For Further Listening

• The episode covers major developments in U.S. policy, global diplomacy, and scientific discovery, with a balance of urgency and factual reporting.
• No extended interviews; the tone remains brisk and authoritative throughout, in keeping with NPR’s commitment to conciseness and credibility.

Note: Commercials and non-content sections (opening/closing ads) have been omitted as per instructions.