NPR News Now: Key Highlights – October 24, 2025, 12PM EDT

Episode Overview
This five-minute NPR News Now episode brings listeners up to speed on top stories from politics, economics, and international affairs. Major headlines include legal controversies involving high-profile officials, developments in the prolonged U.S. government shutdown, shifts in international economic policy, and severe weather threats in the Caribbean.

1. Legal Charges Against NY Attorney General Letitia James

• [00:01] Anchor Lakshmi Singh reports that New York AG Letitia James has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging she lied on mortgage documents.
  • James appeared in Norfolk, Virginia, thanking supporters for their encouragement.
• [00:20] "I want to thank each and every one of you. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want to thank you for your emails. I want to thank you for your support." — Letitia James, before the court
• Trial Set: January (year implied: 2026)
• Context: James led last year’s civil fraud case against Donald Trump, which initially resulted in a $450 million penalty—later overturned on appeal.

2. Day 24 of the U.S. Government Shutdown

• [00:36] About 1.5 million federal workers remain unpaid.
• Senate Action: Two competing Senate bills addressing pay for federal employees were blocked:
  • Republican Proposal (Sen. Ron Johnson): Would pay only essential workers.
  • Democratic Proposal: Would pay all federal workers, including those furloughed.
  • Both measures failed along party lines.

Civilian Government Workers Affected

• [01:16] "These are civilian employees of the government all over the country, and roughly 700,000 of them are furloughed, meaning they're not working and not getting paid. And close to that many are working but also not getting paid. This includes, you know, air traffic controllers, also people working at the Social Security Administration." — Andrea Hsu, NPR ([01:16])

• Social Security Update: Benefits to rise by 2.8% (or about $56/month) starting in January, slightly higher than last year's increase of 2.5%.

3. U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions Escalate

• [02:08] President Trump halts trade talks with Canada after Ontario runs a U.S. ad critical of his tariffs.
  • The ad features selectively edited 1987 remarks by President Reagan opposing tariffs.
• [02:18] "Such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer." — Reagan quoted in ad
• [02:23] Tamara Keith: Tariffs are “central to President Trump’s economic and foreign policy agenda.”
• President Trump claims the ad is “meant to interfere with a Supreme Court tariff case.”
• Canadian Response: Prime Minister Mark Carney signals willingness to resume talks when the U.S. is ready.
  • "Trump's post says all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated... Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says they'll continue trade talks when the US is ready." — Tamara Keith, NPR ([02:23])

4. Wall Street Update

• [02:48, 04:28] Dow Jones Industrial Average is up by around 560–565 points (1.2%–1%).

5. EU Debates Using Frozen Russian Assets to Aid Ukraine

• [03:17] European leaders did not approve a plan to back a $160 billion loan to Ukraine with frozen Russian state assets.

  • Belgium, home to most of the assets, resisted due to disproportionate financial risk.
  • Christine Berzegna, US German Marshall Fund: "Belgium wants guarantees that the risk will be spread against all of the countries." ([03:42])

• Concerns: Undermining Belgium’s financial system, setting a risky precedent.

6. Severe Weather Threatens the Caribbean

• [03:54] Developing storm “Melissa” is intensifying as wind shear subsides and warm Caribbean waters fuel it.
  • Warned Areas: Jamaica, southwest Haiti, Hispaniola
  • Potential Impacts: Several feet of rain, flash floods, mudslides, storm surge, power outages.
• [03:59] "Residents of Jamaica and southwest Haiti are being warned to prepare for several feet of rain and damaging winds over the coming days. Flash floods, mudslides, storm surge and power outages are also big concerns." — Matt Bloom, NPR

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Letitia James: "I want to thank each and every one of you...for your support." ([00:20])
• Andrea Hsu, NPR: "These are civilian employees... also people working at the Social Security Administration." ([01:16])
• Ronald Reagan (in ad): "Such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer." ([02:18])
• Tamara Keith, NPR: "Trump's post says all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated..." ([02:23])
• Christine Berzegna: "Belgium wants guarantees that the risk will be spread..." ([03:42])
• Matt Bloom, NPR: "Residents of Jamaica and southwest Haiti are being warned to prepare..." ([03:59])

Summary Flow & Tone

The episode is delivered in a direct, factual, and concise newscast style typical of NPR, rapidly moving through urgent headlines and offering brief expert soundbites for context and clarity.

Useful For:
Anyone needing a rapid, authoritative update on major U.S. and global news developments as of midday October 24, 2025.