NPR News: 10-24-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 10-24-2025 2AM EDT

Host: NPR News | Date: October 24, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced installment of NPR News Now provides concise updates on top stories from the U.S. and around the world. The episode covers political deadlock over the government shutdown, a major illegal gambling scandal involving NBA players, President Trump's abrupt moves in international trade and cryptocurrency, developments in Ukraine and Russia tensions, Lithuania’s security claim, and redistricting maneuvers in several U.S. states.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Government Shutdown and Employee Pay Dispute

[00:19–01:15]

• The Senate remains at a standstill over two competing bills on federal employee pay during the ongoing government shutdown.
  • Republican Bill: Would pay only "essential" employees working without pay (e.g., military troops, TSA agents).
  • Democratic Bill: Proposes pay for all federal employees and aims to block further layoffs by the Trump administration.
• Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) argue over the “illegal firing” of workers during the shutdown.
  • Notable exchange: “Senator, I really didn’t want to come and argue.” – [01:04]
• With more than 1 million federal workers about to miss a paycheck, lawmakers admit there is "no closer to an agreement to reopen the government."
  • “Lawmakers say they are no closer to an agreement to reopen the government.” – Sam Greenglass [01:13]

2. FBI Busts NBA-Linked Illegal Gambling Ring

[01:15–02:01]

• Over 30 arrests are announced in a criminal gambling investigation, including three NBA players and a head coach.
  • Two distinct organized crime schemes are alleged.
  • “They named seven NBA games from a couple seasons ago in which an NBA insider … gave non-public information to gamblers …” – Becky Sullivan [01:34]
• Highlighted: Miami Heat player Terry Rozier (then with the Charlotte Hornets) allegedly told a friend about leaving a March 2023 game early due to injury; that friend sold the info to gamblers for $100,000.

3. Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada

[02:01–02:31]

• President Trump abruptly halts all trade negotiations with Canada, referencing a “fake television ad” using Ronald Reagan’s voice to criticize tariffs.
• Canadian PM Mark Carney responds by vowing to boost Canadian exports to countries outside the U.S.

4. Ukraine Urges EU to Use Frozen Russian Assets

[02:31–03:14]

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses EU leaders, calling for expedited use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's war efforts.
• Zelenskyy’s remarks (quoted by anchor): “Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay for this war. In any case, one of the ways to pressure on them is to use frozen assets.” – [02:44]
• Zelenskyy suggests funds could aid drone, missile, and air defense production in Ukraine and Europe.

5. Lithuania Reports Russian Airspace Violation

[03:14–03:50]

• Lithuania alleges two Russian military planes entered its airspace shortly after the EU adopted a new security plan for 2030.
• Russia offers no comment at the time of this report.

6. Trump Pardons Binance Founder

[03:50–04:30]

• President Trump pardons Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, Binance’s founder, previously jailed for money laundering.
  • Zhao had pled guilty in 2023 and served four months.
  • “The Trump White House seeks to contrast Trump with Biden. Press secretary Caroline Levitt says Zhao was prosecuted in the previous administration’s, quote, war on cryptocurrency.” – Daniel Kurtzleben [04:13]
  • Trump administration positions itself as strongly pro-crypto, with the Trump family operating multiple cryptocurrency businesses.

7. Redistricting Moves in U.S. States

[04:30–04:57]

• Virginia Democrats plan to redraw congressional maps before 2026 midterms (per Republican officials).
• California announces a special November 4 election on redistricting, following similar moves in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina after Trump's call for more GOP-leaning districts.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Senate gridlock:
  “Lawmakers say they are no closer to an agreement to reopen the government.”
  – Sam Greenglass [01:13]

• On tensions over government layoffs:
  “Senator, I really didn’t want to come and argue.”
  – Unnamed Senator during impromptu exchange [01:04]

• On Ukraine-Russia conflict:
  “Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay for this war. In any case, one of the ways to pressure on them is to use frozen assets.”
  – Quoted statement from President Zelenskyy [02:44]

• Crypto prosecution as political issue:
  “Press secretary Caroline Levitt says Zhao was prosecuted in the previous administration’s, quote, war on cryptocurrency.”
  – Daniel Kurtzleben [04:13]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:19: Government shutdown and federal employee pay debate
• 01:15: NBA illegal gambling bust
• 02:01: Trump ends Canada trade negotiations
• 02:31: Zelenskyy urges use of Russian assets
• 03:14: Lithuania accuses Russia of airspace violation
• 03:50: Trump pardons Binance founder amid crypto policy clash
• 04:30: State-level redistricting news

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This summary captures the rapid-fire tone and substance of NPR’s five-minute news update, with clear attributions and highlights for listeners seeking in-depth context behind today’s top stories.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have stalled competing bills to pay federal employees during the government shutdown. More than 1 million dol million federal workers are set to miss a paycheck on Friday. As NPR Sam Greenglass reports, the Republican.

[Sam Greenglass]

Backed measure would have paid essential employees working without pay, including troops and TSA agents. A version by Democrats called for paying all federal employees and blocking more layoffs by the Trump administration. Democratic Senator Chris Van Holland of Maryland and Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin debated the dueling bills. They're illegally firing people during the show again.

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

Senator, I really didn't want to come and argue. Okay, well, why don't we sit down?

[Sam Greenglass]

Why don't we sit down together? I have to dispute that. As they prepare to head home for the weekend, lawmakers say they are no closer to an agreement to reopen the government. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

The FBI has announced the arrests of over 30 people linked to an illegal gambling investigation. The suspects include three current and former NBA players and a current head coach. As NPR's Becky Sullivan reports, investigators are focusing on two alleged schemes involving organized crime.

[Becky Sullivan]

They named seven NBA games from a couple seasons ago in which an NBA insider they say gave non public information to gamblers to gamble on them basically. So in the case of one of the current active player, his name is Terry Rozier. He plays for the Heat, Miami Heat now, but at the time he played for the Charlotte Hornets. According to the indictment, he told a friend that he had planned to pull out of a game in March 2023, planned to pull out early due to an injury. That friend allegedly sold the information to gamblers for $100,000.

[Shea Stevens]

NPR's Becky Sullivan reporting. President Trump has announced on TR that he's ending all trade negotiations with Canada. Trump cited a fake television ad using President Reagan's voice to criticize tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says this nation will now double its exports to countries outside of the U.S. ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he welcomes the new U.S. sanctions against Russia. As NPR's Hannah Palimorenko reports, Zelensky has also called for more pressure on the Kremlin.

[Hannah Palimorenko]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to EU leaders to support Ukraine at the European Council gathering. He emphasized the importance of making a decision on the use of frozen Russian assets as soon as possible.

[Shea Stevens]

Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay for this war. In any case, one of the ways to pressure on them is to use frozen assets.

[Hannah Palimorenko]

Zelenskyy says the money from frozen Russian assets could be used on Ukrainian production of drones, electronic war air and missiles, as well as European production of artillery shells, reconnaissance drones and air defense systems. Hanna Polomarenko, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading. This is NPR. Lithuania says two Russian military planes violated its airspace late Thursday in Moscow. Officials have not commented on the claim. Coming hours after the European Union endorsed a plan to protect the bloc by the year 2030. Lithuania has EU member since 2004. President Trump has pardoned the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who had been in prison for money laundering. The move is another shot at former President Biden. As NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben reports, Changpeng Zhao.

[Daniel Kurtzleben]

Pleaded guilty in 2023 and also stepped down as the CEO of Binance. Zhao, also known as cz, was later sentenced to four months in prison. The prosecution was carried out under the Biden administration, which aggressively targeted the crypto industry and sought to establish guardrails to prevent the FL of crypto for criminal purposes. The Trump White House seeks to contrast Trump with Biden. Press secretary Caroline Levitt says Zhao was prosecuted in the previous administration's, quote, war on cryptocurrency. In 2024, Trump ran on pro crypto policies and his family runs multiple crypto related businesses, including crypto platform World Liberty Financial. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.

[Shea Stevens]

Virginia Democrats plan to redraw the state's congressional voting maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to Republican state lawmakers. SPE NPR California plans to hold a Nov. 4 special election to vote on a referendum calling for redistricting there. This coming after Texas, Missouri and North Carolina heeded President Trump's request to change their maps in order to add more Republican seats in Congress. This is NPR News.

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