NPR News Now: October 24, 2025, 3AM EDT – Summary

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers an essential roundup of top national headlines. Major stories include the ongoing government shutdown and its effects on federal workers, economic and trade tensions sparked by President Trump’s policies, a resolved dispute over potential troop deployment in San Francisco, significant environmental actions in Alaska, a high-profile presidential pardon, new academic research on social-emotional learning, and an unusual donation to the military.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown Continues: Federal Workers Impacted

Timestamps: 00:17–01:16

• Over 1 million federal workers are poised to miss another paycheck.
• Community organizations in the Washington, D.C. area report a surge in requests for emergency help from affected workers, particularly for food, rent, mortgage, utility bills, and car payments.
  • Notable Quote:

    "It's folks asking for food assistance, it's rent, mortgages, it's utility bills and car payments."
    — Shea Stevens quoting Sig Milis, Director of the Community Services Agency, (00:56)

• Credit unions across the country are providing interest-free bridge loans to federal employees during the shutdown.
• Reporting by: Andrea Hsu

2. US Ranchers Furious Over Beef Imports from Argentina

Timestamps: 01:16–02:13

• President Trump’s plan to increase beef imports from Argentina has angered US ranchers, even those who previously supported him.
• The US cattle herd is at its lowest level since the 1950s, driving up beef prices.
• Ranchers fear the move will undermine efforts to rebuild the domestic cattle industry.
  • Notable Quote:

    "I just think it's a bad deal. And just when we're getting our ranchers back on their feet again, you know we're going to pull the rug out from under them."
    — Mike Caligrate (Kansas rancher), via Shea Stevens and Frank Morris (01:51–01:58)

• This follows Trump’s $20 billion bailout of Argentina’s economy, which has already irked US soybean farmers.
• Reporting by: Frank Morris

3. San Francisco Avoids Troop Deployment

Timestamps: 02:13–02:45

• San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announces the resolution of a dispute with President Trump over the potential deployment of troops to the city.
• Lurie confirms Trump has pulled back from the idea after a phone conversation.
  • Notable Quote:

    "We have work to do, and we would welcome the continued partnership with FBI, DEA, ATF and U.S. attorneys... But having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery."
    — Mayor Daniel Lurie (02:24)

• Lurie emphasized that violent crime is at its lowest in the city since the 1950s.

4. Oil and Gas Drilling Approved in Alaska’s Arctic Refuge

Timestamps: 02:45–03:13

• The Trump administration has finalized plans for expanded oil and gas drilling on 1.5 million acres of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• At least four lease sales are planned over the next decade.
• Environmentalists consider the refuge a “crown jewel” of US public lands.

5. High-Profile Presidential Pardon: Binance's Founder

Timestamps: 03:13–03:55

• President Trump pardons Changpeng Zhao, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
• Zhao had pled guilty in 2023, resigned, paid a multi-billion dollar fine, and served four months in prison.
• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt criticizes his prosecution as part of the Biden administration's "war on cryptocurrency".

6. Yale Study: Social and Emotional Learning Boosts Academics

Timestamps: 03:55–04:37

• New Yale analysis finds students who receive regular Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) instruction do better academically.
  • SEL teaches skills like emotional regulation, communication, and relationship building.
  • Notable Finding:

    SEL programs led to test scores and grade improvements in literacy and math, with year-long participation improving achievement by roughly 8 percentile points—nearly a full grade.

• Reporting by: Cory Turner

7. Unusual Military Donation During Shutdown

Timestamps: 04:37–04:56

• President Trump announces that a private individual—described as a "friend"—will donate $130 million to support the US military during the shutdown.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Federal Worker Hardship:

  "It's folks asking for food assistance, it's rent, mortgages, it's utility bills and car payments."
  — Sig Milis (00:56)

• Rancher Discontent Over Beef Imports:

  "I just think it's a bad deal. And just when we're getting our ranchers back on their feet again, you know we're going to pull the rug out from under them."
  — Mike Caligrate (01:51–01:58)

• San Francisco’s Mayor on Military Presence:

  "Having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery."
  — Daniel Lurie (02:24)

Additional Segments & Updates

• Financial Markets Update: US futures flat in after-hours trading.
• Repeated reminder: This NPR News Now episode provides a concise but comprehensive update on significant political, social, and economic stories unfolding across the US.

Note: This summary omits sponsor messages, promos, and non-content banter to maintain a tight focus on the news.