NPR News Now: October 24, 2025, 8AM EDT

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers the latest headlines from Washington and across the U.S. Topics include President Trump's abrupt halt to U.S.-Canada trade talks, a new Alaska oil and gas lease sale, federal investigations into NBA gamblers, ongoing impacts of the government shutdown, and Target's historic job cuts. Anchored by Korva Coleman, the program compiles essential updates from NPR correspondents.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S.-Canada Trade Negotiations and Ontario Tariff Ad Controversy

• Trump Halts Talks: President Trump publicly ends trade talks with Canada, attributing the move to an anti-tariff commercial aired by Ontario's provincial government.
• Controversy Over Reagan Ad: The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation claims the Ontario ad misrepresents a 1987 radio address by Ronald Reagan, depicting him as criticizing tariffs.
• Political Maneuvering: The ad, costing Ontario $75 million, targeted U.S. Republican voters and aired across major U.S. networks. Trump’s response included statements on Truth Social emphasizing tariffs' importance to U.S. security and economy.
• Lack of Canadian Response: As of the report, the Canadian government has not responded.

“Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.”
— (President Trump, summarized by Dan Karpenschak, 00:38)

Timestamp: [00:17]–[01:23]

2. Oil and Gas Lease Sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

• Lease Sales Resume: The Trump administration announces plans for two new lease sales in Alaska’s ANWR, one of the largest wilderness tracts in the nation.
• Ecological Significance and Political Drama: The refuge, home to caribou, muskoxen, and polar bears, has been the focal point of energy and environmental policy debates spanning multiple administrations.
• Past Market Reaction: The last auction held under Trump’s presidency saw no bidders participate.

“The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is roughly the size of South Carolina… an area of Northeast Alaska with no roads but abundant wildlife...”
— Nate Rott (01:34)

Timestamp: [01:23]–[02:08]

3. NBA, Illegal Gambling, and Celebrity Involvement

• Federal Investigations: The NBA is cooperating with federal inquiries into illegal gambling and game rigging, encompassing two main cases:
  • Illicit sharing of player information for betting purposes.
  • Illegal gambling linked to underground poker games.
• Crime Ties and Celebrity Involvement: The cases involve organized crime groups and numerous defendants, notably Portland Trailblazers head coach Chauncey Billups.
• Billups’ Charges: He faces conspiracy charges related to high-tech poker cheating schemes. An unnamed co-conspirator in a separate indictment matches Billups’ description.

“Prosecutors allege that organized crime groups basically run these games and... used Billups as a celebrity to sort of lure in victims.”
— Becky Sullivan (02:38)

Timestamp: [02:08]–[03:10]

4. Federal Government Shutdown Impacts

• Stalemate Continues: The federal government shutdown reaches its 24th day, with no agreement on a spending bill.
• Employee Hardship: This marks the first missed paycheck for federal workers.
• Temporary Fixes: President Trump reallocates Defense Department funds to pay U.S. troops and mentions an undisclosed private $130 million donation to support the military.
• Economic Consequences: The shutdown delays the government’s inflation report.
• Retailer Response: Target announces historic layoffs as part of its financial response.

“President Trump has directed the Defense Department to shuffle money to pay U.S. troops... a private individual is donating $130 million to help the U.S. military during the shutdown.”
— Korva Coleman (03:10)

Timestamp: [03:10]–[04:08]

5. Target Announces Massive Job Cuts

• Layoff Details: Target eliminates 1,000 corporate management jobs and cancels hiring for 800 open positions—one of its largest corporate layoffs (~8% of the workforce).
• Leadership Shift: Michael Fidelke, a long-time insider, will ascend to CEO despite investors' desire for an outsider.
• Rationale for Cuts: Sales have stagnated or declined over three years as competition intensifies. Job reductions aim to “simplify complexity” and reduce organizational inefficiencies.

“Fidelke in a memo says job cuts are meant to simplify complexity, quote, too many layers and overlapping work that slowed decisions and ideas.”
— Alina Selyuk (04:08)

Timestamp: [04:08]–[04:50]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Trade Talks
  “Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.”
  — President Trump (relayed by Dan Karpenschak, 00:38)

• On Environmental Policy
  “The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is roughly the size of South Carolina... an area of Northeast Alaska with no roads but abundant wildlife like caribou, muskox and polar bears.”
  — Nate Rott (01:34)

• On Crime in Sports
  “They say that they used Billups as a celebrity to sort of lure in victims... all this high-tech equipment like rigged shuffling machines and x-ray poker tables and special glasses to cheat and win.”
  — Becky Sullivan (02:38)

• On Retail Struggles
  “Job cuts are meant to simplify complexity, quote, too many layers and overlapping work that slowed decisions and ideas.”
  — Michael Fidelke (quoted by Alina Selyuk, 04:08)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• U.S.-Canada Trade & Reagan Ad: 00:17–01:23
• Alaska Oil Lease Sale: 01:23–02:08
• NBA Gambling Scandal: 02:08–03:10
• Government Shutdown Impacts: 03:10–04:08
• Target Job Cuts: 04:08–04:50

Summary prepared for those seeking a clear, concise, and accurate briefing on the latest major U.S. news as reported by NPR News Now for October 24, 2025, 8AM EDT.