NPR News: 10-25-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – October 25, 2025 (11AM EDT)

Episode Theme:
A rapid-fire overview of the day’s leading news stories, covering U.S. politics, international affairs, the ongoing government shutdown, severe weather, and sports highlights.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. President Trump Open to Meeting North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

• [00:00–00:55]

  • President Trump, en route to Malaysia, states he's open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his Asia trip.
  • Trump reminisces about their prior meeting at the Korean DMZ in 2019, describing it as a quickly assembled event following a tweet.
  • This Asia trip includes attending the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, traveling to Tokyo, and a stop in South Korea for the APEC summit and scheduled talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

  Notable Quote

  • “He said that he and Kim had a great relationship, and he says Kim knows that he's coming to the region, but he hasn't spoken with the North Korean leader.”
    — Deepa Shivaram, [00:18]

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2. Stalemate in Government Shutdown Negotiations

• [00:57–01:48]

  • The government shutdown has reached its 25th day without signs of resolution.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to call the House back until Democrats vote to reopen the government.
  • At the center of the conflict: the expiration of health care tax subsidies, which Democrats want to extend.
  • Republicans claim there’s no room for negotiation, while Ron Elving speculates they might return to the table if the president initiates talks.

  Notable Quotes

  • “House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won't call the House back in session until after the Democrats vote to reopen the government.”
    — Nora Ramm, [00:57]
  • “Much higher bills are about to hit home for millions of Americans, and they live disproportionately in states that voted for Trump. So there could be some rising tension there.”
    — Ron Elving, [01:25]

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3. Pressure to Fund SNAP Food Aid During Shutdown

• [01:48–02:40]

  • Calls increase for the administration to ensure continued SNAP (food stamps) support amid the shutdown.
  • $8 billion in food aid funding is at risk of ending in November, which experts say could devastate local economies and public health.
  • Hunger advocates warn that grocery stores and markets may see layoffs.
  • The Agriculture Department claims insufficient contingency funds, leaving SNAP payments on hold.

  Notable Quotes

  • “Joel Berg with Hunger Free America says the money gets spent at 260,000 retail.”
    — Jennifer Ludden, [02:13]
  • “Markets, big box stores, grocery stores are going to lose that income. I think some stores may actually be forced to lay off employees.”
    — Joel Berg (via Martin Kosti), [02:17]

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4. Weather Alert: Tropical Storm Alyssa

• [02:40–03:00]
  • Tropical Storm Alyssa, moving through the central Caribbean, is expected to become a hurricane imminently.
  • The storm’s potential impact zones include Jamaica, Cuba, and Southern Hispaniola, with forecasts for strong winds, flooding, and landslides.

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5. Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv

• [03:00–03:25]
  • At least two killed and thirteen wounded in Kyiv following a missile attack attributed to Russia.
  • Ukrainian President Zelensky urges Western allies to supply more air defense systems, specifically seeking 25 Patriot missile batteries from the U.S.

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6. Controversy Over Deportation to Liberia

• [03:25–04:25]

  • The Justice Department seeks to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, originally from El Salvador, to Liberia.
  • A previous court found sending him back to El Salvador would be dangerous; he was nonetheless deported there before being returned.
  • His attorney, Simon Sandoval Moshenburg, argues the administration's insistence on Liberia as a destination is punitive.
  • DOJ claims Liberia is a “thriving democracy” but does not clarify whether Liberia would safeguard Garcia from further deportation.

  Notable Quotes

  • “They are using the selection of the country of removal as a means of punishing him.”
    — Simon Sandoval Moshenburg (via Ron Elving), [04:03]
  • “The Justice Department calls Liberia a thriving democracy with [which] provides robust protections for human rights.”
    — Martin Kosti, [04:12]

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7. Sports Highlight: World Series Opener

• [04:25–End]
  • Toronto Blue Jays decisively win Game 1 of the World Series against the LA Dodgers, 11-4.
  • Game 2 set for the following night in Toronto.

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The episode maintains a brisk pace and an urgent tone, focusing on unfolding political and international issues.
• Speakers are often succinct, focusing on the facts and offering brief expert commentary.
• Multiple storylines highlight the cascading effects of domestic policy decisions, especially surrounding the government shutdown.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump open to Kim Jong Un meeting: [00:00–00:55]
• Government shutdown update: [00:57–01:48]
• SNAP food aid pressure: [01:48–02:40]
• Tropical Storm Alyssa update: [02:40–03:00]
• Kyiv missile attack: [03:00–03:25]
• Garcia deportation controversy: [03:25–04:25]
• World Series result: [04:25–End]

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This episode delivers concise, high-impact coverage of national and global headlines, offering listeners a rolled-up look at pressing news without editorializing or extraneous discussion.

Transcript

[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ram. President Trump says he's open to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his trip to Asia. NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports.

[Deepa Shivaram]

En route to Malaysia, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that if Kim was willing to meet, he'd be open to it. He said that he and Kim had a great relationship, and he says Kim knows that he's coming to the region, but he hasn't spoken with the North Korea Korean leader. Trump last met with Kim in 2019 when he made a visit to the demilitarized zone between north and South Korea. It came together quickly after Trump tweeted and proposed a meeting at the DMZ to shake Kim's hand and say hello. After attending the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and traveling to Tokyo, Trump will fly to South Korea, where he's expected to attend events at the APEC summit and meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News. Traveling with the president Today is day.

[Nora Ramm]

25 of the government shutdown with no apparent movement to end the stalemate. House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won't call the House back in session until after the Democrats vote to reopen the government. The Democrats want to extend tax subsidies for health care, due to expire at the end of the year. NPR's Ron Elving has more.

[Ron Elving]

The Democrats say it's all about health care premium subsidies for people on Obamacare. Much higher bills are about to hit home for millions of Americans, and they live disproportionately in states that voted for Trump. So there could be some rising tension there. The Republicans in Congress say the Democrats just want to fight, and they say for their part, there's nothing to negotiate. My guess is that they would be back at the negotiating table on Monday if summoned by the president, but he does not seem to be so inclined.

[Nora Ramm]

NPR's Ron Elving. Pressure is building on the Trump administration to keep paying for food aid during the shutdown. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Members of Congress, state and local officials have all urged the administration to not let $8 billion of SNAP funding end in November. The US Conference of Mayors says it's vital to local budgets and public health systems. Joel Berg with Hunger Free America says the money gets spent at 260,000 retail.

[Martin Kosti]

Markets, big box stores, grocery stores are going to lose that income. I think some stores may actually be forced to lay off employees.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Food policy experts say the Agriculture Department can and must use contingency funds to keep SNAP going. The agency says there's not enough money, and payments are on hold. Jennifer Lutton, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Ramm]

Tropical Storm Alyssa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane sometime today. It's now moving over the central Caribbean. It's expected to bring damaging winds, flash flooding and landslides to Jamaica, Cuba and the southern Hispaniola. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Ukrainian officials say at least two people were killed in the capital Kyiv early this morning in a Russian missile attack. At least 13 people were wounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks show the need for Western air defense systems for Ukraine to defend itself. Ukraine is attempting to buy 25 Patriot air defense systems from the US that have proven effective at destroying Russia's ballistic missiles. The Justice Department says it now wants to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the African nation of Liberia. But as NPR's Martin Kosti reports, his lawyers say that's an unacceptable option.

[Martin Kosti]

A Judge ruled in 2019 that although Abrego Garcia was in the US illegally, he shouldn't be sent back to El Salvador because of dangers he'd face there. The Trump administration deported him there anyway, it says, by mistake, and he was returned to the US In June. Now his lawyer, Simon Sandoval Moshenburg, says Costa Rica could take Abrego Garcia, but the administration keeps insisting on sending him farther away.

[Ron Elving]

They are using the selection of the country of removal as a means of punishing him.

[Martin Kosti]

In its court filing, the Justice Department calls Liberia a thriving democracy with which provides robust protections for human rights. But it doesn't say whether Liberia has promised not to send Abrego Garcia on to El Salvador. Martin Kosti, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

At the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays won the first game last night, overwhelming the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 11 4. Game 2 is tonight also in Toronto. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.