NPR News: 10-26-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – October 26, 2025, 10PM EDT

Host: Louise Schiavone
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: The episode provides a concise roundup of major global and national events, including U.S. military actions, political updates in Argentina, severe weather warnings, escalating violence in the DRC, effects of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown, and ongoing projects by Elon Musk's Boring Company.

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1. U.S. Military Strikes Against Alleged Drug Smugglers

Reported by: Luke Garrett
Segment Start: [00:17]

• Summary: President Trump has ordered military attacks on boats allegedly used by drug smugglers since September, resulting in at least 43 reported deaths.
• Controversy:
  • GOP Senator Rand Paul criticizes the actions, calling them “extrajudicial killings,” and draws parallels to harsh tactics employed by China and Iran.
  • Questions are raised about the lack of public evidence and due process for those accused.
• Key Quotes:
  • [00:48] Rand Paul: "I would call them extrajudicial killings. And this is akin to what China does [and] Iran does with drug dealers. They summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public. So it's wrong."
  • [01:04] Rand Paul: "If they were drug dealers, why wouldn't we prosecute them, present evidence of the drugs, show the arms they were about to invade us with or show us something?"
• White House Position: Trump continues to argue that alleged drug traffickers are terrorists, authorizing military force without Congressional approval.

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2. Argentina’s Midterm Elections and Regional Implications

Segment Start: [01:23]

• Summary: President Javier Milei wins crucial midterm elections, giving him a strong mandate to pursue his far-right free-market reforms.
• International Context:
  • Milei's policies have Washington’s attention and are strongly supported by the Trump administration.
• Relevance: Seen as a pivotal moment for South American policy and U.S.-Argentina relations.

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3. Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica and the Caribbean

Segment Start: [01:36]

• Current Status: Hurricane Melissa, with winds exceeding 140 mph, is nearing Kingston, Jamaica, and is expected to make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday.
• Potential Impact: Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are anticipated across Jamaica, with nearby countries—Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic—also at risk.
• Urgent Warning:
  • [02:07] Desmond Mackenzie (Jamaican official): "There is nothing more we can do as a government but to beg and beseech persons to heed the warning."

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4. Sexual Violence Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Reported by: Fatma Tanis
Segment Start: [02:18]

• Summary: The UN reports a 30% year-over-year increase in sexual violence against women and girls in the DRC, with Doctors Without Borders treating over 40,000 survivors—a record high.
• Compounding Challenges:
  • Ongoing conflict (now in its 30th year)
  • Vital services for survivors disrupted by violence and recent U.S. foreign aid cuts.
• UN Call to Action: The agency urges immediate funding increases for life-saving medical and mental health support.

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5. Effects of the Federal Shutdown: Delays and Aid Disruptions

Segment Start: [03:16]

• Flight Disruptions:
  • Continued government shutdown (now in day 26) is causing delays and cancellations at U.S. airports, notably LAX, due to staffing shortages.
  • The Department of Transportation warns disruptions will continue.
• Food Aid at Risk:
  • The USDA warns that federal food aid distributions will halt on November 1st without a spending resolution.

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6. The Boring Company’s Unauthorized Tunnel in Nashville

Reported by: Mariana Bacall
Segment Start: [04:04]

• Key Developments:
  • Elon Musk's company starts tunnel work in Nashville, bypassing city government since the route is on state roads.
  • The company worked primarily with Tennessee Republicans, leasing state land at no cost.
  • No environmental reviews were conducted prior to the project’s start.
• Risks Highlighted:
  • Nashville’s limestone geology increases the risk of sinkholes due to tunneling.

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7. Louvre Crown Jewel Theft – Arrests Made

Segment Start: [04:41]

• Update: French authorities have apprehended two suspects related to the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre.
• Details: One suspect was detained at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to leave the country.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rand Paul on military strikes:
  • [00:48] “I would call them extrajudicial killings... So it's wrong.”
  • [01:04] “If they were drug dealers, why wouldn't we prosecute them, present evidence... or show us something?”
• Desmond Mackenzie’s plea to Jamaicans:
  • [02:07] “There is nothing more we can do as a government but to beg and beseech persons to heed the warning.”

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:17] U.S. military strikes on drug smugglers
• [01:23] Argentina’s pivotal midterm elections
• [01:36] Hurricane Melissa’s approach to Jamaica
• [02:18] Escalating sexual violence in the DRC
• [03:16] Federal shutdown impacts flights and food aid
• [04:04] Boring Company’s tunnel controversy in Nashville
• [04:41] Arrests in the Louvre crown jewel theft

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This episode of NPR News Now delivers a brisk overview of critical global and domestic stories, marked by pointed criticism of executive power, mounting international crises, and the tangible effects of ongoing policy disputes and extreme weather events.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. President Trump has ordered military attacks on dozens of alleged drug smugglers. Since September, 10 boats have been struck, at least 43 people reportedly. And now a GOP voice in the U.S. senate is sharply critical. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

The White House says the alleged drug smugglers are invading the US by transporting deadly narcotics. But GOP Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky tells Fox News he has seen no evidence to support military strikes.

[Rand Paul]

I would call them extrajudicial killings. And this is akin to what China does to Iran does with drug dealers. They summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public. So it's wrong.

[Luke Garrett]

The two people that survived the US strikes were released. For Paul, this raises more questions.

[Rand Paul]

If they were drug dealers, why wouldn't we prosecute them, present evidence of the drugs, show the arms they were about to invade us with or show us something?

[Luke Garrett]

Trump has argued alleged drug traffickers are terrorists and the military has the right to kill them without Congress. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Louise Schiavone]

In Argentina, President Javier Milei has emerged on top in high stakes midterm elections closely watched by Washington. The crucial vote of confidence secured by Milei in this vote paves the way for him to continue his extreme free market policies strongly supported by the Trump administration. The National Hurricane center reports Hurricane Melissa is packing maximum sustained winds of more than 140 miles an hour. Located about 100 miles away from Kingston, Jamaica, the hurricane is expected to make landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday morning. Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are possible. Jamaican official Desmond Mackenzie is calling for extreme caution.

[Desmond Mackenzie]

There is nothing more we can do as a government but to beg and beseech persons to heed the warning.

[Louise Schiavone]

Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are also in the storm's path. The UN is sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in sexual violence against women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. NPR's Fatma Tanis reports. The ongoing, ongoing 30 year conflict is making the situation worse.

[Fatma Tanis]

The UN says there has been a 30% increase in sexual violence cases in the DRC compared to 2024 last year. Doctors Without Borders said they had treated more than 40,000 survivors, a record for the organization, the group said at the time. The UN's reproductive health agency says many Critical services for survivors such as rape kits and HIV prevention medication have been disrupted due to the violence and the foreign aid cuts of the Trump administration. The agency is calling for an urgent increase in funding to deliver life saving care and mental health support to thousands of survivors. Fatma Tanis, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

This is NPR. On day 26 of a federal government shutdown, more flight delays and cancellations are expected at US Airports this week. The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted earlier today due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The transportation secretary says more delays and cancellations are likely. The Agriculture Department is announcing that federal food aid will not go out on the first day of November unless there is a resolution of the federal spending impasse. In Washington, the Boring Company owned by Elon Musk, has begun work on an underground tunnel in Nashville without local approval. From member station wpln, Mariana Bacall reports.

[Mariana Bacall]

The Boring Company doesn't need local approval. The tunnel project traces a careful arc of state roads, meaning it doesn't need any sign off from Democratic leaders in Nashville. Musk's company has worked almost exclusively with Tennessee Republicans to lease state land at no cost. State records show there were no environmental reviews done before the project was initiated. And geologists warn that Nashville's particular type of limestone means there is an increased potential for sinkholes to occur during tunnel work. For NPR News, I'm Mariana Bacallau in Nashville.

[Louise Schiavone]

French authorities have two suspects in custody in connection with the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre. One suspect was caught at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to leave the country. I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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