NPR News: 10-26-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: October 26, 2025, 11PM EDT

Host: Dale Willman (NPR News)
Date: October 27, 2025
Duration: Five minutes
Theme: Rapid-fire global news update covering US-China trade, Hurricane Melissa, Argentine elections, Boeing strike, Louvre heist arrests, LAX disruptions, and NCAA football rankings.

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Main Theme

This five-minute episode delivers key global and national headlines, focusing on major political, economic, and natural events with concise reporting from NPR correspondents.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. US-China Trade Negotiations

[00:17–01:21]

• Overview:
  The US and China have reached a tentative trade deal, possibly averting major tariff hikes and export restrictions. The agreement was announced during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, setting the stage for an imminent meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping.

• Highlights:

  • Rare earths and American soybean imports were focal points in negotiations.
  • Chinese Negotiator Li Chenggang: “The US presented its views forcefully but China protected its interests.” ([00:46])
  • US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant confirmed that Trump’s threatened 100% tariff and China’s rare earth export controls are both “effectively off the table.” ([01:05])

• Notable Quote:

  "The US presented its views forcefully but China protected its interests."
  — Li Chenggang, Chinese trade negotiator ([00:46])

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2. Hurricane Melissa Threatens the Caribbean

[01:21–01:40]

• Overview:
  Hurricane Melissa is forecast to hit Jamaica late Monday or early Tuesday, with airports closed and people seeking shelter. Up to 30 inches of rain could impact Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

• Local Voice:

  • Robert Edwards (Jamaica): “I myself got to the supermarket and it was a rush… so I can see that different persons are taking the stamp very serious.” ([01:32])

• Impact: Sustained winds at 145 mph, prompting massive preparations.

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3. Argentina Midterm Election Results

[01:41–02:53]

• Overview:
  President Javier Milei and the Libertarian party scored a decisive victory in Argentina’s midterms, securing over 40% of the popular vote, outpacing left-leaning opposition by nearly nine points. The outcome is also notable for recent US economic intervention.

• Highlights:

  • US has approved a $20 billion currency swap to support Argentina’s peso.
  • President Milei pledges to continue his “tough economic prescriptions.”
  • American and Trump administration support for Milei is emphasized.

• Notable Quote:

  “This election drew more eyes than usual due to the unexpected intervention of the United States in Argentina’s economy.”
  — Natalie Alcoba, NPR Buenos Aires ([02:31])

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4. Boeing Workers’ Strike Continues

[02:53–03:32]

• Overview:
  Workers at three Boeing Midwest plants have narrowly rejected a new contract offer, extending a strike that has lasted nearly three months. The facilities focus on developing military aircraft and weapons.

• Details:

  • 3,200 machinists on strike
  • Votes: 51% opposed the deal

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5. Louvre Jewel Theft: Arrests Made

[03:32–04:13]

• Overview:
  French police have arrested two of the four suspects in the $100M Louvre jewel heist, relying on video surveillance and abundant forensic evidence.

• Highlights:

  • One suspect arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
  • Over 150 samples of fingerprints/DNA found on crime scene items (including one of Empress Eugenie’s dropped crowns).
  • The remaining two accomplices and the jewel haul are still missing.

• Notable Quote:

  “French media are reporting that more than 150 samples of the men’s fingerprints and DNA were discovered on items left behind at the scene of the crime…”
  — Eleanor Beardsley, NPR Paris ([03:40])

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6. Air Traffic Disruption at LAX

[04:13–04:29]

• Overview:
  A staffing shortage during the federal shutdown caused Los Angeles International Airport flights to be halted for 1 hour 45 minutes.

• Context:

  • Air traffic controllers are currently working without pay.

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7. College Football Rankings

[04:30–04:56]

• Overview:
  The Big Ten dominates the latest NCAA rankings:
  • Ohio State leads at #1 after a bye week.
  • Indiana secures #2 by defeating UCLA (score: 56–6).
  • Top five rounded out by Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia.
  • Vanderbilt attains its highest ranking in 88 years (top 10).

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Li Chenggang (Chinese Trade Negotiator):

  “The US presented its views forcefully but China protected its interests.” ([00:46])

• Robert Edwards (Jamaica Resident):

  “It was a rush… different persons are taking the stamp very serious.” ([01:32])

• Natalie Alcoba (NPR Buenos Aires Correspondent):

  “This election drew more eyes than usual due to the unexpected intervention of the United States in Argentina’s economy.” ([02:31])

• Eleanor Beardsley (NPR Paris Correspondent):

  “More than 150 samples of the men’s fingerprints and DNA were discovered on items left behind at the scene of the crime…” ([03:40])

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Segment Timestamps

• US-China Trade Deal: [00:17–01:21]
• Hurricane Melissa (Jamaica): [01:21–01:40]
• Argentina Midterms: [01:41–02:53]
• Boeing Strike: [02:53–03:32]
• Louvre Heist Arrests: [03:32–04:13]
• LAX Flight Halt: [04:13–04:29]
• NCAA College Football: [04:30–04:56]

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains NPR’s neutral, succinct, and informative reporting style, delivering each story with clarity and a global perspective. The concise nature of NPR News Now ensures fast-paced coverage, giving listeners the essentials to stay informed on major events.

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Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News. I'm Dale Wilman. Trade negotiators from the US And China say they've reached a tentative agreement that would head off some of the most severe tariffs and export restrictions threatened by both countries. The progress was reported as leaders gathered for the annual summit of the association of Southeast Asian nations in Malaysia. As NPR's Emily Fang reports, this sets up a highly anticipated meeting this week between President Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping.

[Emily Fang]

Issues like rare earths and China's refusal to buy American soybeans were top of the agenda. Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang told reporters in Malaysia, where the talks were held, that the two countries had a substantive exchange and also that the US Presented its views forcefully but China protected its interests. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant told Sunday MORNING talk shows that an extra 100% tariff that President Trump had threatened was effectively off the table now, as was a potentially punishing export control regime that China was trialing for rare earth materials. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Massive flooding is expected in Jamaica when Hurricane Melissa hits late Monday or early Tuesday. The airports there have been closed and shelters opened. Resident Robert Edwards says he's stocking up on supplies.

[Robert Edwards]

I myself got to the supermarket and it was a rush to, you know, get stuff, so I can see that different persons are taking the stamp very serious.

[Dale Willman]

Forecasters say as much as 30 inches of rain could be dumped on the island along with parts of Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Melissa currently has sustained winds of 145 miles an hour. It was a stronger than expected showing for Argentine's president in today's closely watched midterm elections. In a victory speech, he said he would continue with his mission of economic reform. Natalie Elcoba reports from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[Natalie Alcoba]

Argentina's President Javier Milei had reason to celebrate Sunday. The Libertarian leader clinched a strong victory in a test of his political power and a quasi referendum on his tough economic prescriptions. Milei's La Libertada Vanza party secured more than 40% of the popular vote, almost nine points ahead of the main opposition. For Zapatria, the left leaning Peronist coalition, this election drew more eyes than usual due to the unexpected intervention of the United States in Argentina's economy. The results of this election will likely please. President Donald Trump, a supporter of Milei and his policies, the US has recently approved a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina to steady a floundering peso. For NPR News, I'm Natalie Alcoba in Buenos Aires.

[Dale Willman]

Boeing workers at three Midwest plants voted Sunday to reject the company's latest contract offer. That means the strike that began almost three months ago will continue. The strike by some 3200 machinists is underway at plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed. The vote was close, with just 51% opposing the latest offer. You're listening to NPR News. Two of the four men suspected of breaking into the Louvre museum and stealing $100 million worth of jewels have been caught and are being questioned. As NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, they were apprehended thanks to video surveillance footage and their DNA.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

French media are reporting that the men were under surveillance for several days and are known to police. The Paris prosecutor confirmed one of the men was picked up at Charles de Gaulle Airport about to take a flight to Algeria. French media are also reporting that more than 150 samples of the men's fingerprints and DNA were discovered on items left behind at the scene of the crime, such as a circular saw, a reflective vest, a motorcycle helmet, a jerry can, gloves, a walkie talkie and Empress Eugenie's diamond and emerald crown that was dropped by law. The police can hold them in 96 hours before they must be charged. The other two accomplices and the jewels are still missing. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Dale Willman]

Flights heading to Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly Sunday morning because of an air traffic control staffing shortage. The hold lasted for an hour and 45 minutes. The nation's air traffic controllers are working without pay during the federal government shutdown. The Big Ten continues its dominance at the top of college football this week. Ohio State remains at number one in the AP top even though they had a bye week this weekend. Indiana, meanwhile, remains in second after manhandling UCLA 566 on Saturday. Rounding out the top five are Texas A and M, Alabama and Georgia, followed by Oregon, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Miami. That's the highest ranking for Vanderbilt in the last 88 years. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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