NPR News: 10-26-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now — 12PM EDT, October 26, 2025

Host: Nora Rahm | Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode Theme: A concise update on key U.S. and world news, including U.S.-China trade negotiations, the Virginia governor's race, Hurricane Melissa, Kurdish peace efforts in Turkey, a major jewel theft in Paris, and World Series results.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. U.S.–China Trade Talks: Rare Earths & Tariffs (00:15–01:22)

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen announced a “substantial framework” for a deal on rare earth metals and tariffs between the U.S. and China.
  • Tariffs Suspended: The U.S. will not impose new 100% tariffs on China, pending finalization of the deal.
  • Critical Issue: Chinese restrictions on exports of metals/materials used in U.S. cars, defense, and semiconductor chips.
• Scott Bessen (00:43):
  "We've reached a substantial framework for the two."
• Leverage During Talks:
  "The president had given me maximum leverage when he threatened 100% tariffs if the Chinese imposed their rare earth global export controls. So I think we have averted that."
  — Scott Bessen (00:58)
• Next Steps: The final agreement depends on an upcoming meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
• Agriculture Side Note: Bessen expects China to resume buying U.S. soybeans, but details are not yet finalized.

2. Virginia Governor's Race: Closing Arguments (01:22–02:23)

• Context: Virginia’s gubernatorial race closes in on November 4th election day. Report from a Conservative political action event.
• Republican Candidate: Winsome Earl Sears (current Lieutenant Governor)
  • Focuses campaign on opposition to policies allowing transgender students to use facilities matching their gender identity:
    • Quote (01:43):
      "Love is not having my daughter having to be forced to undress in a locker room with a man. That's not love."
    • This line received a standing ovation at the event.
• Democratic Candidate: Abigail Spanberger
  • Advocates local control on gender policies.
  • Her campaign prioritizes affordability over culture war topics in the final stretch.

3. North American Elections Overview (02:23–02:40)

• Brief Headlines:
  • New Jersey: Gubernatorial election also on November 4th.
  • New York City: Upcoming mayoral selection.

4. Hurricane Melissa Threatens the Caribbean (02:23–03:08)

• Status: Melissa upgraded to Category 4 hurricane.
• Regions at Risk: Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic (under hurricane warnings); potentially Cuba, Southeast Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.
• Impact Predictions:
  • Rainfall: Up to 40 inches
  • Consequences: Flooding, landslides, power outages
  • Jamaica has activated hundreds of shelters and warned about storm surges up to 13 ft.

5. PKK Withdraws from Turkey: End of Decades-Long Insurgency (03:08–03:32)

• Kurdish PKK Statement: The group is withdrawing forces from Turkey, moving fighters to Iraq, aiming for peace with Ankara.
• Background:
  • Designation: PKK remains classified as a terrorist group by the U.S. and EU.
  • Impact: Decades of conflict have caused tens of thousands of deaths.

6. Louvre Jewel Heist: Arrests Made (03:32–04:33)

• Paris Update: Arrests connected to last weekend's high-profile theft from the Louvre.
• Details:
  • 4 men, disguised as workmen, used a ladder and a moving truck to steal $100M in 19th-century royal jewels (from Emperor Napoleon III's era).
  • Arrest Development: One suspect caught attempting to leave the country with stolen items at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
• Prosecutor’s Concerns: Early information leaks could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
• Notable Story Elements: The audacious, daytime nature of the heist has stunned France.
  • Eleanor Beardsley (03:53):
    "The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France, with four men dressed as workmen broke into an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck."

7. World Series Tied After Game 2 (04:33–04:54)

• Score Update: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5–1, evening the World Series at one game each.
• Next Games: Series shifts to Los Angeles for the next three games.

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Notable Quotes

• Scott Bessen, on U.S.-China negotiations (00:58):
  "The president had given me maximum leverage when he threatened 100% tariffs... So I think we have averted that."
• Winsome Earl Sears, on gender policy (01:43):
  "Love is not having my daughter having to be forced to undress in a locker room with a man. That's not love."
• Eleanor Beardsley, on Louvre heist (03:53):
  "The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France, with four men dressed as workmen broke into an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck."

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Quick Reference Timeline

• 00:15: U.S.-China trade negotiations and rare earths update
• 01:22: Virginia and other election headlines
• 02:23: Hurricane Melissa update for the Caribbean
• 03:08: PKK announces withdrawal from Turkey
• 03:32: Louvre jewel theft arrests and details
• 04:33: MLB World Series tied after LA Dodgers win

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This episode delivers breaking headlines and vital context on top U.S. and global stories in under five minutes, maintaining NPR's direct yet informative tone.

Transcript

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[Nora Rahm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen says the US And China have reached a substantial framework for a deal on rare earth metals and tariffs. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. Bessant says the U.S. will not impose 100% tariffs on China for now.

[Luke Garrett]

Fresh from negotiations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Secretary Bessen tells ABC the stage is set for President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to finalize a trade deal.

[Scott Bessen]

We've reached a substantial framework for the two.

[Luke Garrett]

Leaders at issue are tightening Chinese restrictions on metals, materials and magnets needed for US Cars, weaponry and chips. Bessant says Trump's threat of hiked levies delayed the new rare earth licensing regime.

[Scott Bessen]

The president had given me maximum leverage when he threatened 100% tariffs if the Chinese imposed their rare earth global export controls. So I think we have averted that.

[Luke Garrett]

Bessant also says he expects China to revive their buying of US Soybeans, but he added, nothing is final until Trump and Xi meet on Thursday. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Rahm]

Candidates in the Virginia governor's race are making their closing arguments to voters ahead of election day on November 4th. Margaret Barthell of member station WAMU reports from a Conservative political action conference event for the Republican ticket.

[Margaret Barthell]

Winsome Earl Sears is the current lieutenant governor and the GOP nominee for governor.

[Winsome Earl Sears]

Love is not having my daughter having to be forced to undress in a locker room with a man. That's not love.

[Margaret Barthell]

That line got her a standing ovation. Criticizing Democrats for policies allowing transgender kids to use bathrooms and locker rooms aligned with their gender identity and not their birth sex has been a key closing message for Earl Sears, the Democrat in the race. Abigail Spanberger says local communities should decide on how to handle these issues, not the state. She is focused instead on affordability in the closing days of the race. For NPR News, I'm Margaret barthell in Sterling, Virginia.

[Nora Rahm]

New Jersey is also electing a new governor on November 4th. New York City is selecting a new mayor. A hurricane warning is in place for Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic as Hurricane Melissa draws closer. NPR's Matt Bloom reports. Melissa is now a Category 4 storm.

[Matt Bloom]

The slow moving hurricane is expected to drop as much as 40 inches of rain on the region over the coming days, causing massive flooding, landslides and power outages. Authorities in Jamaica say they've activated hundreds of shelters and are warning residents of storm surge of up to 13ft along parts of the coast. Parts of Cuba, the Southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are also being warned of potential impacts this week.

[Nora Rahm]

NPR's Matt Bloom. This is NPR News. The militant Kurdish group the PKK said today it's withdrawing its forces from Turkey, ending a decades long insurgency. It says it's moving its fighters to Iraq as part of a peace effort with Ankara, Turkey. The US and the EU have called the group a terrorist organization. It's been fighting for a Kurdish state since the 1980s, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Authorities in Paris have begun making arrests in last weekend's theft of some of the French crown Jews from the jewels from the Louvre Museum. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. One was apprehended last night while trying to leave the country.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

In a statement, the Paris prosecutor condemned the leak of information in the case, which she said had forced them to reveal facts prematurely that could compromise the investigation. The brazen daytime heist at the museum last Sunday stunned France with four men dressed as workmen broke into an upper floor window using a ladder on a moving truck. They made off with $100 million worth of royal jewels from the 19th century reign of Emperor Napoleon III. According to Le Parisien newspaper, the men arrested are from the Paris suburbs. One was preparing to board a flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport with some of the stolen items from the Louvre. Eleanor Beards, Leon pierre, NEWS Paris In.

[Nora Rahm]

Major League Baseball, the World Series is now tied at one game apiece. The league the Los Angeles Dodgers beat The Toronto Blue Jays 51 last night after a lopsided loss to Toronto Friday night. The series moves to Southern California for the next three games starting tomorrow night. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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