NPR News: 10-26-2025 1AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 10-26-2025, 1AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Date: October 26, 2025
Main Theme:
A fast-paced five-minute news update covering significant events in politics, international relations, extreme weather, sports, and unique headlines from around the world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Canada Trade Tensions

[00:20–01:16]

• President Trump introduces a new 10% tariff on Canadian products.
  • Trigger: Ontario's $75 million Canadian anti-tariff ad campaign aired on major US TV networks, spotlighting clips of Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.
  • Trump’s reaction: Outraged by the campaign — called the ads a “fraud” and abruptly ended all trade talks with Canada.
  • Ontario's intent: Ads were to conclude Monday, timed for visibility during the World Series.
  • Canadian response: The tariff announcement caught Prime Minister Mark Carney off guard. He’s in Malaysia for the ASEAN summit and has not spoken directly with Trump.

“Trump says they should have been taken off the air immediately, and he announced a further 10% tariff on Canadian goods as punishment.”
— Dan Karpenchuk [01:02]

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2. US-Asia Relations and Criticism

[01:16–01:57]

• Trump attends the Southeast Asian Nation Summit (ASEAN) in Malaysia.
  • Goal: Formalize trade deal with Malaysia.
  • Regional perception: Criticism arises about US focus on “great power competition” and protectionism vs. ASEAN’s emphasis on regional integration and free trade.
  • Additional ambition: Trump wants to mediate a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, seen as self-serving by regional players.

“There’s some criticism in the region that ASEAN and APEC… are promoting regional integration and free trade, while the US seems to be focused on great power competition and trade protectionism.”
— Anthony Kuhn [01:34]

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3. Hurricane Melissa Threatens the Caribbean

[01:57–02:54]

• The storm is impacting multiple Caribbean nations:
  • Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba all under threat.
  • Main concern: Dangerously slow movement of the storm means prolonged heavy rainfall, major risk of flooding and landslides.
  • Preparations: Jamaica’s Meteorological Service director, Evan Thompson, warns of the unique peril posed by the storm’s slow speed.
  • US military: Navy evacuates some personnel at Guantanamo Bay.

“It’s going to sit there pouring water while it’s barely moving, and that is a significant challenge that we have to be aware of.”
— Evan Thompson [02:33]

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4. Sports Headlines

a) World Series Update

[02:54–03:10]

• Dodgers defeat Blue Jays; series tied 1-1.
  • Yoshi Yamamoto’s complete game, a first in a World Series since 2015.

b) Ireland's Presidential Election

[03:13–03:29]

• Catherine Connolly wins by a landslide.
  • Connolly, a left-wing independent backed by left-leaning parties (including Sinn Féin), defeats Heather Humphries (center-right).

c) Unusual Sports Contest: College Game Day

[03:29–04:19]

• Vanderbilt Student Tyler Wang wins $500,000.
  • Event: Made a successful 33-yard field goal on ESPN’s College Game Day.
  • Notable: Pulled it off in socks, cites plans to help parents with tuition.

“Tyler Wang didn’t falter. The chemical engineering and economics major…nailed the 33 yard attempt on his first kick while only wearing a pair of socks.”
— Cynthia Abrams [03:58]

d) College Football Scores

[04:19–04:59]

• Missouri QB Beau Prabola suffers a dislocated ankle during a loss to Vanderbilt.
• Texas scores a dramatic overtime win over Mississippi State.
• Indiana crushes UCLA 56–6.
• Texas A&M, Case Western, and Colby all pick up wins.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Karpenchuk on tariffs:
  “Trump says they should have been taken off the air immediately, and he announced a further 10% tariff on Canadian goods as punishment.” [01:02]

• Anthony Kuhn on US Asia strategy:
  “Criticism…that the US seems to be focused on great power competition and trade protectionism.” [01:34]

• Evan Thompson on Hurricane Melissa:
  “It’s going to sit there pouring water while it’s barely moving, and that is a significant challenge that we have to be aware of.” [02:33]

• Cynthia Abrams describing Tyler Wang’s kick:
  “Nailed the 33 yard attempt on his first kick while only wearing a pair of socks.” [03:58]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• US-Canada trade tensions: 00:20–01:16
• Trump at ASEAN, US-Asia relations: 01:16–01:57
• Hurricane Melissa & Caribbean danger: 01:57–02:54
• Sports recap (World Series, election, college football): 02:54–04:59

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Summary

This episode of NPR News Now offers a brisk, information-packed overview of unfolding world events. The broadcast highlights rising US-Canada trade friction, critiques of American foreign policy in Asia, the latest on a threatening Caribbean hurricane, and compelling sports headlines—including a Vanderbilt student winning big on live television. The reporting is focused, balanced, and maintains NPR’s authoritative yet approachable tone throughout.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump says he'll place an additional 10% tariff on Canadian products. His announcement follows an anti tariff ad campaign run by the province of Ontario, Ontario, on major US Television networks. Dan Karpenchek reports.

[Dan Karpenchuk]

The anti tariff ad campaign featured clips of an address by former President Ronald Reagan saying tariffs do not work. An infuriated Trump terminated all trade talks with Canada, calling the ads a fraud. The government of Ontario, which paid $75 million Canadian for the ads, planned to pull them on Monday, still leaving them to be seen by millions of Americans watching the World Series. Now, Trump says they should have been taken off the air immediately, and he announced a further 10% tariff on Canadian goods as punishment. A Canadian government official says Prime Minister Mark Carney was not given any warning about the added tariff. Carney is in Malaysia for the ASEAN summit and has not spoken to Trump. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenchuk in Toronto.

[Dale Willman]

President Trump is in Malaysia Sunday for the Southeast Asian Nation Summit. While there, he hopes to formalize a trade deal with Malaysia. As Trump arrives, he's facing criticism from some of that group's members as, as NPR's Anthony Kuhn tells us, they're concerned about Trump's US focus.

[Anthony Kuhn]

There's some criticism in the region that ASEAN and APEC are multilateral forums. They're promoting regional integration and free trade, while the US Seems to be focused on great power competition and trade protectionism. President Trump wants to preside over a Thai Cambodian ceasefire deal, apparently to burnish his peacemaker image, which has led to some criticism in the region that Trump is more focused on himself than Southeast Asia.

[Dale Willman]

That's NPR's Anthony Kuhn with our report. Hurricane Melissa is moving through the Caribbean Sea at this hour where it's threatening to bring major flooding and landslides to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. Cuba is also being threatened by the same storm. NPR's Kristen Wright has more on our story.

[Kristen Wright]

Weather officials in Jamaica say time's running out for people there to get ready for Hurricane Melissa. It's forecasted to make landfall on the island in the coming days. Evan Thompson, director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, is warning of the danger of the storm moving so slowly.

[Evan Thompson]

It's going to sit there pouring water while it's barely moving, and that is a significant challenge that we have to be aware of.

[Kristen Wright]

Haiti and the Dominican Republic are also under special hurricane advisories in Cuba. The US Navy ordered some evacuations at Guantanamo Bay. Christian Wright, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Yoshi Yamamoto threw a four hitter for his second complete game as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5 to 1 in Game 2 of the World Series Saturday night. It was the first complete game that was pitched in the series since 2015. The best of seven matchup is now tied at one game apiece. Game three takes place Monday night in Los Angeles. This is NPR News. Left wing independent Catherine Connolly has won Ireland's presidential election this weekend. It was a landslide victory over her center right rival, Heather Humphries. Connally had won the backing of Ireland's left leaning parties, including Sinn Fein. A 19 year old Vanderbilt University student has won half a million dollars after successfully kicking a 33 yard field goal. Cynthia Abrams with member station WPLN reports that the spectacle was a part of ESPN's College Game Day kicking contests.

[Cynthia Abrams]

It was the first time ESPN's College Game Day, which each week selects the site of a highly anticipated football matchup, had chosen Vanderbilt's campus since 2008. Even with the school on college football's biggest stage, sophomore Tyler Wang didn't falter. The chemical engineering and economics major, who played soccer and football in high school, nailed the 33 yard attempt on his first kick while only wearing a pair of socks. Wang says he plans to use his $500,000 winnings to help his parents pay his tuition. For NPR News, I'm Cynthia Abrams in Nashville.

[Dale Willman]

Missouri quarterback Beau Prabola dislocated his left ankle Saturday early in the third quarter and the Tigers went on to lose to number 10 Vanderbilt 17 to 10. Matthew Caldwell, meanwhile, threw a touchdown pass in overtime as number 22 Texas came from behind. To be done ranked Mississippi State Saturday 45 to 38. Indiana demolished UCLA 56, 6 while number three Texas A&M beat LSU and Case Western beat Thiel 55 to 7, while Colby beat Hamilton 17 to 10. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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