NPR News: 10-26-2025 3AM EDT - NPR News Now

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – October 26, 2025, 3AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Overview:
This concise, five-minute news update delivers the latest headlines from the US and around the world, including a shooting at a Pennsylvania university, President Trump’s visit to Asia, a major hurricane heading for Jamaica, significant international elections, a potential media mega-merger, and highlights from college football.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Shooting at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania

[00:19]

Incident: At least one person was killed and six injured during a shooting outside Lincoln University’s International Cultural Center during homecoming weekend.
Details: Police have detained one individual found with a gun; no confirmation if he was the shooter. There might have been more than one perpetrator, and no motive has been provided.
Quote:
- “Police have detained one person they say had a gun, but are not saying he was involved with the shooting.” — Dale Willman [00:19]

2. President Trump Attends Southeast Asian Summit

[00:39]

Context: President Trump is in Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, aiming to secure a trade deal. His regional approach is drawing criticism.
Criticism: Trump is seen as more focused on US interests and personal image over regional collaboration.
Quote:
- “There’s some criticism in the region that ASEAN and APEC are multilateral forums... while the US seems to be focused on great power competition and trade protectionism.” — Anthony Kuhn [01:04]
- “President Trump wants to preside over a Thai Cambodian ceasefire deal, apparently to burnish his peacemaker image, which has led to some criticism... that Trump is more focused on himself than Southeast Asia.” — Anthony Kuhn [01:15]

3. Hurricane Melissa Approaching Jamaica

[01:29]

Situation: Hurricane Melissa, currently in the Caribbean, is expected to hit Jamaica by early next week. Meteorologists predict up to 35 inches of rain in some areas and potentially catastrophic winds.
Impacts: The storm could escalate to a Category 4 before landfall.
Red Cross Statement:
- “A lot more is going to be expected in terms of the quantity, the volume of water...and, of course, more severe winds than would have [been] experienced in previous events.” — Horace Glance [01:44]

4. Controversial Presidential Election in Ivory Coast

[02:15]

Elections Open: Over 8 million registered voters in the Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer.
Power Struggle: Incumbent Alassane Ouattara is running for a fourth term, citing constitutional changes. Major opposition leaders have been barred, and there is heavy security presence.
Potential Unrest: Previous elections have led to violence; tensions are high again.
Quote:
- “Alison Mutara, who came to power in 2010, says changes he oversaw to the constitution in 2016 allow him to run for more than the two term limit ahead of today’s vote.” — Kate Bartlett [02:23]

5. World Series Update

[02:57]

Status: The Los Angeles Dodgers tie the series 1-1 with a 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Notably, Yoshi Yamamoto retired his last 20 batters.
Next Game: Game 3 will be played in Los Angeles on Monday.

6. Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Reports

[03:38]

Business News: Reports suggest Paramount is looking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which is undergoing a corporate split.
Writer’s Guild Response: The WGA (east and west) warns the merger would “harm workers, diminish competition, and would be a disaster for consumers.”
Quote:
- “Media mergers harm workers, diminish competition and would be a disaster for consumers. The unions also said they'd work with regulators to block the potential merger.” — Andrew Limbong [04:06]

7. College Football Highlights

[04:18]

Major Results:
- #2 Indiana beats UCLA decisively, 56–6.
- #3 Texas A&M tops #20 LSU, 49–25 with Marcel Reed’s standout performance.
- #4 Alabama survives with a last-minute rally against unranked South Carolina, 29–22.
- #6 Oregon hands Wisconsin its sixth straight loss.
Notable Player:
- “Jordan Davis, meanwhile, ran for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His number six Oregon overcame a slow start...” — Dale Willman [04:26]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

“There’s some criticism in the region that ASEAN and APEC are multilateral forums... while the US seems to be focused on great power competition and trade protectionism.” — Anthony Kuhn [01:04]
“A lot more is going to be expected in terms of the quantity, the volume of water that’s going to be bearing down on us and, of course, more severe winds than would have experienced in previous events.” — Horace Glance [01:44]
“Alison Mutara, who came to power in 2010, says changes he oversaw to the constitution in 2016 allow him to run for more than the two term limit ahead of today’s vote.” — Kate Bartlett [02:23]
“Media mergers harm workers, diminish competition and would be a disaster for consumers.” — Andrew Limbong [04:06]

Episode Structure Reference

00:19 – Shooting at Lincoln University
00:39 – President Trump attends the ASEAN summit
01:29 – Hurricane Melissa update
02:15 – Ivory Coast election coverage
02:57 – World Series tied (Dodgers vs. Blue Jays)
03:38 – Media industry merger speculation
04:18 – College football highlights

For listeners seeking a rapid, globe-spanning overview, this episode provides breaking updates and pithy expert commentary on current affairs, sports, and business—all delivered in NPR’s trademark calm, authoritative style.

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Transcript11 lines

[00:00]
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[00:20]
Dale Willman
LIVE from NPR News. I'm Dale Willman. Police in Chester County, Pennsylvania, say at least one person was killed and six others injured Saturday night during a shooting at Lincoln University. It was homecoming weekend, Black university. The shooting took place about 9:30 in the evening outside the school's International Cultural Center. Police have detained one person they say had a gun, but are not saying he was involved with the shooting. The county's district attorney also says there may have been more than one shooter. So far, they've offered no motive for the incident. President Trump is in Malaysia for the Southeast Asian Nations Summit. While there, he hopes to formalize a trade deal with Malaysia. As Trump arrives, he's facing criticism from some of the group's members. As NPR's Anthony Kuhn tells us, they're concerned about Trump's US less focus.
[01:04]
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.
[01:30]
Dale Willman
NPR's Anthony Kuhn. Hurricane Melissa is in the Caribbean Sea and moving toward Jamaica, where it's expected to make landfall by early next week. Its slow moving and Horace Glance of the Red Cross says rainfall is expected to be as high as 35 inches in some places.
[01:44]
Horace Glance
A lot more is going to be expected in terms of the quantity, the volume of water that's going to be bearing down on us and, of course, more severe winds than would have experienced in previous events.
[01:56]
Dale Willman
Weather officials say Melissa could become a Category 4 storm before making landfall, which would mean winds exceeding 130 miles an hour. Polls were open Saturday in Ivory coast with his octogenarian leader hoping for a controversial fourth term. As Kate Bartlett reports, major opposition contenders have been barred from contesting the election.
[02:16]
Kate Bartlett
Ballot stations opened in Ivory coast with over 8 million people registered to vote in the West African country, which is the world's biggest cocoa producer. Alison Mutara, who came to power in 2010, says changes he oversaw to the constitution in 2016 allow him to run for more than the two term limit ahead of today's vote. He restricted gatherings and deployed thousands of security personnel. Four candidates are challenging the 83 year old for the presidency, but the major candidates have been blocked from running. Contested elections in the country, which fought a brutal civil war in the early 2000s, have seen deadly violence break out in the past. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.
[02:57]
Dale Willman
The World Series is now tied at one game apiece. That after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night by a score of 5 to 1, Yoshi Yamamoto retired his final 20 batters. Game 3 in the best of seven series takes place Monday night in Los Angeles. This is NPR News with more reports that Paramount is looking to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. The Writers Guild of America has released a statement which says that such a merger would be a disaster. While reports of the merger are unconfirmed, Warner Bros. Discovery did announce it was putting itself up for sale earlier this week. NPR's Andrew Limbong sorts it all out.
[03:39]
Andrew Limbong
For us to set the stage a bit. Warner Bros. Discovery is currently in the middle of separating itself into two companies. That move has generated unsolicited interest from multiple parties who are open to buying all or parts of the company. When reports came out that Paramount might be one of those interested parties, the Writers Guild of America, both east and west branches issued a statement sent to NPR stating that media mergers harm workers, diminish competition and would be a disaster for consumers. The unions also said they'd work with regulators to block the potential merger. NPR has reached out to representatives from both Paramount and WBD. Andrew Limbong, NPR News.
[04:18]
Dale Willman
In college football Saturday, number two Indiana trounced UCLA 56 to 6. Marcel Reed threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as number three Texas A&M beat number 20, LSU 49 to 25. It took a last minute rally for number four Alabama to beat unranked South Carolina 29 to 22. Jordan Davis, meanwhile, ran for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His number six Oregon overcame a slow start to hand Wisconsin. It's six straight loss, 21 to 7. Dante Moore threw for just 86 yards for the Ducks and Whitworth beat Lewis and Clark 42 to 35, while Lagrange beat Huntingdon 30 to 14. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.
[04:58]
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