NPR News Now – October 27, 2025, 1AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a concise roundup of key global and U.S. news stories from the early hours of October 27, 2025. Major topics include President Trump’s diplomatic activities in Asia and South America, U.S.–China trade updates, new developments on hostage recovery in Gaza, an update on Hurricane Melissa, gray wolf management in California, and notable sports headlines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s International Diplomacy

[00:18 – 01:31]

• Trump Heads to Japan:
  President Trump is en route to meet Japan’s new Prime Minister with trade set as the central topic.

• U.S.–China Trade Negotiations:

  • Recent talks between U.S. and Chinese officials focused on trade resulted in the announcement of a potential deal, though details remain scarce.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessance mentioned that China has “threatened to put a global exporting license regime on rare earths,” but may delay this for a year. However, “the Chinese readout did not confirm the delay.”
    Notable Quote – Mar Liasson, [00:33]:

    “He [Bessance] said that China had, quote, threatened to put a global exporting license regime on rare earths... I believe they are going to delay that for a year while they reexamine it.”

• Planned Meeting with Xi Jinping:
  Trump is expected to meet China’s President Xi Jinping later in the week for further trade talks.

• Trump–Brazil Presidential Meeting:
  On the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Trump met with Brazil’s President Lula after the U.S. imposed tariffs and sanctions related to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

  • Talks were described as “frank and constructive,” and both sides pledged to start bilateral negotiations to resolve the tariff crisis.
  • Pressed on whether tariffs could be lifted soon, Trump responded:
    Notable Quote – President Trump, [02:00]:

    “Yeah, we can do things fast. We move quickly. We're very nimble.”

2. Gaza Hostage Recovery Efforts

[02:16 – 03:12]

• Red Cross & Egyptian Teams Allowed into Gaza:
  Israel has approved the entry of teams to search for hostages’ bodies.
  • Egyptian search and rescue teams, with engineering support, are working in Gaza to find the bodies of Israeli hostages, believed to be in booby-trapped areas.
  • Discussions continue about recovering both Israeli and Palestinian deceased.
  • President Trump issued a warning on Truth Social to Hamas to return the hostages’ bodies, suggesting “countries involved in the peace plan will take action” if demands aren’t met.
  • Among the remaining hostages are two Americans.

3. Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica

[03:12 – 03:48]

• Category 5 Imminent:
  Hurricane Melissa is forecasted to reach Category 5 as it nears Jamaica’s southern coast late Monday or Tuesday.
  • Residents urged to seek immediate shelter.
  • Winds sustained at 145 mph.

4. Gray Wolves Euthanized in California

[03:48 – 04:24]

• Wildlife Officials Take Action:
  • Four gray wolves euthanized after unprecedented livestock attacks in Sierra Valley.
  • Non-lethal deterrence methods had failed; wolves had become habituated to hunting livestock.
  • Gray wolves have re-entered California naturally and remain protected under the Endangered Species Act, though greater conflict with ranchers is now occurring.
  • Notable Quote – Nathan Rott, [03:48]:

    “The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says they did not come to the decision easily... But the wolves had become habituated to livestock as a food source.”

5. Sports Roundup

[04:24 – 04:57]

• LSU Football:

  • LSU fires Coach Brian Kelly following two consecutive losses, the latest being a 49–25 defeat to Texas A&M.

• PGA Championship – Utah:

  • Michael Brennan wins, earning a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour after a dominant summer performance.

Notable Quotes

• Mar Liasson on U.S.–China Trade Talks, [00:33]:

  “He said that China had, quote, threatened to put a global exporting license regime on rare earths. And he said, I believe they are going to delay that for a year while they reexamine it.”

• President Trump on Tariffs, [02:00]:

  “Yeah, we can do things fast. We move quickly. We're very nimble.”

• Nathan Rott on Wolf Management, [03:48]:

  “The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says they did not come to the decision easily. For months, they tried non lethal methods of deterring the wolf from cattle in the Sierra Valley, but the wolves had become habituated to livestock as a food source.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Presidential Diplomacy & Trade (US–China, Japan, Brazil): 00:18 – 02:16
• Hostage Recovery in Gaza: 02:16 – 03:12
• Hurricane Melissa/Jamaica: 03:12 – 03:48
• Gray Wolf-Livestock Conflict in California: 03:48 – 04:24
• Sports Headlines: 04:24 – 04:57

This episode delivers an incisive, rapid-fire update on global politics, crises, environmental issues, and sports, each story grounded in quotes from both officials and NPR correspondents to keep listeners accurately informed of the day’s top headlines.