NPR News: 10-28-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now: October 28, 2025 | 12AM EDT

Main Theme

A fast-paced, five-minute news update summarizing the latest global headlines, touching on U.S.–Japan relations, the federal shutdown's impact on nutrition assistance, legal battles, severe weather, court cases, historical monuments, and a quirky Halloween trend.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.–Japan Relations: Historic Leadership Meeting

• President Trump meets with Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi.
  • “She spoke of building a golden era for Japan's alliance with the United States. Trump told Takaichi she would be one of the great prime ministers.” (NPR News Anchor, 00:20)
  • Shama Kamil (BBC) notes the delicate balancing act facing Takaichi, with pressure from the U.S.:
    • “President Trump said Japan was a great ally, adding that he'll be there whenever needed. But he's also pushing hard on trade and security, leaving Tokyo very little room to maneuver.” (Shama Kamil, 00:42)
    • Takaichi must safeguard Japanese industry: “Tokyo is heavily reliant on exports and can't afford a tariff fight. For now, the tone is friendly, but there is real pressure on Tokyo to deliver on agreements.” (Shama Kamil, 01:05)

2. Federal Shutdown: SNAP and WIC at Risk

• SNAP program faces imminent funding exhaustion due to an ongoing government shutdown.
  • “SNAP will run out of money on Saturday unless Congress ends the federal shutdown by then. There's no sign of any compromise between Democrats and Republicans. 27 days in to the shutdown...” (NPR News Anchor, 01:14)
• WIC extended by shifting funds, SNAP not covered.
  • “The Trump administration transferred the $300 million for WIC from a state child nutrition programs account ... These so called section 32 funds are separate from the increased revenue generated from sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump…” (Stephen Fowler, 01:40)
  • Administration argues that using these funds for SNAP would jeopardize “money for school meals and infant formula.” (Stephen Fowler, 02:05)

3. Justice Department Brief: James Comey Case

• Over 100 former Justice officials urge judge to dismiss the DOJ’s case against former FBI Director James Comey, citing:
  • “...the charges are being fueled by political revenge and not by legal standards. The filing also accuses DOJ of tossing aside long standing practices that govern prosecutions.” (NPR News Anchor, 02:19)

4. Hurricane Melissa: A Record-Setting Storm

• Hurricane Melissa declared Category 5, threatens Jamaica with catastrophic impact.
  • “Hurricane Melissa's top winds have reached 175 miles per hour. Melissa is a Category 5 storm. It could be the strongest to ever hit Jamaica.” (NPR News Anchor, 02:41)
  • Ada Peralta (on scene): “Is forecast to move right through the middle of the island early Tuesday morning. Jamaica's meteorological service says the outer bands ... have already reached the island and they are expecting a life threatening storm surge of 9 to 13ft.” (Ada Peralta, 02:48)
  • Jamaican Prime Minister calls for preparation and calm: “While we must prepare for the worst, let us also pray for the best.” (Andrew Holness, via Ada Peralta, 03:07)
  • Residents urged to “heed evacuation orders.” (Ada Peralta, 03:11)

5. Legal and Social Issues

• Murder Case: Charlie Kirk
  • The Utah judge will “allow the man charged with murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk to appear in street clothes during court appearances, but ... must remain shackled in court. Citing safety concerns, Judge Tony Graff agreed to make some allowances in order to protect the defendant's presumption of innocence.” (NPR News Anchor, 03:15)
• Confederate Monument Reinstalled in D.C.
  • “A Confederate statue ... has been renovated and reinstalled in a Northwest Washington, D.C. neighborhood. ... The statue of General Albert Pike ... was toppled and burned during the June 2020 protests against police killings of unarmed black people.” (NPR News Anchor, 03:38)

6. Halloween Trend: Haunted Car Washes

• Nationwide boom in haunted car washes for Halloween.
  • “Fast Splash Car Wash has about a dozen locations. This one in Detroit is only haunted on the weekends leading up to Halloween. Employees costumed as ghouls and horror movie monsters tap on your windows and brandish chainsaws as you wait in line for a wash.” (Neta Ulaby, 04:05)
  • National chains like Tommy’s Express report “half of its car washes are haunted over Halloween.” (Neta Ulaby, 04:36)
  • “No one's keeping track of the exact number of haunted car washes, but at least one national chain says it's adding more of them every year.” (Neta Ulaby, 04:28)

7. Financial Update

• Stock market and futures remain steady.
  • “U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading following Monday's gains on Wall Street. On Asia Pacific, market shares are mixed.” (NPR News Anchor, 04:49)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's a defining early test of leadership.” (Shama Kamil, 00:45)
• “While we must prepare for the worst, let us also pray for the best.” (Andrew Holness, via Ada Peralta, 03:07)
• “The tunnel is lit, blood red. Evil clowns pop out to scare you — or okay, hey, to scare me.” (Neta Ulaby, 04:20)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• U.S.–Japan Meeting: 00:20 – 01:14
• Federal Shutdown & Food Aid: 01:14 – 02:11
• James Comey Case: 02:11 – 02:41
• Hurricane Melissa: 02:41 – 03:15
• Charlie Kirk Murder Case: 03:15 – 03:33
• Confederate Monument: 03:33 – 04:05
• Haunted Car Washes: 04:05 – 04:49
• Financial Markets: 04:49 – 04:59

---

This rapid, informative edition of NPR News Now offers a brisk overview of urgent national and international headlines, blending hard news with flashes of culture and seasonal quirks.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from Michelin. More than a tire company, Michelin is an innovation company now taking on space, developing an airless wheel for space exploration, motion for Life. [e-mail] y Michelinnovation.

[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump has been meeting Japan's newly elected and first female prime minister, Sana Takaichi. She spoke of building a golden era for Japan's alliance with the United States. Trump told Takaichi she would be one of the great prime ministers. As the BBC's Shama Kamil reports from Tokyo.

[BBC Correspondent Shama Kamil]

It's a critical day for Japan and for its new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. It's a defining early test of leadership. President Trump said Japan was a great ally, adding that he'll be there whenever needed. But he's also pushing hard on trade and security, leaving Tokyo very little room to maneuver. Mr. Trump wants more US access to Japan's markets. Sanae Takaichi needs to protect domestic industries. Tokyo is heavily reliant on exports and can't afford a tariff fight. For now, the tone is friendly, but there is real pressure on Tokyo to deliver on agreements.

[NPR News Anchor]

The BBC's Shama Khalil in Tokyo. A Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program called SNAP will run out of money on Saturday unless Congress ends the federal shutdown by then. There's no sign of any compromise between Democrats and Republicans. 27 days in to the shutdown, NPR's Stephen Fowler reports that the Trump administration has shifted money from other programs to extend wic, a program that aids mothers and children, but not for snap.

[NPR Reporter Stephen Fowler]

According to federal budget documents, the Trump administration transferred the $300 million for WIC from a state child nutrition programs account that's funded in part by a portion of customs duties collected the previous calendar year. These so called section 32 funds are separate from the increased revenue generated from sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump recent months. The Trump administration said transferring any money from this $23 billion pool of funds to support SNAP would jeopardize money for school meals and infant formula.

[NPR News Anchor]

NPR, Stephen Fallow reporting. More than 100 former Justice Department officials are urging a federal judge to dismiss DOJ's case against former FBI Director James Comey. They've signed a court brief arguing that the charges are being fueled by political revenge and not by legal standards. The filing also accuses DOJ of tossing aside long standing practices that govern prosecutions. The National Hurricane center says Hurricane Melissa's top winds have reached 175 miles per hour. Melissa is a Category 5 storm. It could be the strongest to ever hit Jamaica. As NPR's Ada Peralta reports, the storm.

[NPR Reporter Ada Peralta]

Is forecast to move right through the middle of the island early Tuesday morning. Jamaica's meteorological service says the outer bands of Melissa have already reached the island and they are expecting a life threatening storm surge of 9 to 13ft. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holdness said the whole island should expect flash floods and landslides.

[NPR Reporter Stephen Fowler]

While we must prepare for the worst, let us also pray for the best.

[NPR Reporter Ada Peralta]

Holness asked everyone to heed evacuation orders.

[NPR News Anchor]

Ader Peralta reporting. This is npr. The man charged with murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk may appear in street clothes during court appearances, but the Utah judge overseeing the case says Tyler Robinson must remain shackled in court. Citing safety concerns, Judge Tony Graff agreed to make some allowances in order to protect the defendant's presumption of innocence. Innocence. A Confederate statue has been renovated and reinstalled in a Northwest Washington, D.C. neighborhood. The statue of General Albert pike was erected in 1901 and is the only Confederate monument in the nation's capital. It was toppled and burned during the June 2020 protests against police killings of unarmed black people. A Halloween trend is scaring up customers at car washes all over the U.S. nPR's Neta Ulaby has the story.

[NPR Reporter Neta Ulaby]

Fast Splash Car Wash has about a dozen locations. This one in Detroit is only haunted on the weekends leading up to Halloween. Employees costumed as ghouls and horror movie monsters tap on your windows and brandish chainsaws as you wait in line for a wash. The tunnel is lit, blood red. Evil clowns pop out to scare you or okay, hey, to scare me. No one's keeping track of the exact number of haunted car washes, but at least one national chain says it's adding more of them every year. Tommy's Express has hundreds of locations from Virginia to Alaska. It says half of its car washes are haunted over Halloween. Nada. Ulibi, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading following Monday's gains on Wall Street. On Asia Pacific, market shares are mixed. This is NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes From NPR sponsor eBay, who is home to millions of parts for your next project and free returns if it doesn't fit or it isn't what you expected. EBay has your back. Eligible items only exclusions apply. EBay things people love.