NPR News Now – October 28, 2025, 6AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: ~5 minutes
Theme: Updates on the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, hurricane developments in the Caribbean, tech and labor news, and a lighter look at seasonal haunted car washes.

Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise updates on several major news stories: the nearly month-long federal government shutdown, the imminent threat of Hurricane Melissa to Jamaica, a school safety program in New York City, marathon World Series action, major layoffs at Amazon, a pending Federal Reserve interest rate decision, and a Halloween car wash trend.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Federal Government Shutdown Enters Its Fourth Week

[00:17–01:26]

• Stalemate in Congress:
  Host Korva Coleman reports that "the federal government shutdown is nearly a month old," with Democrats and Republicans still unable to agree on a spending measure.
  • Most federal workers have missed paychecks, and the largest union representing them is calling for immediate action.
• Legal Battle Over Federal Layoffs:
  • Andrea Hsu covers the legal dispute over President Trump’s layoffs of federal workers during the shutdown. A federal judge in California has temporarily halted these layoffs.
  • Insight: The Trump administration argues the court lacks jurisdiction and that unions haven't shown "irreparable harm."
  • Union perspective: Federal workers are experiencing "emotional trauma" from layoffs and prior cuts.
  • Notable quote:

    "Federal workers are suffering emotional trauma as a result of the recent layoffs, coming on top of funding and staffing cuts to their agencies earlier this year."
    —Andrea Hsu [01:13]

2. Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica

[01:26–02:21]

• Category 5 Hurricane Melissa has sustained winds of 175 mph; outer bands already striking Jamaica.
• On-the-ground reporting from Nick Davis:
  • Up to 30 inches of rain forecast, risking “plenty of flooding and also landslides” in mountainous areas.
  • The constant rainfall and combined storm surges will create a “real issue for the country” as Jamaica braces for a “holding pattern” before conditions worsen.
  • Notable quote:

    "Jamaica kind of waits. We're on a bit of a holding pattern at the moment to see how this progresses, but everybody kind of knows it's going to get worse."
    —Nick Davis [02:16]

3. New York City Pilots School Panic Button

[02:21–02:49]

• NYC testing a panic button in 25 schools for faster police response to potential shootings.
• CTO Matthew Fraser emphasizes:

  "Being able to have emergency responders respond in real time and not just know that something's happening at a school, but where in the school is actually happening." [02:41]

4. Sports Update: Historic World Series Game

[02:49–03:11]

• Game three of the World Series between the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays lasted 18 innings (over six and a half hours).
• The Dodgers won 6-5 with a walk-off homer by Freddie Freeman.
• Game four is scheduled for the following night in LA.

5. President Trump Signs Japan Trade Deal; Amazon Announces Layoffs

[03:11–04:08]

• President Trump, in Japan, signs a trade deal on rare earth minerals and meets with Japanese business leaders.
• Amazon:
  • Plans to cut about 14,000 corporate jobs. Company cites the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence but does not specify how AI is replacing roles.
  • Note: Amazon is an NPR funder.

6. Federal Reserve Meeting; Possible Rate Cut

[04:08–04:23]

• The Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting opens, with expectations of a rate cut up to a quarter percentage point. Announcement expected tomorrow.

7. Haunted Car Washes – Halloween Trend

[04:23–04:52]

• Neta Ulaby highlights a growing trend: haunted car washes add ghouls, chainsaws, and horror to the car cleaning experience, appealing to Halloween customers across the US.
• Tommy’s Express, a national chain, reports that “half of its car washes are haunted over Halloween.”
• Memorable quote:

  "Evil clowns pop out to scare you or okay, to scare me."
  —Neta Ulaby [04:30]

Notable Quotes

• "The federal government shutdown is nearly a month old. Democratic and Republican lawmakers still cannot agree on a spending measure that would end it."
  —Korva Coleman [00:18]

• "Federal workers are suffering emotional trauma as a result of the recent layoffs, coming on top of funding and staffing cuts to their agencies earlier this year."
  —Andrea Hsu [01:13]

• "Jamaica kind of waits. We're on a bit of a holding pattern at the moment to see how this progresses, but everybody kind of knows it's going to get worse."
  —Nick Davis [02:16]

• "Being able to have emergency responders respond in real time and not just know that something's happening at a school, but where in the school is actually happening."
  —Matthew Fraser [02:41]

• "Evil clowns pop out to scare you or okay, to scare me."
  —Neta Ulaby [04:30]

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Start | End | |--------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | Shutdown & Layoff Legal Battle | 00:17 | 01:26 | | Hurricane Melissa & Jamaica | 01:26 | 02:21 | | NYC School Panic Button Pilot | 02:21 | 02:49 | | World Series Game 3 Recap | 02:49 | 03:11 | | President Trump in Japan / Amazon Layoffs | 03:11 | 04:08 | | Fed Meeting: Rate Cut Expected | 04:08 | 04:23 | | Haunted Car Washes (Halloween Trend) | 04:23 | 04:52 |

Conclusion

This edition of NPR News Now delivers urgent national headlines—the government shutdown, weather emergencies, labor disputes, and technology’s impact on jobs—while ending on a lighter, seasonal feature. For listeners who rely on quick, up-to-date news, this episode blends policy, weather, business, sports, and culture in under five minutes.