NPR News: 10-31-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – October 31, 2025, 6PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Length: ~5 minutes
Main Theme:
A succinct roundup of the day’s most pressing U.S. news headlines, focusing on the continued federal government shutdown and its wide-reaching impacts, as well as updates on severe weather and pediatric health guidance.

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Government Shutdown & SNAP Benefits

[00:16] – [02:13]

• Federal Judges Order Emergency SNAP Funding

  • Two judges order the Trump administration to continue paying food assistance (SNAP), despite ongoing government shutdown.
  • Uncertainty Over Compliance: It remains unclear if the administration will comply.
  • Political Blame: President Trump blames Democrats for funds running out, emphasizing partisan division:
    • Notable Quote (Donald Trump, 00:53):

      "I'm president. I want to help everybody. I want to help Democrats and the Republicans. But when you're talking about snap, if you look, it's largely Democrats. They're hurting their own people."

  • Presidential Availability: Trump reiterates willingness to meet Democrats, but notes he’ll be in Mar-a-Lago tonight for Halloween.

• Selective Funding & Military Pay

  • The administration reallocates funds to selectively pay military personnel, leaving other programs like SNAP at risk.
  • Funding reportedly comes from:
    • Military housing fund
    • Military research and development
    • Navy shipbuilding accounts
  • Potential Donation: Question remains if a $130 million donation from a Trump ally factored in—No OMB response yet.
  • Notable Quote (Danielle Kurtzleben, 01:37):

    “Trump has said he thinks he can cut, quote, Democrat programs during the shutdown but fund others tomorrow…Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which feeds low income families, is set to lapse.”

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Air Travel Chaos Amid Shutdown

[02:13] – [03:06]

• Widespread Flight Delays
  • Major U.S. airports face serious delays due to air traffic controller staffing shortages (controllers working without pay) and high winds.
  • Airports affected include: Boston, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, New York, Newark.
  • Quote (Joel Rose, 02:27):

    “That combination made for one of the worst days to fly since the government shutdown began a month ago. And air traffic controllers are required to work without pay until the shutdown ends.”

  • Air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck this week.

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Financial Markets Update

[03:06] – [03:37]

• Wall Street closes higher:
  • Dow: +40
  • Nasdaq: +143
  • S&P 500: +17

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Pediatric Health: Leucovorin Not Routinely Recommended for Autism

[03:37] – [04:14]

• AAP Guidance on Leucovorin
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend the routine use of leucovorin (prescription vitamin B) to treat autism.
  • Current Use: Drug helps with chemotherapy side effects, certain anemia, and cerebral folate deficiency.
  • Limited Evidence for Autism: Some autistic children may benefit if they have cerebral folate deficiency, but more large-scale clinical trials are necessary.
  • Notable Quote (Maria Godoy, 03:37):

    “The AAP says larger controlled clinical trials are still needed to determine if the drug is a safe and effective option for the broader autistic population.”

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Hurricane Melissa: Devastating Impact in the Caribbean

[04:14] – [04:55]

• Rising Death Toll and Destruction
  • Former Hurricane Melissa leaves at least 46 dead; number likely to rise.
  • Hardest-hit locations: Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica
  • Major destruction from mudslides, flooding, and downed trees—satellite imagery in Jamaica shows entire villages wiped out.
  • Communication Gaps: Telecommunications breakdown hinders response.
  • U.S. State Department’s disaster team arrives to assist with recovery.

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump on SNAP & Partisan Responsibility (00:53):

  "But when you're talking about snap, if you look, it's largely Democrats. They're hurting their own people."

• Government’s Selective Funding (Danielle Kurtzleben, 01:37):

  “Trump has said he thinks he can cut, quote, Democrat programs during the shutdown but fund others tomorrow.”

• Travel Delays Explanation (Joel Rose, 02:27):

  “That combination made for one of the worst days to fly since the government shutdown began a month ago…”

• Pediatric Care Caution (Maria Godoy, 03:37):

  “Larger controlled clinical trials are still needed to determine if the drug is a safe and effective option for the broader autistic population.”

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Useful Timestamps

• 00:16 – SNAP and government shutdown developments
• 01:18 – Military pay & selective funding
• 02:13 – Nationwide air traffic delays
• 03:06 – Stock market update
• 03:37 – Pediatric drug guidance
• 04:14 – Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath

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Tone: Straightforward, factual, with a focus on urgent national developments. The reporting conveys the dramatic consequences of the government shutdown in daily life and policy, the humanitarian aftermath of natural disasters, and measured responses to ongoing health debates.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to keep paying food assistance benefits known as snap. It's unclear if the administration will comply with the orders just before for that ruling, Trump blamed Democrats for the funds running out this weekend amid the federal government shutdown. NPR's Sam Greenglass has more.

[Sam Greenglass]

The Trump administration has said it cannot use contingency funds for snap, even as it's repurposed other funds to pay US Troops and others aboard Air Force One. Trump said SNAP would be funded if Democrats reopened the government.

[Donald Trump]

I'm president. I want to help everybody. I want to help Democrats and the Republicans. But when you're talking about snap, if you look, it's largely Democrats. They're hurting their own people.

[Sam Greenglass]

Just before the rulings, Trump told reporters he's always willing to meet with Democrats. All they have to do is open the country. Trump is not in town this weekend anyway. He'll be attending a Halloween party at Mar a Lago tonight. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, West Palm Beach, Florida.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And amid the government shutdown, the White House confirms that military personnel are being paid today. While members of Congress remain deadlocked over reopening the government, the Trump administration is moving money around to selectively fund military payments, but not other programs. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson confirms reporting originally done by Axios, saying that the agency is using around $5 billion from a military housing fund, a military research and development fund and a Defense Department account used for building ships. NPR asked if part of the money is also coming from a $130 million donation made by a billionaire Trump ally, but the OMB did not respond. Trump has said he thinks he can cut, quote, Democrat programs during the shutdown but fund others tomorrow. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which feeds low income families, is set to lapse. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

It's been a hard day for air traffic travelers across much of the country. NPR's Joel Rose reports. Staffing shortages among air traffic controllers who are working without pay contributed to extensive delays.

[Joel Rose]

Much of the nation's airspace was a mess with a combination of staffing shortages and high winds leading to major delays. The Federal Aviation Administration said staffing shortages contributed to ground delays at a number of airports, including Boston, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, New York, and Newark, New Jersey, while high winds limited operations around New York city and Washington, D.C. that combination made for one of the worst days to fly since the government shutdown began a month ago. And air traffic controllers are required to work without pay until the shutdown ends. They missed their first full paycheck earlier this week. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall street higher by the closing bell, the Dow up 40, the Nasdaq up 143s and P500 up 17. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it doesn't recommend the routine use of leucovorin to treat autism in children, citing limited evidence. The guidance as pediatricians continue to face questions from parents about a drug touted by President Trump to help treat autism. NPR's Maria Godoy has more.

[Maria Godoy]

Leucovorin is a prescription form of vitamin B. It's typically used to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and to treat a specific kind of anemia. The AAP says the drug has shown some potential benefits in early small scale studies for children with cerebral folate deficiency. A minority of people with autism also have this condition. However, the AAP says larger controlled clinical trials are still needed to determine if the drug is a safe and effective option for the broader autistic population. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The death toll from what was Hurricane Melissa that barreled through the Caribbean has climbed to at least 46, although officials say they expect that number to rise. Search and rescue efforts are underway as cleanup from powerful storm begins. Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica were hard hit where satellite imagery in Jamaica shows entire villages destroyed by mudslides, flooding and downed trees. Telecommunication breakdowns are hampering information. Staff from the State Department's Regional Disaster Assistance Program arrived in the Caribbean yesterday to assist in their recovery efforts. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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