NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-07-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: October 7, 2025

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In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life. Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors. On our new show, Sources and Methods. NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people, helping you understand why distant events matter here at home. Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kourva Coleman. This is the seventh day of the federal government shutdown.

down. Now, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is warning of staffing issues at the nation's airports, as NPR's Giles Snyder reports. Secretary Duffy says controllers are already dealing with a persistent staffing shortage and outdated equipment. Now they're on track to miss their first paycheck. Now what they think about as they're controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple of kids at home. How do I put food in the table. Duffy met with controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport, saying some have begun calling in sick. The FAA says staffing issues are causing delays at airports, including Newark, Phoenix, and Denver. In California, controllers more than 100 miles away in San Diego

handled air traffic at the Hollywood Burbank Airport Monday evening because there weren't enough controllers to staff the tower. Trial Snyder, NPR News. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention has added more to its guidance about the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC accepted the recommendations from a panel of advisors, some of whom are vaccine skeptics. The guidance now says that people getting a COVID shot need to also consult with their doctor or pharmacist. Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, says this ultimately means more people won't be able to get the COVID shot. It's not science. It's not what's good for America. It's not making America healthy again, it's how do we screw with the American people's health

because we have a prejudice against this vaccine. That's what it's about. The CDC also adopted another recommendation. It makes it more complicated for some parents to get their babies vaccinated against measles, mumps, rebella, and chicken pox. Israel is marking the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on Israel. Hamas militants killed nearly 1,200 people and abducted 251 others. The Israeli military responded by opening its war in Gaza. Since then, some 67,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military. And Pierre's Emily Fang has more on the war's effect in the Palestinian enclave. Gaza's Ministry of Health said this week, about 30% of those killed so far in this war are children. This has been the most deadly and destructive

war the Palestinian enclave has ever been subjected to. And Pierre's report, reporter in Gaza, Anas Baba spoke to 22-year-old Ahmed Abouz Saif. Saif said in Gaza, for us, it's going to be very painful to rebuild. He says for him, the last two years of war have turned his life from that of a normal university student to one where he is constantly looking for water, shelter, and fearing for his family's lives. Emily Fang and Pier News, Tel Aviv. On Wall Street and pre-market trading. Dow Futures are higher. This is NPR. The National Weather Service says a summer tornado that

killed three people in North Dakota was more powerful than first thought. Forecasters say the June tornado was at the top of the scale in EF5. Its winds were more than 210 miles per hour. This year's Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to three scientists at the University of California. John Clark, Michel Deveret, and John Martinez are being on. honored for work in quantum mechanical effects in electrical circuits. The Nobel Committee says their work helped pave the way for the next generation of sensors and computers. Pop star Taylor Swift's new album won't hit the Billboard charts until next week, but NPR

Stephen Thompson reports it is already setting records. Taylor Swift released her new record, The Life of a Showgirl, on Friday. Just a few days later, it's shaping up to be one. one of 2025's biggest hits. The Life of a Showgirl was breaking records even before its release. For example, it was the most pre-saved album in the history of Spotify. Now that it's out, it's racking up new milestones. It sold 2.7 million copies on Friday alone.

That's a colossal number in the age of streaming. The Life of a Showgirl now sits within striking distance of the best first week sales of any album in the modern era. That record belongs to Adele, who in 2025 sold nearly 3.4 million copies of her album 25 in a single week. Stephen Thompson, NPR News. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.