NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-13-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: October 14, 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 Rylan Barton. Around 1,700 Palestinians were released from Israeli prison and returned to Gaza today as part of a ceasefire deal in the war between Israel and Hamas. In return, the remaining 20 hostages still alive after being held in Gaza for more than two years were returned to Israel, along with several bodies of hostages. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more.

The Palestinians returned to Gaza were part of thousands, seized by Israeli forces and imprisoned without charges during the war. In the city of Han Yunus, loved ones cheered at their release. Islam Ahmed, a journalist from northern Gaza, who was detained by the Israeli military late last year, spoke with NPR's Anas Baba. It was miserable in prison. We were beaten and humiliated, Ahmed said, noting he lost more than 60 pounds in 10 months. Israel's prison service has defended its treatment of Palestinians, although human rights groups in Israel and abroad have documented serious mistreatment.

Around 200 Palestinian prisoners were also working. released, many who had been serving sentences for serious crimes against Israelis and exiled to other countries. Kat Wandsdorf, Empire News. Major questions remain about the future of Gaza, including whether Hamas will disarm and who will govern the enclave. But after celebrating the first steps of the U.S. brokered ceasefire deal, President Trump is trying to advance broader peace in the region.

He's calling for a new era of harmony in the Middle East. All the momentum now is toward a great, glorious and lasting peace. and our commitment to fulfilling the 20-point plan we developed together will be the crucial foundation for achieving that bright future and it's being worked on right now as we speak. Trump spoke during a global summit in Egypt on Gaza's future. Trump urged world leaders to end old feuds and said that Israel-Hamas ceasefire is the first step to peace.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says the government shutdown may become the longest in history. Johnson is refusing to call the House back into session. The Senate was closed today for the federal holiday, and senators aren't any closer to passing a funding bill. Johnson says he won't negotiate with Democrats until they stop making demands for extending health care subsidies. Our members are doing very productive work. We're in constant communication with them, and we are ready to come back and continue the work in our committees and everything on the House floor. We will return to legislative session as soon as the Democrats come to their senses and open the government. The closure has halted routine government operations and left airports. scrambling with flight disruptions, hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been

furloughed without pay. The Trump administration is also using the shutdown to justify laying off thousands more. Vice President J.D. Vance says there could be deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the government shutdown goes on. He said the new cuts would be painful. Hundreds of thousands of workers are now furloughed. From Washington, this is NPR News. A bus veered off a road and plunged down an embankment in South Africa, killing at least 42 people and injuring another 49. The crash happened about 250 miles north of Pretoria. The transportation ministry says that victims include seven children.

The bus was carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals on their way to their home countries. One of the country's most powerful media watchdogs is filed for bankruptcy. As NPR's NETA Ulabi reports, the organization, organized mass complaints against broadcast indecency. When Justin Timberlake ripped off part of Janet Jackson's costume during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, members of the parents' television council filed more than 60,000 complaints with the FCC claiming they could see her nipple. The conservative group was known for marshalling consumer pushbacks against depictions of sex, drugs, and violence on popular shows like Family Guy, which responded with parodies.

You've got to censor television, you've found. Holes, now follow my orders. The group, which changed its name to the parents' television and media council, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. It was funded by donations that had dropped by more than 75% over the past 20 years. Netta Ulippi, NPR News. The NBA is planning to revamp its all-star game, pitting U.S. players against international stars.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the goal is to create a fun and exciting experience for fans. NBA players like Janice Anato Kumpo, who's from Greece, and Nikola Yokic, who's from Serbia, support the idea, hoping it'll add intensity to the game. I'm Rylan Barton. This is NPR News.