NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-14-2025 2PM 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 Lakshmi Singh. A broad group of major news organizations is declining to sign on to the Pentagon's new restrictions on press access.

NPR is one of them. Even Defense Secretary Pete Hegsef's former employer, Fox News, says it won't go along with it. NPR's David Fokinflik reports Hexeth's bid to clamp down on leaks has major implications for news outlets tasked with holding powerful institutions accountable to the American public. There's the concern that if you were to sign up for this, that you would be, in a sense, exceeding to the Pentagon's interpretation of what would be a violation of policy, but also with implications that somehow you're acknowledging that perhaps you are compromising national security. Major news organizations, reporters covering Pentagon would argue anything but that they help

national security by explaining to Americans what the Pentagon is doing in our name with our tax dollars and to our fellow citizens who serve under them. NPR's David Fokinflik reporting, the man accused of firebombing the residents of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in April has pleaded guilty. Tom Rees of Member Station WESA has latest. Governor Shapiro speaking at a news conference said he's grateful to have closure after learning Cody Balmer will spend 25 to 50 years in prison as part of a plea deal. Charges range from attempted murder to terrorism. Shapiro and guests were asleep inside the Harrisburg home after celebrating Passover when Balmer entered and threw beer bottles filled with gasoline into a dining room. Shapiro says

the threat of violence remains with him. I think it's important that in this time of rising political violence, that none of us grow numb to it or accept this as the normal course of doing business for elected officials. The governor's residence has undergone extensive security upgrades in the aftermath. For NPR News, I'm Tom Reese in Harrisburg. The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Alex Jones. The Far-Roy conspiracy theorist found liable for defamation over claims the 2020. 12 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax.

Israel says it opened fire during an incident in northern Gaza, even as a ceasefire deal remains in place between Israel and Hamas. And PR's Ruth Sherlock reports. The Israeli military said its troops opened fire on, quote, several suspects. It said these individuals were crossing the yellow line that marks the boundary Israeli troops have pulled back to in the first phase of the U.S. brokered peace plan for Gaza. The military asked Gaza residents not to approach troops in this area

and said those individuals were violating the ceasefire agreement. Hamas, in a statement, said it was Israel who violated the truce and that a number of Gaza residents were killed as a result. Gaza's local health authority said six Palestinians have been killed in two separate events in the strip. Overall, though, for now, the ceasefire is broadly still holding. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News. This is NPR.

Top gymnasts from Israel. won't be allowed to compete at a world championship event that gets underway later this month in Indonesia. NPR's Brian Mann reports a sports tribunal in Switzerland has denied an emergency appeal by Israeli athletes. Despite the U.S. brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Indonesia is denying visas to gymnasts from Israel. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country and its government has been fiercely critical of Israel over the war in Gaza. Six Israeli athletes and Israel's Gymnastics Federation called on the Court of Arbitration for Sport to intervene. They argued the International Gymnastics Federation has an obligation to make sure all qualified gymnasts are able to compete or cancel the event. In its ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said it's still reviewing the case, but no emergency action will be taken ahead of the competition.

The Artistic Gymnastics World Championships get underway October 19th in Jakarta. Brian Mann, NPR News. Grammy-winning artist DeAngelo has died, according to a statement from his family, the revered R&B singer whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer passed away following a prolonged battle with cancer. His family says DeAngelo leaves a legacy of extraordinarily moving music. One of the most notable moments was DeAngelo's video of How Does It Feel in 2000, which touched off conversations around sexuality and vulnerability and blackmail representation.

DeAngelo was 51 years old. This is NPR.