NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-15-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: October 16, 2025

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A lot of short daily news podcasts focus on just one story. But right now, you probably need more. On Up First from NPR, we bring you three of the world's top headlines every day in under 15 minutes. Because no one story can capture all that's happening in this big, crazy world of ours on any given morning. Listen now to the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. A federal judge in San Francisco has paused the Trump administration's latest rounds of mass layoffs during the government shutdown. For now, the order applies to over 30 agencies. NPR's Andrea Shue has more on the case brought by federal employee unions. U.S. District Judge Susan Ilston said the unions are likely to prove that the Trump administration acted illegally in firing employees during the shutdown.

She ordered a pause to the layoffs already underway and a halt to any new layoffs until a second hearing on a shutdown. October 28th. The government's attorney, Elizabeth Hedges, argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case and that the restraining order is not warranted because the plaintiffs have not demonstrated irreparable harm. Ilston did not find those arguments compelling and instead pressed Hedges to explain why the government believes the layoffs are legal. Hedges declined saying she was not prepared to discuss the government's position on the merits at this time. Andrea Hsu and PR News. The Supreme Court seems poised to undercut the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It was upheld by the Supreme Court in the decades after it was enacted, but the current conservative court appeared skeptical of the landmark law during arguments over a Louisiana congressional map today, as NPR's Nina Totenberg explains. Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the court's decision two years ago, downplayed the importance of that ruling, suggesting that he didn't see his decision as controlling the outcome in today's case. At issue was a redistricting nap drawn by the Louisiana legislature after the decennial census. After years of litigation, the state, with a 30% black population, agreed to draw a second majority black district.

Normally, that would have been the end of the case, but a self-described group of non-African-American voters intervened at that point to object to the legislature's redistricting. NPR's Nina Totenberg reporting. Federal health officials have clarified the eligibility of pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19. NPR's Rob Stein reports. The Health and Human Services Department says pregnant women fall into the same category as any other healthy adult. They're eligible for a COVID shot as long as they first discuss the decision with the health care professional. The eligibility of pregnant women has been unclear because of conflicting messages from federal health officials. But in response to a

query from NPR, an HHS spokesperson confirmed that pregnant women are eligible. The American College of Obstitians and Gynaecologists, however, goes further, saying the shots should be recommended for pregnant women, not just be an option, because COVID can be very dangerous for pregnant women. Rob Stein, NPR News. Most U.S. stocks rose today. This is NPR News from Washington. Alaska is dealing with one of the biggest emergency responses in decades after the remnants of a typhoon hit coastal villages over the weekend.

The storm brought record surges, sweeping away homes and leaving 1,500 residents in makeshift shelters. The Trump administration cut federal grants that were meant to help small, mostly indigenous villages prepare for such disasters. The Army in Madagascar has seized power days after the president fled, citing threats on his life, Kate Bartlett reports the move comes after weeks of anti-government protests. A colonel in an elite army unit has announced the military has taken over the country. His statement came minutes after members of parliament voted to impeach President Andre Rajalina. Madagascar's youth took to the streets last month, demanding Rajalina resign amid anger over water and electricity shortages crippling the country.

Over the weekend, the Capsat military unit announced they had sided with the protesters. Rajalina then fled and is in hiding in an undisclosed location. The former French colony in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa is no stranger to rebellions. Rajelina himself first came to power as leader of a transitional government following a coup in 2009. He later ran for election and won. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg. LeBron James, Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry are making history as they entered their 20th NBA seasons or more. It's the first time the league has three.

players in the 20 season club simultaneously. James will soon become the first pro basketballer to play 23 seasons. I'm Rylan Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. 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.