NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-16-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: October 16, 2025

NPR News: 10-16-2025 10AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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 Krova Coleman, the humanitarian chief for the United Nations says there's been a setback and the amount of relief aid going to Gaza during the ceasefire.

Israel is insisting that Hamas return all the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza in line with the ceasefire deal. But NPR's Aibatrawi reports that could take time and an international search team. The UN says its teams in the past 24 hours were only able to collect aid, such as food, medicine, and hygiene kits that had previously been transferred into Gaza. That means the UN wasn't able to bring in new aid since at least Tuesday. The UN says a flood of aid is desperately needed in Gaza to reverse starvation and severe malnutrition, particularly among children. The UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher says thousands of trucks of aid should be flowing into Gaza every week and that all land crossings into Gaza must be open. He says the UN has long insisted that withholding aid from civilians in Gaza is not a bargaining chip. Israel's military has not responded to NPR's request for comment.

Fletcher also called on Hamas to make strenuous efforts to return all bodies of hostages. Ayapotrawi, NPR News, Dubai. In the U.S., the Trump administration is withholding $40 million in federal transportation funding from California. NPR's Joel Rose reports the Transportation Department says the state is failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says California is the only state that, quote, refuses to ensure big-rig-dry drive. drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement. The Department of Transportation had earlier warned California, Washington, State, and New Mexico that they could lose federal funds unless they enforce English proficiency requirements for

commercial truck drivers. California officials say the state does enforce federal language proficiency requirements and that its commercial driver's license holders have a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the national average for truckers. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. Stocks open higher this morning as the federal government. shutdown delays another key economic report. MPR. Scott Horsley tells us the Dow Jones Industrial average rose about 86 points in early trading. The Commerce Department's report on

retail sales for September is delayed. As with other key data points, it's been sidetracked by the government shutdown. A collection of anecdotal reports released by the Federal Reserve this week suggests consumer spending has been inching down, but spending by high-income households remain strong. Fed Governor Chris Wallace, says upper-income households are less affected by rising prices and a softening job market. Waller and his colleagues appear to be on track for another quarter-point cut in interest rates at the next Fed meeting in about two weeks. And Swiss food giant Nestle is planning to cut some 16,000 jobs over the next two years

as part of a global cost-cutting effort. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. On Wall Street, the Dow is now up 81 points. You're listening to NPR. Authorities in Alaska are airlifting hundreds of people away from the western coast. It was battered by the remnants of a typhoon last weekend. One person was killed and two others are still missing. Two communities have been destroyed and a thousand people are sheltering in poor conditions.

A federal judge has extended her temporary order blocking President Trump from deploying National Guard troops on the streets of Portland, Oregon. The issue is being considered by a higher fact. General Appeals Court. But while that is pending, the block on the troops in Oregon will be extended for two more weeks. A new deal between Netflix and Spotify is revealing how much consumers are turning to video podcasts. NPR's Netta Ullaby explains. Back in the good old days, meaning like five years ago, we listened to podcasts. Now we watch them. More than half of the world's top podcasts now release video versions, like the sports show hosted by Bill Simmons. The Celtics are like, whoa, Simon's. Like, this guy's like a really gifted office.

Video podcasts are being consumed right now 20 times faster than audio ones. People often just have them on in the background. The number one platform for podcasts is YouTube. But Netflix and Spotify are challenging that. This new deal will make 16 top video podcasts available only on Netflix and on the Spotify app starting in January, including the Bill Simmons podcast. Netta Ulippi, NPR News. On Wall Street, the Dowie is now up less than 40 points. The NASDAQ is up about 100. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.