NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-16-2025 7AM EDT

Episode Date: October 16, 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 Corva Coleman. President Trump has confirmed reports that he, green-lit, covert CIA operations in Venezuela. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, Trump says it's part of the efforts to tackle drug trafficking. President Trump has escalated U.S. efforts to destabilize

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, acknowledging that he authorized an attempt to go after trafficking inside Venezuelan borders. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump was responding to questions about a report on the classified directive from the New York Times. I authorized me for two reasons, Julie. Number one, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America. He also cited the amount of drugs entering the country via Venezuela, and he dismissed criticism that the administration was not sharing enough information about U.S. efforts. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News. The Senate is expected to vote again today on a measure to end the federal government shutdown.

It's more than two weeks old. From member station WUSF in Tampa, Gabriella Paul spoke with a federal worker off the job. Tierra Carter answers the phones for the Social Security Administration in Tampa. She's working without pay until the shutdown ends. Stressing out about how we're going to handle our financial situations at home. Last week, the Trump administration began mass layoffs across several federal agencies. Carter says her department is spared for now.

To be completely honest, I feel ashamed to be a American citizen. right now. I mean, who does this to their own essential workers? Every day the shutdown drags on, Carter says the agency's backlog of service requests grows. For NPR News, I'm Gabriela Paul in Tampa. A federal judge in California has ordered a temporary halt to President Trump's layoffs of thousands of federal workers during the shutdown. The judge ruled federal employee unions have enough evidence to show the layoffs are illegal. Federal health officials have clarified that pregnant women are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but NPR's Rob Stein says that's as long as they first talked to a 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 Obstitutions and Gynecologists, 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. Democratic governors in 15 states have launched a public health alliance to share information about disease outbreaks and more.

The Democratic governors say that they're filling in gaps left by the Trump administration when it cut back health agencies. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Gaza, Hamas has handed over 10 bodies to Israel since the ceasefire began, but Israel says one of them is not that of a hostage. Hamas says it has handed over all the hostage bodies. It has control over. Israel is seeking 19 more hostage bodies,

but Hamas says they're missing and under rubble. Meanwhile, the Rafah crossing into Gaza remains closed. That's limiting the amount of aid. Can get. The military leader who overthrew the government in the African island nation of Madagascar says he will be sworn in as president tomorrow. Thousands of young people protesting conditions in Madagascar had originally demanded political reform. The Malagasy military instead staged a coup this week. Many animals have the ability to detect the Earth's magnetic field. NPR's Nate Roth reports a new study finds earthworms have this ability to.

Scientists have known many animals have this sixth sense for decades, but they still don't know how they do it. As in, we know eyes are used for seeing, noses for smelling, ears for hearing, but it's unclear what organ or sensor is detecting gravitational fields. Using these earthworms, we can really learn how to unravel this sense. Behavioral ecologist Yanni Vortman is the author of the new study published in the journal Biology letters, and he says earthworms are easier to study because they don't have eyes. or ears, and they're easy to acquire. If you want to sample for the airstorms, I don't know, you can go to the next fishing store, right? Nate Rot, NPR News.

And I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.