NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-17-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

NPR News: 10-17-2025 12AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is among the agencies cutting jobs during the government shutdown. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, many of the 300 HUD employees targeted for layoffs have positions in fair housing. Last month, the head of HUD's office of fair housing and equal opportunity put out a long memo explaining why and how they are changing priorities. Basically, and this is interesting, the memo accuses previous administrations of going beyond the law to protect not just individuals but groups of people. It cites things like gender identity, environmental justice, and race-based guidance, and it says those will no longer be a priority. The memo also says HUD is reviewing its approach to redlining that could include cases where, say, someone in a largely black neighborhood has trouble getting alone. NPR's Jennifer Lutton.

A federal grand jury has indicted former national security advisor John Bolton on 18 counts, including storing classified data at home. The indictment also alleges Bolton shared sensitive information with family members and that hackers gain access to his email. It's the latest example of the Trump administration targeting one of the president's perceived enemies. Bolton became a Trump critic after his firing during the first Trump administration. The Admiral in charge of U.S. Southern Command says he's retiring by the end of the year. As NPR's Quill Lawrence reports, the move comes as the U.S. expands its military presence off Venezuela. Admiral Alvin Halsey is leaving after an unusually short tenure in charge of Southcom. On social media, Secretary of Defense, Pete Higgseth announced Halsey would retire after 37 years in the military

and praised what he called the Admiral's unwavering commitment to mission, people, and nation. This comes as thousands of U.S. troops are deployed on ships near Venezuela, where the Trump administration has ordered a string of lethal strikes on small boats. The White House says the boats carried drugs. Critics say the strikes are illegal orders that amount to execution without trial. Admiral Halsey is black, and he joins about a dozen senior military leaders who have left this year, many of them black or female. Quill Lawrence NPR News. A fierce debate in the New York City mayor is raised between former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic frontrunner Zora Mamdani. NPR's Brian Mann reports.

Mamdani was the main target in the mayoral debate, facing blistering attacks from Cuomo, whose running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. They criticized Mamdani's membership in the Democratic Socialists of America and his past calls to defund the NYPD. Cuomo described Mamdani as inexperienced.

This is no job for on-the-job training. Mamdani kept his focus on pocketbook issues in the city's high prices. That's why I'm speaking about child care because it's pricing out New Yorkers from the city. It's why I'm speaking about freezing the rent. With just over two weeks to go before Election Day, Mamdani has led in every poll

by double digits. This is NPR. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit the White House on Friday. The meeting comes amid President Trump's threat to sell Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump says he discussed the matter with Putin by phone Thursday and that the two leaders will meet two weeks from now in Budapest. Secretary of State Markle Rubio is set to hold an initial

meeting with Russian officials next week. Multiple state attorneys general are suing the EPA for ending a $7 billion program to bring solar energy to low-income communities. From member station KQED in San Francisco, Laura Clivens has more. The program, called Solar for All, would have allowed roughly 900,000 households to access solar energy, California Attorney General Rob Bonta. This is just the latest example of the Trump administration's sham promises. To save Americans' money, bring down costs, create more jobs, and strengthen American innovation. Gutting this program does the exact opposite. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the end of the program via social media in August,

saying it would save U.S. taxpayers billions. Attorneys general from at least 18 states are bringing two lawsuits, one seeking monetary damages, and the other asking that the program be reinstated. For NPR News, I'm Laura Klai. Ivins. Ace Freely, the lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Kiss, has died at his home in Morristown, New Jersey, according to his agent. Freely was known for his sensational solos and wrote the band's top 40 classics, Cold Gin, and Shock Me. He was 74 years old. This is NPR News.