NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-17-2025 1AM EDT

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

NPR News: 10-17-2025 1AM 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 Shay-Stevens. A federal grand jury has indicted former national security advisor, John Bolton,

alleging he mishandled classified documents. More from NPR's Kerry Johnson. The grand jury indictment charges John Bolton with eight counts of transmitting national defense information and 10 counts of unlawfully retaining those secrets. The charges come two months after the FBI search Bolton's home and office. Court papers say agents recovered documents marked as classified, including references to weapons of mass destruction. Bolton worked for Trump for just over a year

during the president's first term in office. He's since become a harsh critic of the president and warned about retribution. The Justice Department investigation dates back to before Trump returned to office. The president says Bolton is a, quote, bad guy, but that he has not reviewed the case. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

New York Attorney General, Leticia James, says she was indicted and, retaliation for bringing a civil fraud case against the Trump organization. James faces mortgage fraud charges, which she denies. It's nothing more than retribution, retribution for basically doing my job, for doing my job following a two-year investigation and a congressional hearing. It wasn't political, it was based on facts and the application of the evidence. James is vowing to wage a vigorous defense.

Former military leaders joined Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in Chicago, Thursday, Day to condemn President Trump's push to deploy National Guard troops there. WBEC's Malwa Iqbal has the story. Over the past few weeks, federal immigration agents have been ramping up enforcement in the Chicagoland area, and their clashes with protesters are becoming more frequent and violent. The retired major generals, admirals, and veterans call Trump's actions un-American and dangerous. Trump wants to deploy guard troops in a support capacity. Prisker says Trump is using the National Guard as his political ponds. A classroom of kids is missing their teacher.

A hospital department full of patients is missing their nurse. So many children are missing their parent. All because Donald Trump wants to punish people who didn't vote for him. The deployment of National Guard members in the Chicago area remains stalled by the federal courts. For NPR News, I'm Mawa-Iqbal in Springfield, Illinois. Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations is asking the Security Council to condemn U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean. Samuel Moncadas says two fishermen from Trinidad and Tobago

were likely among those killed in the latest attack. The Trump administration insists that they were drug traffickers along with the 25 others killed in U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean this year. President Trump ordered a military buildup off Venezuela, he says, to combat illicit drug activity. You're listening to NPR. For the 10th time, Senate Democrats have voted down a Republican stopgap bill designed to end the government shutdown. The GOP measure would continue government spending through November 21st.

Democrats are holding out support until Congress restores health care subsidies that expire at the end of the year. Two U.S. senators have announced a deal on aviation safety legislation. As NPR's Joe Rose reports, the bipartisan agreement was spurred by the fatal mid-air collision that killed 67 people in January. The deal was announced by Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and the panel's top Democrat, Maria Cantwell of Washington State. The bill would require aircraft operators to equip their fleets with an advanced tracking technology known as ADSB, and it would limit exemptions for military helicopters.

The U.S. Army helicopter was not using ADS.B when it collided with an American Airlines regional jet near Washington, D.C. Family members of the crash victims called the bill a historic first step toward fixing the safety failures that led to the deadliest U.S. air disaster in decades. The deal clears the way for the Senate Commerce Committee to vote on the bill known as the Rotor Act next week. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. A memorial for Kenya's former Prime Minister, Rila Odinga, turned violent Thursday. Two people were killed when police opened fire on a crowd of mourners that surged toward a gate causing a stampede. Thousands of people turned out to escort Odinga's body from Kenya's main airport

to a soccer stadium where the memorial was held. Odinga died on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack while visiting India. This is NPR News. Fall in love with new music every Friday. At All Songs Considered, that's NPR's Music Recommendation podcast, Fridays are where we spend our whole show sharing all the greatest new releases of the week. Make the hunt for new music a part of your life again. Tap into New Music Friday from All Songs Considered,

available wherever you get your podcasts.