NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-17-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: October 17, 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 Janine Herbst. A federal grand jury has indicted former national security advisor John Bolton, alleging he mishandled classified documents. And here's Kerry Johnson has more. 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.

Bolton responded saying he's become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those President Trump deems to be his enemies. President Trump says he'll meet with Russian President Putin in a couple of weeks in Hungary. And here's Michelle Kellerman has more. President Trump says it was a productive call with Putin. One of the topics was Ukraine's request for long-range tomahawk missiles. I did actually say, would you mind if I gave a couple of thousand tomahawks to your opposition? I did say that to him.

I said it just that way. He didn't like the idea. Before the call, Trump suggested he might sell Tomahawks to Ukraine and expressed frustration with Putin, saying the Kremlin leader doesn't want to end the war that is making Russia look bad. Now he says he will meet Putin after top U.S. and Russian diplomats make the arrangements, and he'll talk to Zelensky about what he heard on the call. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington. New York's city's mayoral candidates took the stage for their first general election debate last night.

Bridger Bergen from Member Station, WNYC reports the issue of experience came up often. Democratic nominee Zoran Mamdani's youth and short tenure in government have been persistent lines of attack from his rivals. Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor whose running is an independent after losing to Momdani in the primary, continues to make it an issue. This is not a job for a first time. Any day, you could have a hurricane, you God forbid, a 9-11, a health pandemic. Mamdani says Cuomo's experience, including resigning his governor in 2021, following a series of scandals, is not what the city needs. What I don't have an experience, I make up for an integrity, and what you don't have an

integrity, you could never make up for an experience. Republican Curtis Lewa says he's just glad he's not a career politician, like his opponents. For NPR News, I'm Bridget Bergen, in New York. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Former military leaders joined Illinois Governor J.B. Prisker in Chicago yesterday, condemning President Trump's push to deploy National Guard troops there. Mao Iqbal from Member Station, WBEZ, has more.

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 pawns. 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. After weeks of anti-government protests led by young people, Colonel Michael Randrianerina has been sworn in as Madagascar's new leader after seizing power in a military coup. This rapid takeover ousted President Andre Rajulina, who fled the African country. Randrianerina, commander of an elite army unit, took office at the nation's high constitutional court. The UN, though, is condemning the military takeover.

as unconstitutional. Randrian Arena plans to run the country with a military council for up to two years before holding elections. The country has now been suspended from the African Union. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington. 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.