NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-21-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: October 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The U.S. Senate has once again defeated a proposal to reopen government at least through November 21st. Majority Leader John Thune says the debate over health care subsidies should wait. I have made it clear from the beginning that Republicans are willing to have a discussion about how to address it. In fact, I'm perfectly willing to guarantee Democrats a vote. But none of that is going to happen until Democrats are. reopen the government. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says now is the time to discuss health care subsidies that are expiring at the end of the year. The ACA premium crisis is not a

fix-it-later issue like Republicans keep pretending it is. It's a fix-it-now issue because very soon Americans are going to have to make some really difficult choices about which health care plan they choose for next year. The government shutdown is now 21 days old. President Trump made a deal with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on critical rare earth elements. As NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, the deal includes investments to boost processing in Australia. Speaking alongside the Australian Prime Minister at the White House, President Trump said the two sides had been negotiating for four or five months before reaching an agreement. In about a year from now, we'll have so much critical mineral and rare earths that you won't know what to do with them.

These rare earths are critical to the manufacture of countless modern products, from cars to semiconductors to all forms of electronics, including phones and laptops. China, one of the greatest sources of critical minerals and metals worldwide, this month, added more restrictions on their exports. Australia, which is considered to have a healthy supply, is positioning itself as a viable alternative. Franco, Ordojones, NPR News, the White House. Florida is making some vaccines optional for children, and some teachers are expressing concern. From member station, WUSF, Carrie Sheridan, has the story.

Mary Holmes is a public school teacher in Sarasota County, where vaccination rates for kids are below 80%. Her students have disabilities. Many have weakened immune systems, and it's not just them. We have a lot of teachers and staff members with cancer that people have no idea about. She says parents should be able to choose whether to vaccinate their kids, but not if they send them to public school where they put others at risk. If a parent feels that strongly, I think they should go with their gut and then homeschool them. I don't think you can have both. By December, Florida will no longer require shots against four diseases, including hepatitis B

and chicken pox. For NPR news, I'm Carrie Sheridan in Sarasota. U.S. futures are flat and after hours trading on Wall Street. On Asia-Pacific market, shares are higher up 1% in Hong Kong and Shanghai. high. This is NPR. A federal appeals court is giving the Trump administration the green light to send 200 Oregon National Guard troops into Portland. The court overturned another ruling that prevented President Trump from federalizing those troops. The administration wants the lower court order thrown out. In Bolivia, centrist candidate Rodrigo Paz has won the country's presidential election, ending two decades of left-wing dominance. As Julia

The Canero reports, it also marks the latest shift to the right among South American governments. In his victory speech, Rodrigo Paz said Bolivia was breathing an air of change and that God, the fatherland, and the family were part of his vision for the country. Paz is no outsider to politics, a former senator and mayor whose father, Jaime Paz Samora, was president between 1989 and 93. His election ends the 20-year rule of the movement for socialism, current president Louis Arsi didn't even make it to the runoff vote. On the campaign trail, Paz appealed to Bolivians shaken by the worst economic crisis in a generation. He promised moderate reform to put the

economy on track while maintaining social programs. For NPR News, I'm Julie Kahnero. Former French President's Nicholas Sarcozy has begun serving a five-year prison sentence. 70-year-old Sarkozy was convicted of criminal conspiracy charges stemming from his acceptance of Libyan money to finance his 2007 campaign. He's been ordered to begin serving his sentence while appealing that conviction. You're listening to NPR News.