NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-23-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: October 23, 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, on Korva Coleman. The Justice Department has indicted more than 30 people.

people, including pro basketball players in a sweeping probe into alleged sports betting and illegal gambling. One defendant is the coach of the Portland Trailblazers, Chauncey Billups. Another is Miami Heat player Terry Zarear. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York is Joseph Nosella. He claims that in one scheme, the accused used inside NBA information to win sports bets. Between December 22 and March 24, these defendants, perpetrated a scheme to defraud by betting on inside non-public information about NBA athletes and teams. The non-public information included when specific players would be sitting out future games or when they would pull themselves out early for purported injuries or illnesses.

He also alleges that members of organized crime families such as the Banana, Gambino, and Genevieve's families were also involved. This is Day 20, of the federal government shutdown, millions of Americans may lose food aid if it continues. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports a disruption like this has never hit the nation's largest anti-hunger program. One in eight people in the U.S. get SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps. Joel Berg, the CEO of Hunger-Free America, says it would be catastrophic for those low and moderate-income families if that aid suddenly stopped. The vast majority are children, working people, older Americans, veterans, and people with disabilities.

He also says food banks and other charities can nowhere near make up for the loss of $8 billion in federal funding. The Agriculture Department has told states there's not enough money for full snap funding in November, so payments are on hold. In a statement to NPR, an agency spokesperson blamed Senate Democrats for keeping the government shut down. Jennifer Lutton, NPR News, Washington. A new study shows Florida's restriction on cell phones in schools has led to improved student behavior and attendance, along with higher test scores.

From Central Florida Public Media, Daniel Pryor, has more. A report published in the National Bureau of Economic Research found suspension spiked during early adoption of Florida's 2023 restrictions on cell phones in schools. But after the first year, disciplinary actions were down. And by the second year, fewer kids were absent from class and, test scores had improved. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says no phones is a win-win for students and teachers. Who wants to dedicate their life to sitting in front of a group of kids that all have their face buried in the phone? Some 30 states and the District of Columbia now restrict cell phones in some way during school. For NPR News, I'm Danielle Pryor in Orlando. You're listening to

NPR News from Washington. President Trump says the full east wing of the White House is going to be torn down to build his new ballroom. This contradicts his promise last summer that the construction would not interfere with the White House. Historical experts are urging the President to stop and allow historians a role in this project. Doctors have new tools to evaluate a person's biological age compared to their chronological age, which is based on a person's date of birth. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports President Trump's doctor says he estimates the 79-year-old has the cardiac age of a 65-year-old. Using the results of an electrocardiogram, doctors can use AI to estimate a person's cardiac age. Physician Douglas Vaughn of Northwestern University

explains the tool has been developed by using millions of EKG results and machine learning to detect very subtle changes and patterns that track with heart disease risk. So I'm a cardiologist. I can't tell your age. I have no clue what your age is based on how we learn how to read electric cardigan, but this tool does things that the human eyes can't do. He says the tools are still being studied for accuracy and may become part of preventive medicine to detect disease earlier in life. Alison Aubrey, NPR News. Britain's King Charles is visiting Pope Leo at the Vatican.

In a historic moment today, they prayed together in the Sistine Chapel. King Charles is the head of the Church of England. It's the first time in modern history that the head of the Anglican Church and the head of the Roman Catholic Church have publicly prayed together. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.