NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-23-2025 4AM 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, I'm Shay Stevens. The United States is slapping sanctions on two Russian oil companies in hopes of pressuring

the Kremlin to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine. President Trump announced the move days after canceling plans to meet with his Russian counterpart. Today is a very big day in terms of what we're doing. Look, these are tremendous sanctions. These are very big. Those are against their two big oil companies. And we hope that they won't be on for long. We hope that the war will be settled.

we just answered having to do with the various forms of missiles and everything else that we're looking at, but we don't think that's going to be necessary. Meanwhile, the European Union is set to hold a summit today to discuss sanctions against Russia and plans to use Moscow's frozen assets to support Ukraine. The Kremlin says that Russia has completed a test of its strategic nuclear forces.

Details from NPR's Charles Mainz in Moscow. Video released by the Kremlin showed Putin overseen tests of Russia's entire nuclear triad by air, land, and sea. That included the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, part of what Russia's top brass says are practice procedures for authorizing the actual use of nuclear weapons. While the drills were long planned, they followed the postponement of a summit meeting between Putin and Trump, aimed at finding the negotiated end to the war in Ukraine. They also come as the last remaining nuclear arms reduction treaty. Between the U.S. and Russia is set to expire in early 2026. Putin is called,

hold on Trump to agree to a one-year extension to give both sides more time to negotiate a new agreement. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow. Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley concluded a 22-and-a-half-hour-long speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday. NPRS.M. Greenglass has details. Senator Merckley did not break the record set earlier this year by fellow Democrat Cory Booker, but the Senate press gallery says the remarks are the fourth longest in Senate history. We are in the most perilous moment. threat to our republic since the Civil War.

The stunt comes as lawmakers are at an impasse on ending the government shutdown. Republican Senator John Barrasso chastised Merkley for keeping staff overnight as they go without pay. I come to the floor today to ask a simple question. What did Democrats actually accomplish? After the speech, Merkley chugged a gatorade, then the Senate failed to advance a funding measure for the 12th time. Sam Gringlass, NPR News, Washington.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is warning Israel that annexing the West Bank would threaten the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Rubio is the latest Trump administration official to visit Israel to try to shore up a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war. U.S. futures are lower in after-hours trading on Wall Street following Wednesday's losses. On Asia-Pacific markets, shares are mixed, down 1% in Tokyo. This is NPR. The death toll from U.S. military strikes at sea has risen to at least 37 following two more strikes on boats suspected of hauling and narcotics.

At least five people were killed in strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific on Tuesday and Wednesday. The seven previous U.S. attacks on suspected drug smugglers were carried out in the Caribbean. The film Bougonia, starring Emma Stone, opens on Halloween. NPR's Mandali Del Barco reports that it is already getting buzz. Thanks to a publicity stunt. At a theater in Culver City, California this week, moviegoers were treated to a free advanced screening of begonia after getting their heads shaved bald, like Emma Stone in the movie.

Among those getting sheared in the lobby was Olabisi Kovita. I can feel some air hitting my scalp right now. Triple Play Studios produced the experience. Three years ago, the company hyped the horror film Smile by getting people to smile continuously at baseball games. plugged the long walk last summer. They had moviegoers walk on treadmills throughout the entire movie. If you stop, you will be escorted out.

Triple Play Studios founder Alex Craig says studios are turning to viral social media moments to get people back into cinemas. Something that's off the wall and gets the Internet's attention. Mandalay-Elbarco, NPR News. Misty Copeland has retired from the American Ballet Theater following her last spin on the dance floor at the Lincoln Center. Her retirement comes 10 years after Copeland became. became the first black female principal dancer in the company's 75-year history.

This is NPR News.