NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-24-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: October 24, 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 Kurova Coleman. The federal government says social security recipients,

will get a 2.8% cost-of-living benefit increase next year. That decision was based on the latest inflation report. Consumer prices were up in September by 3% over what they were a year ago. The reports were delayed by the federal government shutdown in its 24th day. Amid the shutdown, a facility in Oklahoma where air traffic controllers are trained is remaining open. As NPR's Joel Rose reports, funding for that training is being extended for another month. During the last government shut down six years ago, the FAA's Training Academy in Oklahoma City was forced to close. That had a lasting impact, adding to the shortage of air traffic controllers.

This time, the FAA made sure to keep the academy open, with funding extended through at least the end of November. That's according to Nick Daniels, the president of the union that represents air traffic controllers. He says air traffic control trainees are still getting paid for now. The very difficult part is the second that they graduate. they then graduate to not receiving a paycheck. Those trainees are joining more than 13,000 controllers who are required to work without pay until the shutdown ends. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has wrapped up his trip to Israel today.

He visited the U.S. Israel Civil Military Coordination Center in Southern Israel. NPR's Rob Schmidt's reports. After touring the center established as part of President Trump's peace plan, Rubio called the coordination of the ceasefire in Gaza an historic mission, saying Washington and its international partners are working to sustain the truce, deliver aid, and pave the way for a stabilization force to enter the territory. There will never be peace as long as there's an area or a territory that's being used as a launch pad to threaten Israel's security. Everyone understands that, and everyone that signed on to the steel understands that. When asked about the role of the United Nations,

Rubio called the UN's Relief in Work Agency for the Palestinian Territories, a, quote, subsidiary of Hamas, echoing the Israeli government's criticism of the agency, an opinion the U.N.'s highest court this week rejected. Rubio said it wouldn't be allowed to work in Gaza, but that other U.N. agencies would. Rob Schmidt, then Pierre News, Tel Aviv. President Trump says he won't surge federal troops to San Francisco as he had threatened. He says he talked with several Bay Area tech leaders who urged against it. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie says he told Trump in a phone call, his city is on the rise. We have work to do, and we would welcome the continued partnership with,

FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. attorneys to get drugs and drug dealers off of our streets. But having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery. But federal immigration agents have been arriving at Coast Guard facilities in the Bay Area this week. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military has struck another boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing six people. He says they were drug traffickers but provided no evidence. President Trump says he will continue the U.S. attacks. Toronto has been gearing up for tonight's opening game of the world series.

The hometown Blue Jays will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. As Dan Carpichuk reports, the series brings a huge economic windfall to Toronto. For those not fortunate enough to scoop up tickets for the game at Toronto's Rogers Center, they can still watch the game at home and in pubs, restaurants, and sports bars. Most of those bars are already booked. Fans from across Canada and the U.S. have been arriving for the first two games. It's not clear yet just how much money will be made, but hotels have been filling up, flights to Toronto are full,

and retailers, especially those selling Blue Jays gear, are finding it hard to keep stock on their shelves. The Tourist Marketing Agency, Destination Toronto, says it's expecting millions of dollars to flow into the local economy. So no matter who wins the series, the city will come out a winner financially. For NPR News, I'm Dan Carpenchuk in Toronto. Artist Bad Bunny was a big winner at last night's Billboard Latin Music Awards. This song, DTMF, won Hot Latin Song of the Year.

Bad Bunny ended the night with 11 wins. Famed performer Rita Marino shared a salsa dance with him. on stage as she also presented him with the award of top Latin artist of the 21st century. Carol G followed behind Bad Bunny last night with six wins. I'm Corva Coleman, 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.