NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-24-2025 11AM 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, on Corvick-Colman. President Trump says he is cutting off trade talks.

the U.S. and Canada. The president is blaming an anti-tariff commercial issued by the Canadian provincial government of Ontario. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation says the ad misrepresents a radio address on tariffs given by the late former president. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canadian negotiators have been working toward trade solutions on thorny issues. We stand ready to pick up on that progress and build on that progress when the Americans are ready to have those discussions because it will be for the benefit of workers in the United States, workers in Canada's, and families in both of our countries. He also says Canada cannot control the trade policy of the United States.

President Trump leaves tonight for his trip to Asia. South Korea says it will host the leaders of the U.S. and China for state visits next week. And Pierre's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul, the visits will happen on the sidelines. of a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC. South Korea's national security advisor, U.S. Sung-Lak, told reporters that President I.J. Myeong will meet with President Trump on October 29th and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on November 1st. The U.S. and South Korean governments gave conflicting versions of where their leaders will meet.

Wee-sung Lach said they would meet in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, where the APEC summit is being held. The White House said the two would meet further south in the port city of Busan. Meanwhile, U.S. and Chinese trade officials will meet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday, to try to de-escalate U.S.-China trade frictions ahead of Trump's expected meeting with Xi Jinping. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. This is day 24 of the federal government shutdown. Republican and Democratic lawmakers still cannot agree on a spending bill that would bring the shutdown to an end. The Trump administration says it is moving ahead with three projects on federal lands in Alaska.

These involve energy and roads. Alaska public media's Liz Ruskin reports the Biden administration had blocked all three projects. Interior Secretary Doug Bergam is opening the entire coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to Oil and Gas leasing. But oil companies might not bid. Prior lease sales brought no development. Bergam also took steps to advance two roads in roadless areas. The Ambler Road is intended to spur mining in northwest. Alaska, tribal members fear it will end their ability to live off the land. The other road would

link the isolated community of King Cove to an all-weather airport, but it would cross a refuge important to bird migrations. Environmental groups say the fight isn't over. For NPR news, I'm Liz Ruskin. On Wall Street, both the Dow and the NASDAQ are up almost 1%. It's NPR. New York Attorney General Letitia James is scheduled to appear. in a federal courtroom in Virginia this hour. She's expected to plead not guilty to charges that she committed bank fraud. President Trump has demanded the prosecution of the Democrat, who is a Trump critic. James says Trump has weaponized the Justice Department.

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 issued this morning. Consumer prices were up in September by 3%. for what they were a year ago. It's that time of year again, NPR's Amy held reports on Halloween candy trends as Americans stock up for next week's trick-or-treaters. Reese's peanut butter cups topped the Halloween hit list,

followed by M&Ms. That's according to DoorDash and Instacart, which also found, candy corn comprising 2% or so of all candy orders, but it's a device of pick. Mississippi and Nebraska buy some 90% more than the national average. The top overall candy-buying state, Utah, Hawaii, and California are more abstemious. Adding to the sugar rush, analysts point to emerging trends like super-sour, spicy, or multi-sensory candies.

Think peelable fruit sweets or textured nerds gummy clusters. Even as candy costs spike, Americans are still reaching for it. The National Retail Federation projects record Halloween spending this year. The most popular purchase remains candy. Amy Held, NPR News. On Wall Street, the Dow is up about 400 points. This is NPR. 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.