NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-25-2024 1PM EDT

Episode Date: October 25, 2024

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I'm Rachel Martin, host of NPR's Wild Card Podcast. I've spent my entire career learning what kinds of questions prompt the most honest answers. What's the biggest sacrifice you've ever made? What's a belief you had to let go of? Oh! What's a goal you're glad you gave up on? Now I'm putting those soul-searching questions to guests like Jenny Slate, Bowen Yang, and Chris Pine. Follow Wild Card wherever you get your podcasts only from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Both presidential candidates are taking their campaigns to Texas today as they race to reinforce their messaging to voters. Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports Vice President Kamala Harris will rally supporters in Houston, while former President Donald Trump will take part in a podcast in Austin. Harris will be sharing the stage with Beyoncé and Willie Nelson. She'll also be joined by Democratic Dallas Congressman Colin Allred, who is locked in

a tight race challenging Republican Senator Ted Cruz. Harris is expected to focus her remarks on abortion and reproductive rights. Following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, several states enacted abortion bans. Texas enacted one of the strictest in the nation, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Harris casts blame on Trump for the bans. Trump says that abortion legislation should be left to the states. Meanwhile, the former president is in Austin. He's recording an appearance on the popular podcast hosted by Joe Rogan. For NPR News, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston. The defense minister of the Netherlands has become the latest world leader to announce

that his intelligence services confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. Terri Schulz reports NATO allies will discuss a response on Monday. The deputy chief of South Korea's intelligence service and other officials will brief NATO on their assessments that Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to help Russia fight Ukraine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the U.S. believes some 3,000 North Korean soldiers are already in Russia. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans cites a lower number of personnel, but says he expects the troops will be mainly deployed in Kursk, the Russian region where Ukraine seized territory in August.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he expects some of these troops to arrive at the frontline in Kursk this weekend, and suggests as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia. The Netherlands Brekelmans says this significant escalation requires an appropriate response. For NPR News, I'm Terri Schultz in Brussels. New orders for long-lasting manufacturing products fell last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports on the latest figures from the Commerce Department. Orders for durable goods fell by eight-tenths of a percent last month, weighed down by a sharp drop in orders

for civilian aircraft. Excluding transportation, durable goods orders were up. McDonald's has identified a California onion supplier as the possible source of an E. coli outbreak linked to the chain's quarter pounders. Taylor Farms of Salinas, California has issued an onion recall. Other fast food chains are pulling onions from their menus as a precaution. Crude oil prices are up, but retail gasoline prices continue to fall. AAA says the average price of the pump is now $3.14 a gallon.

That's down about a nickel from a week ago and 40 cents lower than this time last year. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News from Washington. The Los Angeles district attorney is recommending that Eric and Lyle Menendez be resentenced. In a high-profile case, the brothers received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for killing their parents in 1989. Karen Vander Mullen is their cousin, she spoke to ABC's Good Morning America, about their potential release. Vander Molen is their cousin, she spoke to ABC's Good Morning America, about their potential

release. Best case scenario would be for us to have Eric and Lyle home for the busy week of Thanksgiving for us. We have three birthdays and that would be just tremendously amazing. Attorneys are asking a judge to re-sentence the brothers to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole. A federal judge is blocking a major fashion merger of companies that own Coach, Kate Spade and Michael Kors brands. NPR's Alina Seljuk reports the deal is worth $8.5 billion.

The two companies that want to merge are Tapestry, which makes Coach and Kate Spade, and the other is Capri Holdings, which owns the brands Versace, Jimmy Choo, and Michael Kors. The Federal Trade Commission sued to stop their deal, arguing these are the main companies that make affordable luxury bags, especially Kate Spade and Michael Kors brands, which would go from rivals to one parent company. Now, a U.S. district judge has agreed with the FTC saying this merger should not proceed because it would reduce head-to-head competition, likely raising prices for shoppers. The companies argue the ruling is wrong and its understanding of just how competitive

the fashion world is, and they plan to appeal. Alina Seluk, NPR News. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.