NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-25-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: October 25, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump says he's open to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his trip to Asia. NPR's Deepa Shibram reports. On route to Malaysia, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that if Kim was willing to meet, he'd be open to it. He said that he and Kim had a great relationship, and he says Kim knows that he's coming to the region, but he hasn't spoken with the North Korean leader. Trump last met with Kim in 2019 when he made a visit to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. It came together quickly after Trump tweeted and proposed a meeting at the DMZ to shake Kim's hand and say hello.

After attending the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and traveling to Tokyo, Trump will fly to South Korea, where he's expected to attend events at the APEC summit and meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Deepa Shiverum and PR News traveling with the president. Today is day 25 of the government shutdown, with no apparent movement to end the stalemate. House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won't call the House back in session until after the Democrats vote to reopen the government. The Democrats want to extend tax subsidies for health care due to expire at the end of the year. NPR's Ron Elving has more.

The Democrats say it's all about health care, premium subsidies for people on Obamacare, much higher bills are about to hit home for millions of Americans. Americans, and they lived disproportionately in states that voted for Trump, so there could be some rising tension there. The Republicans in Congress say the Democrats just want to fight, and they save for their part. There's nothing to negotiate. My guess is that they would be back at the negotiating table on Monday if summoned by the president, but he does not seem to be so inclined. NPR's Ron Elving, pressure is building on the Trump administration to keep paying for food aid during the shutdown.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. Members of Congress, state, and local officials have all urged the administration to not let $8 billion of SNAP funding end in November. The U.S. Conference of Mayors says it's vital to local budgets and public health systems. Joel Berg, with Hunger Free America, says the money gets spent at 260,000 retailers. Farmers markets, big box stores, grocery stores are going to lose that income. I think some stores may actually be forced to lay off employees. Food policy experts say the Agriculture Department can and must use contingency funds to keep snap going. The agency says there's not enough money and payments are on hold.

Jennifer Lutton and Peer News, Washington. Tropical storm Melissa is expected to strengthen into a hurricane sometime today. It's now moving over the Central Caribbean. It's expected to bring damaging winds, flash flooding, and landslides to Jamaica, Cuba, and the Southern Hispaniola. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Ukrainian officials say at least two people were killed in the capital Kyiv early this morning in a Russian missile attack. At least 13 people were wounded. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy said the attacks show the need for Western air defense systems for Ukraine to defend itself.

Ukraine is attempting to buy 25 Patriot Air Defense systems from the U.S. that have proven effective at destroying Russia's ballistic missiles. The Justice Department says it now wants to deport Kilmar-Abrego-Garcia to the African nation of Liberia. But as NPR's Martin Kosti reports, his lawyers say that's an unacceptable option. A judge ruled in 2019 that although Abrago-Garcia was in the U.S. illegally, he shouldn't be sent back to El Salvador because of dangers he'd faced there. The Trump administration deported him there anyway. It says by mistake.

and he was returned to the U.S. in June. Now his lawyer, Simon Sandoval-Motionberg, says Costa Rica could take Abrago-Garcia, but the administration keeps insisting on sending him farther away. They are using the selection of the country of removal as a means of punishing him. In its court filing, the Justice Department calls Liberia a thriving democracy, which provides, quote, robust protections for human rights. But it doesn't say whether Liberia has promised not to send Abrago-Garcia on to El Salvador.

Martin Costi, NPR News. At the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays won the first game last night, overwhelming the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4. Game two is tonight also in Toronto. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.