NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-25-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: October 25, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. President Trump has embarked on his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul on one of the main challenges of his six-day trip. President Trump told reporters on route to his first stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that he expects a good meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but that both sides may need to make concessions. U.S. and Chinese trade officials held talks in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, seeking to de-escalate the trade spat.

China has not yet confirmed that Xi Jinping will meet Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in South Korea next week. President Trump also said he's open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while he's in South Korea. Kim has made similar remarks in the two met three times in 2018 and 2019, but there are currently no plans for the two to meet on this trip. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. The federal government shutdown has moved into its 25th day and more Americans are beginning to feel its effects. Sophia Schmidt, a member station

W-H-Y-Y, reports that Pennsylvania is delaying a program that helps families heat their homes in the winter. More than 300,000 households in Pennsylvania rely on the low-income home energy assistance program to help buy heating oil or pay their energy bills. The program usually opens in November, but without federal funding, the state is pushing it back to December. Liz Marks directs the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project. She says families will be forced to make hard choices. I think a lot of people are going to sacrifice food, medicine, medical care, other life essentials. I think people will fall behind on their rent. Pennsylvania officials say once federal funds start flowing again, they'll start up the program as quickly as possible. For NPR News, I'm Sophia Schmidt in Philadelphia.

Justice Department says it will send election observers to some polling sites in California. New Jersey for the November election. MPR's Hansi-Lobong reports on the request from local Republicans. The Justice Department says to, quote, ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law. Federal election observers are heading to five counties in southern and central California, including Los Angeles County, plus New Jersey's Passaic County. All six locations are in Democratic-led states

holding elections with national implications, including California's special election on congressional redistricting, and the New Jersey governor's race. Those six locations were also named, in letters from those state's Republican parties, which claim each of those counties has experienced voting issues and asked the DOJ to send federal monitors. New Jersey's Attorney General Matt Blackkin, a Democrat, says the move is highly inappropriate, and that state officials are considering all of their options to prevent any effort to intimidate voters. On Zila Wong, NPR News.

Early in-person voting begins today and two of this year's most closely watched elections of mayor's race in New York City and the contest for New Jersey's next governor. This is P.R. News. Authorities in North Carolina are investigating a shooting last night. The Robson County Sheriff's Office says two people are dead among the 13 who were shot and that several of the injured are in critical condition. The shooting happened at a large party just outside the town of Maxton. It's not clear if any suspects are in custody, but the sheriff's office is asking the public for any information on the incident. Tens of thousands are without power in Texas. Severe storms moved through last night. and forecasters warn of more to come this weekend. In the Pacific Northwest, gusty winds, heavy rain, and mountain snow when the forecast are linked to an atmospheric river storm. Officials in Montgomery, Alabama, have unveiled statues commemorating two notable women from the state on the Capitol grounds of first statues of women to be featured there. The state's second female governor, Kay Ivy, was in attendance, along with Troy Public Radio's Reese, England, who spoke with one of the sculptors. Rosa Parks' nine-foot, eight-inch statue depicts her taking a step toward Dexter Avenue, where the Montgomery bus boycott was organized.

The statue sculptor, Julian Knight, hopes to contribute to Park's legacy of fighting for racial equality and honor the value she held dear. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. She believed in those words. The second statue unveiled depicts writer and disability rights advocate Helen Keller, inviting viewers to, Join her in reading a book written in both Braille and Standard Texts. For NPR News, I'm Reese England in Montgomery, Alabama. And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.