NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-02-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: November 2, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. Former President Barack Obama is rallying Democrats ahead of Tuesday's off-year elections. Obama campaigned in Virginia and New Jersey this weekend on behalf of his party's gubernatorial nominees. NPR Sarah McCammon has more from Norfolk, Virginia. Democrats have little power in Washington, but in Virginia, the party currently controls the state legislature and hopes to take over the governor's office. campaigning in Norfolk, former President Barack Obama urged Democrats to get to the polls before voting ends on Tuesday. If we want a country that believes in free speech and the rule of law, then we have to fight for it, even when it's hard or inconvenient. Other closely watched races include New Jersey's gubernatorial election and New York City's mayoral race. Sarah McCammon, NPR News, Norfolk. Candidates in New York City's fierce mayoral race are making their closing arguments this weekend. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing accusations that his campaign has turned negative. Polls show the now independent candidate trailing Democratic Socialist

Zoran Mamdani by double digits. Early voting ends today, election day is Tuesday. As the federal government shutdown drags on into its second month, millions of Americans are facing food insecurity. Their snap benefits due this weekend are delayed. And a program that helps low-income families pay their energy bills has also been indefinitely suspended. Traverna Douglas, a mother of two in Hennepin County, Minnesota, says if she does not pay her energy bills, then her family could face eviction. Everything keeps going up. Nothing is getting cheaper or just being stable for a while.

There hasn't been stability in like five years. Millions of Americans rely on the federal program to heat their homes. In Britain, 11 people were injured in a knife attack. on a London-bound train last night. Vicki Barker has more from London. Passenger Ali Foster described running through the train trying to flee the attack, telling the BBC. I put my hand on this chair, like just trying to push myself forward,

and then I look at my hand and it's covered in blood, and then I look at the chair and there's blood all over the chair. In an apparent attempt to stop the kind of misinformation spread on social media that led to anti-immigrant riots last year, Police have made a point of noting that the two suspects in custody are UK-born men and that the incident is not being treated as terrorism. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London. In Italy, five mountain climbers were killed in an avalanche, rescue workers said today.

It happened this weekend in the northern part of the country. All of the victims are German, the youngest, just 17 years old. Avalanche accidents are a persistent problem. in the Italian Alps. This is NPR News. The Los Angeles Dodgers have become baseball's first repeat World Series champions since 2000, with a thrilling five-to-four win in 11 innings over the Toronto Blue Jays. Steve Futterman has this report from Toronto.

The Toronto Blue Jays were two outs away from victory in the ninth, when the Dodgers normally light-hitting Miguel Rojas hit a tying home run. Drilled to left field and deep and gone. No way. Toronto had a chance to come back and win it in the bottom of the 9th. The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out but couldn't get the winning run across. Finally in the 11th, L.A.'s Will Smith hit another home run. That was the series winner. For the Dodgers, they repeat and can fairly be called a modern baseball dynasty, Dodger manager Dave Roberts.

You know, it looked bleak at times, but our guys never wavered, remained steadfast. And when next season begins, the Dodgers are likely to be the favorites to go for three in a row. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Series in Toronto. It is time to set the clocks back an hour again to standard time. Daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. today. This, even though a growing number of Americans say what it's time for is a change. Polling finds around half opposed switching twice a year. 19 states have enacted legislation to stick with daylight time year-round.

But with federal law mandating the system, Congress would have to step in to make a change. And there's disagreement over whether to have an extra hour of daylight in the morning or to have it in the evening. You're listening to NPR News.