NPR News: 10-15-2025 2PM EDT
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What is the current status of the federal government shutdown?
Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theschmidt.org.
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The federal government shutdown is more than two weeks old now. The GOP-led Senate will try again today for a ninth time to vote and pass a spending measure that ends the political impasse that's affecting hundreds of thousands of federal workers. A federal judge holds a hearing today on a lawsuit challenging President Trump's decision to fire employees during the shutdown.
What are the implications of recent layoffs at HUD?
NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports that at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 300 workers have already been laid off.
A HUD spokesperson says the layoffs are to align programs with the Trump administration's priorities. The agency did not provide specifics, but a union tally finds nearly a third of those cut are people who investigate allegations of housing discrimination. HUD union steward Paul Osadebe says they do labor-intensive work that requires expertise.
How is the military being affected by the government shutdown?
Looking through documents, interviewing people, sometimes going out to visit properties.
And without that, it's not possible to enforce the fair housing laws Congress has passed. He says the layoffs appear to gut some entire offices that come on top of previous major cuts to HUD's fair housing staff, including an attempt to fire Osedebe. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.
What new policies is Defense Secretary Hegseth implementing?
Workers are worried about not getting paid as the shutdown drags on. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson talks about the impact on the military.
We are paying our military today. The Pentagon went into surplus funds and will be able to make the paychecks.
Best in speaking to CNBC, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not yet saying if Ukraine's getting long-range Tomahawk missiles against Russia, but Hegseth confirms... Firepower.
That's what is coming. We expect it is coming from NATO. And it was a historic summit just a couple of months ago, brought about by leadership of President Trump to say, we need our allies to step up. And they did, and they have in those commitments.
Hegseth speaking ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels today. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports Hegseth has ordered all service members to watch his recent address to general officers where he discussed what he calls the warrior ethos.
What are the recent legal developments regarding free speech on campuses?
In a memo obtained by NPR, Hegseth made his recent speech mandatory viewing for the entire U.S. military. Last month, Hegseth had generals and admirals from all over the world, most with extensive battlefield experience, come to Virginia. There he gave a lecture about physical fitness, grooming standards, and what he calls woke policies that he says have tied the hands of U.S. troops at war.
Who is challenging Senator Markey in the upcoming Senate race?
His memo instructs all personnel to view the talk by October 31st. This comes as Hegseth imposed a new press policy that reporters pledge not to gather information except press releases. No major news outlets, NPR included, have signed that pledge. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
This is NPR News. A federal judge is blocking key aspects of a Texas law that seeks to limit expression on public university campuses after dark. Houston Public Media's Bianca Seward has details.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge David Allen Ezra said, quote, the First Amendment does not have a bedtime of 10 p.m. The law imposes several restrictions during the last two weeks of a semester, including banning amplified sound, speaker events, and overnight encampments. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, also known as FIRE, sued the University of Texas system on behalf of several student organizations. J.T. Morris is a senior supervising attorney with FIRE.
The court applied the principles it should have, and the analysis was very sound, so we're pleased with it.
FIRE is now seeking a permanent injunction. I'm Bianca Seward in Houston.
Declaring it is time for a new generation of leadership, U.S. Representative Seth Moulton says he plans to challenge Senator Edward Markey for the Democratic nomination in next year's Senate race in Massachusetts.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the current status of the federal government shutdown?
0:00–0:42
2
What are the implications of recent layoffs at HUD?
0:42–1:11
3
How is the military being affected by the government shutdown?
1:11–1:34
4
What new policies is Defense Secretary Hegseth implementing?
1:34–2:33
5
What are the recent legal developments regarding free speech on campuses?
2:33–2:55
6
Who is challenging Senator Markey in the upcoming Senate race?
2:55–4:53