NPR News: 10-15-2025 4PM EDT
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What recent legal developments are impacting federal workers during the 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. A federal judge is temporarily blocking the Trump administration from laying off federal workers during the government shutdown. And Pierre-Steven Fowler has more on today's court hearing.
Judge Susan Ilsen of California said the Trump administration's push to fire workers during the shutdown was hastily done and illegal. During a hearing, she said efforts to lay off more than 4,000 federal workers and the subsequent reversal of some notices was like, quote, ready, fire, aim. So for now, those reductions in force and any future ones are on hold. It's unclear for how long. The White House has painted the firings as financially necessary and a leverage point to get Democratic lawmakers to agree to a spending plan that reopens the government.
How could the Supreme Court's ruling affect the Voting Rights Act?
Stephen Fowler, NPR News.
Well, today the Senate was once again unable to pass a short-term spending measure to reopen the federal government, and today's vote pushes the shutdown toward a 16th day. The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Louisiana's congressional map stands to upend a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. It outlaws voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group. And PR's Nina Totenberg reports on the historic implications if the court's conservative majority strikes down Section 2.
Since 2013, the increasingly conservative court has time and again gutted key provisions of the law. The one big exception has been the provision aimed at ensuring that minority voters are not shut out of the process of drawing new congressional districts. If the court removes the guardrails to redistricting that it endorsed just two years ago, Indeed, if the Supreme Court either nullifies this part of the Voting Rights Act or makes it much more difficult to enforce, recent studies indicate that Democrats could lose as many as 19 congressional seats in the process, putting control of the House effectively out of reach for the foreseeable future.
What is the current situation regarding Israeli hostages and Hamas?
NPR's Nina Totenberg. The bodies of at least three returned Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were set to be buried today in Israel. Hamas has handed over 10 bodies as set out in the initial phase of the ceasefire. NPR's Keri Khan has more.
In Ranana in central Israel, Guy Elous was buried. The 26-year-old was wounded by Hamas militants at a music festival on October 7, 2023. His father, Mikel Elous, told mourners identifying his son's body was not difficult. He immediately recognized his smile and serenity. You've returned to your family's embrace and to the millions whose hearts your story touched, he said. Hamas has said recovering more bodies will be difficult due to the massive destruction of Gaza.
How are video podcasts changing the media landscape?
Israel reduced the amount of aid going into Gaza, citing Hamas noncompliance.
That's NPR's Carrie Khan reporting. You're listening to NPR News. A new deal between Netflix and Spotify reflects the extent to which consumers are turning to video podcasts. NPR's Netta Ulaby with details.
Back in the good old days, meaning like five years ago, we listened to podcasts. Now we watch them. More than half of the world's top podcasts now release video versions, like the sports show hosted by Bill Simmons.
The Celtics are like, whoa, Simons. Like, this guy's like a really gifted offense.
What are the latest trends in automotive pricing?
Video podcasts are being consumed right now 20 times faster than audio ones. People often just have them on in the background. The number one platform for podcasts is YouTube. But Netflix and Spotify are challenging that. This new deal will make 16 top video podcasts available only on Netflix and on the Spotify app starting in January, including the Bill Simmons podcast. Netta Ulipi, NPR News.
The average amount of money a customer spends on a new vehicle has topped $50,000 for the first time this week. The automotive valuation and research company Kelley Blue Book released a report that finds the average transaction price in September was 2.1% higher than the month before and jumped 3.5% from a year ago.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What recent legal developments are impacting federal workers during the government shutdown?
0:00–1:02
2
How could the Supreme Court's ruling affect the Voting Rights Act?
1:02–2:17
3
What is the current situation regarding Israeli hostages and Hamas?
2:17–3:04
4
How are video podcasts changing the media landscape?
3:04–3:46
5
What are the latest trends in automotive pricing?
3:46–4:45
6
What is the state of the stock market as of today?
4:45–4:54