NPR News: 10-16-2025 1AM EDT
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens. The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to side with Republicans who are challenging Louisiana's redistricting map designed to create a second black district. The case seeks to further dismantle the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which has been repeatedly strengthened by Congress and upheld by the court. But NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the current conservative court appears hostile to it.
Trump administration Deputy Solicitor General Hashim Mupan contended that the black voters should not have gotten a second majority-minority district.
If they were all white, we all agree they wouldn't get a second district.
The court's liberal justices all pointed out that the federal law is based on the effects of redistricting in a state like Louisiana where, as they noted, voters are so racially polarized that even white Democrats, for the most part, don't vote for black candidates.
NPR's Nina Totenberg. The government shutdown is starting to affect the nation's air traffic control system. The FAA has reported staffing issues and flight delays in major cities since October 1st, when the shutdown began. Experts say that cracks quickly emerged because the system was already strained by chronic understaffing and aging equipment. A government report shows this winter's heating costs will likely be lower in households that rely on propane or heating oil. Details from NPR's Camilla Dominovsky.
The Energy Information Administration is still releasing data despite the government shutdown. The agency forecasts homes that heat with electricity might see costs go up 4%. Those that use natural gas might see a small decline, and heating oil and propane costs could drop significantly, some 8 to 9%. That's just a forecast, and exactly how cold this winter is will affect actual costs. Low global crude oil prices have also been keeping gasoline prices steady all year.
What are the implications of the Supreme Court's stance on Louisiana's redistricting map?
As cooler weather approaches, prices at the pump are dropping, and AAA and GasBuddy both predict they could fall more. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News.
Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth says President Trump plans to stop Russia's three-year-old war in Ukraine. From Brussels, Terry Schultz reports on the Secretary's meeting with NATO allies.
In words welcomed by his European counterparts, Pentagon Chief Hegseth told the Kremlin it's time to come to the negotiating table.
Now, if this war does not end, if there is no path to peace in the short term, then the United States, along with our allies, will take the steps necessary to impose costs on Russia. for its continued aggression.
Hegseth said the best counterweights to Russia are a lethal, capable, European-led NATO and a combat-credible Ukraine. Much of Europe's military assistance to Ukraine now goes through a program to purchase U.S. weapons. Kiev is hoping a Friday visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington will unlock the delivery of U.S.-made Tomahawk long-range missiles.
Terry Schultz in Brussels. This is NPR. President Trump says the United States is preparing for a ground operation in Venezuela to combat drug trafficking. Trump says he's authorized covert CIA operations in the South American nation, citing drug trafficking and other crime. The president also defended U.S. airstrikes on suspected drug boats in Caribbean waters off Venezuela. At least 27 people have been killed in those attacks. The Trump administration is considering a doubling of the aid it might extend to Argentina. It had already offered a $20 billion bailout through a credit swap line. The administration now wants to add another $20 billion on top of that. President Trump made the offer contingent upon whether President Javier Mele's party wins an election that's set for later this month.
Many animals have the ability to detect the Earth's magnetic field using it like an internal GPS.
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