NPR News: 10-17-2025 12AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens.
What job cuts is the Department of Housing and Urban Development implementing during the government shutdown?
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is among the agencies cutting jobs during the government shutdown. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, many of the 300 HUD employees targeted for layoffs have positions in fair housing.
Last month, the head of HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity put out a long memo explaining why and how they are changing priorities. Basically, and this is interesting, the memo accuses previous administrations of going beyond the law to protect not just individuals but groups of people. It cites things like gender identity, environmental justice, and race-based guidance, and it says those will no longer be a priority.
What are the implications of John Bolton's indictment on national security?
The memo also says HUD is reviewing its approach to redlining that could include cases where, say, someone in a largely Black neighborhood has trouble getting a loan.
NPR's Jennifer Ludden. A federal grand jury has indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton on 18 counts, including storing classified data at home. The indictment also alleges Bolton shared sensitive information with family members and that hackers gained access to his email.
How is the U.S. military presence expanding off the coast of Venezuela?
It's the latest example of the Trump administration targeting one of the president's perceived enemies. Bolton became a Trump critic after his firing during the first Trump administration. The admiral in charge of U.S. Southern Command says he's retiring by the end of the year. As NPR's Quill Lawrence reports, the move comes as the U.S. expands its military presence off Venezuela.
Admiral Alvin Halsey is leaving after an unusually short tenure in charge of SOUTHCOM. On social media, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Halsey would retire after 37 years in the military and praised what he called the admiral's unwavering commitment to mission, people, and nation. This comes as thousands of U.S. troops are deployed on ships near Venezuela, where the Trump administration has ordered a string of lethal strikes on small boats.
What were the main points of contention in the New York City mayoral debate?
The White House says the boats carried drugs. Critics say the strikes are illegal orders that amount to execution without trial. Admiral Halsey is black, and he joins about a dozen senior military leaders who have left this year, many of them black or female. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
A fierce debate in the New York City mayor's race between former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic frontrunner Zoram Mamdani. NPR's Brian Mann reports.
Mamdani was the main target in the mayoral debate, facing blistering attacks from Cuomo, who's running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. They criticized Mamdani's membership in the Democratic Socialists of America and his past calls to defund the NYPD. Cuomo described Mamdani as inexperienced. This is no job for on-the-job training.
What is the significance of Ukraine's President Zelensky's upcoming visit to the White House?
Mamdani kept his focus on pocketbook issues and the city's high prices.
That's why I'm speaking about child care, because it's pricing out New Yorkers from the city. That's why I'm speaking about freezing the rent.
With just over two weeks to go before Election Day, Mamdani has led in every poll by double digits.
This is NPR. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit the White House on Friday. The meeting comes amid President Trump's threat to sell Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump says he discussed the matter with Putin by phone Thursday and that the two leaders will meet two weeks from now in Budapest. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to hold an initial meeting with Russian officials next week. Multiple state attorneys general are suing the EPA for ending a $7 billion program to bring solar energy to low-income communities.
How are state attorneys general responding to the EPA's decision to end solar energy programs?
From member station KQED in San Francisco, Laura Clivens has more.
The program, called Solar for All, would have allowed roughly 900,000 households to access solar energy. California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
This is just the latest example of the Trump administration's sham promises. to save Americans money, bring down costs, create more jobs, and strengthen American innovation.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–0:06
2
What job cuts is the Department of Housing and Urban Development implementing during the government shutdown?
0:06–0:47
3
What are the implications of John Bolton's indictment on national security?
0:47–1:14
4
How is the U.S. military presence expanding off the coast of Venezuela?
1:14–1:59
5
What were the main points of contention in the New York City mayoral debate?
1:59–2:43
6
What is the significance of Ukraine's President Zelensky's upcoming visit to the White House?
2:43–3:31
7
How are state attorneys general responding to the EPA's decision to end solar energy programs?
3:31–4:39