NPR News: 10-24-2025 2AM EDT

episode

NPR News Now 4 min 4 speakers 7 chapters transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

jump: chapters · speakers · find in transcript

Transcript

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Unknown 0:00

Support for NPR and the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, whose bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help NPR produce programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression.

Shea Stephens 0:19

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens.

What are the implications of the government shutdown on federal employees?

Shea Stephens 0:24

Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have stalled competing bills to pay federal employees during the government shutdown. More than one million federal workers are set to miss a paycheck on Friday, as NPR's Sam Greenglass reports.

Unknown 0:37

The Republican-backed measure would have paid essential employees working without pay, including troops and TSA agents. Aversion by Democrats called for paying all federal employees and blocking more layoffs by the Trump administration. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin debated the dueling bills. They're illegally firing people during the shutdown. Senator, I really didn't want to come and argue. Okay, well, why don't we sit down together? I have to dispute that.

What recent arrests have been made in connection with illegal gambling in the NBA?

Unknown 1:07

As they prepare to head home for the weekend, lawmakers say they are no closer to an agreement to reopen the government. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

Shea Stephens 1:15

The FBI has announced the arrests of over 30 people linked to an illegal gambling investigation. The suspects include three current and former NBA players and a current head coach. As NPR's Becky Sullivan reports, investigators are focusing on two alleged schemes involving organized crime.

Unknown 1:33

They named seven NBA games from a couple seasons ago in which an NBA insider, they say, gave non-public information to gamblers to gamble on them, basically. So in the case of one of the current active player, his name is Terry Rozier. He plays for the Heat, Miami Heat now, but at the time he played for the Charlotte Hornets. According to the indictment, he told a friend that he had planned to pull out of a game in March 2023, planned to pull out early due to an injury.

What trade negotiations has President Trump ended with Canada?

Unknown 1:57

That friend allegedly sold the information to gamblers for $100,000.

Shea Stephens 2:01

NPR's Becky Sullivan reporting. President Trump has announced on Truth Social that he's ending all trade negotiations with Canada. Trump cited a fake television ad using President Reagan's voice to criticize tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says this nation will now double its exports to countries outside of the U.S. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he welcomes the new U.S. sanctions against Russia. As NPR's Hannah Palomarenko reports, Zelensky has also called for more pressure on the Kremlin.

Unknown 2:31

President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to EU leaders to support Ukraine.

How is Ukraine's President Zelensky responding to U.S. sanctions against Russia?

Unknown 2:35

At the European Council gathering, he emphasized the importance of making a decision on the use of frozen Russian assets as soon as possible.

Volodymyr Zelensky 2:44

Russia brought war to our land and they have to pay for this war. In any case, one of the ways to pressure on them is to use frozen assets.

Unknown 2:55

Zelensky says the money from frozen Russian assets could be used on Ukrainian production of drones, electronic warfare and missiles, as well as European production of artillery shells, reconnaissance drones and air defense systems. Hanna Polomarenko, NPR News, Kyiv.

Shea Stephens 3:14

U.S. futures are flat in after-hours trading. This is NPR. Lithuania says two Russian military planes violated its airspace late Thursday. In Moscow, officials have not commented on the claim, coming hours after the European Union endorsed a plan to protect the bloc by the year 2030.

What are the details surrounding President Trump's pardon of Binance's founder?

Shea Stephens 3:33

Lithuania has been an EU member since 2004. President Trump has pardoned the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who had been in prison for money laundering. The move is another shot at former President Biden, as NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben reports.

Danielle Kurtzleben 3:49

Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 and also stepped down as the CEO of Binance. Zhao, also known as CZ, was later sentenced to four months in prison. The prosecution was carried out under the Biden administration, which aggressively targeted the crypto industry and sought to establish guardrails to prevent the flow of crypto for criminal purposes.