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Shutdown stalemate continues: The government shutdown is in its third week — with no end in sight. Democrats and Republicans are still at odds over Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire soon, and NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin breaks down five things to know about the health care fight.
Nov. 1 is the beginning of open enrollment for people getting coverage through the ACA and that could prove to be a key date in talks to break the stalemate, as NPR Deidre Walsh reports. Until now, some of the shutdown’s most painful impacts have been largely staved off. As one lawmaker told her, that has left talks in Congress are “nowhere.”
NPR has been following the ways the government shutdown is affecting services across the country.
Shutdown RIFs: The Trump administration says it has paused work on only a small share of the roughly 4,000 mass layoffs announced since Oct. 1, in order to comply with a court order. The temporary court order that blocked layoffs during the shutdown came in a case brought by two federal employee unions that sued to block what they call "politically driven RIFs," or reductions in force.
Bolton indicted: John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during President Trump's first term before becoming a vocal critic, was indicted on Thursday on 18 charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. NPR’s Ryan Lucas reports on the details of the case and how it’s different from cases brought against former FBI Director Jim Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Targets of Trump's DOJ pay up, even if they win: In high-profile indictments like Bolton’s, Comey’s and James’, the costs of fighting criminal charges can be enormous, and they can reverberate for years, according to veteran attorneys. NPR National Justice Correspondent Carrie Johnson’s reporting shows that the cost depends on factors like the charges a person faces, where they live and how experienced their lawyer is, and can range between $1 million and $5 million at a small law firm, to $25 million or more at a large one.
Still waiting to be seated: House Speaker Mike Johnson says he can't swear in Arizona Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva because of the shutdown. Johnson says the government shutdown is to blame, but critics say he's trying to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files.
Hegseth and his ‘woke’ speech: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is ordering troops to check out his speech last month at Quantico, Va., when he declared the "woke" military is gone, decried "fat generals" and ordered women in the military to meet the "highest male standards" for physical fitness, according to a DoD memo obtained by NPR. News of the memo comes as Hegseth has attempted to impose a strict new policy on the Pentagon press corps. News outlets, including NPR, have rejected the policy, which demands that reporters pledge that they won’t gather information that has not been authorized for release. Hear David Folkenflik, NPR media correspondent, report on the policy -- and also, read veteran Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman’s take on turning in his press pass. |
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Ever wish you could still call Ray from Car Talk? Now you can.
Starting this month, as a new bonus feature on Car Talk+, members will get to hear the younger Tappet Brother yuck it up with listeners again on a semi-quasi-regularish basis. “Whenever I can fit it in between my yoga classes, Mahjong games, and mechanics’ romance book club meetings,” says Ray.
The best part of joining Car Talk+, aside from supporting public media? You can ask Ray a car question yourself by leaving him a message at 888-522-5478. If he picks your question, he’ll take your call and chat with you about your expiring Explorer or limping Lamborghini.
In other bonus episodes for Car Talk+, you’ll hear producer’s picks of some of the best moments from the series, highlights of Tom’s mail segments, and prehistoric excerpts from Weekend Edition, aired on NPR before Car Talk was even launched. And supporting Car Talk+ means you’ll also get archive access to 800+ OG Car Talk episodes.
Join Car Talk+ and join us in welcoming back Ray! |
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Going Deeper: NPR Politics Podcast Live Show |
It’s the NPR Politics Podcast's 10-year anniversary, and we want to celebrate with you.
Join me, Tamara Keith, Sarah McCammon, Mara Liasson, Miles Parks and others for a conversation about everything that’s going on, plus the 2026 midterm elections, and, of course, things we can't let go, our Friday podcast tradition.
The live taping is on Thursday, Oct. 30, at NPR in Washington, D.C. Doors are at 7 p.m., the show starts at 8 p.m.
Want to come? Tap here. |
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The Shot: Remembering Susan Stamberg |
Susan Stamberg died this week, and across the network, her colleagues have been remembering her as a mentor, role model, storyteller and, as one of the network’s “founding mothers,” an architect of NPR’s sound and sensibility.
But if you poll listeners about her, as David Folkenflik writes, they’d likely first recall what’s become stuff of love-it-or-hate-it legend: her mother-in-law's Thanksgiving side dish recipe for bright pink (and ice cold) cranberry relish.
With a legacy like hers — she was the first U.S. woman to anchor a nightly national news program — she’s ubiquitous at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. It’s her voice that announces each floor on the HQ elevators. A few years ago, I rode one up with her and some colleagues, and we all shared a laugh when her recorded voice came on. With a broad smile she told us that with the addition of another factor — if one her stories were to also play on the NPR broadcast piped through the elevator speakers — voila, the Stamberg “trifecta.”
Remembering Susan Stamberg life and legacy in photos. |
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