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Today’s Highlights
NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent Domenico Montanaro offers insights on the 2025 off-year elections.
Democrats saw success across various ballots, from major gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey to pivotal redistricting initiatives in California and state Supreme Court decisions in Pennsylvania. Discover five significant insights from the 2025 elections:
Voters cast their ballots at a polling station on Nov. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. Virginians hit the polls on Election Day to pick their next governor.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Alex Wong/Getty Images
- It’s still the cost of living, stupid. Affordability was a key issue, with voters predominantly leaning towards Democrats due to economic concerns.
- Republicans face a Trump dilemma. Trump remains unpopular with independents, yet his absence on the ballot affects Republican voter turnout.
- Latino support for Trump wanes. The Latino vote swung heavily towards Democrats in gubernatorial races.
- Redistricting momentum for Democrats. Prop 50’s win in California strengthens Democratic efforts against GOP redistricting strategies.
- Democrats face identity questions. Leadership debates loom as the party navigates the upcoming midterm elections with figures like Zohran Mamdani and Abigail Spanberger.
Stay informed with more news and analysis by subscribing to the NPR Politics newsletter and listening to the NPR Politics podcast.
The U.S. government shutdown reaches a historic 36 days, surpassing previous records set during President Trump’s first term. The prolonged shutdown is affecting various sectors, including airport operations and federal employee payments. Learn more about how this shutdown compares to past ones.
The Supreme Court deliberates on Trump’s tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The courts contend that Trump overstepped, while he argues tariffs address trade imbalances and fentanyl threats. These tariffs, while profitable for the government, are increasing consumer costs and challenging businesses. Tune into the oral arguments here.
An Israeli military legal head detained for leaking sensitive footage. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the military advocate general, acknowledged releasing a video showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee. She stated her intention was to protect investigative teams. Explore the case with NPR’s Daniel Estrin by listening here or read the transcript here.
Today’s Listen
Callery pear blossoms.
Charles A. Tilford/Flickr
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Charles A. Tilford/Flickr
From daily stress to nonstop news, we all might need a moment to calm our nerves from time to time. NPR’s All Songs Considered has released its fourth installment of music to calm you down. It features new releases showcasing ambient sounds from Ozbolt and Klein alongside the hope and good company found in the music of Samia, Hand Habits, KeiyaA, and more. Listen to snippets of the songs. You can also immerse yourself in the playlist here.
Living Better
Our body is an exquisite time-keeping machine. Every cell that has DNA has a molecular clock, but they don’t keep perfect time on their own.
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AzmanL/E+/Getty Images
Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.
Scientists say returning to “standard time” is beneficial for our health, but the adjustment can be disruptive. When our body’s circadian rhythm is out of sync, risks for diabetes and heart disease can rise. Here are some ways to realign your habits:
- ⏰ Eat within a 10-hour window. Also, drop the late-night snack.
- ⏰ Keep a consistent sleep schedule so your body can stay in rhythm.
- ⏰ Exercise when you feel most alert to help cue your body to be awake.
The time change presents a great opportunity to reset your sleep schedule. Read more about the adolescent biology of sleep patterns.
3 Things to Know Before You Go
Teen Vogue signage is seen during the 2025 Teen Vogue Summit at NYA WEST on September 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Teen Vogue
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Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Teen Vogue
- Teen Vogue staffers announced that they’ve been laid off as the outlet moves under Vogue.com. The outlet covered fashion, celebrity, politics and social justice issues.
- Last night, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said that there were at least seven confirmed deaths and 11 injuries from a United Parcel Service cargo plane crash near the Louisville airport. (via LPM)
- Math teachers at an Arizona high school are facing death threats after a Turning Point USA employee falsely accused them of wearing Halloween costumes that mocked the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The educators say it was just a joke about solving math problems. (via KJZZ)
This newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.
