JD Vance in Israel; White House under construction : NPR

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Today's top news

Vice President JD Vance is in Israel where he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ceasefire in Gaza has been in force for almost two weeks. Vance says the deal continues to move forward despite fighting between Israel and Hamas over the weekend. The vice president is working with several other U.S. officials in Israel to ensure both sides take the next steps under the agreement.

• 🎧 Next stage of ceasefire poses problems as Gaza has no governmentand it's unclear when it will arrive, says NPR's Greg Myre Up first. Vance says other things must be done first, such as providing food, medicine and security to Gazans. Other big problems that needs to be decided The next stage includes calls for Hamas to disarm, Israeli troops to retreat, and international troops to take their place in the Gaza Strip as a stabilization force. To work on these priorities, U.S. forces built a civil-military coordination center outside Gaza for U.S. and foreign officials, as well as other organizations working in Gaza, to synchronize efforts.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries believes public pressure on Republicans will increase in the coming days expand health insurance subsidies that key stumbling block in the fight to stop. The federal government remains shut down after the Senate again failed to pass a spending bill on Monday. Congressional leaders continue to avoid negotiations to end the shutdown. The White House has tried to end the standoff between the two sides by threatening Democrats with even deeper spending and workforce cuts.

• 🎧 President Trump praises Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought for cutting 'Democratic priorities' that the party will not return. The president has repeatedly referred to “democracy agendas,” but NPR's Stephen Fowler says such things don't exist because the federal workers who process Social Security payments and pay taxes work without bias. Vought announced plans to eliminate grants for energy projects in Democratic-led cities and states, as well as other Democratic-led efforts. feel the financial effect. The off-year election is Nov. 4 and could reflect voters' dissatisfaction with Republican rule, including its shutdown, Fowler said.

This week, pictures of an excavator tearing down the façade of the East Wing of the White House went viral. Construction marks a groundbreaking $250 million presidential ballroom project. Trump has wanted to build the ballroom for more than a decade, but not everyone is happy with the development, and historic preservation groups have expressed concern.

• 🎧 The demolition caught many by surprise as Trump downplayed the impact. when he announced the project in July, NPR's Tamara Keith says. The National Capital Planning Commission usually plays a role in approving such a project, but is currently closed due to the government shutdown. Trump says he is funding some of the ballroom projects, and other donors include large corporations whose business is before the government, Keith says. Google will donate more than $20 million to settle a civil lawsuit filed by Trump. Observers say this is one of many reasons project is an ethical red flag.

Today's audition

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who worked during the Biden administration, has released her new book The Independent: A Look Inside the Broken White House, Beyond Party Lines. She wrote about how the Democratic Party's internal dysfunction led to its downfall during the 2024 presidential election. Before her new book hits store shelves, Morning Edition presenter Michel Martin sat down with Jean-Pierre. During their conversation, Jean-Pierre reflected on her decision to leave the party she once represented and the scrutiny she faced as press secretary. Watch their interview Here. Listen to Jean-Pierre discuss it. decision to identify as independent and read five takeaways from the conversation.

Life advice

From the colorful leaves to the pleasant weather, fall is many people's favorite time of year. With all the excitement this season brings, you may feel anxious about making the most of this time of year. Life Kit collected a list of simple ideas that will help Make your Halloween preparations festive.

• 🍂 As the days shorten, make simple adjustments like switching from a cold breakfast to a warm one or lighting candles to prepare your nest.
• 🍂 When decorating, think about your intention to remove decorations. This can be especially important as the end of the year approaches.
• 🍂 Feel free to search for the perfect Halloween costume. It can be fun to try something unexpected, like dressing up as an inanimate object. Have you ever thought about becoming a fruit or a bottle of Vindex?

Tips on how to live a lifestyle full of peace and comfort, listen to this NPR episode Life Kit. Subscribe to That Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.

3 things you need to know before your trip

1. New study in the journal Pediatrics shows that change in health guidance Asking when to feed children peanuts has helped prevent tens of thousands of cases of peanut allergies in children under 3 years of age in the United States.
2. 2026 Sundance Film Festival will honor its founderRobert Redford, who died in September at age 89. The January event will also include a Park City Heritage program with screenings of films from previous editions and performances by artists. (by using KPKV)
3. A federal judge has ordered the Defense Department bring back books about gender and race five school libraries on military bases after claims their removal violated students' First Amendment rights.

This newsletter has been edited Suzanne Nuyen.