Limit on immigration judges; Special House election : NPR
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Today’s best stories
Today, Democrats in Washington introduced a bill that would limit the number of people the Trump administration can appoint as temporary judges. The bill, introduced by California Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Juan Vargas, would allow the attorney general to appoint temporary immigration judges who have served on appeals panels, are administrative judges in other agencies or have at least 10 years of experience in immigration law. The legislation comes after the White House authorized up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges, while eliminating the requirement for them to have prior experience in immigration law. The administration has fired at least 14 immigration judges in the past two weeks, according to the union that represents them.
A masked federal agent walks down a hallway at the immigration court at New York’s Federal Plaza in the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York, October 15, 2025.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
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Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said yesterday that he had authorized and observed the first round of strikes against an alleged drug boat. in the Caribbean in September, but did not personally call for the second strike that killed two survivors. He says the second strike was a decision made by Admiral Frank Bradley, who heads U.S. Special Operations Command. Congress is currently investigating the details of what happened, as some suggest the orders could expose the military to possible prosecution.
- 🎧 Lawmakers’ questions focus on whether second strike violated US law or would be considered a war crime if the administration’s claim that it was at war with drug traffickers were accepted, NPR’s Deirdre Walsh said. First. Senate Majority Leader John Thune supported current U.S. policy, saying the administration had the authority to carry out these attacks. But he evaded the question of whether he trusted Hegseth when asked directly. Thune said the Trump administration’s peace through strength policies are effective, and Hegseth is part of that team.
Republican Matt Van Epps won last night’s special election for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Although this is a victory for Republicans, Democrats are also claiming victory. Indeed, Van Epps won by 9 percentage points in a district where, last year, President Trump claimed victory with about 60% of the vote.
- 🎧 Yesterday’s race showed it Republicans were able to motivate their base voters to go to the polls without Trump on the ballot, NPR’s Stephen Fowler said. It also showed that Democrats overcame their 2024 losses, motivated Democratic voters who have soured on the party and appeared to have persuaded independents that Republicans won’t solve key issues.
The Trump administration has fired or attempted to fire numerous federal staff at the U.S. Department of Education who administer and enforce the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. As Secretary Linda McMahon assures special education funding is secure, NPR found concerns among 40 parents, educators, disability rights advocates, subject matter experts and Department of Education staff. They say they fear that reducing federal staffing and oversight could lead to a return to conditions before 1975, when schools denied access and services to children with disabilities.
From our hosts
by Steve Inskeep, Morning edition And First host
Utah Governor Spencer Cox gained a lot of attention last September for his handling of the aftermath of an assassination. Cox gave a speech about a divided nation following the death of activist Charlie Kirk in his state.
But Cox is involved in another issue of major importance. He promotes nuclear power plants to power data centers for artificial intelligence.
In a video interview on NPR, I spoke with the governor about our divisive present and his efforts to help build the future.
Cox sees the United States in a race with China to dominate AI. That’s one reason Utah is doing everything it can to encourage nuclear energy development. “We’re trying to build some, and a lot of it,” he said. The state is working to reduce regulatory barriers and is pressuring the federal government to do the same.
Still, Cox knows the dangers of AI technology. He told me he worries that AI could worsen the damage caused by social media, our dependence on devices, and our disconnection from reality.
He wants states to preserve their power to regulate AI. Some members of Congress have tried, so far unsuccessfully, to prohibit states from restricting the technology.
This led me to one of my questions: If we build more power plants to power more data centers and run more AI, will we simply overwhelm all the effort we put into controlling it?
You can hear his answer and much more in our video interview.
3 things to know before you leave
Songs from Saja Boys, the boy band from the hit 2025 animated film Demon Hunters KPopfeatured prominently in YouTube’s annual 2025 Trends Report.
©2025 Netflix
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©2025 Netflix
- YouTube yesterday released its annual list of trending videos, songs, creators and cultural moments. The list features a variety of topics from a 1960s pop song to a must-have plushie. Here is a breakdown of the 2025 report.
- From indie games like Blue Prince to major console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, the NPR team and contributors have compiled their favorite games of 2025. Discover your next favorite game through this interactive list.
- Have you ever looked at a raccoon and thought they would make a great pet? Well, you’re not alone and you may be in luck since a new study shows that the wild animal may be showing the first signs of domestication. (via WBUR)
This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.
