NPR is reporting that Haitian immigrants have asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a case that seeks to remove thousands of Haitians from the U.S., citing new evidence. It said former ICE leader Todd Lyons has been hired to consult on national security and defense matters. The Supreme Court also ruled that a law used to prosecute a marijuana user violated his Second Amendment right to bear arms.
NPR News Investigations correspondent Joseph Shapiro and Christie Thompson of The Marshall Project investigated the federal prison grievance system, finding it largely ineffective for prisoners. Their analysis of nearly a million cases filed between January 2000 and May 2024 showed that prisoners succeeded in less than 2% of grievances in 2023, a significant drop from nearly 7% in 2000. Pleas for medical care succeeded only 1% of the time. The investigation highlighted the death of Matthew Phillips in a federal prison in Thomson, Illinois, who died after being beaten by two white supremacists. Phillips' mother, Sue Phillips, said her son filed multiple grievances about conditions and food, and faced retaliation from corrections officers. The system, formally known as the "Administrative Remedy Program," is described as antiquated, relying on carbon copy forms and often rejecting complaints on technicalities. A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson, Randilee Giamusso, stated that technicalities alone would not be a reason for rejection and that the system is designed to solve problems. Prisoners suggested filing grievances on computers, but the low success rate suggests officials may not want to simplify the process. Prisoners must complete the internal grievance system before taking a complaint to court.
NPR also reported that the United States is currently experiencing a renter's market, though conditions vary by location. Zillow data indicates that the typical asking price for rent nationwide is increasing slower than wages and inflation, up 1.9% year-over-year. Approximately 40% of rentals listed on Zillow are offering move-in incentives, such as a month of free rent, due to a construction boom that has created a surplus of apartments in certain areas.
Additionally, NPR said two MIT researchers have published an analysis offering new insights into Russia's nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile. A flight test on Oct. 21, 2025, involved a solitary missile launched from a Russian island, flying northeast before banking and looping for hours. If the researchers' findings are accurate, this would mark the first flight of a nuclear-powered aircraft and signal a dangerous new phase in the 21st-century arms race.
Finally, NPR reported that the cost of lubricants, including motor oil, is rising rapidly, and a tentative agreement to end the war in Iran would not alleviate the issue. The U.S. does not produce synthetic motor oil in large quantities and has the world's largest trade deficit for this product. The current shortage, exacerbated by depleting stockpiles of base oil, could lead to significantly higher costs for oil changes, with mechanics already feeling the impact.