NPR News: 11-03-2025 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — November 3, 2025, 2AM EST

Host: Dan Ronan
Episode Summary:
This five-minute NPR News Now update covers the ongoing impact of the federal government shutdown, specifically the halting of SNAP (food stamp) benefits, updates from Israel on the 30th anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, the aftermath of a railway stabbing in Britain, last-minute election reminders regarding mail-in ballots, and a brief update on the U.S. stock market.

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1. Federal SNAP Benefits During Government Shutdown

[00:19–02:08]

Key Points:

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett indicated that SNAP benefits (food assistance) may be resumed by Wednesday, pending federal court guidance on payments during the government shutdown.
• Barbara Schrunt attended a Maryland town hall with Senator Angela Also Brooks, where citizens highlighted severe hardships due to the lapse of SNAP funding.
• November 1st marked the date SNAP funds were depleted, causing significant concern for families and food security advocates.
• Two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to resume SNAP payments in North Carolina, but actual benefit distribution may be delayed for days.
• Maggie Guest, a single mother from Cedar Grove, NC, shared her plight, relying on SNAP due to a disability and having no backup plan if benefits are not reinstated.
• Some states are attempting to use their funds to maintain assistance, but require legislative cooperation.

Notable Quotes:

• Barbara Schrunt:
  "November 1st is a really important date here. In a lot of ways, it represents both sides of this shutdown. It's the day that SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, ran out of money." [00:47]

• Maggie Guest:
  "It's my only way to feed my children, to be honest with you. I'm not sure what we're going to do. I don't have a backup plan." [01:45]

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2. 30th Anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin’s Assassination

[02:08–03:12]

Key Points:

• Tens of thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to mark 30 years since Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated for seeking peace with Palestinians.
• The event featured the "Song of Peace" sung in the same square as in 1995, signifying both loss and hope.
• Israeli politicians and peace advocates, particularly from centrist and left-wing parties, called for renewed commitment to peace following the recent end of war in Gaza.
• Gadi Moses, a former hostage held by Hamas for 482 days, delivered a powerful plea for peace.

Notable Quotes:

• Itay Stern:
  "The song of peace was sung in this Tel Aviv square just minutes before Rabin was shot here in 1995. The song echoed once again Saturday night, performed by the same singer." [02:25]

• Gadi Moses (as relayed by Itay Stern):
  "If I, after the pain, the loss and the grief, can stand here and say these words out loud, then we all can." [02:51]

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3. Aftermath of British Railway Stabbing

[03:12–04:02]

Key Points:

• Of two men detained after an early morning stabbing on a UK passenger train, one was released without charge; another remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
• A train staff member is being hailed for saving several lives during the incident.
• Five individuals are still hospitalized.
• Increased police patrols are now visible across British trains and stations.

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4. Election Mail-In Voting Reminders

[04:02–04:47]

Key Points:

• States including Colorado, Georgia, Maine, and Pennsylvania require that mail-in ballots be received by Tuesday, November 4, due to USPS reorganization.
• Voters may risk having their ballots arrive too late if mailed now; alternative drop-off options are recommended.
• In states accepting postmarked (but late-arriving) ballots, voters are cautioned about USPS postmarking practices.
• Voters can request postmarks at post offices to ensure ballot validity.

Notable Quotes:

• Hansi Lo Wang:
  "Election officials say absentee voters can consider other ways of casting their ballots, including stopping by an early voting site, election office, or any available ballot drop boxes." [04:22]
  "USPS says to make sure your ballot gets a postmark on the same day you mail it, you can ask for one at a post office." [04:38]

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5. Stock Market Update

[04:47–04:57]

Key Points:

• U.S. stock futures are steady as the month begins; the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq all rose in October.

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Memorable Moments

• The personal impact of the SNAP halt, as voiced by North Carolina mother Maggie Guest:
  "It's my only way to feed my children...I'm not sure what we're going to do. I don't have a backup plan." [01:45]
• Gadi Moses’ moving speech at the Rabin memorial, highlighting resilience and hope for peace:
  "If I, after the pain, the loss and the grief, can stand here and say these words out loud, then we all can." [02:51]

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This five-minute NPR update is an empathetic, clear, and comprehensive round-up of immediate U.S. and international news, with a particular focus on stories of social impact and moments of civic significance.

Transcript

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[Dan Ronan]

Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett says it's possible that federal SNAP benefits could be resumed by Wednesday once the White House hears from the federal courts how to make those payments during the the government shutdown. NPR congressional correspondent Barbara Schrunt went to a town hall in Maryland with Democratic Senator Angela also Brooks this week to hear what citizens are saying about the government shutdown and how the lack of the SNAP benefits is impacting them.

[Barbara Schrunt]

November 1st is a really important date here. In a lot of ways, it represents both sides of this shutdown. It's the day that snap, formerly known as food stamps, ran out of money. People who want to go to the grocery store to use their food assistance to buy groceries for their families just have that money. It's a major pain point of this shutdown and something that advocates and other food assistance places like food banks have been quite frankly, dreading for some time.

[Dan Ronan]

Friday, two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to resume paying the SNAP benefits in North North Carolina. More than 1.3 million people defend on that program to feed their families. Ellie Chen from member station WUNC reports.

[Ellie Chen]

While two federal judges ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must fund SNAP through the shutdown, it could still take days for folks to receive benefits. Maggie Guest is a single mother with two young daughters in Cedar Grove, N.C. she says she needs SNAP since she has a disability that prevents her from working.

[Maggie Guest]

It's my only way to feed my children, to be honest with you. I'm not sure what we're going to do. I don't have a backup plan.

[Ellie Chen]

Guest expects that she'll have to rely more on food pantries and go further into debt. Some states are using their own funds to bridge the gap, but North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, would need the cooperation of the state legislature, where Republicans have the majority. For NPR News, I'm Eli Chen in Chapel Hill.

[Dan Ronan]

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv last night to mark 30 years since the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. An Israeli extremist killed him in 1995 for pursuing peace with the Palestinians. From Tel Aviv, Aite Stern reports.

[Itay Stern]

The song of peace was sung in this Tel Aviv square just minutes before Rabin was shot here in 1995. The song echoed once again Saturday night, performed by the same singer. Political leaders from Israel's centrist and left wing parties addressed the crowd. They urged the country to turn towards peace now that the war in Gaza has come to an end. Among the speakers was Gadi Moses, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and held in Gaza for 482 days. He called for Israelis to choose peace for the sake of their children and nations. He said, if I, after the pain, the loss and the grief, can stand here and say these words out loud, then we all can. For NPR News, I'm Itay Stern in.

[Dan Ronan]

Tel Aviv and from Washington. You're listening to NPR News. British police say one of the two men who was being questioned in connection with the early morning stabbing attack on a passenger train has been released without being charged. However, another person remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder. One of the victims, a trained member of the staff, is being credited with saving several people. They say his actions save lives. Five other people remain hospitalized. Passengers on the nation's extensive rail network are seeing an enhanced police presence on both trains and at these stations. Election officials are urging mail in voters to check their state's deadlines for returning ballots so their votes get counted as we have an election coming up on Tuesday, NPR's Han Cy Lo Wang reports.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

In some states like Colorado, Georgia, Maine and Pennsylvania, the balance of domestic mail in voters must be received by Tuesday, Nov. 4, because of changes due to the U.S. postal Service's reorganization. It may be too late now for USPS to deliver return ballots by that deadline. Election officials say absentee voters can consider other ways of casting their ballots, including stopping by an early voting site, election office or any available ballot drop boxes. As for voters in states that count mail ballots that are postmarked by but arrive after Election Day, USPS says not every piece of mail gets a postmark, and those that do may not get one until the day after it's dropped off. USPS says to make sure your ballot gets a postmark on the same day you mail it. You can ask for one at a post office. Hansi Luang, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

As Wall street begins a new trading month on Monday, stock futures are little changed. The Dow, the S and P and the Nasdaq were all up in October. Dan Ronan, NPR News, in Washington.

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