NPR News Now – November 4, 2025, 2PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: November 4, 2025
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of major national and global news events, focusing on federal decisions affecting SNAP benefits, the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney, political machinations over congressional maps in Texas and California, the aftermath of a Harvard Medical School explosion, and warming ties between Russia and China.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. SNAP Benefits Controversy and Partial Payments

[00:16-01:20]

• White House Response:
  Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirms the administration’s compliance with a court order demanding the release of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, despite a contentious post from President Trump. Trump claimed SNAP would be fully restored only when "the radical left Democrats open up government."

  • Lakshmi Singh: "This month, SNAP beneficiaries will get only half their regular amount."

• Real-World Impact:
  Jennifer Ludden highlights stories like that of Chalice Hooks, a single parent in Phoenix, demonstrating the hardship caused by the limited benefits.

  • Chalice Hooks (Phoenix SNAP parent) [00:47]: “And it's hard because he he's in high school and when he comes home, he's hungry. That's okay, mama. No, it's not okay.”

• Legal and Administrative Challenges:
  A federal judge intervened, ordering the use of emergency funds for continued benefits distribution. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley criticized the need for litigation.

  • Brett Smiley, Providence Mayor [01:04]: “For that to threaten the stability of families who are already struggling is wrong.”

• Distribution Delays:
  States face logistical hurdles recalculating and distributing reduced payments; the process "could take weeks or even months" ([01:09]).

2. Remembering Former Vice President Dick Cheney

[01:20-02:03]

• Cheney’s Death and Legacy:
  Former Vice President Dick Cheney dies at 84, remembered as a hardline conservative and a vocal Trump critic.

  • Jonah Goldberg, The Dispatch [01:32]: “He argued for a stronger presidency on the assumption that the presidency would be... occupied by a person of real conviction and patriotic principle. And ... it has to have felt a little bit like a Frankenstein's monster to have this guy he did not like and thought did not put the country first using a lot of the arguments and mechanisms that he tried to put in place for his own end.”

• 2024 Endorsement:
  Both Dick Cheney and his daughter, Liz Cheney, crossed party lines by endorsing Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president in 2024 ([02:03]).

3. Political Battle Over Congressional Maps – Proposition 50

[02:03-03:09]

• Texas Redistricting Spurs California Countermove:
  After Texas lawmakers, led by President Trump, approved new congressional maps expected to benefit the GOP:

  • Unnamed Speaker [02:33]: “Pick up five seats, and we are entitled to five more seats.”

• California’s Proposition 50:
  California Democrats, spearheaded by Governor Gavin Newsom, launch Proposition 50 to counter Republican gains by enabling the redrawing of their own congressional maps.

  • Steve Futterman [02:55]: “Prop 50 is designed to counter any Republican gains in Texas. Opinion polls here show voters likely to approve the plan.”

4. Harvard Medical School Explosion – Arrests Made

[03:09-03:35]

• Federal Update:
  US Attorney Leah B. Foley announces the arrest of two suspects tied to the recent early morning explosion at Harvard Medical School. No injuries, but charges include conspiracy to damage by means of fire or explosive.

  • Reporter [03:26]: “18 year old Logan David Patterson and 20 year old Dominique Frank Cardoza were taken into custody early this morning and charged for their alleged involvement in the explosion.”

• Location and Motive:
  The event occurred in a building housing neurobiology labs and offices; no motive disclosed as of this report.

5. Warming Sino-Russian Relations Amid Global Tensions

[03:35-04:53]

• Diplomatic Meetings:
  China’s President Xi Jinping welcomes Russia’s prime minister in Beijing, highlighting growing ties despite “a turbulent global environment.”

• Geopolitical Context:
  The visit coincides with increased US-China tensions, particularly after President Trump’s renewed endorsement of US nuclear testing.

  • Emily Fang [04:08]: “Leaders from Russia and China are meeting just days after US President Trump vowed to restart nuclear testing, lent the visit to Beijing more weight following trade talks with the U.S.”

• Expanded Cooperation:
  China and Russia sign new agreements on satellites and customs. Xi affirms that deepening ties is a “strategic choice,” especially since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which spurred increased trade between the two countries.

Notable Quotes

• Chalice Hooks (SNAP recipient):
  "He's in high school and when he comes home, he's hungry. That's okay, mama. No, it's not okay." [00:47]

• Brett Smiley (Providence Mayor):
  "For that to threaten the stability of families who are already struggling is wrong." [01:04]

• Jonah Goldberg (The Dispatch):
  "It's a Frankenstein's monster to have this guy he did not like and thought did not put the country first using a lot of the arguments and mechanisms that he tried to put in place for his own end." [01:32]

Other Headlines

• Stock Market:
  "The Dow is down 250 points." [03:09]

NPR News Now provides timely, impactful coverage aligned with its trademark concise reporting style, blending pressing national politics, poignant human stories, international diplomacy, and breaking news for listeners seeking a comprehensive five-minute update.