NPR News: November 4, 2025 – 3PM EST

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This brief, five-minute episode provides a snapshot of major news stories in the United States and around the world, covering updates on federal food assistance, elections, government surveillance, the legacy of Dick Cheney, the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization, a high-profile Israeli legal case, and the current status of U.S. financial markets.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. SNAP Food Assistance and Government Shutdown

• Update: The White House asserts compliance with a court order regarding SNAP (food assistance) benefits amidst an ongoing government shutdown.
  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt clarified President Trump’s previous social media comments suggesting aid would hinge on Democrats reopening the government. Levitt emphasized Trump meant future payments, not current ones. (00:16–00:37)
• Quote: "The president does not want to have to continue to dip into a contingency fund that doesn't even have enough money, by the way, to fund the full program. It takes 9 billion to get the full scale of the benefits out the door. This contingency fund only has about $5 billion in it." — Press Secretary Caroline Levitt (00:37)
• Key Point: Recipients will receive only half their usual benefits this month, with potential delays. (00:52)

2. New Jersey Gubernatorial Election: High Voter Turnout

• Update: Record early voting in New Jersey’s governor’s race, which pits Republican Jack Cittarelli against Democrat Mikey Sherrill in a typically blue state.
  • 740,000 early in-person votes, over three times the 2021 number; with mail-in ballots, more than 1.2 million have already voted. Democrats currently lead in ballots, but GOP turnout is surging in strongholds. (01:09–01:48)
• Quote: "Democrats hold a 280,000 vote advantage for ballots cast so far. But Republican strongholds in South Jersey saw some of the best early voting turnout, an indication that both parties are motivated to turn out this year." — Mike Hayes, WNYC (01:25)

3. ICE and Facial Recognition Concerns

• Update: Four Democratic senators allege that ICE has not responded to Congressional questions about use of facial recognition technology in the field, especially after agents in Chicago were seen pointing phones at civilians' faces. (01:48–02:22)
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Our faces are not barcodes for ICE." — Sen. Edward Markey (02:13)
  • "Americans have a right to walk through public spaces without being surveilled." — Jonathan Lambert (02:18)
• Key Insight: The extent and targets of the surveillance system remain unknown; ICE did not respond to NPR’s inquiries.

4. Remembering Dick Cheney (1941–2025)

• Update: Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at 84. Cheney held numerous key national roles: White House Chief of Staff, Congressman, Defense Secretary, and Vice President under George W. Bush. He was pivotal in the Bush administration’s response to 9/11 and the Iraq War. Later in life, Cheney broke with the GOP to oppose Donald Trump and voted for Kamala Harris in 2024. (02:39–03:29)
• Quote: Cheney described Trump as "the greatest individual threat to our republic." — Lakshmi Singh (03:05)

5. U.S. Withdrawal from WHO and Flu Vaccine Risks

• Update: U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization is threatening the quality and effectiveness of next year's flu vaccines due to decreased sample sharing and funding. (03:29–04:14)
• Notable Quotes:
  • "When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine." — Dan Jernigan, former CDC official (03:52, via Lakshmi Singh)
  • Researchers express concern that if fewer samples are exchanged globally, it becomes harder to develop an effective flu shot.

6. Israeli Army Legal Scandal

• Update: Former Israeli army chief lawyer Major General Ifat Tamer Iyer Rashalmi remains jailed on suspicion of fraud, obstruction of justice, and breach of trust, related to the leaking of abuse surveillance video. She recently admitted approving the leak and resigned last week. (04:14–04:55)

7. U.S. Market Update

• Update: Midday trading reveals significant losses: Dow Jones down over 300 points, NASDAQ down 456 points. (04:55)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Our faces are not barcodes for ICE." — Sen. Edward Markey (02:13)
• "Americans have a right to walk through public spaces without being surveilled." — Jonathan Lambert (02:18)
• "When those viruses are not coming in, we don't know what to put in the vaccine." — Dan Jernigan, CDC (03:52 via Lakshmi Singh)
• "Cheney described Trump as the greatest individual threat to our republic." — Lakshmi Singh quoting Dick Cheney (03:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• SNAP Benefits & White House Statement: 00:16–00:52
• New Jersey Election Turnout: 01:09–01:48
• ICE Facial Recognition Controversy: 01:48–02:39
• Dick Cheney’s Legacy: 02:39–03:29
• Global Health & Flu Vaccine Concerns: 03:29–04:14
• Israeli Army Legal Scandal: 04:14–04:55
• Stock Market Update: 04:55

For Reference

• Host: Lakshmi Singh
• Reporters: Mike Hayes (WNYC), Martin Kosti (NPR), Jonathan Lambert (NPR)
• Duration: Approx. 5 minutes (excluding ads/outros)
• Style: Succinct, factual, with direct attributions

This summary encapsulates all key topics and quotes, making it a thorough resource for anyone who missed the episode.