NPR News: 11-05-2025 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: 11-05-2025, 10AM EST

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode, hosted by Korva Coleman, provides listeners with a concise five-minute update on the major stories shaping national and global headlines on November 5, 2025. The episode features economic news, significant election results, education reform, the continued government shutdown, new controversies in federal surveillance, and an unusual wildlife incident in Japan.

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Key News & Discussion Points

1. U.S. Supreme Court Reviews President Trump's Tariffs

[00:15 - 01:10]

• The Supreme Court is deliberating whether President Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad tariffs on imported goods using a 1970s law that makes no direct mention of tariffs.
• These tariffs, which affect nearly all US imports, are being challenged by small businesses and states.
• Economic update: The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened up by about 150 points.
• Corporate News:
  • McDonald's reports a nearly 2.5% increase in US sales, boosted by higher spending per customer and the return of snack wraps.
  • Pfizer notes a slow start to COVID-19 vaccine sales this autumn, attributed to narrowed federal recommendations.

“The high court's being asked to decide whether President Trump went too far in slapping tariffs on virtually everything the US imports using a 1970s law that never mentions the word tariffs.”
— Scott Horsley (00:29)

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2. Democrats Secure Key Election Victories

[01:10 - 01:56]

• Democrats win gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.
• Notable victory: Democratic Socialist Zoram Mamdani becomes New York City’s mayor, campaigning on affordability.
• Exit polls indicate the cost of living was pivotal for voters, with 60% who prioritized this concern siding with Democrats.
• Mamdani discusses his funding plans:
  • Proposes a 2% tax increase for New Yorkers earning over $1 million/year.
  • Suggests raising New York's corporate tax from 7.25% to 11.5% to match New Jersey's rate.

“You have to raise taxes on the top 1% of New Yorkers... And you do that by raising taxes by them 2%. And then you also increase the corporate tax of New York state to match that of New Jersey.”
— Zoram Mamdani (01:39)

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3. State Ballot Measures & Education Reform

[01:56 - 03:09]

• Colorado: Voters approve increased taxes on affluent residents to fund food assistance.
• California: Strong support to empower lawmakers to redraw congressional district maps, aiming to add five Democratic representatives.
• Missouri: Independence School District maintains a four-day week, setting precedent for large suburban districts amid teacher shortages and new legal requirements.

“About a third of the state school districts are participating in a four day week as they navigate how to keep educators while struggling with limited resources to raise salaries.”
— Jodi Fortino (02:30)

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4. Federal Government Shutdown Continues

[03:09 - 03:50]

• The government shutdown reaches 36 days.
• President Trump refuses negotiation with Democrats, presses Republican senators to end the filibuster for passing a spending bill, but faces reluctance.
• Senate Democrats highlight a lack of transparency from ICE regarding new facial recognition technology reportedly being used on the public in cities like Chicago.

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5. ICE's Use of Facial Recognition Technology

[03:50 - 04:31]

• Senate Democrats, led by Senator Edward Markey, are demanding ICE answer questions on the scope and privacy risks of its phone-based facial recognition system.
• Major concerns: Whether the technology’s database includes only wanted individuals or the broader public.
• ICE has not responded to Congressional or NPR inquiries.

“I don't know. And if I don't know, the Congress doesn't know. And if the Congress doesn't know, the American people don't know. This is a technology being deployed by the Trump administration against the American people.”
— Senator Edward Markey (04:08)

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6. Japan’s Bear Crisis Leads to Military Involvement

[04:31 - 04:54]

• After at least 12 fatalities and over 100 injuries in bear attacks since April, Japan deploys troops to a northern region to help capture bears, who will then be killed by local hunters.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “The high court's being asked to decide whether President Trump went too far in slapping tariffs on virtually everything the US imports using a 1970s law that never mentions the word tariffs.” — Scott Horsley (00:29)
• “You have to raise taxes on the top 1% of New Yorkers... And you do that by raising taxes by them 2%. And then you also increase the corporate tax of New York state to match that of New Jersey.” — Zoram Mamdani (01:39)
• “I don't know. And if I don't know, the Congress doesn't know. And if the Congress doesn't know, the American people don't know. This is a technology being deployed by the Trump administration against the American people.” — Senator Edward Markey (04:08)
• “Japan’s military will catch the bears for local hunters to then kill.” — Korva Coleman (04:31)

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Notable Timestamps

• [00:15] – Market opens & Supreme Court reviews Trump tariffs
• [01:10] – Democratic wins in key elections; cost of living as a decisive issue
• [01:39] – Zoram Mamdani details tax plans for NYC funding
• [02:30] – Missouri school district maintains four-day week
• [03:09] – Federal government shutdown update
• [03:50] – Lawmakers challenge ICE facial recognition use
• [04:31] – Japan deals with fatal bear attacks via military involvement

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Takeaway

This episode delivers a rapid-fire update on vital news of the day, focusing on political change, ongoing policy debates, and unusual global stories. Key themes are political accountability, the intersection of technology and civil liberties, and how communities are adapting to both economic and environmental challenges.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Stocks opened higher this morning as the U.S. supreme Court weighs the legality of President Trump's tariffs. NPR Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 150 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

The high court's being asked to decide whether President Trump went went too far in slapping tariffs on virtually everything the US imports using a 1970s law that never mentions the word tariffs. The import taxes are being challenged by a number of small businesses and states. The average McDonald's customer is spending a little bit more, helping to boost the chain's quarterly sales in the US by nearly 2.5%. The fast food giant brought back snack wraps for the first time in years as it continues to try to win over cost cutting customers. Pfizer says sales of its COVID 19 vaccine are off to a slow start this fall after the federal government narrowed its recommendation for who should get the shots. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Democrats won key races in yesterday's elections. Two Democrats won gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, and Democratic socialist Zoram Mamdani won the New York City mayoral election. Exit polls from CNN show that of the voters who cited the cost of living as a top issue, 6 in 10 of them sided with Democrats. Mamdani ran on promises to make New York City more affordable, and he's explaining how he'll fund his priorities.

[Zoram Mamdani]

You have to raise taxes on the top 1% of New Yorkers, New Yorkers who make more than a million dollars a year. And you do that by raising taxes by them 2%. And then you also increase the corporate tax of New York state to match that of New Jersey. So that takes us from about 7.25 to about 11.5%, which is what we see in New Jersey.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to ABC's Good Morning America. Voters in Colorado have approved a measure to raise taxes on more affluent residents. That money will be used to pay for food assistance. California voters have overwhelmingly backed a ballot measure. It will allow state lawmakers to redraw California's congressional district maps. The goal is to try to send five more Democrats to Congress. Voters in Missouri's largest school district have approved a four day school week. From member station KCUR in Kansas City, Jodi Fortino has more.

[Jodi Fortino]

The independent school district located in a Kansas City suburb, adopted the shorter week two years ago to attract more teachers amid a statewide shortage. But a new Missouri law requires that larger school districts get voter approval by the next school year to start or continue a four day week. About a third of the state school districts are participating in a four day week as they navigate how to keep educators while struggling with limited resources to raise salaries. Most of the school districts on the shorter week are small and located in rural areas, but the one in Independence may push more suburban schools to consider changing their schedule. For NPR News, I'm Jodi Fortino in Kansas City.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The federal government shutdown is now 36 days old. President Trump has said he won't negotiate with Democrats on a spending bill. He welcomed Republican senators to the White House this morning, and he demanded that they overturn the filibuster to pass a spending measure. Republican senators have been very reluctant to overturn the filibuster. Senate Democrats say ICE is ignoring their questions about an apparent new facial recognition system. As NPR's Martin Costi tells us, lawmakers are following up on reports of federal agents in Chicago scanning people's faces with their phones.

[Martin Kosti]

The senators wrote to ICE in September demanding it stop using facial recognition in the field. Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts says there are too many unanswered questions. For instance, does this system identify just a limited number of wanted people or does it have access to larger databases that can identify the general public?

[Senator Edward Markey]

I don't know. And if I don't know, the Congress doesn't know. And if the Congress doesn't know, the American people don't know. This is a technology being deployed by the Trump administration against the American people.

[Martin Kosti]

Markey and fellow Democrats renewed their request for information on Monday. ICE has not yet replied, nor did it answer a request for comment from npr. Martin Kosti, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Japan's government is sending military troops to a northern region to deal with bears. Japan says that since April, at least 12 people have been killed in bear attacks and more than 100 others have been hurt. Japan's military will catch the bears for local hunters to then kill. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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