NPR News Now – 7PM EST, November 5, 2025

Host: Ryland Barton
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This concise news update covers the latest developments in U.S. politics, Supreme Court actions, international conflicts, economy and markets, disability rights, and a piece of local immigrant history. The episode’s purpose is to provide listeners with critical headlines and brief analysis on events of national and global importance.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Record-Long Government Shutdown & Political Fallout

00:10–00:48

• Shutdown Duration & Cause: The United States is experiencing the "longest government shutdown ever" at 36 days, as President Trump refuses to negotiate on extending health insurance subsidies until Democrats agree to reopen the government.
• Political Blame & Consequences: President Trump blames the shutdown for GOP electoral losses and calls on Senate Republicans to abolish the filibuster, a move Senate Republican leader John Thune opposes.
  • Quote: "President Trump says Democrats must agree to reopen the government before he'll negotiate with them to extend health insurance subsidies that expire at the end of the year."
    — Ryland Barton, 00:13

2. Supreme Court Skepticism on Presidential Tariff Powers

00:49–01:46

• Tariffs Under Scrutiny: SCOTUS questions whether the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA, 1977) allows the President to impose tariffs independently of Congress by citing national security.
• Arguments Presented:
  • Challengers assert: IEEPA only allows regulating imports, not imposing tariffs (a congressional power).
  • Government argues: Regulating imports inherently includes tariff powers and highlights the president’s broad authority in foreign relations.
  • Quote: "They added that the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to raise revenue."
    — Danielle Kurtzleben, 01:28
• Significance: This case tests the limits of executive power over economic and international policy.

3. UPS Cargo Plane Crash Disrupts Shipping Services

01:47–02:22

• Incident Details: A UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky, results in a "massive explosion," 11 fatalities, and a dozen injuries at its global shipping hub.
• Business Response: UPS activates contingency plans; disruptions expected to clear by peak holiday season.

4. Israeli Military Escort of Journalists in Gaza

02:22–03:08

• Reporting from Gaza: For the first time in two years, international journalists, including NPR’s Daniel Estrin, observe the Gaza border accompanied by Israeli troops.
• Current Situation:
  • Witnesses expanse of destruction: "piles of cement, bombed out schools and homes."
  • Israel continues destruction of tunnels and infrastructure; Hamas is regrouping.
  • Media Restrictions: Journalists are not permitted independent access to daily life in Gaza.
  • Quote: "We are here accompanied by Israeli troops. But Israel, still more than two years after the war began, is not allowing journalists into Gaza independently to interview Palestinians and to see their lives up close."
    — Daniel Estrin, 02:52

5. U.S. Market Rally Following Economic Updates

03:08–03:18

• Stock Market Movement: S&P 500 climbs by 0.4% on the back of "upbeat economic updates."

6. Nuclear Test Resumption Proposal in Russia

03:19–03:46

• Geopolitical Escalation: President Putin tells the Security Council that Russia will consider resuming nuclear tests only if the U.S. does so first, following suggestions by President Trump about restarting U.S. nuclear tests.

7. Federal Judge Mandates ASL Interpretation at White House Briefings

03:47–04:26

• Legal Decision: A federal judge finds that excluding deaf Americans from public press briefings violates federal disability law and orders the immediate provision of American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.
  • Lawsuit was jointly filed by the National Association of the Deaf and two individuals.
  • The White House discontinued interpreters after Trump's second term began.
  • Quote: "The exclusion of deaf Americans from White House press briefings is likely a violation of federal disability rights law and creates harm as the briefings engage Americans on important issues like the economy and health care."
    — Kristen Wright, 03:52
  • The administration has until Friday to respond to the order.

8. Century-Old Japanese Time Capsule Discovered

04:27–04:57

• Historical Find: A 101-year-old time capsule from a Japanese church in Salt Lake City reveals artifacts such as hand-sewn flags, Bibles, newspapers in English and Japanese, and a list of Sunday school teachers.
• Community Legacy: The Japanese Church of Christ is highlighted as a survivor of Salt Lake City’s early 20th-century Japantown.
  • Quote: "...helping tell the story of early immigrants to America."
    — Ryland Barton, 04:28

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "President Trump says Democrats must agree to reopen the government before he'll negotiate with them..."
  — Ryland Barton, 00:13
• "They added that the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to raise revenue."
  — Danielle Kurtzleben, 01:28
• "We are here accompanied by Israeli troops. But Israel... is not allowing journalists into Gaza independently to interview Palestinians..."
  — Daniel Estrin, 02:52
• "The exclusion of deaf Americans from White House press briefings is likely a violation of federal disability rights law and creates harm..."
  — Kristen Wright, 03:52
• "...helping tell the story of early immigrants to America."
  — Ryland Barton, 04:28

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Government Shutdown & Politics: 00:10–00:48
• Supreme Court Tariff Powers: 00:49–01:46
• UPS Plane Crash: 01:47–02:22
• Gaza Report: 02:22–03:08
• Stock Market Update: 03:09–03:18
• Russian Nuclear Test Threat: 03:19–03:46
• White House ASL Ruling: 03:47–04:26
• Japanese Time Capsule: 04:27–04:57

This episode delivers a fast, factual roundup of significant current events with on-the-ground reporting and legal developments, making it an essential listen for a brief yet comprehensive overview of the day's news.