NPR News Now

Episode: NPR News: 11-06-2025 7PM EST
Date: November 7, 2025
Host: NPR (Ryland Barton)

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode presents the latest updates on critical national news stories. The top headlines include a federal judge's order on SNAP food benefits during the government shutdown, the Trump administration's drug pricing deals, details on the UPS cargo plane crash investigation in Kentucky, a major jury verdict in Virginia over a school shooting, an NFL player’s reported suicide in Texas, highlights from the Billboard music charts, and the chance discovery of WWI soldiers’ messages in bottles on Australia’s coast.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Judge Orders Full SNAP Funding During Shutdown

• [00:18-00:54]
• A federal judge rules the Trump administration must fully fund SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits during the government shutdown.
• The White House, initially refusing any funding, then offered partial funding, but appealed against the new court ruling.
• Last week, two judges directed the use of an emergency fund to keep benefits flowing.

2. Drug Pricing and Medicare/Medicaid Access

• [00:54-01:35] | Correspondent: Sidney Lupkin
• The Trump administration announces deals with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly regarding popular obesity and type 2 diabetes drugs, such as Ozempic, Wigot, Novi, Zepbound, and Manjaro.
• These deals offer lower prices to the government and $50 Medicare copays. More patients on Medicare/Medicaid will access these drugs, but not all.
• Discounts via the new TrumpRx.gov site are set for launch before year's end.
• If experimental pills receive FDA approval, their starting dose will be $149/month.

Sidney Lupkin [01:28]: "If experimental obesity pills they are developing win FDA approval, they will cost $149 per month for their starting doses."

3. Louisville UPS Cargo Plane Crash Investigation

• [01:35-02:24] | Contributor: Curtis Tate, NTSB Member: Todd Inman
• Investigators review maintenance records for the MD11 UPS cargo plane that crashed after recent maintenance in San Diego.
• The black box revealed the plane reached 475ft at 210 mph before crashing.
• The crash left a half-mile fiery debris trail; all three crew members are identified as deceased.

Todd Inman [01:52]: "We will look at every piece of maintenance that was done, even from the San Antonio time all the way to the date of the flight."

4. Jury Awards Teacher $10 Million After Virginia School Shooting

• [02:24-02:59] | Contributor: Toby Cox, Lead Counsel: Diane Toscano
• Jury sides with Abby Zwerner, a teacher shot by a 6-year-old in 2023, finding school administrator Ebony Parker ignored warnings about the student's gun.
• $10 million awarded in damages marks a step in Zwerner’s recovery.
• The shooter’s mother previously sentenced for child neglect and weapons charges.

Diane Toscano [02:47]: "When the city of Newport News and its schools failed to protect their teachers, students and citizens, we held them accountable through the courts. Now it's time for the city to ensure Abby receives the justice this verdict represents."

5. Dallas Cowboys Player Apparent Suicide

• [03:12-03:43]
• 24-year-old Marshawn Neyland, Dallas Cowboys defensive end, found dead by suicide after fleeing a car accident in a Dallas suburb.
• Police received reports Neyland was suicidal during the search. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

6. Billboard Music Chart Highlights

• [03:43-04:33] | Contributor: Stephen Thompson
• Three albums debut in the Billboard top 10: Daniel Caesar’s "Son of Spurge" (#4), Brandi Carlile’s "Returning to Myself" (#7), and Demi Lovato’s “It’s Not That Deep” (#9).
• Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” stays at #1 for a fourth week.

Stephen Thompson [04:26]: "None of them could displace the season's biggest hit, Taylor Swift's the Life of a Showgirl holds at number one for a fourth straight week."

7. Messages in a Bottle Discovered from WWI Soldiers

• [04:33-04:57]
• Letters from Australian soldiers Malcolm Neville and William Harley, dated August 15, 1916, were found in bottles on Australia’s coast.
• Neville was later killed in the war; Harley survived.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On new drug pricing for experimental pills:
  "If experimental obesity pills they are developing win FDA approval, they will cost $149 per month for their starting doses."
  — Sidney Lupkin [01:28]

• On the thoroughness of the NTSB investigation:
  "We will move forward and we will look at every piece of maintenance that was done, even from the San Antonio time all the way to the date of the flight."
  — Todd Inman [01:52]

• On accountability in the school shooting verdict:
  "When the city of Newport News and its schools failed to protect their teachers, students and citizens, we held them accountable through the courts. Now it's time for the city to ensure Abby receives the justice this verdict represents."
  — Diane Toscano [02:47]

• On Taylor Swift's continued chart dominance:
  "None of them could displace the season's biggest hit, Taylor Swift's the Life of a Showgirl holds at number one for a fourth straight week."
  — Stephen Thompson [04:26]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:18: Federal judge orders full SNAP funding
• 00:54: Drug pricing deals announced
• 01:35: Louisville UPS crash investigation
• 02:24: $10M jury verdict for VA teacher
• 03:12: Dallas Cowboys player found dead
• 03:43: Billboard chart debuts
• 04:33: WWI soldiers’ messages in bottle found

This concise episode packs urgent legal, federal, and cultural updates into five minutes for listeners wanting to stay rapidly informed on the latest national headlines.