NPR News Now – 11-07-2025 11AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This concise five-minute NPR News Now update delivers the latest top stories from across the U.S. and the world. Major topics include the ongoing historic federal government shutdown and its cascading effects, particularly on air travel and food assistance, regulatory challenges for AI in mental health care, a deadly U.S. military operation in the Caribbean, and typhoon devastation in Southeast Asia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Government Shutdown – Record Duration and Impact

[00:16-01:35]

• Historic length: The federal government shutdown has become the longest in U.S. history, lasting 38 days.

• Air Traffic Disruptions:

  • Air travel is being severely affected as air traffic controllers are unpaid.

  • Starting today, air traffic will be reduced at dozens of airports, with up to 10% of flights slashed next week due to staffing shortages.

  • American Airlines COO David Seymour urges Congress to act.

    "We need to get the government reopened...and implore our members of Congress to get together and get the government reopened so we can get back to normalcy."
    — David Seymour ([00:46])

• Legislative Efforts:
  The Senate may vote on a spending bill that could end the shutdown.

• Food Assistance Crisis:

  • The Trump administration has appealed a judge’s order to fund the SNAP program during the shutdown.

  • Lapse in benefits strains millions relying on food assistance and overwhelms food banks and pantries.

  • Juliet Smith, a client advocate at a Boston pantry, describes unprecedented hardship.

    "It's painful when someone comes in and we have to say, I just don't have anything for you today. We've never had to do that before. Never."
    — Juliet Smith ([01:49])

  • Local governments and private donors are helping, but cannot fully fill the gap left by federal shortfalls.

2. Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health Care

[02:12-03:13]

• FDA Panel Deliberations:
  A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel is grappling with oversight of AI applications promising therapy.
• Gaps in Regulation:

  • Dartmouth researcher Nick Jacobson highlights the widespread use of unregulated AI therapy chatbots like ChatGPT.

    "I think the ironic part of this, frankly, is that they are not going to regulate things that are not actually making claims to mental health products." — Nick Jacobson ([02:44])

  • Because many apps do not present themselves as official mental health treatments, they evade regulation, although users rely on them due to lack of access to traditional therapy.

  • Jacobson suggests new laws may be needed, since FDA authority is limited.

3. U.S. Military Strike in the Caribbean – Drug Trafficking Claims

[03:13-04:29]

• Attack and Aftermath:
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirms a U.S. military attack on a boat in the Caribbean, resulting in three deaths.
  • Hegseth states the boat was involved in drug trafficking, but provides no evidence.
• Survivors Face No Charges:
  • Colombian survivor Jonathan Obando Perez was released from hospital and will not be prosecuted in Colombia, as there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
  • President Trump had publicly called for prosecution, but Colombian authorities confirm otherwise.
  • An Ecuadorian survivor was also released upon returning to his home country.

4. Typhoon Kaumegi's Destruction in Southeast Asia

[04:29-04:55]

• Vietnam:
  At least five dead after Typhoon Kaumegi makes landfall.
• Philippines:
  • At least 188 fatalities from the same storm; the president declares a national emergency as yet another typhoon approaches.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• David Seymour (American Airlines):

  "We need to get the government reopened...so we can get back to normalcy." ([00:46])

• Juliet Smith (Boston food pantry):

  "It's painful when someone comes in and we have to say, I just don't have anything for you today. We've never had to do that before. Never." ([01:49])

• Nick Jacobson (Dartmouth):

  "I think the ironic part of this, frankly, is that they are not going to regulate things that are not actually making claims to mental health products." ([02:44])

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:16] — Federal government shutdown impacts air travel and food assistance.
• [00:46] — Airline industry urges action.
• [01:35] — Food banks strained by lapse in SNAP benefits.
• [02:12] — FDA and AI in mental health panel.
• [03:13] — U.S. military strike report and survivor fate.
• [04:29] — Typhoon Kaumegi’s deadly toll in Vietnam and the Philippines.

This brief yet comprehensive NPR News Now update highlights the intersection of political dysfunction and its real-world consequences while illuminating emerging regulatory challenges and international crises. It offers a snapshot of urgent issues facing the country and the world.