NPR News Now: November 7, 2025, 1PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Summary of Episode:
This episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international news developments, focusing on diplomatic maneuvering involving the U.S., Hungary, and Russia; the impact of a government shutdown on air travel and economic reporting; updates on political campaign strategies; and the announcement of the 2026 Grammy nominees.

1. White House Hosts Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

(Starts at 00:17)

Key Points:

• Diplomatic Outreach: Hungarian PM Viktor Orban is meeting with the White House, aiming to broker another summit between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
• Sanctions and Energy: Orban seeks an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy due to Hungary’s reliance on Russian crude oil.
• Political Motivation: Facing a tough upcoming election, Orban hopes a Trump visit to Hungary will energize his conservative base.

Notable Quote:

• Rob Schmitz (00:34):

  "Orban, who is close to both Trump and Putin, has proposed hosting a summit in Budapest. He also plans to discuss an exemption from US Sanctions against Russian energy. Hungary relies on Russian crude oil, and Orban says without it, his country's economy would be in trouble."

2. FAA Reduces Air Traffic Amid Government Shutdown

(Starts at 01:10)

Key Points:

• Flight Cancellations: Airlines are canceling flights at the nation's 40 busiest airports due to a 10% cut in traffic mandated by the FAA.
• Shutdown Impact: Air traffic controllers are working without pay since the start of the government shutdown, prompting this measure.
• Human Impact: Travelers like Patricia Andaweg have missed major events, including international travel for milestone celebrations.

Memorable Moment:

• Patricia Andaweg (via Jeremy Siegel, 01:52):

  "I'm missing my birthday. But on the other hand, I met so many helpful people, right, left and centre. I call it the journey to nowhere."

• Looking Forward: Airlines are gradually implementing the reductions, so disruptions are expected to increase in coming days.

3. Government Shutdown Delays Key Economic Data

(Starts at 02:14)

Key Points:

• No Jobs Report: For the second consecutive month, the government jobs report is not released due to the shutdown.
• Lack of Official Data: The last official jobs data is two months old, leaving economists and policymakers relying on private sources.
• Federal Reserve Response: The Fed lowered interest rates to stimulate demand amid concern for rapid changes in the job market.

Notable Quote:

• Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook (via Lakshmi Singh, 02:35):

  "I'm worried about the labor market because it can turn very quickly. It can deteriorate very quickly."

• Alternate Indicators: Firms like Challenger Gray and Christmas indicate October was the worst month for layoff announcements in 20 years.

• Market Snapshot: The Dow is down 237 points; NASDAQ down 352 points.

4. Campaigning Tactics to Reach Young Voters

(Starts at 03:32)

Key Points:

• Grassroots Outreach: Candidates intensify their online ads but see more success with in-person canvassing.
• New York Case Study: Candidate Zoran Mamdani mobilized over 60,000 volunteers for door-knocking and face-to-face outreach in NYC.
• Peer Influence: Research shows young voters value direct contact from friends and peers over digital messaging.

Notable Quote:

• Ruby Bell Booth, Circle (03:52):

  "There's an assumption that they're just all on their phones all the time, but we actually find that the most important resource for young people when thinking about politics is their friends and peers."

• Takeaway: Digital campaigns are important, but cannot replace face-to-face connections when mobilizing young voters.

5. 2026 Grammy Nominations Announced

(Starts at 04:15)

Key Points:

• Album of the Year Nominees: The category includes Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Clipse (Pusha T and Malice), Tyler the Creator, and Lady Gaga.
• Industry Recognition: Nominations highlight artists, songwriters, and producers behind the year's top albums.

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 00:17: White House hosts Viktor Orban; U.S.-Hungary-Russia diplomacy
• 01:10: FAA flight reduction and shutdown impact on travelers
• 02:14: Government shutdown stalls jobs report and alarms economists
• 03:32: Political campaigns pivot to personal outreach for young voter engagement
• 04:15: Announcement of 2026 Grammy Album of the Year nominees

Tone:
The reporting is concise, matter-of-fact, and informative, characteristic of NPR’s style, interspersed with moments of human interest and brief analysis.
End of summary.