NPR News Now – November 8, 2025 | 9PM EST
Host: Jeanine Herbst (NPR)
Episode Length: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A rapid update covering top U.S. news and culture stories: food insecurity amid SNAP delays, Congressional standoff over health insurance subsidies, new developments in gene-editing for cholesterol, arts leadership controversy at the Kennedy Center, and NFL international expansion.
1. SNAP Benefits Delay Causes Food Insecurity Surge
[00:11–01:15]
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Background:
Millions of Americans have missed the first monthly installment from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), causing hunger nonprofits to ramp up food distributions. -
On the Ground: Tennessee Nonprofit Response:
- Blake Farmer reports from One Gin Away, a nonprofit serving Tennessee and Alabama, where demand for food far outweighs supply.
- Peggy Martin, raising three grandchildren, describes scraping by after losing $500 in benefits:
"If I had not been raised country and knew how to survive, I would really be in a fix. I can bake, I can hunt. I can forage, too. I think we're okay. We'll make it." (Peggy Martin, 00:53)
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Wider Impact:
Over 40 million Americans rely on SNAP, raising concerns for the less self-sufficient.
2. Congressional Stalemate Over Health Subsidies Amid Shutdown
[01:15–01:52]
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Key Developments:
- President Trump urges Senate Republicans via social media to send Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies directly to individuals, not insurers.
- These subsidies are near expiration, risking sharp premium increases.
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Political Standoff:
- Democrats propose a one-year extension of subsidies to reopen the government; Republicans reject it.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticizes the proposal:
"Proposal is just more of the same, masking rising premiums and padding insurance companies' profits with more taxpayer dollars." (John Thune, 01:43)
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Shutdown Update:
- Senate holds a rare Saturday session but adjourns without action. The government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history.
- President Trump repeatedly calls for ending the Senate filibuster; Republicans remain hesitant.
3. Major Breakthrough: One-Time Gene Editing Drug for Cholesterol
[01:52–03:08]
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Scientific News:
- Rob Stein reports that an experimental gene editing drug, delivered as a single infusion to 15 patients, permanently lowered cholesterol and triglycerides by up to 50%.
- Method targets gene editing in the liver; results presented at the American Association’s annual scientific meeting.
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Caution & Promise:
- The findings mirror similar ongoing research, but more studies are needed to confirm long-term safety and efficacy.
- Could be a "powerful new weapon to fight heart disease, which is the nation's leading killer." (Rob Stein, 02:23)
4. Kennedy Center Denies Washington National Opera Exiting
[03:08–04:21]
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Controversy:
- Media reports (The Guardian) suggest Washington National Opera (WNO) might leave the Kennedy Center due to declining audiences and institutional upheaval.
- President Trump declared himself chair of the Kennedy Center earlier in the year, dismissing its board and leadership.
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Official Pushback:
- Andy Farrow, WNO Board President, via email:
"The company...has no plans to move out of the Kennedy Center and is proud to be part of America's cultural center." (Chloe Veltman, 03:30)
- Artistic Director Francesca Zambelo reaffirms this official statement when contacted by NPR, despite earlier comments about possibly leaving.
- Andy Farrow, WNO Board President, via email:
5. NFL Holds First Regular Season Game in Berlin, Germany
[04:21–04:53]
- Event:
- NFL’s first regular season game in Berlin: Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons at Olympic Stadium, 09:38 EST kickoff.
- Aimed at leveraging robust German NFL fanbase as part of the league’s long-term global growth strategy.
Memorable Quotes
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Peggy Martin, on food insecurity:
"If I had not been raised country and knew how to survive, I would really be in a fix. I can bake, I can hunt. I can forage, too. I think we're okay. We'll make it." (00:53)
-
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, on health subsidies:
"Proposal is just more of the same, masking rising premiums and padding insurance companies' profits with more taxpayer dollars." (01:43)
-
WNO Board President Andy Farrow, denying Opera’s departure:
"[The company] has no plans to move out of the Kennedy Center and is proud to be part of America's cultural center." (03:30)
Key Timestamps
- [00:11] Hunger nonprofits react to SNAP benefit delays
- [00:53] First-hand account of SNAP fallout (Peggy Martin)
- [01:15] Congressional battle over ACA subsidies, longest-ever government shutdown
- [01:43] Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s criticism
- [02:26] Experimental gene-editing drug for cholesterol
- [03:30] Kennedy Center vs. Washington National Opera dispute
- [04:21] NFL’s inaugural Berlin game
Summary Insight:
This episode captures the intersection of daily struggles for millions of Americans facing food insecurity, stark political divisions in Congress over healthcare and governance, cutting-edge advances in biomedical science, culture sector turbulence during controversial leadership, and a major U.S. sports league’s international ambitions — all in under five minutes, offering listeners a brisk tour of the current American moment.
