NPR News Now – November 10, 2025, 12PM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of the hour’s major national and global news, with updates on U.S. government operations, Supreme Court actions, international diplomacy, notable anniversaries, and trending cultural phenomena.

Key News Highlights

1. Senate Moves to End Government Shutdown

Segment: [00:14] – [00:59]

• Context:
  The Senate advanced a bipartisan deal to end the ongoing government shutdown.

• Details:

  • A stopgap measure provides funding through the end of January.
  • Includes full-year appropriations for select federal agencies.
  • Pauses planned cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Reverses federal worker layoffs initiated during the shutdown by the Trump administration and protects the workforce from additional cuts at least until January.

• Notable Quote:
  “The package includes a stopgap measure to fund the government through the end of January. It also includes full year appropriations funding plans for some federal agencies and services. It will pause planned cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. It also reverses federal worker layoffs installed by the Trump administration during the shutdown and protects the workforce from more cuts for a few months to the end of January.”
  — Claudia Grosales, [00:31]

2. Supreme Court Declines Same Sex Marriage Challenge

Segment: [00:59] – [01:42]

• Context:
  The Supreme Court declined to revisit its landmark 2015 ruling on same sex marriage.

• Details:

  • The Court rejected Kentucky clerk Kim Davis’s appeal. Davis had refused to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples post-ruling.
  • Davis was attempting to overturn a $360,000 order for damages and legal fees.

3. President Trump Issues Sweeping Pardon in 2020 Election Probe

Segment: [00:59] – [02:16]

• Context:
  President Trump announced broad pardons related to the 2020 election.

• Details:

  • The pardons cover campaign attorneys and individuals involved in efforts to create alternate slates of electors who challenged the 2020 election results.
  • “The document pardons all those associated with a plot to make false electoral slates that could have potentially interfered with the presidential certification on January 6, 2021.”
    — Miles Parks, [01:42]
  • Notable names pardoned: Rudy Giuliani, Kenneth Chesebro, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, and others.
  • The pardons are largely symbolic; none have been federally charged—though some face state charges, to which this pardon does not apply.
  • “The pardons are essentially symbolic as none of the people pardoned have been charged with federal crimes. Some are charged in their individual states, but the pardon has no impact on those cases.”
    — Miles Parks, [02:08]

4. President Trump Hosts Syrian President at White House

Segment: [02:16] – [03:03]

• Context:
  A historic first meeting with Syria’s new leader.

• Details:

  • President Ahmed Ashara is the first Syrian head of state at the White House in nearly 80 years.
  • Ashara, a former Al Qaeda in Iraq figure, led forces that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
  • Most U.S. sanctions on Syria and Ashara have been lifted, though some remain.
  • U.S. aims to involve Syria in anti-ISIS efforts.
  • “A year ago he had a $10 million US bounty on his head. His fighters toppled dictator Bashar Al Assad last December, and since then, Trump has decided that Shara is someone he wants to deal with.”
    — Jayna Raf, [02:36]

5. Financial Update

Segment: [03:03] – [03:32]

• Dow Jones: Up 90 points
• NASDAQ: Up 378 points
  — Market optimism leads the midday trading session.

6. 50th Anniversary: Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Segment: [03:32] – [04:11]

• Context:
  Remembrances for one of the Great Lakes’ most tragic shipwrecks.

• Details:

  • Two events being held by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Michigan.
  • Gordon Lightfoot’s famous ballad keeps the story alive.
  • “You really feel a kinship. You can see the pain. You can see the grief that is still with them. Those 29 men are still in the ship.”
    — Mike Forens, Lightfoot tribute band, [03:52]
  • Divers are barred from the wreck as it is deemed an international gravesite.

7. Starbucks Cup Frenzy Sparks Consumer Unrest

Segment: [04:11] – [04:54]

• Context:
  Consumer reactions to Starbucks’ latest limited-edition merchandise.

• Details:

  • Starbucks’ $30 barista cup sold out instantly; some stores only received one or two.
  • Scenes of customer fights and viral videos surfaced as demand soared.
  • Resale prices are in the hundreds—some listings above $1,000.
  • Starbucks has apologized but is noncommittal about more inventory.
  • Memorable anecdote of American consumer culture run amok:
    “…leading to arguments and viral videos of customers fighting over them. Resale listings on eBay show prices in the hundreds, with some topping $1,000. Starbucks has apologized for the frenzy, but hasn’t said if more cups are coming.”
    — Windsor Johnston, [04:23]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On government funding and SNAP:
  “It will pause planned cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. It also reverses federal worker layoffs installed by the Trump administration during the shutdown and protects the workforce from more cuts for a few months…” — Claudia Grosales, [00:41]

• On the symbolism of the pardons:
  “The pardons are essentially symbolic as none of the people pardoned have been charged with federal crimes.” — Miles Parks, [02:08]

• On remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald crew:
  “You really feel a kinship. You can see the pain. You can see the grief that is still with them. Those 29 men are still in the ship.” — Mike Forens, [03:52]

Useful Timestamps

• Shutdown Deal Advanced — [00:14] – [00:59]
• Same Sex Marriage Supreme Court Ruling — [00:59] – [01:42]
• 2020 Election Pardons — [01:42] – [02:16]
• Syrian President Visit — [02:16] – [03:03]
• Stock Market Update — [03:03] – [03:32]
• Edmund Fitzgerald Anniversary — [03:32] – [04:11]
• Starbucks Cup Frenzy — [04:11] – [04:54]

Tone

The episode maintains NPR’s signature tone: direct, fact-driven, measured, and empathetic, especially when addressing both political tensions and commemorative moments. There’s also subtle irony when delving into the Starbucks merchandise frenzy.

Summary prepared for listeners who want a timely and thorough briefing on the hour’s top stories, with clear context and emotional resonance.