NPR News Now: November 10, 2025 — 4AM EST

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Dale Willman
Date: November 10, 2025

Main Theme

This episode provides a concise five-minute briefing on the latest national and international news headlines, covering the federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits, international nuclear policy developments, economic updates, the National Folk Festival, and the passing of NBA legend Lenny Wilkins. The tone is factual, urgent, and informative.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Court Action & Senate Deal Amid Shutdown

[00:14-01:15]

• SNAP Benefits Litigation:

  • The federal appeals court upheld an order requiring the Trump administration to provide full SNAP food aid (serving 42 million Americans) during the government shutdown.
  • The Supreme Court had temporarily halted the order, pending the appeals court decision.

• Senate Progress on Shutdown Legislation:

  • Late Sunday, a Senate vote advanced a bill to end the shutdown.
  • Bipartisan support: 7 Democrats and an independent joined Republicans.
  • Proposed Deal:
    • Government funded until the end of January.
    • SNAP food payments secured until the fiscal year’s end.
    • GOP agreed to hold a vote on affordable health care reform (ACA tax credits) in December.

• Quote (Tim Kaine, [01:01])

  “We were in a situation where SNAP recipients were suffering and there was no guarantee we would ever get to an ACA solution. Now we’ve got robust SNAP funding and a guaranteed vote. Not a guaranteed outcome, but a guaranteed vote on ACA tax credits.”
  — Senator Tim Kaine

• Upcoming Vote:

  • Final legislation could be voted on this week.

2. Nuclear Testing and New START Treaty Tensions

[01:15–02:07]

• Russia & US Nuclear Test Concerns:

  • Kremlin says President Putin has asked the military to explore nuclear testing, but only if the US resumes such tests.
  • President Trump has threatened to resume US nuclear testing in response to Russia’s missile trials (which did not involve actual nuclear warheads).
  • Russia awaits a US response to its proposal to de facto extend the New START arms reduction treaty by 12 months (it is set to expire in February 2026).
  • The extension would give both sides more time to negotiate.

• Reporter Insight (Charles Maynes, [01:25])

  “[Putin] would do so only if the US resumes its own nuclear arms tests... Moscow says it’s still waiting for a US response to a proposal to de facto extend the New START Nuclear arms reduction Treaty.”
  — Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow

3. Economic Reporting Halted by Shutdown

[02:07–02:54]

• US Economic Data on Pause:

  • Wall Street investors face uncertainty: All government economic reports (including inflation data) are delayed due to the shutdown.
  • Last month’s inflation report was released only as an exception for Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment.
  • Corporate earnings reports (Disney, Paramount, Skydance) will proceed as usual.

• Reporter Context (Rafael Nam, [02:20])

  “But there will likely be no exception anymore until the shutdown ends. And that means investors will not be getting the latest inflation report this week. But there will be earnings from companies as usual this time of year...”
  — Rafael Nam, NPR News

4. Asian Stock Markets Surge

[02:54–03:33 & 04:44-04:53]

• Asian Markets Recap:
  • Tech sector drives big gains:
    • South Korea’s KOSPI: +3.5%
    • Tokyo’s Nikkei: +1.2%
    • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng: +0.8%

5. 82nd National Folk Festival Debuts in Mississippi

[03:33–04:18]

• Jackson, Mississippi Hosts for First Time:

  • The National Folk Festival, America’s oldest traditional arts celebration, comes to the Deep South for the first time.
  • Interviews with artists highlight the region’s culture.

• Spotlight: James Johnson, aka “Super Chicken”:

  • Mississippi Delta blues musician/artisan, creates unique guitars and plays the “Diddly Bow.”

• Quote (James Johnson “Super Chicken”, [03:57])

  “Dilly Bow is one of the Delta’s first blues instruments, derived from an African instrument called the chora.”
  — James Johnson, musician

• Festival Diversity:

  • Performances included bluegrass, West African balafon, salsa, Irish music, and DC Go Go.
  • Jackson to host through 2027.

6. Lenny Wilkins, Basketball Hall of Famer, Dies at 88

[04:18–04:44]

• Wilkins’ Legacy:
  • Three-time Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (as player, coach, and as part of the 1992 Olympic team).
  • Holds NBA coaching record (2,487 games).
  • Coached the U.S. Olympic team to gold in Atlanta, 1996.

Notable Quotes

• Tim Kaine, on deal to end shutdown ([01:01]):

  “We were in a situation where SNAP recipients were suffering and there was no guarantee we would ever get to an ACA solution. Now we’ve got robust SNAP funding and a guaranteed vote. Not a guaranteed outcome, but a guaranteed vote on ACA tax credits.”

• Charles Maynes, on Russia’s nuclear policy ([01:25]):

  “[Putin] would do so only if the US resumes its own nuclear arms tests... Moscow says it’s still waiting for a US response to a proposal to de facto extend the New START Nuclear arms reduction Treaty.”

• Super Chicken (James Johnson), on Delta music roots ([03:57]):

  “Dilly Bow is one of the Delta’s first blues instruments, derived from an African instrument called the chora.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Federal court/Senate shutdown deal: 00:14–01:15
• SNAP/ACA deal and Kaine quote: 01:01
• Russia nuclear arms testing/START Treaty: 01:15–02:07
• Economic data delayed by shutdown: 02:07–02:54
• Asian stocks recap: 02:54–03:33, 04:44–04:53
• National Folk Festival in Mississippi: 03:33–04:18
• Super Chicken music segment: 03:57
• Lenny Wilkins obituary: 04:18–04:44

Memorable Moments

• The high-stakes, fast-moving Senate negotiations to end the government shutdown and protect food aid for millions.
• Russia and the US teetering on the edge of renewed nuclear testing amidst expiring treaties.
• The cultural spotlight on Mississippi’s Delta blues tradition at the folk festival.
• Reflection on Lenny Wilkins’ historic NBA and Olympic achievements.

This NPR News Now episode delivers crisp, comprehensive updates on major headlines, essential for anyone seeking to stay informed in a changing political, economic, and cultural landscape.