NPR News Now – November 12, 2025, 7PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise update on major national and international stories. Highlights include developments on the U.S. government shutdown, legal actions involving former President Trump and his associates, U.S. aid to Jamaica post-hurricane, political turmoil in Turkey, the revival of protest folk music on social media, and a unique cultural restoration in Germany.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court Delays Decision on Food Aid During U.S. Government Shutdown

(00:11–01:22)

• Context:
  The Supreme Court has postponed its ruling on whether the Trump administration must provide full food aid payments (SNAP benefits) during the ongoing government shutdown.

• Details:

  • Lower courts mandated full payments; Trump administration appealed, favoring partial payments.
  • Negotiations in Congress aim to resolve the shutdown; if successful, the legal dispute could become moot.
  • Some Democrats criticize the shutdown deal for omitting the renewal of key health care subsidies.

• Quote Highlight:
  “They got a commitment for a Senate vote by mid December on a bill that they will write.”
  — Deirdre Walsh reporting on Senator Shaheen's negotiation, 00:57

  • Senator Jeanine Shaheen (D-NH) secured a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune for a mid-December Senate vote on health care subsidies.
  • There’s uncertainty whether the House, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, would consider such a bill.
  • Shaheen underscores bipartisan reliance on health care tax credits:
    “People in red states rely on these tax credits more than people in blue states.”
    — Deirdre Walsh paraphrasing Shaheen, 01:12

2. Georgia RICO Case Against Trump Allies in Limbo

(01:22–02:17)

• Context:
  Trump’s federal pardons of Rudy Giuliani and others don’t apply to Georgia’s state case regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

• Details:

  • The RICO case, led by Fulton County DA Fani Willis, is stalled after Willis’s removal due to an “appearance of impropriety” (relationship with a special prosecutor).
  • A replacement prosecuting attorney must be named by November 14th or indictments risk dismissal.
  • Pete Scandalakis, Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, says Trump’s pardons “only apply to federal charges, not state” (01:58).

• Quote Highlight:
  “Trump's pardons only apply to federal charges, not state, and his office is working on their assigned task without being influenced by outside actions.”
  — Alex Helmick reporting on Scandalakis’ statement, 02:04

3. U.S. Sends Additional Aid for Jamaican Hurricane Recovery

(02:17–03:11)

• Context:
  The U.S. announced $12.6 million more in aid following Hurricane Melissa; Jamaica, severely affected, is the main recipient.

• Details:

  • Of the new aid, $10 million is designated for Jamaica.
  • Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness thanks U.S. officials for reinforcing the enduring U.S.–Jamaica relationship.
  • The total pledged U.S. aid is now $37 million.
  • The hurricane caused catastrophic damage in western Jamaica: schools, hospitals, and tens of thousands of homes destroyed; insurance losses may exceed $4 billion.

• Notable Quotes:
  "It does reaffirm the strong and enduring relationship between Jamaica and the United States."
  — Prime Minister Andrew Holness, 02:36

  “Jamaica only has a fraction on hand.”
  — Ada Peralta, 03:04

4. Turkish Prosecutors Seek 2,000+ Year Sentence for Opposition Mayor

(03:11–03:52)

• Context:
  Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s opposition mayor, faces over 2,000 years in prison on criminal organization and corruption charges.
• Details:
  • Seen as a key rival to President Erdogan.
  • Imamoglu and municipal colleagues deny all charges.
  • The case highlights ongoing political tension and repression in Turkey.

5. Folk Protest Music Finds New Life on TikTok

(03:52–04:33)

• Context:
  A younger generation is reviving protest folk music on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, using its directness to address current events.

• Details:

  • Jesse Wells posts satirical protest songs online addressing topical issues—e.g., the Epstein List, Gaza war.
  • He has 3 million+ followers and just received four Grammy nominations in folk and Americana categories.
  • His digital presence exemplifies how folk protest style is resonating with new audiences.

• Quote Highlight:
  "War isn't murder, good men don't die, children don't starve, and all women survive."
  — Jesse Wells, live excerpt, 04:03

  “Wells is the most visible example of how digital savvy artists are reviving plain spoken protest music for the masses.”
  — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, 04:25

6. Restoration of Germany’s Highest Peak Golden Cross

(04:33–04:53)

• Context:
  A helicopter removed the iconic golden cross from Germany’s highest mountain for restoration after tourists covered it in stickers.
• Details:
  • The cross will have stickers removed, its iron sanded, and new gold leaf applied.
  • It's a symbolic maintenance of national heritage.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "They got a commitment for a Senate vote by mid December on a bill that they will write."
  — Deirdre Walsh, 00:57

• "Trump's pardons only apply to federal charges, not state..."
  — Pete Scandalakis (via Alex Helmick), 01:58

• "It does reaffirm the strong and enduring relationship between Jamaica and the United States."
  — Prime Minister Andrew Holness, 02:36

• "War isn't murder, Good men don't die, children don't starve, and all women survive."
  — Jesse Wells, 04:03

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:11 — U.S. Supreme Court delays food aid decision / Shutdown deal developments
• 01:22 — Georgia RICO case & Trump pardons
• 02:17 — U.S. hurricane relief for Jamaica
• 03:11 — Turkish opposition leader faces lengthy prison term
• 03:52 — Folk protest revival on TikTok (Jesse Wells)
• 04:33 — Restoration of Germany’s highest summit cross

Tone:
Objective, succinct, informative. The reporting balances gravitas on political/legal issues and a touch of humanity with the folk music and cultural restoration stories.

This episode provides a sharp snapshot of current world events, encapsulating political maneuvering, legal battles, disaster response, cultural shifts, and an appreciation for heritage—all in under five minutes.