NPR News Now – November 13, 2025, 11PM EST

Host: Shea Stevens
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: Rapid roundup of the day’s major national news—politics, government, science, and public interest stories.

🚨 Episode Overview

This episode spotlights major developments in U.S. government, healthcare policy, high-profile congressional actions, a significant FDA policy shift for rare diseases, and notable cultural and science happenings. Listeners are brought up to speed on topics ranging from the end of a historic government shutdown and bipartisan Congressional demands for transparency about the Jeffrey Epstein case, to forthcoming changes in the FDA’s drug approval processes, stargazing opportunities, and the end of the U.S. penny.

🏛️ Government Reopens After Historic Shutdown

[00:15–01:08]

• President Trump has signed a stopgap bill reopening the federal government after the longest shutdown in history (43 days), dating back to September 30.

• Key impacts of the shutdown:

  • Federal employees went without pay.
  • Airport delays.
  • Pauses in food assistance.

• Funding Details:

  • Most of the government is funded through January.
  • Some specific agencies are funded through next September.
  • Provisions ensure federal employees receive back pay and rehire those laid off.

• Political divisions:

  • Most House Democrats opposed the measure due to the lack of provisions for expiring health insurance subsidies.

  “The package passed Monday by the Senate will temporarily fund most of the government through January and some specific agencies through next September. It also includes a provision that would ensure federal employees get back pay and rehire those who were laid off during the shutdown.”
  —Sam Greenglass, [00:41]

🏛️ Affordable Care Act Subsidies and New Congresswoman

[01:08–01:32]

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans a December vote to extend ACA subsidies, addressing Democratic concerns.
• Adelita Grijalva is sworn in as the newest member of the House (Arizona Democrat).
  • Her first act: Signing a bipartisan petition for the release of government files about Jeffrey Epstein.

🔍 Congressional Push for Epstein Transparency

[01:32–02:15], [03:08–03:59]

• Congresswoman Grijalva's signature forces a December vote on releasing Epstein-related government files.

• The petition was initiated by Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA), with four Republican signatories; President Trump is now reportedly trying to flip at least one of them to halt the release.

• Newly released emails allege:

  • Trump had more knowledge of Epstein’s activities than he previously claimed.
  • One 2011 email describes Trump spending hours with a victim; a 2019 message refers to Trump knowing “about the girls,” though its meaning is unclear.

• White House response: Accuses Democrats of selectively leaking and smearing President Trump.

  “Congresswoman Grijalva provided the final signature needed to force a December vote to release the files tied to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.”
  —Claudia Grisales, [01:32]

💉 FDA Fast-Tracks Rare Disease Treatments

[02:15–03:08]

• FDA Initiative: New “plausible mechanism pathway” for approvals.

  • Will allow some therapies to be approved on evidence that they address the underlying mechanism (e.g., genetic defect) of a disease, even if large human studies are lacking.
  • Aims to accelerate access for rare disease patients, especially gene editing therapies.

  “The approach is aimed at making it more practical to use cutting edge technologies like gene editing to treat patients suffering from rare diseases.”
  —Rob Stein, [02:51]

🌌 Aurora Borealis Across the U.S.

[03:59–04:35]

• NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issues a severe geomagnetic storm alert.

  • Potential disruptions: Electrical grids and satellites.
  • Tonight’s northern lights (aurora borealis) could be visible much farther south than usual—possibly as far south as Alabama, Texas, and Florida.

• Observation Tips:

  • Seek out a dark spot for best visibility.
  • Digital cameras may capture more than the naked eye.

  “If you want to try to catch them, go to a dark spot. And a digital camera can be more sensitive to light than your naked eye, so you might want to try snapping some images of the sky.”
  —Nell Greenfield Boyce, [04:23]

🪙 Farewell to the U.S. Penny

[04:35–04:54]

• U.S. Mint in Philadelphia has produced its final penny after over 230 years.

  • The coin remains legal tender but is no longer being minted because production costs (4 cents per penny) far outweigh its value.

  “The government has stopped minting it because pennies cost 4 cents to make.”
  —Shea Stevens, [04:45]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “After 43 days, the federal government is on track to reopen for the first time since September 30th.”
  —Sam Greenglass, [00:29]
• “Congresswoman Grijalva provided the final signature needed to force a December vote to release the files tied to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.”
  —Claudia Grisales, [01:32]
• “The approach is aimed at making it more practical to use cutting edge technologies like gene editing to treat patients suffering from rare diseases.”
  —Rob Stein, [02:51]
• “If you want to try to catch them, go to a dark spot. And a digital camera can be more sensitive to light than your naked eye, so you might want to try snapping some images of the sky.”
  —Nell Greenfield Boyce, [04:23]
• “The government has stopped minting it because pennies cost 4 cents to make.”
  —Shea Stevens, [04:45]

🎧 For Listeners

This episode is a concise yet packed update, covering seismic shifts in U.S. politics, healthcare, science policy, and even American culture—all in under 5 minutes, with multiple stories still developing in real time.