NPR News Now — November 12, 2025, 2PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh | Runtime: 5 Minutes

Episode Overview

This brisk news update covers major political developments in the U.S., international tensions in South America, an unusual extradition case between Thailand and China, and a milestone in U.S. currency. Listeners are briefed on the release of Jeffrey Epstein files in Congress, the end of a record-breaking government shutdown, ramifications for air travel, Venezuela’s military posture against the U.S., the extradition of a Chinese tycoon, and the last minting of the U.S. penny.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epstein Files & Congressional Action

[00:35 – 01:28]

• Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a volume of emails from Jeffrey Epstein, several of which mention President Trump by name.
• Republicans responded with more than 20,000 documents from Epstein’s estate.
  • President Trump has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
• Context: The House is reconvening after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
• Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva (Arizona) will be sworn in after a seven-week wait.
  • She is expected to help force a vote on the public release of further Epstein files.

Notable Quote:
“We have been pushing for a vote to release additional files related to the Epstein case since before the government shutdown began.”
— NPR Correspondent [01:03]

2. Federal Government Reopening & Air Travel Concerns

[01:28 – 02:35]

• Federal workers awaiting the end of the shutdown face uncertainty about when normal operations will resume.
• Air travel disruptions:
  • Former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt notes that:
    • The impact of the shutdown on air travel will linger, affecting not only air traffic controllers but also TSA staff.
    • Over 9,000 flight cancellations since last Friday, according to FlightAware.com.
    • Thanksgiving travel could be heavily affected.

Notable Quotes:
“The TSA is equally burdened and there’ll be a surge of traffic, of course, and that’ll challenge their system to get people through security into the boarding.”
— Randy Babbitt, Former FAA Administrator [02:02]

“Babbitt warns that long-standing staffing shortages mean it could take days, maybe longer, for schedules to stabilize.”
— Windsor Johnston, NPR News [02:19]

3. U.S.-Venezuela Tensions & Military Posturing

[02:35 – 03:33]

• Venezuela claims preparedness for U.S. attacks
  • 200,000 troops ready, says Defense Minister Vladimir Madrino.
  • Pentagon confirms arrival of USS Gerald Ford carrier in the region.
• U.S. Activity:
  • President Trump has spoken publicly about potential strikes and CIA activities to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
  • U.S. has struck vessels suspected of drug trafficking 19 times.
• International Impact:
  • Colombia ceases intelligence sharing as protest over U.S. actions.

Notable Quote:
“Defense Minister Vladimir Madrino says 200,000 forces are ready to, quote, fight to the death to protect the homeland.”
— Kerry Khan, NPR News [02:49]

4. Extradition of Chinese Tycoon: Shi Zhijiang

[03:33 – 04:46]

• Shi Zhijiang, accused of running illegal gambling and scam rings, is extradited from Thailand to China after a lengthy legal battle.
• Spy allegations: Shi claims recruitment by Chinese intelligence, raising concerns his extradition is to prevent him revealing state secrets.
  • Notorious for Cambodian real estate projects and Myanmar’s Shui Coco compound (alleged hub for cyber scams).
  • Chinese authorities say thousands of nationals have been kidnapped to work as scammers in compounds like Shi's.

Notable Quote:
“The case against Shi Zhijiang could have been lifted from a spy novel and in fact, he claims he was recruited as a spy by the Chinese state.”
— Emily Feng, NPR News [03:57]

5. The End of the U.S. Penny

[04:46 – 05:14]

• U.S. Mint produces the last penny, per orders from President Trump.
  • Reason: Cost to mint a penny now exceeds its value.
  • Billions still circulate in everyday transactions.

Notable Quote:
“At President Trump's orders, the US Mint in Philadelphia pressed the very last $0.01 coin because its value is much less than the cost to make it.”
— Lakshmi Singh [04:46]

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• "We have been pushing for a vote to release additional files related to the Epstein case since before the government shutdown began."
  — NPR Correspondent [01:03]

• “The TSA is equally burdened and there’ll be a surge of traffic…So I think just patience and take as much caution as you can to keep in the information loop as to the status of your flights.”
  — Randy Babbitt [02:02]

• “Defense Minister Vladimir Madrino says 200,000 forces are ready to, quote, fight to the death to protect the homeland.”
  — Kerry Khan [02:49]

• “The case against Shi Zhijiang could have been lifted from a spy novel and in fact, he claims he was recruited as a spy by the Chinese state.”
  — Emily Feng [03:57]

• “At President Trump’s orders, the US Mint in Philadelphia pressed the very last $0.01 coin because its value is much less than the cost to make it.”
  — Lakshmi Singh [04:46]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Epstein Files & Congress: 00:35 – 01:28
• Government Shutdown & Air Travel: 01:28 – 02:35
• U.S.-Venezuela Military Tensions: 02:35 – 03:33
• Shi Zhijiang Extradition: 03:33 – 04:46
• End of the Penny: 04:46 – 05:14

This edition is concise, fact-driven, and delivers urgent updates clearly and efficiently—a hallmark of NPR’s “News Now” style.