NPR News Now — November 13, 2025, 8PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme: Breaking national news updates on politics, science, and current events.

Overview

This episode encapsulates a turbulent day in U.S. politics and science. Breaking news includes fresh allegations concerning President Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, developments in the ongoing government shutdown, Congressional efforts for transparency, ongoing White House denials, U.S.-Israeli political crosscurrents, and a rare, potentially visible aurora borealis. The episode wraps with a quirky research finding on how to handle aggressive seagulls.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Epstein Scandal Fallout and Trump’s Involvement

• [00:11] Ryland Barton introduces the latest: House Democrats have made public emails between Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, suggesting President Trump may have had knowledge of Epstein's sexual abuse of minors.
• NPR’s Stephen Fowler (00:21): Explains that the White House flatly denies these claims. The emails’ potential to exonerate Trump is tied to the identity of an unnamed victim, details of which have not been disclosed.
• Contention centers around new evidence, with both parties deeply entrenched.

Notable Quote:

• Steve Scalise (Republican House Majority Leader):

  "I urge my Democrat colleagues who have voted relentlessly to shut this government down and impose this suffering on the American people to stop, stop imposing the suffering. Let's open the government. Let's get back to the work of the American people."
  — [01:13]

2. Government Shutdown and Congressional Maneuvering

• [01:30]: A bill to fund the government through January is being debated amidst the 43rd day of a record-long shutdown.
  • Democrats widely oppose it for not extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.
  • The standoff underpins heightened partisan tensions.

3. Congressional Action on Epstein Files

• [01:52] Claudia Grisales reports: Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ) is sworn in and immediately completes a bipartisan petition pressuring for a December vote to publicly release files about Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Four Republicans have joined Democrats, led by Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA).
  • The White House is attempting to persuade some Republicans to reverse their position to block disclosure.

Notable Quote:

• Claudia Grisales:

  "Congresswoman Grijalva provided the final signature needed to force a December vote to to release the files tied to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender."
  — [01:52]

4. White House Pushback

• [02:36] Stephen Fowler recaps Trump’s response on his platform:
  • Trump calls the renewed interest in Epstein a “hoax.”
  • Warns Republicans, “only a very bad or stupid Republican would fall into that trap.” — [02:43]
• [02:56] White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt:
  • “These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong. And what President Trump has always said is that he was from Palm Beach and so was Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein was a member at Mar a Lago until President Trump.” — [02:56]

5. U.S. Influence in Israeli Politics

• [03:12] Trump urges Israel to pardon PM Benjamin Netanyahu, calling his corruption prosecution “political, unjustified.”
  • Raises new concerns about U.S. involvement in Israeli internal affairs.

6. Northern Lights Alert

• [03:50] Nell Greenfield Boyce reports:
  • NOAA has issued a severe geomagnetic storm alert.
  • Potential for the northern lights (aurora borealis) over wide swaths of the U.S., potentially as far south as Alabama, Texas, Florida.
  • Practical tip: Head somewhere dark and try using a digital camera, which can pick up light your eyes might miss.

Notable Quote:

• Nell Greenfield Boyce:

  "The kind of space weather that can potentially mess with electrical grids or satellites. But fans of the aurora borealis are hoping for a repeat of Tuesday night when sky watchers saw ghostly reds and greens as far south as Texas and Florida."
  — [03:50]

7. Science Oddity: How to Scare Seagulls

• [04:26] Ryland Barton relays:
  • New research finds shouting is more effective than speaking when scaring off seagulls.
  • Birds tended to walk away from a speaking voice but flew when shouted at.
  • “You don't need to lash out at birds to frighten them, but you shouldn't try to reason with them either.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Steve Scalise on the shutdown:

  "Let's open the government. Let's get back to the work of the American people." — [01:18]

• Trump’s warning to Republicans:

  "...only a very bad or stupid Republican would fall into that trap." — [02:43]

• Science tip (Nell Greenfield Boyce):

  "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." — [04:13]

• Ryland Barton (on seagulls):

  “You don't need to lash out at birds to frighten them, but you shouldn't try to reason with them either.” — [04:36]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein/Trump News: [00:11] – [02:36]
• Shutdown and Congressional Debate: [01:13] – [01:30]
• Representative Grijalva Sworn In/Epstein Files Petition: [01:52]
• White House Press Briefing & Trump’s Social Media Response: [02:36] – [03:12]
• Trump on Netanyahu: [03:12]
• Northern Lights Alert: [03:50]
• Science News: Scaring Seagulls: [04:26]

Tone & Delivery

The broadcast maintains the even, matter-of-fact tone characteristic of NPR, delivering rapid, tightly-written updates spanning political intrigue, international affairs, science, and quirky research—an efficient yet impactful five-minute news digest.