NPR News Now – November 13, 2025, 1PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Summary of Episode

Brief Overview

This five-minute news update delivers key headlines from politics, technology, aviation, world affairs, and science. Highlights include Congress’s push for more transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case, ongoing disruptions in air traffic following the U.S. government shutdown, Google’s lawsuit against an alleged cybercriminal organization, political unrest in Bangladesh, and new astronomical insights into the Pleiades star cluster.

Main News Segments & Discussion Points

1. Congress Demands DOJ Release Epstein Files

• Speaker: Lakshmi Singh, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)
• Key Points:
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson schedules a vote next week compelling the DOJ to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • The House Oversight Committee has already released tens of thousands of related documents, fueling Democratic claims about President Trump’s alleged knowledge of Epstein’s activities—a claim Trump denies.
  • Rep. Ro Khanna suggests the vote could have rare bipartisan momentum.
• Quote:
  • “We may get a veto-proof vote in the House. You could get that in the Senate. And it will put such incredible pressure for the MAGA base to be voting against the president. That has never happened… in his first term or second term.” — Rep. Ro Khanna [00:49]
• Context:
  • Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking minors in multiple states. His accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, remains in prison.

2. Air Traffic Still Disrupted Post-Shutdown

• Reporter: Joel Rose
• Key Points:
  • Temporary flight reductions at U.S. airports remain at 6% due to the return of more air traffic controllers after the government shutdown.
  • Planned increase to 10% reduction is avoided for now, but full normalization of service may take several days.
  • FAA cites safety as the main concern, with no clear timeline for full resumption.
• Quote:
  • “The cuts were necessary to keep the airspace safe. As the agency grappled with a staffing shortage... some air traffic controllers took on second jobs and many called in sick.” — Joel Rose [01:36]

3. Google Sues Alleged Cybercrime Enterprise

• Reporter: John Ruich
• Key Points:
  • Google files suit against a group called Lighthouse, described as a “well organized criminal group” that facilitates phishing scams and cyber fraud.
  • Lighthouse is based in China; Google does not know specific members and seeks a court injunction to disrupt their operations.
  • Google hopes to target other entities benefiting from or helping Lighthouse.
• Quote:
  • “It helps them make phony phishing websites and hook victims with texts. Lighthouse is based in China and Google says it does not actually know the names of the people involved.” — John Ruich [02:21]

4. Market and International News

• Speaker: Lakshmi Singh
• Key Points:
  • U.S. stock indices are down between 1% and 2%, with the Dow dropping nearly 500 points.
  • In Bangladesh, protests erupt over the trial of ousted, exiled former PM Sheikh Hasina; security heightened amid fears of renewed violence.
  • Bangladesh is currently under interim leadership by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

5. Astronomy: Pleiades Star Cluster Is Vastly Larger Than Thought

• Reporter: Nell Greenfield Boyce
• Key Points:
  • New research reveals the famed Pleiades (Seven Sisters) star cluster contains more than 3,000 related stars, all born from the same cloud 100 million years ago.
  • Observations from three observatories tracked their motion and chemistry.
• Quote:
  • “When you look at the core of the Pleiades, it’s sort of like looking at the tip of an iceberg, right? You only see the top of something that’s much more massive and in this case, distributed over the night sky.” — Luke Bauma, Carnegie Science [04:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ro Khanna (on Congressional vote and Trump):
  • “It will put such incredible pressure for the MAGA base to be voting against the president. That has never happened since in his first term or second term.” [00:49]
• Joel Rose (on air traffic):
  • “The cuts were necessary to keep the airspace safe... airlines are preparing to ramp back up to full schedules.” [01:36]
• John Ruich (on cybercrime):
  • “Google says it does not actually know the names of the people involved. Instead, the company is seeking a court injunction...” [02:21]
• Luke Bauma (on Pleiades Discovery):
  • “When you look at the core of the Pleiades, it's sort of like looking at the tip of an iceberg...” [04:15]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:15: Epstein files vote announcement, interview with Rep. Ro Khanna
• 01:36: Update on air traffic disruptions, post-government shutdown
• 02:21: Google’s lawsuit against Lighthouse cybercrime group
• 03:03: Market update and Bangladesh protests coverage
• 04:02: Discovery about the true size of the Pleiades star cluster

Tone and Language

The episode maintains NPR's straightforward, balanced, and factual reporting style. Direct quotes from lawmakers and experts add context and gravitas, while the newscast moves briskly through each headline with clarity and authority.

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary provides a concise yet thorough account of the hour’s headlines, capturing both news content and the perspectives of key voices.