NPR News: 11-13-2025 3AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 11-13-2025 3AM EST

Host: Shea Stevens
Date: November 13, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise update on the most pressing national and international news, including the end of the US government shutdown, political developments, international diplomatic efforts, science news, environmental policy shifts, and sports achievements.

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1. U.S. Government Shutdown Ends

[00:18 – 01:15]

• The federal government shutdown has concluded after President Trump signed a bill to reopen it.

• The bill ended a partisan standoff over expiring health insurance subsidies; an unexpected alliance between Democrats, one Independent, and Senate Republicans allowed the bill to pass.

• President Trump condemned the shutdown, labeling it "attempted extortion by Democrats" and called for the end of the Senate filibuster.

  • Notable Quote:
    • President Donald Trump:

      “You should not forget this when we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country. I also want to call for a termination to the filibuster so that this can never happen again.” [00:39]

• Trump advocated for government subsidies directly targeting those covered under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

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2. Congressional Update: Adelita Grijalva Takes Office

[01:15 – 01:32]

• Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva was sworn into the US House after winning a special election following her father’s death.
• Grijalva’s first legislative act was signing a petition seeking full release of government files on Jeffrey Epstein.

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3. Aftermath of DOJ Public Safety Grant Cancellations

[01:32 – 02:19]
Reporter: Meg Anderson

• The abrupt cancellation of millions in DOJ public safety grants continues to harm affected organizations (e.g., school violence, police training, domestic violence support).
  • Organizations were forced to lay off staff, dip into reserves, or cut services.
  • DOJ has not reimbursed spending or resolved appealed decisions, citing the recent shutdown for the delay.
• Notable Expert Comment:
  • Amy Solomon, former DOJ official:

    “When an administration gives a grant to an organization, that is a promise for the full amount. And so organizations plan, they budget, they hire.” [01:45]

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4. G7 Ministers Condemn Violence in Sudan

[02:19 – 03:13]
Reporter: Michelle Kellerman

• G7 foreign ministers in Canada focused on the escalating violence in Sudan, particularly sexual violence and atrocities by the paramilitary RSF.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized RSF’s broken promises and condemned countries arming the group, implicitly referencing the UAE’s role without direct accusation.

  • Memorable Quotes:
    • Secretary of State Marco Rubio:

      “The fundamental problem we have is that the RSF agrees to things and then never follows through with it. So now what you have is a calamity on your hands.” [02:46]

    • Rubio further on international pressure:

      “...the US is working with everyone there to pressure the RSF to stop.” [02:54]

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5. NASA Delays Blue Origin Mars Mission Due to Solar Storms

[03:13 – 03:59]

• Solar storms and heightened radiation prompted NASA to delay Blue Origin’s New Glenn Mars mission out of safety concerns.
• The New Glenn rocket, slated to carry two ESCAPADE spacecraft, had a previously successful upper stage test but lost its booster on landing.

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6. Pennsylvania Reverses Its Carbon Emission Pricing

[03:59 – 04:36]
Reporter: Rachel McDevitt

• As part of a delayed state budget deal, Pennsylvania Democrats agreed to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program for power plant emissions.

  • Court challenges had stalled actual participation since joining in 2022.

  • Governor Josh Shapiro argued that ending the RGGI issue eliminates a Republican excuse to delay true clean energy debate.

  • Governor Josh Shapiro:

    “Today that excuse is gone.” [04:26]

• Environmental groups declared this a significant setback for state climate policy.

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7. MLB: Cy Young Awards Announced

[04:36 – 04:56]

• Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes unanimously wins National League Cy Young Award.
• Tigers’ Tank Skubal secures American League Cy Young for the second consecutive year.

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Notable Segments & Timestamps

• End of government shutdown – [00:18–01:15]
• Adelita Grijalva’s Congressional swearing-in – [01:15–01:32]
• DOJ grant fallout – [01:32–02:19]
• G7 on Sudan/RSF violence – [02:19–03:13]
• Blue Origin Mars mission delay – [03:13–03:59]
• Pennsylvania climate policy reversal – [03:59–04:36]
• Cy Young Awards – [04:36–04:56]

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This five-minute news update effectively covers high-level developments in US politics, government function, global diplomacy, scientific advancement, climate policy, and sports, offering listeners key facts and perspectives for the day ahead.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The government shutdown has ended now that President Trump has signed a bill to reopen it. A standoff over expiring health insurance subsidies was breached when Democrats and one independent sided with Senate Republicans over the weekend. Trump says that the shutdown was attempted extortion by Democrats.

[President Donald Trump]

So I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this when we come up to midterms and other things, don't forget what they've done to our country. I also want to call for a termination to the filibuster so that this can never happen again.

[NPR News Anchor]

Trump also called for direct to consumer government subsidies to help people covered by the Affordable Care act, also known as Obamacare. Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva has been seated in the US House over a month and a half after winning a special election to fill a seat held by her late father. In her first order of business, Grijalva signed the House petition demanding the full release of government files on late sex abuser for Jeffrey Epstein. Six months after the Justice Department canceled millions of dollars in public safety grants, many affected groups are still reeling. NPR's Meg Anderson checked in with some of them.

[NPR Correspondent Meg Anderson]

The grant cancellations affected initiatives like school violence programs, training for police officers, and resources for domestic violence victims. Amy Solomon, a former DOJ official, says the cuts were unprecedented. When an administration gives a grant to an organization, that is a promise for the full amount. And so organizations plan, they budget, they hire. Most of the groups NPR spoke with have had to lay off employees, dip into reserve funds or shrink the services they offer. They also said the DOJ has not reimbursed them for money already spent or made a decision on appeals. In a statement, the DOJ told NPR the ongoing government shutdown is hindering its ability to do so. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Foreign ministers from the world's seven richest nations are condemning the escalating violence in Sudan as NPR's mission. Michelle Kellerman reports. It was one of the many topics discussed on day two of the G7 meeting in Canada.

[Secretary of State Marco Rubio]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says over the past couple of days he's heard a lot of concerns about the paramilitary force known as the rsf, which is carrying out sexual violence and other atrocities in areas they control in Sudan.

[Unnamed Expert or Official Commentator]

The fundamental problem we have is that the RSF agrees to things and then never follows through with it. So now what you have is a calamity on your hands.

[Secretary of State Marco Rubio]

He says countries need to stop arming the rsf. Though he didn't specifically single out the United Arab Emirates. He says the UAE is part of a diplomatic group called the Quad, and the US Is working with everyone there to pressure the RSF to stop. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[NPR News Anchor]

You're listening to npr. The solar storms triggering northern lights have prompted NASA to scrub Blue Origin's mission to Mars. The launch of Blue Origin's new Glenn rocket was delayed after NASA engineers became concerned about how the increased radiation would affect the spacecraft. The new Glenn rocket will deliver NASA's two escapade spacecraft to Mars months after its maiden voyage from Florida. Ten months ago, the rocket's upper stage entered orbit, but its first stage booster was lost during landing. Pennsylvania was the first major fossil fuel producing state to put a price on carbon emissions, but it is now reversing course. From member station WES, Rachel McDevitt has details from Pittsburgh.

[NPR Correspondent Rachel McDevitt]

As part of a months delayed budget deal, Pennsylvania Democrats traded away the state's membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap and trade program that limits emissions from power plants. Because of court challenges. The state has never actually participated, even after joining in 2022. Governor Josh Shapiro says Republicans have been using Reggie as an excuse to avoid real debate on clean energy and electricity bills.

[President Donald Trump]

Today that excuse is gone.

[NPR Correspondent Rachel McDevitt]

Environmental groups say the deal is a huge loss for climate action. For NPR news, I'm Rachel McDevitt in Pittsburgh.

[NPR News Anchor]

The Baseball Writers association has chosen Pittsburgh Paul Skaines as the winner of this year's Cy Young Award for the national league. It's the 23 year old Ace pitchers won the vote by unanimous decision and for the second year in a row, Tigers star Tank Skubal won the Cy Young for the American League. This is NPR News.

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