NPR News: 11-13-2025 6AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – November 13, 2025, 6AM EST

Overview

This episode provides a concise update on top U.S. and world news. Key themes include the ending of a historic government shutdown, political developments related to Jeffrey Epstein files, the discontinuation of the penny, civil rights concerns in Missouri, and advances in autonomous transportation. The news is delivered in NPR’s trusted, direct, and informative style.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Government Shutdown Ends

(00:19–01:17)

• The federal government shutdown concluded after the House passed a short-term spending bill.
• President Trump quickly signed the bill, blaming Democrats for the prolonged standoff.
  • Quote (President Trump, 00:38):
    “This was an easy extension, but they didn't want to do it the easy way. They had to do it the hard way, and they look very bad. The Democrats do.”
• The bill:
  • Funds most of the government through the end of January
  • Provides three years of funding for agriculture and military programs
  • Reverses layoffs and guarantees retroactive pay for furloughed workers
  • Includes a push from President Trump to end the Senate’s filibuster rule

2. Congressional Developments & Epstein Files

(01:17–02:34)

• Speaker Mike Johnson swore in Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, whose oath had been delayed 50 days, stalling action on a discharge petition.
  • Grijalva immediately committed to supporting the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
    • Quote (Andrea Henderson quoting Grijalva, 01:40):
      “I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files.”
• With Grijalva’s support, the petition for file disclosure reached a majority.
• Speaker Johnson announced a House vote on the matter next week.
• Committee-released emails from Epstein’s estate raised new questions about his ties to President Trump.
• The White House denied wrongdoing, calling the email release an attempted smear.
• While the shutdown is over, air travel remains disrupted; US flights are still down 6% until air traffic staff return.

3. The End of the Penny

(02:34–03:15)

• The US Mint has officially stopped producing pennies after over 200 years.
  • Decision was made because manufacturing each penny cost nearly four cents.
  • President Trump had announced the change in February; expected annual savings: over $50 million.
• Retailers and banks face challenges in making exact change, but pennies remain legal tender.
  • Quote (Rafael Nam, 02:59):
    “Chances are, though, many of them will stay where they've probably been for years in big jars, coffee cans or somewhere under the cushion of your couch.”

4. Civil Rights & Missouri National Guard Deployment

(03:15–04:37)

• Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson (84) is hospitalized in Chicago for a degenerative condition (progressive supranuclear palsy) he’s managed for over a decade.
• Missouri’s governor authorized the National Guard to support ICE, prompting concern from the state's largest Black police union.
  • Donnie Walters, leader of the Ethical Society of Police, fears community trust could erode.
    • Quote (Donnie Walters, 04:17):
      “Let's say they come in for six weeks and whatever they doing when they leave, we now are left with the fallout.”
  • Walters advocates for lasting solutions such as job training and access to education, rather than heavy-handed enforcement.

5. Waymo Robo-Taxi Expansion

(04:37–04:58)

• Waymo announced its robo-taxi service will soon include freeways and interstates.
• Expanded service will cover Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and extend in the Bay Area to San Jose.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump, on the shutdown resolution (00:38):
  “This was an easy extension, but they didn't want to do it the easy way. They had to do it the hard way, and they look very bad. The Democrats do.”
• Rep. Adelita Grijalva, on transparency (01:40):
  “I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files.”
• Rafael Nam, on the penny's afterlife (02:59):
  “Chances are, though, many of them will stay where they've probably been for years in big jars, coffee cans or somewhere under the cushion of your couch.”
• Donnie Walters, on community trust (04:17):
  “Let's say they come in for six weeks and whatever they doing when they leave, we now are left with the fallout.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19 — Government shutdown ends; short-term spending bill signed
• 01:17 — Adelita Grijalva sworn in; Epstein files discharge petition
• 01:45 — Majority reached for Epstein files petition; House vote announced
• 02:34 — Penny production halted; economic impact explained
• 03:15 — Jesse Jackson hospitalized; Missouri National Guard assists ICE
• 03:55 — Missouri Black police union objects to ICE support
• 04:37 — Waymo expands robo-taxi to freeways/interstates

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This episode delivers a brisk yet substantial overview of breaking political, economic, and tech news, capturing the evolving landscape as 2025 closes out.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The historic federal government shutdown has come to an end. The House passed the short term spending bill last night. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. President Trump signed it soon after.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump signed the bill in a late night ceremony from the White House where he continued to blame the Democrats for the shutdown.

[President Donald Trump]

This was an easy extension, but they didn't want to do it the easy way. They had to do it the hard way, and they look very bad. The Democrats do.

[Franco Ordonez]

The package funds most of the government through the end of January, but also includes three years of funding for some other programs, including agriculture and military. The legislation also includes a provision that would reverse layoffs of federal workers that were made during the shutdown and ensure retroactive pay for those who were furloughed. And Trump again pressed to end the Senate's filibuster rule that requires 60 votes to bring legislation to the floor. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

With the House back in session, Speaker Mike Johnson swore Arizona Democratic Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva into office. Her oath taking was delayed for 50 days. That also delayed action on a discharge petition intended to force a House vote. This demands the full release of files on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gerhalva spoke immediately after taking her oath.

[Andrea Henderson]

I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files.

[Korva Coleman]

Her signature provides a majority for the petition. Speaker Johnson says he'll hold that vote next week. This came on the day Democrats and then Republicans on the House Oversight Committee released emails from Epstein's estate. Some emails raise new questions about his ties to President Trump. The White House says the emails prove nothing and were released by Democrats in an effort to smear the president. Even though the government shutdown is over, air travel is still reduced. The government has cut flights in the US by 6%. That is until enough air traffic controllers are able to return to work. The US Mint says it has stopped making pennies after producing them for more than 200 years. NPR's Rafael Nam says the penny coin was minted in Philadelphia.

[Rafael Nam]

The end of this tiny little coin had already been announced by President Trump back in February. Producing each penny was costing the U.S. government nearly 4 cents, and ending production would save the U.S. more than $50 million a year. But the move to phase at the penny has been a big pain for many retailers and banks, which are struggling to provide exact change. After all, pennies remain legal tender, meaning that they can still be used. Chances are, though, many of them will stay where they've probably been for years in big jars, coffee cans or somewhere under the cushion of your couch. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr. Civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson has been hospitalized in Chicago. His organization, the Rainbow Push Coalition, is says he is being treated for a neurodegenerative condition. It's called progressive supranuclear palsy. The group says he has been managing PSP for more than a decade. Jackson is 84. Missouri National Guard troops are being deployed to assist ICE agents in that state. Missouri's largest black police union is objecting. Members fear the deployment could break trust with communities of color. From St. Louis Public Radio, Andrea Henderson has more.

[Andrea Henderson]

Early last month, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe authorized troops to help ICE agents with clerical duties as arrests spike under the Trump administration. Donnie Walters leads the Ethical Society of Police St. Louis Black Police Union. He says the heavy handed tactics from federal agents and troops seen in some cities across the country makes him worry about what happens after they leave.

[President Donald Trump]

Let's say they come in for six weeks and whatever they doing when they leave, we now are left with the fallout.

[Andrea Henderson]

Walter says sending in more troops and ICE agents doesn't reduce crime. Job training and equal access to education and housing does. For NPR News, I'm Andrea Henderson. In St. Louis.

[Korva Coleman]

The robo taxi company Waymo says it's going to expand its service to include freeways and interstates. The driverless taxis will offer this service in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco. Waymo's greatly expanded service in the Bay Area down to San Jose. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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