NPR News: 11-15-2025 7PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – November 15, 2025, 7PM EST

Host: Louise Schiavone
Date: November 16, 2025
Main Theme:
A concise summary of the day’s top U.S. political stories, significant policy developments, global events, and notable US figures, all within the framework of a five-minute news update.

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Key News Headlines & Insights

1. Tensions Erupt Between President Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

• Details:
  • A public falling out has developed between President Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
  • Greene attributes the rift to her push for the full public release of FBI files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Ron Elving’s Overview (00:41):
  • Greene has been a “fierce defender of the president,” but in recent interviews, called Trump “misguided in fighting the release of the Epstein files.”
  • Trump responded in a lengthy Truth Social post, referring to Greene as “wacky” and withdrawing his support.
• Quote:
  • Ron Elving: “Marjorie Taylor Greene…called Trump misguided in fighting the release of the Epstein files. And that, of course, has drawn Trump's efforts. In a long post on Truth Social… the president called Marjorie Taylor Greene, quote, wacky, unquote, and said he was withdrawing his support of her.” (00:41)
• Upcoming:
  • The House is set to vote on the Epstein files issue on Tuesday (01:09).

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2. President Trump’s Tariff Rollbacks and Economic Impact

• Details:
  • President Trump implemented a “little bit of a rollback” on food tariffs (coffee, bananas, beef) following off-year election results focused on economic concerns.
  • Further exemptions are not anticipated.
• Report from Giles Snyder (01:32):
  • The president downplayed the changes aboard Air Force One, implying that additional rollbacks are unlikely.
• Quote:
  • President Trump: “We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee as an example, where the prices of coffee were a little bit high. Now they'll be on the low side in a very short period of time.” (01:48)
• Election Context:
  • The move follows a strong Democratic showing in midterm elections, with economic anxiety cited by voters (02:00).

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3. U.S. Absence at COP 30; States Step Up on Climate

• Details:
  • The Trump administration did not send a federal delegation to the UN Climate Summit (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil, staying consistent with Trump’s previous dismissal of climate change.
  • State leaders, led by California, are present and active.
• State Involvement (02:36):
  • Governor Gavin Newsom states the importance of U.S. presence, even at state level:
    • Newsom: “I'm here because I don't want the United States of America to be a footnote at this conference.” (02:43)
  • California is signing pacts on “biodiversity to battery storage.”
  • New Mexico and Wisconsin governors are also in attendance.
• Federal Position:
  • White House, represented by Taylor Rogers, emphasizes not compromising “economic and national security to…pursue vague climate goals.” (02:47)

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4. Remembering Disability Rights Activist Alice Wong

• Details:
  • Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, died at age 51 in San Francisco.
  • She was a writer, activist, and significant figure in disability culture.
• Chloe Veltman Remembrance (03:36):
  • Wong’s memoir, “Year of the Activist’s Life,” and her Teen Vogue column are noted among her achievements.
• Notable Quote:
  • Yomi Sachiko Young: “Alice is my comrade in political struggle. She is my friend. She's a foodie, she's an artist. She's a bit bougie, which I love.” (04:03)
  • Wong was born in Indiana to immigrants from Hong Kong; she lived with muscular dystrophy from birth (04:13).

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5. Senator John Fetterman Recuperates After Hospitalization

• Details:
  • Senator Fetterman was discharged after two days in hospital due to a fall from a ventricular fibrillation flare-up.
  • He posted on social media, thanking supporters and sharing a recovery photo with coffee.
  • “After 20 stitches he had fully recovered and is home with his family.” (04:26)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Marjorie Taylor Greene...called Trump misguided in fighting the release of the Epstein files...the president called Marjorie Taylor Greene, quote, wacky, unquote, and said he was withdrawing his support of her."
  – Ron Elving (00:41)
• "We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee as an example, where the prices of coffee were a little bit high. Now they'll be on the low side in a very short period of time."
  – President Trump (01:48)
• "I'm here because I don't want the United States of America to be a footnote at this conference."
  – Governor Gavin Newsom (02:43)
• "Alice is my comrade in political struggle. She is my friend. She's a foodie, she's an artist. She's a bit bougie, which I love."
  – Yomi Sachiko Young (04:03)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• (00:18) – Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene Split Over Epstein Files
• (01:09) – Upcoming House Vote on Epstein Files
• (01:32) – Trump Discusses Food Tariffs Rollback
• (02:17) – U.N. Climate Summit and State Delegations
• (03:14) – Obituary: Disability Rights Activist Alice Wong
• (04:26) – Senator John Fetterman Leaves Hospital

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Tone: Straightforward, factual reporting with brief personal and emotional notes in the remembrance segment.

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This summary covers all prominent stories, quotations, and meaningful moments discussed in the NPR News Now broadcast from November 15, 2025, 7PM EST.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. There's been a significant falling out between two high profile Republicans in Washington Post, President Trump and MAGA Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene suspects it's because she wants the full release of FBI files related to convicted sex offender the late Jeffrey Epstein. NPR's Ron Elving has more.

[Ron Elving]

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the familiar firebrand from Georgia. She is a Republican representative in Congress and a fierce defender of the president. In multiple interviews, she has called Trump misguided in fighting the release of the Epstein files. And that, of course, has drawn Trump's efforts. In a long post on Truth Social last night, the president called Marjorie Taylor Greene, quote, wacky, unquote, and said he was withdrawing his support of her.

[Louise Schiavone]

NPR's Ron Elving in Washington. The House of Representatives plans to vote Tuesday on the Epstein files question. President Trump continues to tinker with his tariffs policies, saying Friday that his administration had done a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee. NPR's Giles Snyder tells us the is saying don't expect much more.

[Giles Snyder]

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he was on his way to spend the weekend to Mar a Lago, President Trump seemed to downplay his executive order exempting tariffs on items such as coffee, bananas and beef, saying he does not anticipate future rollbacks.

[Donald Trump]

I don't think it'll be necessary. We just did a little bit of a rollback on some foods like coffee as an example, where the prices of coffee were a little bit high. Now they'll be on the low side in a very short period of time.

[Giles Snyder]

The exemptions, however, represent a reversal by the Trump administration after voters in this month's off year election cited economic concerns as their top issue. Democrats scored big wins in Virginia, New Jersey and in other key races around the country. Trail Snyder, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

The Trump administration did not send a delegation to this year's United Nations Climate summit in Belem, Brazil. President Trump has called climate change a hoax, but delegates from the state of California and other states are at COP 30 anyway. Laura Kleibens of member station KQED reports.

[Laura Kleibens]

California Governor Gavin Newsom says there's a need for state leaders to be in Brazil.

[Louise Schiavone]

I'm here because I don't want the.

[Ron Elving]

United States of America to be a.

[Louise Schiavone]

Footnote at this conference, Newsom has been.

[Laura Kleibens]

Signing pacts with countries and states and cities abroad on issues ranging from biodiversity to battery storage. In a statement, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers wrote, the president won't jeopardize economic and national security to, quote, pursue vague climate goals. Governors from New Mexico and Wisconsin have also been at the events in Brazil. One of their goals is to show us progress on climate despite the federal headwinds. For NPR News, I'm Laura clivens.

[Louise Schiavone]

This is NPR. Disability rights activist Alice Wong has died. The MacArthur genius grant winner died yesterday of an in San Francisco. According to her friend and fellow activist Sandy Ho h. Wong was 51 years old. NPR's Chloe Veltman has this remembrance.

[Chloe Veltman]

Alice Wong was best known as the founder of the Disability Visibility Project. The group highlighted disabled people and disability culture through storytelling projects, social media and other channels. Wong also received acclaim for her 2022 memoir, Year of the An Activist's Life, edited several works on disability and wrote a column for Teen Vogue. Disability justice organiser Yomi Sachiko Young spoke about Wong in an interview earlier this year with NPR member station kqed.

[Louise Schiavone]

Alice is my comrade in political struggle. She is my friend. She's a foodie, she's an artist. She's a bit bougie, which I love.

[Chloe Veltman]

Alice Wong was born in Indiana in 1974 to immigrant parents from Hong Kong. She was diagnosed at birth with muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disease. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

Senator John Fetterman is home from the hospital two days after a fall related to a ventricular fibrillation flare up. He'd been on an early morning walk, felt lightheaded and fell and was hospitalized. In Pittsburgh today, in a social media post, the Pennsylvania Democrat thanked well wishers. He posted a smiling photo of himself with an iced coffee, saying after 20 stitches he had fully recovered and is home with his family. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

[Laura Kleibens]

This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month, make the [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months, 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month Taxes and fees Extra first 3 months only. See terms.