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.

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).

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).

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)

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).

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)

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)

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

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

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