NPR News Now – 11-16-2025, 3PM EST

Host: Amy Held
Date: November 16, 2025
Length: 5 Minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a succinct summary of major national and international news headlines as of November 16, 2025, at 3PM EST. The report covers updates on military movements in response to international tensions, a notable political rift within the Republican party, the ongoing home insurance crisis, weather emergencies, and concerns about the mental health impacts of new AI policies for teens.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Military Movements and U.S.–Venezuela Tensions

• Deployment Updates:
  • 200 California National Guard members are returning from Oregon; 200 Texas National Guard from Illinois are heading home after court-stalled deployments.
  • [00:16]
• Immigration Enforcement:
  • Recent surge: 81 arrests in Charlotte, NC by Border Patrol.
  • [00:16]
• USS Gerald R. Ford Deployment:
  • Largest U.S. aircraft carrier arrives in the Caribbean amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
  • Brings 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft; joins 15,000 regional U.S. service members.
  • Stated mission: "protect our nation's security and prosperity against narco terrorism."
    — Rear Admiral Paul Lanzalotta
    [00:55]
• Possible Military Action:
  • U.S. military is preparing for “possible military action against Venezuela.”
  • U.S. has conducted recent anti-trafficking strikes on boats allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela.
  • “It remains unclear, however, if President Trump plans to use military action against the country.”
    — Lydia Calitri [01:22]

2. GOP Rift: Trump vs. Marjorie Taylor Greene

• President Trump has publicly called Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene a “traitor” and rescinded his endorsement.
  [01:50]
• Greene expresses personal safety concerns over Trump’s rhetoric:
  • Quote: "Those are the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger."
    — Marjorie Taylor Greene [01:59]
• Greene attributes Trump’s attacks to her calls for releasing the Epstein files and her foreign policy critiques. Trump alleges Greene’s resentment stems from his lack of support for her political ambitions.
  [02:07]

3. Home Insurance Crisis and Climate Impact

• Home insurance rates, particularly in the Great Plains, are soaring:
  • Southern Plains states paid 45% more than national average (2018–2022).
    [02:31]
• Main culprit: Increased damage from hail storms, attributed to climate change.
  • Storms produced $160 billion in damage last year (Insurance Information Institute).
  • Quote: "You've seen big losses coming out of hail, mostly in the U.S. hail storms."
    — Scott St. George, WTW climate scientist [02:54]

4. Severe Weather in Southern California

• Heavy rain from an atmospheric river is easing, but flooding and risk of debris flows remain high.
  • Some areas received over a month's worth of rain in one storm (up to 6 inches).
  • Community describes flooding:
    • Quote: "Almost put some sandbags around the house. Almost in the house. It's a little scary."
      — Tim Maurice, Long Beach resident [03:41]
  • Kayakers were seen paddling down inundated streets.
    [03:53]

5. Character AI Bans Teen Chatbots: Mental Health Implications

• Character AI plans to ban chatbots for users under age 18 effective November 25th—raising concerns for youth mental health.
  [04:12]
• Expert warning: Sudden loss of chatbot companionship may trigger vulnerable periods for self-harm or suicidal ideation in teens.
  • Quote: "Parents do not realize that their kids love these bots and that they might feel like their best friend just died or their boyfriend just died."
    — Jody Halpern, UC Berkeley bioethics professor [04:31]
• Character AI claims the rollout is cautious, with efforts to notify youth on multiple platforms.
  [04:39]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Deploying USS Gerald R. Ford:
  “Protect our nation’s security and prosperity against narco terrorism.”
  — Rear Admiral Paul Lanzalotta [01:13]

• On Trump’s Rhetoric:
  “Those are the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger.”
  — Marjorie Taylor Greene [01:59]

• On Insurance Losses:
  “You’ve seen big losses coming out of hail, mostly in the U.S. hail storms.”
  — Scott St. George [02:54]

• On SoCal Flooding:
  “Almost put some sandbags around the house. Almost in the house. It’s a little scary.”
  — Tim Maurice [03:41]

• On Teens Losing AI Chatbots:
  “Parents do not realize that their kids love these bots and that they might feel like their best friend just died or their boyfriend just died.”
  — Jody Halpern [04:36]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:16] — National Guard troop movements; federal immigration enforcement surge
• [00:55] — USS Gerald R. Ford deployment to Caribbean; U.S.–Venezuela military tension
• [01:37] — Trump–Greene rift and GOP internal conflict
• [02:24] — Property insurance hike and climate impact
• [03:14] — SoCal atmospheric river flooding
• [03:53] — Everyday impacts of flooding on residents
• [04:12] — Character AI's teen ban and mental health warnings

This five-minute news update spotlights the intersections between politics, global security, domestic policy, climate change, and the shifting relationship between technology and youth mental health, delivering a snapshot of a turbulent national moment.