NPR News Now – November 18, 2025, 1AM EST

Host: Shea Stevens (NPR News Anchor)
Date: November 18, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This "NPR News Now" segment delivers a concise roundup of major U.S. and international news stories as of early November 18, 2025. Topics include a Congressional vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein government records, resignations within FEMA, media company mergers, expanding immigration raids in North Carolina, a high-profile conviction in Bangladesh, and a fascinating scientific discovery about ant colonies.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. Congressional Vote on Jeffrey Epstein Records

• Summary: The U.S. House is set to vote on whether to release government records related to the late Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex abuser.
• Presidential Input: President Trump supports the bill and pledges to sign it, but expresses doubt that his critics will be appeased by record releases.
• Analysis:
  • "Unfortunately, like with the Kennedy situation, with the Martin Luther King situation, not to put Jeffrey Epstein in the same category, but no matter what we give, it's never enough. You know, with Kennedy, we gave everything and it wasn't enough. With Martin Luther King, we gave everything and it's never enough. We've already given, I believe the numbers, 50,000 pages." — Political Analyst [00:33]
  • This quote highlights persistent skepticism around the sufficiency of released government information in high-profile cases.

2. Larry Summers Steps Back Amid Email Disclosure

• Summary: Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers publicly expresses embarrassment about his email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein and announces a retreat from his public roles.
• Context: Summers served during the Clinton and Obama administrations and his association with Epstein adds to ongoing scrutiny.

3. FEMA Administrator Resigns After Six Months

• Summary: David Richardson steps down as the head of FEMA, marking the second resignation from the position under President Trump.
• Background: Richardson faced criticism for his inaccessibility during deadly Texas floods earlier this year.
• Key Details:
  • President Trump advocates for dissolving FEMA in its current form, urging a shift to state-led disaster management.
  • Upcoming FEMA review expected to offer restructuring recommendations.
• Reporting:
  • "David Richardson took over FEMA at a time of turmoil for the agency... President Trump has said he wants FEMA to be eliminated as it exists today and wants states to take over preparation for disasters like hurricanes and wildfires." — Lauren Sommer [01:23]

4. Media Company Merger Activity

• Sinclair's Bid for Scripps:
  • Sinclair Broadcasting has acquired an 8.2% stake in Scripps and proposes a merger within a year.
  • Scripps resists, citing concerns over "opportunistic actions."
  • "Calling it an opportunistic action doesn't sound like Scripps and Sinclair are all that close to coming to a deal, even though Sinclair is saying, you know, they've been talking for months about combining forces." — Political Analyst [02:30]
• Broader Context: FCC is reviewing a similar large-scale merger between Nexstar and Tegna.
  • Coverage by Tana Weingartner [02:11-02:43]

5. Expanded Immigration Raids in North Carolina

• Summary: Charlotte’s Mayor, Janni Cowell, announces Trump administration plans to extend immigration raids to Raleigh.
• Current Actions: ICE agents have already detained at least 130 individuals in Charlotte.

6. Bangladesh: Former Prime Minister Sentenced

• Summary: Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and aide Azad Khan sentenced to death for crimes against humanity following a deadly crackdown on protesters.
• Context: Hasina was ousted in 2020 after a lengthy tenure, fled to India, and this development signals lingering political tension.

7. Science: How Ant Colonies Are Usurped

• Summary: New research reveals that some ant species allow outsider female ants to trick workers into killing their own queen, facilitating colony "takeovers."
• Key Explanation:
  • "A female ant will sneak into a colony, creep up to its queen and spray a chemical onto her. This chemical has a dramatic effect. It makes the colony's worker ants suddenly turn on their queen, who is also their mother. The workers unwittingly betray her, attacking her until she's dead. Then the female intruder becomes the new queen and uses the workers to raise her own offspring." — Nell Greenfield Boyce [03:58]
• Source: Published in the journal Current Biology.

8. Financial Markets Update

• Summary: U.S. stock indices ("bulgers") are reported flat in after-hours trading. [04:49]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Skepticism of Government Record Releases:

  • "Like with the Kennedy situation... no matter what we give, it's never enough. We've already given, I believe the numbers, 50,000 pages."
    — Political Analyst [00:33]

• On FEMA's Turbulence:

  • "David Richardson took over FEMA at a time of turmoil for the agency..."
    — Lauren Sommer [01:23]

• On Corporate Pushback:

  • "Calling it an opportunistic action doesn't sound like Scripps and Sinclair are all that close to coming to a deal..."
    — Political Analyst [02:30]

• On Ant Colony Intrigue:

  • "A female ant will sneak into a colony, creep up to its queen and spray a chemical onto her... The workers unwittingly betray her, attacking her until she's dead."
    — Nell Greenfield Boyce [03:58]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:15] Epstein records/vote, Trump comments
• [00:33] Political Analyst on government record skepticism
• [00:57] Larry Summers’ embarrassment over Epstein ties
• [01:07] FEMA head resignation, context and criticism
• [01:56] Media merger: Sinclair and Scripps
• [02:43] Broader FCC merger context
• [02:56] Immigration raids in Charlotte/Raleigh
• [03:14] Bangladesh PM Hasina’s sentencing
• [03:58] Ant colony usurpation research
• [04:49] Stock market update

Conclusion

This fast-paced NPR News Now update highlights evolving U.S. political and administrative controversies, significant international developments, and even a fascinating window into ant society. The segment balances government, science, and business news for a broad yet detailed overview relevant for listeners seeking to stay informed.