NPR News: 11-18-2025 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: November 18, 2025, 1PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: November 18, 2025
Episode Theme:
A rapid-fire update on the day’s top news stories, including Saudi-US diplomatic tensions, Congressional moves toward transparency on Jeffrey Epstein, the opioid crisis legal settlement, fallout from defunding Planned Parenthood, and early Thanksgiving economic trends.

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1. Saudi Crown Prince Visits the White House ([00:18]–[01:38])

• Event: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with President Trump in his first White House visit since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• Topics Discussed: Defense, energy, and AI deals; concerns about conflict of interest due to Trump family business in Saudi Arabia; US intelligence findings on Khashoggi’s murder.
• Presidential Response: President Trump denies current involvement in family business and downplays Saudi business ties.
  • Quote (Donald Trump, 00:47):
    “I have nothing to do with the family business...they do business all over. They've done very little with Saudi Arabia, actually. I'm sure they could do a lot, and anything they've done has been very good.”
• Crown Prince Response: Calls Khashoggi killing “painful,” describes Saudi reforms, denies involvement.
  • Quote (Mohammed bin Salman, 01:20):
    “Been painful for us in Saudi Arabia. We've did all the right steps of investigation...it's a huge mistake and we are doing our best that this doesn't happen again.”
• Notable moment: President Trump criticizes the reporter for questioning the Crown Prince, calling it “disrespectful.”

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2. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s Abuse Speak Out; Congress Seeks File Release ([01:38]–[02:46])

• Event: Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking network speak on Capitol Hill; House prepares to vote on releasing government files linked to Epstein.
• Key Developments:
  • Survivors plead for depoliticizing their struggle.
  • President Trump’s shifting stance on the file release is criticized by survivors.
  • Bipartisan support emerges for full disclosure; House expected to approve bill, moving it to the Senate.
• Quote (Janelisa Jones, survivor, 02:23):
  • “I voted for you, but your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment.”
• Context: Trump initially opposed the records’ release but reversed his position, encouraging Republican support.
• Reporter: Claudia Grisales

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3. Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement Approved ([02:46]–[03:19])

• Event: Judge approves settlement of opioid lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin.
  • Sackler family agrees to contribute up to $7 billion over time and relinquish company ownership.
  • The opioid epidemic's toll exceeds 900,000 US deaths since 1999.
• Economic snapshot:
  • The Dow is reported down 538 points (no further context).

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4. Planned Parenthood Defunded via Medicaid in Maine ([03:30]–[04:04])

• Event: Congress passes a bill effectively defunding Planned Parenthood from Medicaid by excluding them as a covered provider.
• Local Impact: In Maine, where abortion remains legal:
  • Medicaid no longer covers any services from Maine Family Planning’s 18 clinics, impacting all patients (not just abortion-related services).
  • 50% of patients on Medicaid now served for free.
  • 20% budget cut; three clinics end primary care services.
• Quote (Vanessa Schieltz, nurse practitioner, Thomaston Clinic, 03:53):
  • “We've been seeing all of those patients for free. We haven't been turning them away.”
• Reporter: Selena Simmons Duffin

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5. Thanksgiving Food Prices & Economic Moves ([04:04]–[04:54])

• Event: Wholesale turkey prices surge 40% year-over-year due to bird flu outbreaks and reduced supply.
• Government Action: Trump administration cancels select tariffs (e.g., beef, coffee) to mitigate grocery price inflation.
• Expert Insight:
  • Price drops unlikely; action may only slow inflation.
  • Shoppers encouraged to plan and shop early.
• Quote (David Ortega, agricultural economist, 04:35):
  • “So while we may not see prices go down for the holidays, it helps in terms of moderating the price increases.”
• Reporter: Lydia Calitri

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Trump on business ties:
  “What my family does is fine. But they do business all over. They've done very little with Saudi Arabia, actually.” ([00:47])
• Crown Prince on Khashoggi:
  “We've improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that...it's a huge mistake and we are doing our best that this doesn't happen again.” ([01:20])
• Epstein survivor confronting Trump:
  “Your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment.” ([02:23])
• Clinics serving the uninsured:
  “We've been seeing all of those patients for free. We haven't been turning them away.” ([03:53])
• Holiday food price moderation:
  “It helps in terms of moderating the price increases.” ([04:35])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Saudi Crown Prince at White House: 00:18–01:38
• Epstein Survivors & File Release Bill: 01:38–02:46
• Opioid Settlement: 02:46–03:19
• Planned Parenthood Defunding in Maine: 03:30–04:04
• Thanksgiving Food Inflation: 04:04–04:54

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This update packs national headlines into five minutes with direct source quotes and clear explanations of how each development impacts the public.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is visiting the White House for the first time since the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Trump Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. While taking questions from journalists a short time ago, an ABC News reporter asked President Trump if this visit to the White House that's expected to include announcements of defense, energy and AI deals, is a conflict of interest due to the Trump family's business with Saudi Arabia.

[Donald Trump]

I have nothing to do with the family business I have left. And when I've devoted 100% of my energy, what my family does is fine. But they do business all over. They've done very little with Saudi Arabia, actually. I'm sure they could do a lot, and anything they've done has been very good. That's what we've done. We've built a tremendous business for a long time. I've been very successful. I decided to leave that success behind and make America very successful.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The same reporter asked the crown prince his thoughts after US intelligence concluded he had approved Khashoggi's murder in 2018.

[Mohammed bin Salman]

Been painful for us in Saudi Arabia. We've did all the right steps of investigation, etc. Saudi Arabia, and we've improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that. And it's painful and it's a huge mistake and we are doing our best that this doesn't happen again.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Prince Mohammed has denied involvement in Khashoggi's killing. President Trump railed against the reporter for the question, describing it as disrespectful to his guest. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sex trafficking network spoke out on Capitol Hill today with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. NPR's Claudia Grizales reports. This comes as the U.S. house is on track to take up a bill today to force the release of government files tied to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.

[Claudia Grisales]

Survivor after survivor told harrowing stories of the abuse they suffered, and many asked President Trump to stop injecting politics into their fight. Janelisa Jones said pushing for the release of the Epstein files has been distressing, as Trump has gone back and forth on supporting it.

[Various Interviewees/Experts]

I voted for you, but your behavior on this issue has been a national embarrassment.

[Claudia Grisales]

Trump had fought the House vote to release the records, but reversed course this past weekend to say Republicans should vote for it. Now the GOP led House is on track to approve the plan with near unanimous support sending it to the Senate Claudias. NPR News, the Capitol.

[Lakshmi Singh]

A judge has approved a settlement of thousands of opioid related lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. And under the agreement, members of the Sackler family who own the company will contribute up to $7 billion over time and give up ownership. The opioid epidemic has been linked to more than 900,000 deaths in the United States since 1999. At last check on Wall street, the dow was down 538 points. This is NPR News. The one big beautiful bill passed by Congress included a provision designed to defund Planned Parenthood, done by cutting it out of Medicaid. NPR's Lena Simmons Duffen reports on the impact on sexual health clinics in Maine where abortion is legal.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Medicaid already does not pay for abortions in Maine or anywhere else in the country. Now Maine Family Planning's network of 18 clinics cannot bill Medicaid for any services, including fertility treatment, birth control and more. Vanessa Schieltz, the nurse practitioner at the Thomaston Clinic, says half of Maine Family Planning's patients are on Medicaid.

[Various Interviewees/Experts]

We've been seeing all of those patients for free. We haven't been turning them away.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

That has meant a 20% cut to Maine Family Planning's annual budget and three clinics have had to end their primary care services.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Selena Simmons Duffin reporting. Well, with Thanksgiving around the corner, shoppers bracing for higher grocery prices. Here's NPR's Lydia Calitri.

[Various Interviewees/Experts]

Wholesale turkey prices jumped 4 40% from last year, largely due to outbreaks of bird flu hurting the country's supply. The Trump administration canceled some tariffs on items like beef and coffee last week to combat high prices. David Ortega, a professor and agricultural economist at Michigan State University, says this move won't lower prices, but rather slow their growth.

[Donald Trump]

So while we may not see prices go down for the holidays, it helps in terms of moderating the price increases.

[Various Interviewees/Experts]

Ortega recommends shoppers plan their Thanksgiving meals in advance and shop early for certain items to take advantage of sales or promotions. Lydia Calitri, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's npr.

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