NPR News Now – November 19, 2025, 12AM EST

Host: Shea Stevens
Duration: 5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of major national and international headlines, including developments on the Epstein records in Congress, U.S.-Saudi diplomatic moves, Wall Street’s volatility, a court ruling on Meta, and a new privacy lawsuit in California.

Key Stories & Insights

1. Congress Votes to Release Jeffrey Epstein Records

• [00:18]
  • Summary: Both the House and Senate have passed a bill to mandate the release of government records related to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Context:
    • The process accelerated recently when former President Trump agreed to sign the bill, reversing earlier opposition.
    • The measure was pushed for months by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) via a discharge petition, an uncommon tactic to bypass House leadership.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Claudia Grisales: “This is something that dragged out for much of the year, but then it came together rather quickly in a matter of days.” [00:44]

2. U.S.-Saudi Arabia Work Toward Trillion-Dollar Investment, Defense Deal

• [01:18]
  • Summary: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Washington and announces intent to increase Saudi investment in the U.S. from $600 billion to $1 trillion, focusing on technology and artificial intelligence.
  • Diplomatic Angle:
    • President Trump is encouraging Saudi Arabia to formally join the Abraham Accords (normalizing ties with Israel).
    • Salman signals interest, but underscores the need for progress on creating a Palestinian state before committing.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • Sage Miller: “Earlier this year, the White House announced Saudi Arabia agreed to invest $600 billion in the U.S. but during his Oval Office meeting with President Trump, Prince Mohammed said he’s upping it to 1 trillion.” [01:34]
    • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (via reporter): “We want also to be sure that... we secure a clear path of two-state solution.” [02:09–02:14]

3. Wall Street Markets Decline Amid AI Boom Doubts

• [02:24]
  • Summary: U.S. stocks fell significantly, with Dow and Nasdaq down over 1%, tied to skepticism about soaring valuations in AI-driven tech stocks.
  • Market Insight:
    • Investors anticipate key Nvidia earnings and retail-sector reports to gauge market strength.
    • Job market updates expected soon, delayed by a government shutdown.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Scott Horsley: “Much of the market's growth this year has been driven by a small number of big tech stocks, and investors are wondering if those lofty valuations are justified.” [02:31]

4. Judge Rules Meta Need Not Spin Off Instagram or WhatsApp

• [03:11]
  • Summary:
    • A federal judge dismissed claims that Meta (Facebook’s parent company) is a social media monopoly.
    • The Federal Trade Commission failed to prove Meta’s Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions suppressed competition.
    • The court observed that social media remains dynamic, with emerging competitors.
  • Significance:
    • Meta will retain control of Instagram and WhatsApp.

5. San Jose Sued Over License Plate Surveillance

• [04:06]
  • Summary:
    • Two nonprofits, EFF and ACLU of Northern California, filed suit against San Jose for its broad use and long-term retention of data from license plate scanners.
    • The city operates nearly 500 cameras, storing data for a full year, compared to the usual 30-day period in other California jurisdictions.
    • The suit claims this could violate both state and federal constitutional privacy protections.
  • Notable Quote:
    • EFF attorney Lisa Femia: “They have nearly 500 cameras that blanket the city's streets and they retain their data for an entire year. A lot of other jurisdictions in California only retain the data for 30 days.” [04:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Claudia Grisales on Congressional procedure:
  “Massie was working alongside California Democrat Ro Khanna, and they started what’s known as a discharge petition… It’s an arcane procedure, skips committee’s leadership to force a floor vote with signatures from a simple House majority.” [00:44]

• Prince Mohammed via Sage Miller:
  “Salman says his country is interested, but there’s a big obstacle. We want also to be sure that we secure a clear path of two-state solution.” [02:09–02:14]

• Scott Horsley on market volatility:
  “Investors will be watching reports from other big retailers this week for signs of how consumer spending is holding up. That depends in on the strength of the job market.” [02:31]

Additional Briefs

• [03:11, 04:50]: U.S. futures remain steady in after-hours trading; Asia-Pacific markets are mostly lower.

This summary highlights the principal news developments, major quotes, and the broader context from this NPR News Now episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the top stories as of November 19, 2025, 12AM EST.