NPR News Now - 11-19-2025 12PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst (NPR)
Duration: ~5 minutes
Air Date: November 19, 2025

Overview

This rapid-fire NPR News Now update covers major U.S. and global headlines as of midday, November 19, 2025. Highlights include legislative action on the Jeffrey Epstein files, papal commentary on U.S. immigration, economic updates from Target and Meta, new weight-loss drug research, and legal action against the Ten Commandments law in Texas schools.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Release of the Jeffrey Epstein Files

[00:16 - 01:24]

• Senate Passes Bill:
  The Senate passed a bill mandating the release of government records related to Jeffrey Epstein, sending it to President Trump's desk.

• Political Turnaround:
  While President Trump initially resisted the bill, he indicated support after bipartisan momentum.

• 30-Day Deadline:
  The Justice Department must release the records within 30 days, with only limited exceptions.

• Sponsor Warnings:
  Authors Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) warn that legal action will follow if DOJ fails to comply.

  "The plan drew near unanimous support in the Republican led Congress."
  — Claudia Grizales (00:35)

• Implication:
  Points to rare bipartisan action on a high-profile topic, and potential for legal friction if requirements are not fully met.

2. Pope Leo on U.S. Immigration Policy

[01:24 - 02:11]

• Papal Appeal:
  Pope Leo criticized violence against immigrants in the U.S. while speaking with reporters outside Rome.

• Human Dignity & Law:
  He advocates for policies upholding human dignity, even for those living in the country illegally, referencing the American justice system.

  "We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have. If people are in the United States illegally, there are ways to treat that. There are courts. There's a system of justice."
  — Pope Leo (01:41)

• Compatibility Claim:
  Asserts that protecting human dignity and ensuring national security are not mutually exclusive.

3. Target's Holiday Spending Forecast & Market Update

[02:11 - 03:06]

• Conservative Outlook:
  Target predicts cautious consumer behavior over the holidays; most spending is on food and essentials, not discretionary items like home decor.
• Financial Impact:
  Reports decline in same-store sales and lowers yearly profit projections.
• Economic Markers:
  • Federal judge rules Meta (Facebook) is not a social media monopoly.
  • U.S. trade deficit shrank in August after tariffs increased, but the report was delayed due to a government shutdown.
• Market Status:
  The Dow is down 43 points—Wall Street is mixed at this hour.

4. Research on Weight Loss Drugs

[03:06 - 04:12]

• Drug Effectiveness Linked to Nausea:
  New data presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting finds Wegovy, Zepbound, and other GLP-1 inhibitors only work when they reach the "vomit center" in the brain.

• Experiment in Mice:
  Preventing access to this brain region removed the nausea—but also stopped weight loss.

• Challenge:
  It's difficult to separate weight loss benefits from side effects like nausea.

  "And so it's very challenging, we think, right now to be able to separate these side effects like nausea from GLP1's intended effects like weight loss."
  — John Hamilton (03:53)

  "It's a major reason many patients stop taking the medications."
  — Warren Jakowicz, University of Michigan (04:00)

• Significance:
  The research signals continued demand for new solutions that maintain efficacy without unpleasant side effects.

5. Federal Court Blocks Texas Ten Commandments School Law

[04:12 - 04:54]

• Temporary Injunction:
  A federal judge stops Texas from enforcing a law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public schools, at least temporarily.
• Wider Context:
  • Related court decisions have blocked similar laws in Arkansas and Louisiana.
  • Lawsuits argue these measures violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.
• Next Steps:
  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has appealed to the Supreme Court.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bipartisan Transparency on Epstein:
  "The bill's authors, Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie and California Democrat Ro Khanna, warn the Trump Justice Department will face legal action if it does not fully comply."
  — Claudia Grizales (01:13)

• Pope Leo on Immigrant Dignity:
  "We have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity that they have."
  — Pope Leo (01:41)

• Drug Side Effect Dilemma:
  "About half the people who take these drugs feel queasy. That’s because this class of drugs...affects an area of the brain stem known as the vomit center."
  — Warren Jakowicz, University of Michigan (03:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein Files Act Passes: 00:16 – 01:24
• Pope Leo on Immigration: 01:24 – 02:11
• Target’s Economic Outlook & Market News: 02:11 – 03:06
• Weight Loss Drug Research: 03:06 – 04:12
• Texas Ten Commandments Law Blocked: 04:12 – 04:54

This concise, info-rich episode delivers national headlines with global significance, providing clarity on current legislative, economic, health, and legal developments.