NPR News Now – November 19, 2025, 5AM EST

Episode Overview
This NPR News Now episode presents concise updates on major national and international news developments. Key themes include congressional action on Jeffrey Epstein files, a court ruling on Texas’ congressional map, details on the Baltimore bridge collapse, evolving U.S.–Saudi Arabia relations, and new research on weight loss drugs. The episode is delivered in a rapid, objective tone characteristic of NPR’s newscasts.

Key News Points & Insights

1. Congress Approves Epstein Files Release Bill

• Bill Details & Bipartisan Passage
  • Congress passes a bill compelling the Justice Department to release all files on Jeffrey Epstein ([00:15]).
  • Cleared Senate on a voice vote after a near-unanimous House vote (427–1).
  • Notable Process: The Senate used a voice vote with no objections, avoiding recorded votes ([00:35–00:53]).
  • House Republicans expected Senate amendments, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune said after the overwhelming House vote, further changes were unnecessary.
  • Trump reversed his previous position, stating he would sign the bill into law.
• Memorable Quote
  • “In an extremely rare scene in Republican controlled Washington, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer moved to approve the bipartisan bill under a voice vote with no objections.” – Reporter ([00:35])

2. Federal Court Blocks Texas Redistricting Map

• Racial Gerrymandering Ruling
  • Three-judge panel in Texas blocks use of new congressional map for 2026 midterms, citing racial gerrymandering ([01:23]).
  • 2–1 federal ruling; Texas to appeal at the Supreme Court.
• Midterm Polling Update
  • New NPR/PBS/Marist poll shows Democrats with a 14-point lead on the generic congressional ballot ([01:35]).

3. Francis Scott Key Bridge Disaster—Final NTSB Report

• Accident Cause Revealed
  • Loose wire in the cargo ship “Dali’s” breaker box caused blackouts, loss of propulsion and steering, leading to the bridge collapse and six deaths ([02:17]).
  • Investigators found a label on the wire prevented it from fully plugging in, causing it to come loose over time.
• Memorable Quote
  • “This tragedy should have never occurred. Lives should have never been lost. As with all accidents that we investigate, this was preventable.” – Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chairwoman ([02:33])
• Rebuilding Cost
  • Maryland estimates rebuilding could exceed $5 billion, twice the original projection ([03:01]).

4. US–Saudi Arabia Relations: Major Non-NATO Ally Status

• Elevated Military Ties
  • President Trump announces formal designation of Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally,” taking military cooperation “to even greater heights” ([03:20]).
• Khashoggi Case Context
  • At a White House dinner honoring Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump publicly defends the prince amid renewed questions about the CIA’s findings on Jamal Khashoggi’s murder ([03:29]).
  • Salman continues to deny any role in the killing.

5. New Insights on Weight Loss Drugs (GLP-1 Agonists)

• Research Presentations
  • New studies show GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound only result in weight loss when they act on the part of the brain that causes nausea (the “vomit center”) ([04:08]).
  • Half of patients taking these drugs experience nausea; when the effect was blocked in mice, weight loss did not occur.
• Expert Commentary
  • “It’s very challenging, we think right now to be able to separate these side effects like nausea, from GLP-1’s intended effects like weight loss.” – Warren Jakowicz, University of Michigan ([04:30])
• Pharmaceutical Efforts
  • Companies continue trying to separate nausea from therapeutic effects, as nausea is a primary reason patients discontinue use ([04:38]).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “In an extremely rare scene in Republican controlled Washington, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer moved to approve the bipartisan bill under a voice vote with no objections.” – [00:35] (Reporter)
• “This tragedy should have never occurred. Lives should have never been lost. As with all accidents that we investigate, this was preventable.” – Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chairwoman [02:33]
• “And so it’s very challenging, we think right now to be able to separate these side effects like nausea, from GLP-1’s intended effects like weight loss.” – Warren Jakowicz, University of Michigan [04:30]

Timeline of Major Segments

• [00:15–01:23] – Jeffrey Epstein files bill coverage
• [01:23–02:17] – Texas redistricting and polling; update on Francis Scott Key Bridge crash investigation
• [02:17–03:01] – NTSB report details and bridge reconstruction costs
• [03:01–03:29] – U.S.–Saudi Arabia military cooperation; Khashoggi killing discussion
• [04:08–04:49] – Weight loss drugs and new research findings

This rapid-fire episode provides authoritative updates—political, judicial, investigative, international, and scientific—summed up in NPR’s distinct, direct tone for listeners needing a quick but comprehensive news briefing.