NPR News Now – November 20, 2025, 10AM EST
Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes
Summary prepared for listeners seeking a concise, detailed overview of today’s top news headlines.
Episode Overview
In this update, NPR News Now delivers the morning’s major headlines, including a surge in the stock market, a potential congressional stock trading ban, a dramatic CDC policy change on vaccines and autism, a major baby formula recall, highlights from the National Book Awards, and severe weather warnings in Texas.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Economic News: Market Rally and Job Report
(00:13 – 01:14)
- Stock Market Surge:
- The Dow Jones industrial average rose sharply, up about 670 points in early trading.
- Boost attributed to strong earnings from Nvidia, a major player in the artificial intelligence sector.
- Jobs Report:
- After a seven-week delay due to a government shutdown, the report shows 119,000 jobs added in September.
- Job gains for previous months were revised downward.
- Sector breakdown: Bars, restaurants, and hospitals saw increases; factories and warehouses saw cuts.
- Real Estate Update:
- Sales of existing homes slightly increased in October.
- National average sales price: Just over $415,000.
“Stock in computer chip maker Nvidia jumped this morning after another blockbuster earnings report. The company’s considered a bellwether of the boom in artificial intelligence.”
— Scott Horsley (00:59)
2. Political News: Proposed Congressional Stock Trading Ban
(01:14 – 01:57)
- House Hearings:
- Lawmakers consider banning stock trading for members of Congress.
- Witness Dan Savickas (Taxpayers Protection Alliance) references data showing dozens of lawmakers outperforming the S&P 500, raising ethics concerns.
- Perception of Self-Enrichment:
- Both parties outperform the market; outperformance correlates with control of more government branches.
“On average, members of both political parties outperformed the market. Additionally, each party’s performance gets a boost when they control more branches of government.”
— Dan Savickas (01:35)
- Next Steps:
- Lawmakers indicate efforts to advance the stock trading ban proposal.
3. National Security and Justice: Epstein Files
(01:57 – 02:14)
- Presidential Action:
- President Trump signs a bill compelling the Justice Department to release all Jeffrey Epstein files.
- Redactions include victims’ identities and information on ongoing investigations.
- Trump calls for additional inquiries into high-profile Democrats with Epstein ties.
4. Public Health: CDC Reverses Position on Vaccines and Autism
(02:14 – 03:13)
- Major Policy Shift:
- CDC website now says a link between vaccines and autism “cannot be ruled out.”
- Contradicts years of consensus that no such link exists.
- Policy reversal raises alarms among public health experts.
- Wider Implications:
- Concerns grow over declining childhood vaccination rates and resurgence of diseases such as measles and whooping cough.
- Controversy:
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. long promoted the now-revived discredited claim.
“Now says a link between vaccines and autism cannot be ruled out … the change comes even though a connection … has long been debunked by a large body of high quality research.”
— Rob Stein (02:33)
5. Infant Health: Botulism Outbreak Linked to Baby Formula
(03:13 – 03:35)
- CDC Report:
- 31 babies sickened by botulism; all hospitalized, no fatalities.
- Illness linked to baby formula made by By Heart.
- Nationwide recall of all By Heart products announced.
6. Arts and Culture: National Book Awards
(03:35 – 04:35)
- Fiction Winner:
- Ravi Alamendine wins for “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible and His Mother.”
- Acceptance speech humorously thanks his psychiatrist, drug dealers, and gastroenterologists.
“I guarantee you that I wouldn’t have been able to write a single word in the last 10 years without their help. There would have been no movement.”
— Ravi Alamendine (04:07)
- Other Awards:
- Nonfiction: Omar El Akkad for “One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.”
- Poetry: Patricia Smith for “The Intentions of Thunder.”
7. Severe Weather Update: Central Texas Flood Warnings
(04:35 – 04:56)
- Flash Floods:
- Weather Service issues warnings due to a powerful storm bringing several inches of rain.
- Fort Worth among areas at greatest risk.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “This is not limited to one political party or another … congressional representatives are using their office for personal gain rather than public service.”
— Dan Savickas (01:35) - “The CDC’s change is alarming public health experts. They are already worried about a drop in childhood vaccination … leading to a resurgence of dangerous childhood diseases like measles and whooping cough.”
— Rob Stein (02:33) - “I guarantee you that I wouldn’t have been able to write a single word in the last 10 years without their help. There would have been no movement.”
— Ravi Alamendine, on his acceptance speech (04:07)
Important Timestamps
- 00:13: Market and economic news
- 01:14: Congressional stock trading ban
- 01:57: Epstein files and new legislation
- 02:33: CDC reverses vaccine-autism policy
- 03:13: Baby formula recall: botulism outbreak
- 03:53: National Book Awards highlights
- 04:35: Texas severe weather warnings
This summary captures the essential developments from this edition of NPR News Now and provides useful context for listeners who may have missed the broadcast.