NPR News: 11-20-2025 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – November 20, 2025, 11AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman | Length: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a concise update on major national and international news, including tributes to former Vice President Dick Cheney, the latest changes to U.S. tariffs under President Trump, a key federal court battle over deportation policy, new findings from Human Rights Watch on the West Bank, jobs figures impacted by a government shutdown, warnings about AI-enabled toys, and weather alerts for Central Texas.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. Funeral Service for Former Vice President Dick Cheney

• Location: Washington National Cathedral

• Notable Attendee/Speaker: Former President George W. Bush

• Summary: National funeral services began for Dick Cheney, former vice president under George W. Bush, who died at the age of 84.

  “The funeral service opens this hour for former Vice President Dick Cheney. He died earlier this month at the age of 84.”
  — Korva Coleman [00:18]

2. U.S. Tariff Policy Updates

• Core Topics: Trump administration's changes to tariffs on food items and ongoing impact of steel and aluminum tariffs.

• Details:

  • President Trump announced certain tariff reductions (e.g., coffee and produce).
  • Significant expansion—over 400 product categories—added to steel and aluminum tariffs in August.
  • The administration cites tougher enforcement to deter tariff circumvention.
  • Even with fixed rates, the scope of tariffs can shift substantially.

  “Even when a tariff rate is set, the tariff itself can still drastically change.”
  — Danielle Kurtzleben [00:47]

3. Deportation Case: Kilmar Abrego Garcia

• Legal Battle: The Trump administration seeks to deport Garcia to Liberia, while his lawyers argue for Costa Rica due to fears of persecution.

• Notable Points:

  • Liberia has agreed to accept Garcia temporarily, Costa Rica also willing to receive him.
  • Earlier wrongful deportation to El Salvador has led to ongoing legal proceedings.
  • Garcia's high-profile case raises concerns about government compliance and due process.
  • He’s set for trial on human smuggling charges next year.

  “The administration wrongfully deported him from Maryland to El Salvador in March, violating a judge's order.”
  — Kristen Wright [01:36]

4. Human Rights Watch: Israeli Operations in the West Bank

• Report Findings: Israeli military’s displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank constitutes crimes against humanity.

• Key Details:

  • Over 30,000 Palestinians displaced from northern West Bank areas since January.
  • UN: Displaced citizens not allowed to return, many homes destroyed.
  • Geneva Conventions prohibit permanent civilian displacement in occupied territories.
  • Human Rights Watch labels this the longest and largest displacement in decades.

  “Human Rights Watch found that Israel has not complied, saying that the forced displacement amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
  — Kat Lonsdorf [02:31]

5. Jobs Report After Government Shutdown

• Labor Department Data: 119,000 jobs created in September—stronger than expected.

• Complications: Report delayed due to shutdown, and October numbers are missing.

  “The report was delayed by the federal government shutdown. Jobs numbers for October were never collected.”
  — Korva Coleman [03:11]

6. Concerns Over AI Toys for Children

• Issuing Organizations: Fairplay, Public Interest Research Group

• Key Warnings:

  • AI toys (plushies, robots) collect sensitive data and can disturb child development and relationships.
  • Reports reveal that such toys permit sexually explicit conversations with few parental controls.
  • Toy industry association stresses robust federal safety standards; urges buying only from reputable sellers.

  “Fairplay's advisory says playthings like AI powered plushies and robots collect sensitive data and disrupt human relationships, among other harms.”
  — Chloe Veltman [03:48]

  “These can have long and short term impacts on development, and it's ridiculous to expect young children to avoid potential harm here.”
  — Rachel Franz (via Kat Lonsdorf) [04:00]

7. Flash Flood Warnings in Central Texas

• Event: Powerful storm forecasted, several inches of rain expected.

• Warning: Flash flood advisories for several Central Texas counties.

  “Forecasters have issued flash flood warnings for a few counties in Central Texas this morning. A powerful storm is rolling through and several inches of rain are expected to fall.”
  — Korva Coleman [04:43]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Tariffs:
  "Even when a tariff rate is set, the tariff itself can still drastically change." — Danielle Kurtzleben [00:47]

• On Due Process:
  "The administration wrongfully deported him from Maryland to El Salvador in March, violating a judge's order." — Kristen Wright [01:36]

• On AI Toys:
  "These can have long and short term impacts on development, and it's ridiculous to expect young children to avoid potential harm here." — Rachel Franz [04:00]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:18 – Funeral for Dick Cheney opens
• 00:47 – Danielle Kurtzleben explains shifting nature of tariffs
• 01:36 – Kristen Wright details the Abrego Garcia deportation case
• 02:31 – Kat Lonsdorf reports on West Bank displacement
• 03:11 – September jobs report and government shutdown impact
• 03:48 – Chloe Veltman introduces advisory on AI toys
• 04:43 – Central Texas flash flood warnings

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This episode delivers concise but thorough reporting on the day’s most significant stories, providing context and insights for listeners who need a quick, trusted news update.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The funeral service opens this hour for former Vice President Dick Cheney. He died earlier this month at the age of 84. Cheney served as VP under former President George W. Bush, who will speak at today's service at Washing National Cathedral. President Trump said last week he's lowered tariffs on some food items, such as coffee and produce. Other tariffs are still in place and will affect consumers. NPR's Danielle Kurtzlehman explains that Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs are a good example.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

The rate on those tariffs has changed this year, but even beyond that, the steel and aluminum products that that tariff covers also have changed. For example, in August, the administration added more than 400 categories to the list of what is affected by those steel and aluminum tariffs, everything from kitchen knives to fire extinguishers. And the administration argued that that was meant to stop firms from circumventing the tariffs. But even if that's true, that example still shows that even when a tariff rate is set, the tariff itself can still drastically change.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reporting. A federal judge in Maryland will hear arguments today on the Trump administration's effort to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia. It's the latest turn in a legal battle between Abrego Garcia and the government. As NPR's Kristen Wright reports, the Trump.

[Kristen Wright]

Administration is asking the judge to lift her injunction so that it can deport Abrego Garcia to Liberia. The West African country agreed to receive him on a strictly humanitarian and temporary basis. But Abrego Garcia's lawyers argue he fears persecution or torture and that he should instead be sent to Costa Rica, which which has also agreed to accept him. Abrego Garcia's very public legal fight has raised questions about due process. The administration wrongfully deported him from Maryland to El Salvador in March, violating a judge's order. He's filed a civil suit. Meanwhile, Abrego Garcia is scheduled to be tried in Tennessee on human smuggling charges next year. Kristen Wright, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

The group Human Rights Watch has released a new report. It says that the Israeli military's emptying of refugee camps in the occupied west bank amounts to crimes against humanity. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

In January, Israeli forces moved into several densely populated areas in the northern west bank, forcibly displacing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the U.N. those people have not been allowed to return to their homes, since which in many cases have been demolished by the Israeli military. Israel says the operation is necessary for its security. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the displacement of civilians in occupied territory except temporarily and and entitled displaced people to protection and accommodation. Human Rights Watch found that Israel has not complied, saying that the forced displacement amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is the longest and largest displacement in the west bank in decades. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Jerusalem.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Labor Department released a late report today on the September jobs picture. It says employers created 119,000 jobs that month. That's a stronger number than analysts expected. The report was delayed by the federal government shutdown. Jobs numbers for October were never collected. The child advocacy nonprofit that's called Fairplay has released an advisory today. The group is warning people against buying AI toys this holiday season. NPR's Chloe Velman reports. Other groups are raising similar concerns.

[Chloe Veltman]

Fairplay's advisory says playthings like AI powered plushies and robots collect sensitive data and disrupt human relationships, among other harms. Rachel Franz is a Fair Play program director.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

These can have long and short term.

[Korva Coleman]

Impacts on development, and it's ridiculous to expect young children to avoid potential harm here.

[Chloe Veltman]

The advisory echoes the Public Interest Research Group's latest annual Trouble in Toyland report. The consumer watchdog's findings reveal how AI toys allow kids to chat about sexually explicit topics and have few parental controls. In an email to npr, the toy association, which represents toy manufacturers, said toys sold by responsible manufacturers, manufacturers and retailers must adhere to more than 100 strict federal safety standards and tests. The trade group urges caregivers to shop only from reputable sources. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Forecasters have issued flash flood warnings for a few counties in Central Texas this morning. A powerful storm is rolling through and several inches of rain are expected to fall. This is NPR.

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