House Votes on Funding Bill, Shutdown Deal Dissent, COP30 Global Emissions

Summary

---

Up First from NPR – November 11, 2025

Episode Summary: House Votes on Funding Bill, Shutdown Deal Dissent, COP30 Global Emissions

---

Overview

This episode dives into three urgent headlines: the U.S. House of Representatives' return to address a crucial government funding bill after a prolonged shutdown, mounting Democratic frustrations over unresolved health insurance subsidies, and the start of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil amid U.S. disengagement. NPR’s hosts and reporters analyze political tensions in Washington, the shifting fortunes of both parties ahead of the midterms, and the global struggle—and progress—on cutting emissions.

---

1. House Votes on Funding Bill and Partial Government Reopening

[02:08 – 05:57]

Key Points

• House Returns After Long Absence:
  The House reconvenes after over a month, tasked with voting on a Senate-approved bill to end the lengthy government shutdown.

  • “Speaker Mike Johnson called the House of Representatives back to Washington after more than a month off.” (02:19, Layla Fadel)

• Temporary Funding & Appropriations:
  The new bill includes:

  • Short-term funding until January 30 for most government operations.
  • Three annual bipartisan appropriations bills for agencies such as USDA and FDA, thus guaranteeing their budgets through next September.
  • Undoing recent firings of federal workers and guaranteeing back pay after the shutdown.
  • “Instead of a short term extension, those areas will be funded now through next September.” (02:42, Sam Greenglass)

• Partial vs. Full Shutdown:
  If no further agreement is reached by late January, only parts of the government would shut down. Essential programs like SNAP are protected for now.

  • “It would be just a partial government shutdown and SNAP benefits, for example, would not be in danger of running out this time.” (03:15, Sam Greenglass)

• Senate Vote and Backlash:
  The bill passed the Senate with a 60-40 vote, but most Democrats and a key independent opposed it due to missing health care subsidy extensions, a core Democratic demand.

  • “In the end, all but seven Democrats and one independent... voted against this deal.” (04:10, Sam Greenglass)

---

2. Health Insurance Subsidies Debate and Intraparty Dissent

[04:42 – 09:52]

Key Points

• Democratic Disappointment over Health Subsidies: Senate Republicans only promised a future vote on expiring health insurance subsidies, which falls short of Democratic expectations and leaves millions uncertain about affordability.

  • “No guarantee to actually lower costs is simply not good enough.” (04:58, Senator Susan Collins, via Sam Greenglass)
  • “Democrats really wanted something a lot more concrete.” (04:10, Sam Greenglass)

• Political Risks and Voter Sentiment: Domenico Montanaro explains a growing sense of betrayal among progressive Democrats, who see party leaders as willing to compromise rather than fight—though, paradoxically, this pragmatism may play well beyond the party’s base.

  • “They feel like they continue to get rolled, that the party promises one thing and then in the end caves.” (06:26, Domenico Montanaro)
  • “The party has moved from really a pragmatism to a pugilism in the age of Trump.” (07:51, Domenico Montanaro)

• Party Dynamics and Upcoming Elections: The tension may drive more primary challenges and reflects a broader ideological shift. However, Democrats just performed strongly in recent off-year elections, largely by focusing on affordability.

  • “If they get this promised vote in December... it’s certainly gonna draw a dividing line, and Republicans are really gonna own that issue.” (06:57, Domenico Montanaro)
  • “Most Democratic members of Congress were against this move…I think what we’re seeing is indicative of a changing Democratic Party.” (07:43, Domenico Montanaro)

• Leadership under Pressure: Senate Majority Leader Schumer finds himself caught—either unable to hold Democrats together or permitting defections for political reasons. Montanaro notes none of the defectors are up for reelection.

  • “He tacitly allowed folks to vote this way…none of the people who came out in favor of this deal are up for reelection next year.” (08:31, Domenico Montanaro)

Notable Quotes

• “A handshake deal with my Republican colleagues to reopen the government and no guarantee to actually lower cost…is simply not good enough. The people I work for need more than that.”
  — Senator Susan Collins (04:58–05:12)

---

3. 2026 Midterm Outlook & Political Analysis

[09:11 – 09:52]

Key Points

• Democratic Edge Anticipated:
  Issues of affordability and health care, plus the cyclical anti-incumbent tide, give Democrats an advantage heading into the midterms under current conditions.

  • “Affordability was the main issue of the past election. It’s very likely to be again next year.” (09:14, Domenico Montanaro)

• Republican Risks:
  If Republicans block subsidy extensions, they may be blamed for higher health care costs, especially in swing districts.

  • “If Republicans do block the extension of subsidies, then they’re going to own higher health care costs.” (09:38, Domenico Montanaro)

---

4. COP30 Climate Summit: U.S. Absence & Global Progress

[10:14 – 13:36]

Key Points

• U.S. Disengagement:
  The Trump administration is not sending high-level delegates to COP30, limiting U.S. influence on global climate talks.

  • “The Trump administration says it's not sending high level officials, which means countries are trying to make progress without the U.S.” (10:14, Layla Fadel)

• Global Emissions Challenge:
  Despite some progress, no major country is on pace to meet Paris Agreement emissions targets. Current projections predict a dangerous 5°F global temperature rise.

  • “No major country is meeting its goal of cutting emissions from fossil fuels. And, you know, last year those emissions were higher than ever.” (10:45, Lauren Sommer as “Senator Collins”)

• State and Local U.S. Leadership:
  Some U.S. state and local officials, such as New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, are attending and pledging continued investment regardless of federal policies.

  • “I don’t care what the federal policy is. Our commitments are going to continue to keep America accountable.” (13:02–13:05, Gov. Lujan Grisham)

• Renewables Are Surging Globally:
  The economics of renewables are rapidly improving. In 2024, over 90% of new power projects worldwide were renewable.

  • “Renewable energy is cheaper now on average than new natural gas and coal power plants... more than 90% of new power projects installed worldwide were renewable.” (13:05, Lauren Sommer)

Notable Quotes

• “Right now, the world is on track for 5 degrees Fahrenheit of warming. And that amount of climate change comes with some big impacts.”
  — Lauren Sommer (11:15)

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• Democratic Frustration:
  “A handshake deal with my Republican colleagues to reopen the government and no guarantee to actually lower cost…is simply not good enough. The people I work for need more than that.”
  — Senator Susan Collins (04:58–05:12, read by Sam Greenglass)

• Global Warming Urgency:
  “Right now, the world is on track for 5 degrees Fahrenheit of warming. And that amount of climate change comes with some big impacts.”
  — Lauren Sommer (11:15)

• Shifting Energy Markets:
  “Renewable energy is cheaper now on average than new natural gas and coal power plants... more than 90% of new power projects installed worldwide were renewable.”
  — Lauren Sommer (13:05)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• House Funding Vote Coverage – 02:08–05:57
• Democratic Party Tensions & Shutdown Analysis – 06:00–09:52
• Climate Summit & Emissions Progress – 10:14–13:36

---

Tone & Style

The conversation is brisk, urgent, and driven by political realities, with analytical asides and a focus on tangible impacts for American families. The climate segment tempers concern over U.S. disengagement with cautious optimism about how fast renewable energy is transforming the global landscape.

---

For listeners or readers seeking clarity on this week’s political showdowns and global climate efforts, this episode deftly captures both the drama and the shifting tides beneath the headlines.

Transcript

[Layla Falden]

After staying out of Washington for more than a month, the House of Representatives will soon return to work.

[Steve Inskeep]

Speaker Mike Johnson will aim to steer through a bill to reopen the government, which passed the Senate last night.

[Layla Falden]

I'm Layla Falden with Steve Inskeep. And this is up first from NPR News. Democrats highlighted the issue of health insurance subsidies but did not succeed in extending them.

[Senator Susan Collins]

No guarantee to actually lower costs is simply not good enough.

[Sam Greenglass]

The people I work for need more than that.

[Layla Falden]

How does a party manage its disagreements?

[Steve Inskeep]

And here's a surprise. The United States may be downplaying the latest global conference on climate, but around the world, 90% of new power projects run on renewable energy sources. Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day foreign.

[Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from @&t. America's First Network is also its fastest and most reliable based on RootMetrics. United States Root Score Report 1H 2025 tested with best commercially available smartphones on three national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. RootMetrics rankings are not an endorsement of AT&T. When you compare, there's no comparison. AT&T. This message comes from BetterHelp. This month, BetterHelp's encouraging people to reach out, grab lunch with a friend, call your parents or even find Support in therapy. BetterHelp makes it easy with its therapist match commitment and over 12 years of experience matching users with qualified professionals. Just like that, lunch with a friend. Once you reach out, you'll wonder why you didn't do it Sooner. Go to betterhelp.com NPR for 10% off your first month support for NPR and the following message come from Warby Parker, the One stop shop for all your vision needs. They offer expertly crafted prescription eyewear plus contacts, eye exams and more for everything you need to see. Visit your nearest Warby Parker store or.

[Steve Inskeep]

Head to warbyparker.com Congress is one step closer to ending the longest government shutdown in American history. The Senate approved a funding bill by a 60 to 40.

[Layla Falden]

Speaker Mike Johnson called the House of Representatives back to Washington after more than a month off. The House would have to pass the measure and President Trump would need to sign it. The federal government could open within days, although a debate over health insurance subsidies remains unresolved.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR congressional reporter Sam Greenglass is here. Sam, good morning.

[Sam Greenglass]

Hey, Steve.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so what exactly did the Senate pass?

[Sam Greenglass]

So some of this is very similar to what the Senate has been voting on for weeks now, a temporary funding measure to fund the government for just a few weeks in this case through January 30th. But this time, lawmakers also included three bipartisan annual appropriations bills that cover specific agencies like the Department of Agriculture and the fda. So instead of a short term extension, those areas will be funded now through next September.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, this is useful to know. This means the government could shut down again at the end of January, but not the whole federal government.

[Sam Greenglass]

Yeah, it would be just a partial government shutdown and snap benefits, for example. They would not be in danger of running out this time. The package also also includes a measure to undo the firings of federal workers during the shutdown and ensures federal workers get back pay. Here's Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine.

[Senator Susan Collins]

This is a great victory for the American people. And it shows that the Senate can work, that we can produce the results that are needed.

[Sam Greenglass]

Now, I should note a key element that you will not find in the text of this measure, and that's an extension of expiring healthcare subsidies, which has been the crux of Democrats shutdown fight. What Senate Republicans have promised is a vote on that in the future.

[Steve Inskeep]

Oh, Republicans did promise the Democrats a vote, but they could have given them that vote a month ago. They were promising that vote a month ago. It doesn't sound like Democrats got anything near what they wanted.

[Sam Greenglass]

Yeah, Democrats really wanted something a lot more concrete. So in the end, all but seven Democrats and one independent who caucuses with them, they voted against Democrats. This deal. Senate Majority Leader John Th Says he'll hold a vote by mid December on separate legislation to address the subsidies. But what exactly Democrats put forward is an open question. They need something that can win enough Republican votes. And while some Republicans do talk about wanting to prevent premiums from skyrocketing, they also want reforms. And a few weeks is not a lot of time for an overhaul.

[Steve Inskeep]

Well, even if a health care bill were to pass the Senate in that vote in December, what are the odds it gets a vote in the House and gets signed by the president?

[Sam Greenglass]

You know, this is exactly what many Democrats, like Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, are worried about.

[Senator Susan Collins]

A handshake deal with my Republican colleagues to reopen the government. And no guarantee to actually lower cost.

[Sam Greenglass]

Is simply not good enough.

[Senator Susan Collins]

The people I work for need more than that.

[Sam Greenglass]

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters yesterday he could not guarantee a vote. And it's also unclear what Trump is willing to support.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so we don't know what's going to happen with people who rely on Obamacare subsidies, Affordable Care act subsidies, the extra subsidies we should add. But people who rely on food assistance, who are traveling for Thanksgiving who are thinking about the FAA and air traffic controllers. Do they have relief?

[Sam Greenglass]

House members have been told to report to Washington for a vote Wednesday after being out for weeks. Johnson may have his work cut out for him to get this shut ending deal to the president, but he says it will get done. The dispute over health care, though, does remain unresolved, along with this contentious political debate about how the shutdown played out with the midterm elections just around the corner.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's Sam Greenglass, thanks so much.

[Sam Greenglass]

Thanks, Steve.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so the government reopens only after seven Senate Democrats signed on.

[Layla Falden]

Right. But as we just heard, other Democrats are not happy that they are reopening the government without that core demand on health insurance subsidies. So where does the party go from here?

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro has been following that. Domenico, good morning.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Hey, great to be with you.

[Steve Inskeep]

What's a way to think about this result?

[Domenico Montanaro]

Well, you know, Democrats are certainly right now getting a lot of backlash from the left and you know, for some understandable reasons, I mean, they feel like they continue to get rolled that the party promises one thing and then in the end caves or doesn't quite keep up the fight. So you understand a lot of the irritability from the left about this toward Democrats, but it might not be as bad for Democrats in the long run here into the 2026 midter elections. I mean, you know, they have the opportunity, Democrats to look like the adults in the room who care, you know, if people go hungry. And they also raise the issue of healthcare subsidies, which many weren't talking about before this shutdown fight. And if they get this promised vote in December on healthcare subsidies, then it's certainly gonna draw a dividing line and Republicans are really gonna own that issue. And there were divides between, you know, people in the party before these off year elections. Democrats still swept across the country. And the reason why we because of that issue of affordability, that's still likely to be the top issue next year, too.

[Steve Inskeep]

This is interesting. So if Democrats did well in last week's elections and at least raised their issue, even if they didn't win the issue in this shutdown fight, is there any particular danger for the Democrats who voted to reopen the government?

[Domenico Montanaro]

You know, I think we're going to see potentially more primaries in the next year. I think the left has certainly gotten more activist and more engaged in this fight. But remember, most Democratic members of Congress are were against this move. I think they're going to try to sell that to their constituents. I think what we're seeing is also indicative of a changing Democratic Party, one that's moved from really a pragmatism to a pugilism in the age of Trump, you know, really wanting fighters. It was a party that was far more willing to compromise than it is now. Polling showing that. There was an NBC poll, for example, in 2017 that found that 6 in 10 Democrats are more likely favoring compromising with Trump during his second term here. That's flipped. Two thirds of Democrats earlier this year in that same poll said they thought members of the party should stand on principle instead. That was back in March, right around the time when there was almost a shutdown, before Democratic leader Chuck Schumer pulled the plug and worked with Republicans to keep it open.

[Steve Inskeep]

Is Senator Schumer in any trouble?

[Domenico Montanaro]

I think he's in a really tough position, frankly. I mean, he held the line for 40 days saying, don't reopen the government unless Republicans negotiate on these health care subsidies. But eight senators defied his public comments. So either he was unable to keep everyone in the on the same page, or he tacitly allowed folks to vote this way. And there's some question about that, because none of the people who came out in favor of this deal are up for reelection next year. Two of them are retiring. It was really a group that could weather the political blowback on this. And look, he's 74. He's not where the party is heading right now. It would not be surprising, as I've heard other Democrats and Democratic strategists say, to see him not leading the party in 2027, regardless of the outcome of next year's midterms.

[Steve Inskeep]

Who has the advantage heading into those midterms?

[Domenico Montanaro]

You know, I still think it's hard not to see it being Democrats. You know, affordability was the main issue of the past election. It's very likely to be again next year. And if that's the case and the cost of living is still pinching people's pockets, then with Trump and Republicans in charge, it's still going to be an edge for Democrats. Plus, Democrats have the issues on their side between affordability and health care. If Republicans do block the extension of subsidies, then they're going to own higher health care costs. As we know, congressional elections and control of the House are determined in swing districts with swing voters. And right right now, the Democratic Party has the edge on the critical issues that matter most to people. And winning cures a lot of ills.

[Steve Inskeep]

Also, people keep voting against whoever is in so Democrats have the advantage there. Domenico, thanks so much. You're welcome. Domenico Montanaro, Some other news now. Delegates from almost 200 countries are gathering in Brazil this week to discuss plans to fight climate change.

[Layla Falden]

The US Is not one of them. The Trump administration says it's not sending high level officials, which means countries are trying to make progress without the U.S.

[Steve Inskeep]

Lauren Sommer of NPR's Climate Desk is here to explain what this means. Hi there, Lauren.

[Layla Falden]

Hi.

[Steve Inskeep]

I guess we should just acknowledge at the beginning this at least means the US Has a zero carbon footprint when it comes to these talks. They're not traveling.

[Senator Susan Collins]

Maybe technically you're right this time.

[Layla Falden]

Yeah.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay. Some of the other people do, but they're trying to fight climate change. How are they doing?

[Senator Susan Collins]

Well, not great, actually. No major country is meeting its goal of cutting emissions from fossil fuels. And, you know, last year those emissions were higher than ever. Globally, countries actually agreed to cut emissions 10 years ago now. That's when the Paris Agreement was signed.

[Layla Falden]

Yeah.

[Senator Susan Collins]

And the whole focus of that agreement and of these negotiations going on right now is to limit warming to this critical threshold, which is no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. By the end of the century.

[Steve Inskeep]

How far behind are we then?

[Senator Susan Collins]

There's a really long way to go, because right now, the world is on track for 5 degrees Fahrenheit of warming. And that amount of climate change comes with some big impacts. You know, heat waves get much more intense, storms get more intense, and that's hurricanes, but it's also just storms that produce more extreme rain. And then, you know, ecosystems, like coral reefs have very little chance of surviving that kind of temperature change. So to avoid that and get on track, the United nations found that emissions need to be cut in half by countries in the next 10 years.

[Steve Inskeep]

Obviously, the Trump administration doesn't think this way. I am recalling that in President Trump's first term, people were saying it might not end up mattering that much because the energy economy was moving in a certain way, moving toward clean fuels, and it would be hard for the United States really to change that. Do people still think the administration won't have that much of an impact?

[Senator Susan Collins]

You know, energy experts say it likely will have some impact because Trump has cut investment in renewable energy projects and is getting rid of the tax credit for solar projects. So that could mean that less clean energy is being built. And, you know, on Trump's first day in office, he pulled the US out of the international climate agreement, the Paris Agreement, that process actually takes one year. So the US Will be officially out in January. But, you know, as countries try to figure out a path forward, right now it's without the US Are other countries.

[Steve Inskeep]

Less likely to commit resources to this task if the United States is not doing so?

[Senator Susan Collins]

Yeah, I think there's a lot of concern because the science shows emissions need to fall really fast and there's just not time to waste. There will be some US Presence at this summit, though. There's a delegation of state and local leaders going, and they're going to talk about how they're still investing in clean energy and are cutting emissions. And New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is one of them.

[Domenico Montanaro]

I don't care what the federal policy is.

[Senator Susan Collins]

Our commitments are going to continue to keep America accountable and invested in where we are globally. But, you know, you mentioned the economics, and that's really important here. Renewable energy is cheaper now on average than new natural gas and coal power plants. Last year, more than 90% of new power projects installed worldwide were renewable, not, you know, fossil fuels. So there is this sense that globally electricity is going to get cleaner no matter what the Trump administration does.

[Steve Inskeep]

Lauren Sommer from NPR's Climate Desk. Thanks for coming by.

[Senator Susan Collins]

Yeah, thank you.

[Steve Inskeep]

And that's up first for this Tuesday, November 11th, Veterans Day. I'm Steve Inskeep.

[Layla Falden]

And I'm Layla Faldeh. Up first gets you caught up and MORNING EDITION takes you deeper. We're live every morning on your local NPR station with more context behind the headlines. Download the NPR app and listen anytime. You can find all of NPR's most popular shows, including Up first and Morning Edition. So many options to get the news you need to start your day.

[Steve Inskeep]

Today's UP first was edited by Kelsey Snell, Megan Pratz, Neela Banerjee, Mohamed El Bardisi and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Lindsey Totty. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

[Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes From NPR sponsor 1Password. Protect your digital life with 1Password. If you're tired of family members constantly texting you for the passwords to streaming services, 1Password lets you securely share or remove access to logins access from any device anytime. 1Password lets you securely switch between iPhone, Android, Mac and PC with convenient features like autofill for quick sign ins, right now, get a free two week trial for you and your family at 1Password.com NPR this message comes from NPR sponsor Rosetta Stone, an expert in language learning for 30 years. Right now, NPR listeners can get Rosetta Stone's lifetime membership to 25 different languages for 50% off. Learn more@rosetta stone.com NPR this message comes from KeyBank.

[Senator Susan Collins]

This year, Key for Women is celebrating 20 years, two decades of empowering business leaders and strengthening communities together. Key for Women made an impact, and they're just getting started. Learn [e-mail] women.