NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-01-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: November 1, 2025

NPR News: 11-01-2025 1PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump says he's open to keeping SNAP food benefits going after two federal budget judges said a pause and funding is likely unlawful. But NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports is not clear when that might happen. The judges rejected the Trump administration's argument that it cannot legally use more than $5 billion in emergency funds for SNAP. It not only can, it must, they said, even if it means offering only partial payments. In Rhode Island, Judge John McConnell Jr. called for this to happen as soon as possible. The other judge, Indira Talwani, in Boston, said officials could also tap more money from customs revenues, but left that up to them. The administration has until Monday to present a plan.

After the rulings, Trump posted on social media that his lawyers would seek clarity from the court on how to fund SNAP, and if they got it, it would be my honor, he said. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington. It's day 32 of the government shut down, and there's no movement in sight to end the stalemate. Democrats are insisting that any short-term bill include an extension of health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. They're scheduled to expire at the end of the year. People are now receiving notices on how much their premiums will increase. The Caribbean is struggling to recover from Hurricane Melissa. It made landfall on Jamaica Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

wiped out roads and destroyed homes. Resident City of Brown says there is no electricity, no internet, and no water. How do I feel? Traumatized, distressed. Nevertheless, we pray. We know that God is going to make a way. We trust him. But, I mean, the physical aspect of it, we need water. Because I left my home this morning.

There is no water there. Jamaica's information minister confirmed at least 19 storm-related deaths on the island, but warns that number is likely. to rise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has canceled a key contract it relies on to monitor for tsunamis in Alaska and alert as for his communities. This could mean less timely and accurate warnings. Avery Eldred of Alaska Public Media reports. Noah for years has paid Alaska's Earthquake Monitoring Center to collect data from seismology stations across the state and feed the information back to the agency. If the data indicates an earthquake could lead to a tsunami, the government

sends out a warning message in minutes. But that's about to change. Noah has canceled that contract due to insufficient funds, says Mike West, the Alaska State seismologist. We are anticipating direct data feeds to stop in mid-November. The loss of that data could result in less precise and less timely information. West says that could have major implications for tsunami-prone communities across the Pacific. Noah declined to comment for this story. For NPR News, I'm Avery Elfeld in Haynes, This is NPR News. According to Israeli media reports, the partial remains of three people released by Hamas last night are not those of any of the 11 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza.

The Israeli government has not yet commented on the reports. South Africa has criticized the U.S. government's announcement that is prioritizing white Afrikaners for resettlement. After capping its annual refugee program at 7,500, the lowest. level ever. Kate Bartlett reports. The South African government has repeatedly pushed back against the Trump administration's false claims that the white minority group are being unfairly treated and did so again on Friday. South Africa said it had taken note of the announcement last week regarding the U.S. refugee program, saying it was, quote, fundamentally flawed.

Pretoria also pointed to, quote, the limited uptake of this offer by South Africans as evidence that most Afrikaners are not fleeing. Last month, a group of dozens of Afrikanah intellectuals wrote an open letter to, quote, reject the narrative that casts Afrikaners as victims of racial persecution in post-apartheid South Africa and said they were staying put. For NPR News, I'm Kate Butler in Johannesburg. Egypt is opening a new museum today. The country's Museum of Antiquities says the 5 million square foot museum is the largest in the world

dedicated to a single civilization. It took 20 years to complete. It will display the entire King Tut collection, some 5,000 pieces, including his death mask, chariots, and coffin. Some haven't been seen in public since his tomb was discovered more than 100 years ago. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.