NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-03-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: November 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Roman. As the federal government shutdown stretches into a fifth week, President Trump has refrained from taking an active role in negotiating a path to reopen the government. He spent the weekend at his Florida club. As NPR's Sam Gringlass reports from West Palm Beach, Florida. At opening weekend for the winter season at Mar-a-Lago, the Friday night Halloween party was themed

A Little Party Never Killed Nobody, a song from the Great Gatsby movie. Guests in sequins, fedoras, and feathers dined on the patio as dancers in showgirl costumes performed. Just before, Trump posted on true social that he would be honored to keep SNAP benefits flowing after a pair of federal court orders. The funds were set to run out on Saturday. When Trump arrived at the Trump International Golf Club, someone held up a sign that said, release SNAP dollars. Trump has called on Senate Republicans to end the shutdown by eliminating the filibuster. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Federal Nutrition Assistance Program received by 42 million Americans known as SNAP is not the only program in jeopardy because of the ongoing government shutdown. Now millions of low-income families could lose assistance in the low-income home energy assistance program. Mark Wolf is the Executive Director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. He says this is a critical time of the year for millions of households. households that get that federal help. And for families that live on the margin, you know, close to a third of the U.S. population lives on the margin, these are the things that keep them from falling off the cliff.

Wolf said the problem is especially serious this time of year because temperatures are beginning to drop as winter approaches and people, he says, need the assistance to pay for their heating. At least 23 people were killed in an explosion at a store in Northwest Mexico over the weekend. JZZZ's Nita Kravinsky reports. Multiple children are among the dead, according to officials in the Mexican state of Sonora, which shows a long stretch of border with Arizona. The explosion and resulting fire occurred in a store in the busy city center of Sonora's capital and Mosio.

Sonoris Prosecutor's Office says it's following the possibility that the explosion was associated with a transformer located inside the store. The state prosecutor said Saturday night there was no evidence to suggest the cause of the explosion was intentional. For NPR news, I'm Nina Kravinsky in Hermosio, Mexico. President Trump says he's been assured by China's President Gigi Ping that Beijing will take no action towards its long-stated goal of unifying Taiwan with China while Trump is in the White House. On 60 minutes, the Chinese leader was reportedly quoted by Trump saying he would never do anything

while Trump is in office because they know the consequences. For decades, U.S. officials have been concerned China could forcibly retake Taiwan. You're listening to NPR News. People are having fewer children and living longer in the United States. The population shifts mean caring for parents and grandparents could become even more challenging. And the caregiving industry is already troubled with a workforce shortage. NPR's Kristen Wright reports on one family's caregiving journey. Maurice White and Renee DeVine are among millions of family caregivers whose lives center around caring for aging loved ones.

They've taken care of White's mother for 25 years. She's 104. My name is Evelyn Z. White. The couple has cared for 12 family elders over decades. Maurice White, who's 75, says he wouldn't have it any other way, but it's not easy. Every week or every month something changes. Mom had been fixing her own food, and then it got to the point where it started to be an issue. Caregiving families everywhere understand the challenges, plus the cost of care keeps rising,

and cuts to Medicaid and waiting lists for home and community. community-based care leave some families struggling. Those in the care field say support systems need to be reimagined. Christian Wright and PR News. The new Associated Press College Football rankings has Ohio stayed in the number one spot for the 10th week in a row. Big 10 rival, Indiana, Indiana, Alabama and Georgia round out the top five. Independent Notre Dame crack the top 10 list. Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little now holds the NFL record for the longest field goal in league history. Sunday, he hit a 68-yard field goal that easily crossed the crossbar. That was at the end of halftime, Jacksonville won that game. I'm Dan Ronan, NPR News in

Washington.