NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-04-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: November 4, 2025

NPR News: 11-04-2025 1AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Trump administration says it will partially fund the food aid program known as SNAP after two federal judges ordered the White House to keep the program running amid the government shutdown. The administration said Monday that it will use money from a contingency fund for SNAP payments, but the payouts will only be half the amount recipients normally get. And NPR-Senterford-Ludden says even that could take a while. I will say this money, the way it goes out is complicated. It goes from the federal government to states, then through contractors onto the debit-like cards that people use to buy food.

And recalculating for partial payments does take time. But in its court filing, the administration said it could be weeks, if not months, especially it said, in some states with decades-old systems. So it leaves this possibility that people in some states might see benefits before others. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine says, She's hopeful that bipartisan negotiations will end the government shutdown. Main Public Radio's Kevin Miller reports. Collins says a group of Democrats and Republicans are trying to, quote, chart a path forward to end the month-long impasse. One potential compromise, she says, would involve the Senate quickly taking up legislation to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies once government reopens.

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, hopes of vote ending the shutdown will happen by week's end. I don't want to create false hopes out there, but that is based on discussions that I've had with numerous Democrats as recently as last night, as well as with my Republican colleagues. Republican and Democratic leaders would have to endorse any deal. For NPR news, I'm Kevin Miller. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday that he is optimistic that the Senate could vote to reopen the government by the end of the week. if lawmakers make progress over the next couple of days. White House says it's deadly strikes on alleged drug boats from Venezuela don't need approval from Congress. Now some lawmakers are pushing for a vote to block the Trump administration from

striking Venezuela. And peers Michelle Kellerman reports. Republican Senator Rand Paul and several top Democrats have co-sponsored a resolution to reassert Congress's constitutional authority over the use of military force. They're pushing for a vote as as this week. Under the War Powers Act, the administration had to notify Congress in September of its initial military strike on alleged drugboats. It had 60 days to get authorization to continue military action. As that clock ran out, a Trump administration official argued it doesn't need authorization because these are mostly drone strikes and U.S. service members are not in harm's way. President Trump won't say if he's drawn up plans to strike inside Venezuela.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. This is NPR. Kimberly Clark is buying Tylenol maker Kenvue in a cash-and-stock deal, valued at nearly $50 billion. The combined company would bring a number of household brands under one roof, including Kenvue's Listery mouthwatch and Band-Aid, and Kimberly Clark's cottonell toilet paper and Kleenex tissues. The deal is expected to close in the second half of next year

if it's approved by shareholders from both companies. voters are going to the polls in parts of the country tomorrow the first major elections since Donald Trump returned to the White House. Two governors' races are being contested in Virginia, New Jersey, in New York City. Democrats are on Mamdani is the frontrunner in the race for mayor and in California. Voters will decide whether to redraw congressional districts to counter-Republican efforts in other states. Los Angeles Monday, tens of thousands of Dodgers fans saluted their team after a thrilling Game 7 World Series wins. Steve Futterman reports. The streets in downtown L.A. were lined up with Dodger fans wearing caps and jerseys,

carrying signs, and cheering. One of the most popular Dodgers being saluted was pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the longest serving Dodger. In his final year as a player, he won his third World Series. I know the Dodgers have always been a lot to this city for generations. You know, it's part of people's families. And so for us to get to do this in front of them, It just, it means a world to me, and I know all the rest of the guys. The Dodgers are the first Major League team to win back-to-back World Series in 25 years, and some of the optimistic fans are already talking about a three-peat next season. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

This is MPR.