NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-04-2025 5PM EST

Episode Date: November 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. The White House says it's not defying a court order to release emergency snap food assistance funding, but President Trump says the benefits will not be issued until the government reopens. NPR's Mara Liason explains. Lots of confusion today at the White House, after a federal judge ordered the administration to use emergency funds to continue sending food assistance money to around 42 million people, the president posted on social media that the money, quote, will be given only when the radical left Democrats open up government.

Was the president openly defying a court order? Not at all, says White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt. The president was talking about future SNAP benefits. The president does not want to have to continue to dip into a contingency fund that doesn't even have enough money, by the way, to fund the full program. The judge in the case has scheduled a new hearing about the SNAP benefits for Thursday. Mara Liason, NPR News, the White House. President Trump hasn't commented on the death of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney.

As NPR's Sage Miller reports, the only mention of it was during a press briefing earlier today. It's standard for the sitting president to release some kind of statement or condolences when a well-known politician dies. But President Trump has remained silent on the passing of Dick Cheney. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt was asked about whether Trump has contacted the Cheney family and if the White House will be involved. involved in any funeral arrangements. I don't believe the White House is involved in that planning, or at least hasn't gotten to it yet. While a Republican, Cheney was critical of Trump. Cheney announced he planned to vote for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

At the time, Cheney said it was because of Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Sage Miller, NPR News. Off-year elections are taking place today in a race for mayor in New York City, proletorial contests in New Jersey and Virginia, and in California, voters are weighing in on a ballot measure to temporarily replace their congressional maps, which were put in place by a nonpartisan commission. It's part of an effort to counter maps drawn by Republican-led states like Texas at the behest of President Trump. Supporters say Democrats can't stand by while Republicans boost their chances in Congress, but critics say the state shouldn't join a national arms race to gerrymander their maps. From member station KQED, Azul Alström-Eckman reports. At San Francisco City Hall, Brent Loxon says he voted yes on Proposition 50. I felt like it was important for us to kind of counteract what was happening in some of the other states. California lawmakers put Prop 50 on the ballot in the face of redistricting measures in states like Texas and Missouri seeking to boost Republican power in Congress. If approved, the measure

would change congressional district boundaries in California through the 2030 election. Dahlstrom-Eckman. This is NPR News. The Federal Aviation Administration halted all flights at Ronald Reagan, Washington National Airport earlier today because of a bomb threat. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X that the threat involved a United Airlines jet that arrived from Houston. Airport operations returned to normal this afternoon. There are strict rules about what drug companies can say in their advertisements, but a new study shows that there's more wiggle room when it comes to the companies paying for sponsored search results when people go online. NPR's

Sydney Lupkin reports. Normally, companies can't advertise a drug to treat a condition it hasn't been FDA-approved to treat. But sponsored search results online aren't regulated the way television ads are. Daniel Eisencraft-Klein and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School looked at two years of paid search results for OZempic. Novo Nordisk sponsored the search term Kelly Clarkson weight loss, presumably because those searching for celebrities and weight loss might be interested in their product. According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, 11% of paid search phrases contain the word

weight, even though OZempic is only approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Novo Nordisk says its paid search approach is standard and in compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. Sydney Lupkin, NPR News. Soccer legend David Beckham has been knighted by King Charles III, calling it his proudest moment. He was honored for his contributions to sport and charity, including his work with UNICEF and efforts to eradicate malaria. His career highlights include scoring in three World Cups. I'm Rylan Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.