NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-04-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: November 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. Polls are opening this hour on the East Coast, including in Virginia and in New York. In New York City's mayoral race, President Trump has endorsed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo's running as an independent. He's opposing Democratic nominees, Zoran Mamdani, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo's discounting the presidential endorsement saying Trump is trying to beat Mamdani. Polls are opening now in New Jersey, too. From Member Station, W.N. NYC, Mike Hayes, says New Jersey has seen a surge in early voting. 740,000 New Jerseyans voted early in person in this year's governor's race, according to the state's division of elections. That's more than tripled the number of early voters from the 2021 governor's election. Combined with mail-in ballots, more than 1.2 million New Jerseyans voted before election day. Democrats hold a 280,000 vote advantage for ballots cast so far. But Republican strongholds in South Jersey saw some of the best early voting turnout,

an indication that both parties are motivated to turn out this year. For NPR News, I'm Mike Hayes. The Trump administration says it will restart federal food assistance funding cut off by the federal government shutdown. But officials say SNAP recipients will only get half of what they normally receive each month. A Democratic effort in the Senate to fully fund food assistance, failed yesterday. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is blaming the Trump administration. Everyone can get full benefits. The only person standing in the way is Donald Trump. But Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso objected, calling the Democratic move a political stunt.

One end the food assistance cliff, it's easy. Pass the clean bipartisan continuing resolution. Democrats should vote for it immediately. The White House is warning it will take a lot longer for people to yet even the reduced SNAP benefits. Two men arrested last week in Michigan are now facing federal terrorism charges. Authorities say the pair are accused of plotting a potential ISIS-inspired attack for Halloween. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. The two defendants, Mohamed Ali and Majin Mahmoud, are charged by criminal complaint with receiving and transferring firearms to be used for a crime of terrorism.

Court papers say the defendants had ISIS-related materials in their social media communications. the two men also allegedly purchased guns and practiced shooting with their purported co-conspirators at local shooting ranges. Investigators say they uncovered communications in which the defendants allegedly discussed an attack to take place on quote-unquote pumpkin, which officials believe was of reference to Halloween. Agent seized firearms, tactical vests, and ammunition during court-authorized searches of the men's homes, as well as a storage unit.

A detention hearing is scheduled for next week. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. is NPR. Russian officials say Ukrainian drones have struck a petrochemical plant. That plant is about a thousand miles away from the Ukrainian border deep inside Russia. The plant makes rubber and jet fuel, and officials say the attack partially collapsed the plant's water treatment system. No casualties are reported. Comedian John Stewart has announced the Daily show will continue for another year. NPR's Mandelit Del Barco reports,

Comedy Central renewed his contract. John Stewart told his audience the news on last night's show. The Daily Show will be coming back for another year. Stewart will continue to be executive producer for the series through its 30th year, and he'll host the satirical news show every Monday through December of 26. We don't take for granted in any way how much your support means. It's been a rocky road for late-night hosts. President Trump has lashed out against them for regularly mob.

him and his policies. Earlier this year, CBS and parent company Paramount announced Stephen Colbert's late show is ending in May, and Disney briefly suspended Jimmy Kimmel's show over his controversial monologue that mentioned the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Mandolite Del Barco, NPR News. Renowned actor Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89. That's according to her daughter, actor Laura Dern, who says she was with her mother when she died in Ohio, California. Ladd was nominated for an acting Oscar three times for roles in Alice doesn't live here anymore, wild at heart, and for rambling Rose. This is NPR News.