NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-07-2025 3AM EST

Episode Date: November 7, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The Trump administration has announced two more deals with the pharmaceutical industry to lower drug costs. As NPR, Sidney Lubkin reports, the latest agreements are with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, the makers of popular but expensive anti-obesity drugs. The centerpiece of the deals is blockbuster drugs for type 2 diabetes and obesity, so OZempic, Wagovi, Manjaro, and Zepbound. It expands coverage to some, but not all Medicare beneficiaries with obesity. They have to have additional health conditions or a body mass index over 35.

People with Medicare will be able to get them for a copay of $50 a month. State Medicaid programs will have to opt in, but the lower cost of the drugs to the government, $2.45 per patient per month, is something that I'm hearing will likely push them toward this. NPR Sidney Lubkin reporting. judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to ensure that federal food aid is sent out to states by today. From Ocean State Media, Isabella Jamilion has the story. During a brief hearing, a coalition of nonprofits and cities argued that the government had the money to send out November's benefits, but was choosing not to. Trump administration lawyers countered

it couldn't issue the payments because of the federal government shutdown and that it would be too difficult to issue partial payments from its emergency fund. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. rejected that claim, ordering the government to pay the benefits in full as soon as possible. Kevin Love Hubbard is one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs. There's too much harm that will occur from further delay. The Trump administration is appealing the order. For NPR News, I'm Isabella Jubillian in Rhode Island.

A firm that keeps tabs on Pink Slip says that layoff notices jumped sharply last month, and PR Scott Horsley has details. It was the worst October for layoff announcements in more than two decades. That's according to a monthly tally kept by Challenger Gray in Christmas, which helps companies manage job cuts. U.S. employers announced plans to cut more than 150,000 jobs in October. Tech companies and warehousing firms saw some of the biggest downsizing. Reports like challengers are getting extra scrutiny these days.

because official government reports on the job market have been suspended by the federal shutdown. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Pope Leo the 14th has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Rome. The two men reportedly discussed a two-state solution to end the conflict between Israel and Amos. Abbas was at the Vatican to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the comprehensive agreement between the Holy See and the state of Palestine. In September, the Pope told Israel's president that a two-state solution, is the only way out of war. This is NPR.

Former NFL star Antonio Brown has been arrested on an attempted murder charge stemming from a May 16th shooting. 37-year-old Brown was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Dubai and was flown to New Jersey for extradition to Florida. He's accused of grabbing a security officer's gun and firing two shots at someone he argued with earlier. Brown faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, plus a fine of up to $10,000. A paramilitary group accused of killing thousands of civilians in Sudan

has agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire proposed by U.S.-led mediators. As NPR's Jewel Bright reports, the move will allow aid to reach civilians. The rapid support forces says it accepted the truth to address the urgent humanitarian consequences of the war and to ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people. U.S. officials have been working with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the ceasefire between the RSF and the Sudanese army for months. It remains unclear if the Sudanese army would agree to the truce. Senior army officials have said previously they would only agree to a truce that includes RSF fighters withdrawing from civilian areas and giving up their weapons. The war in Sudan erupted more than two years ago and has killed over 40,000 people, forced at least 14 million from their homes,

and caused farming. Jewel Bright, NPR Newslegas. U.S.S. futures are higher in after-hours trading on Wall Street following Thursday's losses on Asia-Pacific market shares are lower, down 1% in Tokyo and Hong Kong. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com.

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