NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-08-2025 8PM EST

Episode Date: November 9, 2025

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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theshmit.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. The Senate held a rare Saturday session today over the government shutdown, which is now the longest in history, but they adjourned with no deal to reopen it. They meet again tomorrow. afternoon. Meanwhile, flight delays and cancellations continue to pile up across the USA, following the FAA's order to reduce air traffic, and that includes Washington, D.C.,'s Reagan National Airport, where NPR's Stephen Fowler has more from his delayed travel. Here in the terminal, a sea of yellow delayed and red canceled notices washes over the departures board as thousands of flights across

the country are disrupted for another day. Staffing shortages, exacerbated by the government shutdown have led to ground delays in places like Atlanta, Newark, and San Francisco. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a reduction in flights at major airports across the country to ease congestion. Federal officials have suggested further cuts could come if the shutdown continues. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Reagan National Airport Concourse B. Immigration authorities are using new controversial tools to help them identify and locate non-citizens who are eligible for deportation.

And here's Jude Jaffe Block has more. Federal immigration agents, as well as some local law enforcement, now have access to cell phone apps that use facial recognition technology. 404 media first uncovered this information. Jeremy Scott, senior counsel with the Electronic Privacy Information Center, says tools like this can lead down a dangerous path. Increasing mass indiscriminate surveillance, or increased surveillance in general, is not compatible with democracy. It is compatible with authoritarianism. Immigration and customs enforcement did not answer questions about specific tools, but in a statement, defended using technological innovation to fight crime.

Jude Jaffe Block, NPR News. The Red Cross facilitated another transfer of human remains between Gaza and Israel, including one Israeli hostage and 15 Palestinians held by Israel. And here's Lauren Freyer has more from Tel Aviv. The Israeli Prime Minister's office says forensic tests show the latest body returned to Israel is that of a retired Israeli military officer. An Israeli hostage forum says Lior Rudev was a 61-year-old volunteer ambulance driver, who was killed on October 7, 2003, after a fierce battle with Hamas-led militants at the gates of the kibbutz

where he lived in southern Israel. In exchange, the Gaza Health Ministry says it's received the bodies of 15 Palestinians, held by Israel. But their names are not yet known. The ministry says only about a third of the total number of Palestinian bodies returned under this ceasefire have been identified amid a shortage of DNA tests in Gaza. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News. The Danish government wants to ban social media for children under the age of 15. Officials say they want to protect them from the large amount of violence and self-harm that's present on online platforms. If it passes Parliament, it would be some of the most stringent teen social media restrictions

in Europe. It's not clear what platforms would be affected or how it would be enforced. The move follows Austria, which enacted the world's first ban on social media for children under 16, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, which face huge fines for violating the rules. Known for Yellowstone and Glacier National Park. Fans are flocking to Montana for a new outdoor activity. It's all about the bats. Yellowstone Public Radio's Kayla DeRosch has more. Biologists in central Montana lead a boat tour through a Missouri River Canyon.

At sunset, thousands of bats swoop from the cliffs down into the valley. State bat biologist Shannon Hilty leads tours. These sell out now in minutes to the point where people are mad that they did not get a spot. Handheld devices amplify the animals. sonic chirps. State wildlife managers say it's important to raise awareness about bats and their vulnerability to threats like disease. They say they save the agricultural industry millions of dollars a year by controlling bug populations. Montana's bat experts are planning more bat observation activities and educational opportunities statewide. For NPR news, I'm

Kayla Deroche in Billings, Montana. For the week, the Dow was down 1.2%. The S&P 500 was down 1.6% and the NASDAQ tumbled 3%. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. 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

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