NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-10-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: November 11, 2025

NPR News: 11-10-2025 7PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This message comes from NPR sponsor, Subaru, and the 26 Cross Trek Wilderness. Explore a new territory with 9.3 inches of ground clearance, a stunning 11.6 inch touchscreen and eyesight driver assist technology. Love of adventure elevated. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. The Senate is poised to vote on a measure to end the government shutdown after a handful of Democrats negotiated with Republican leaders to temporarily fund federal agencies. Democrats joining in on the deal are being criticized by some colleagues for not pushing for health care concessions from Republicans. If the Senate does approve it, the House would still have to weigh in. NPR's Sam Gringlass has more on the package. At the core is a resolution

funding parts of the government through the end of January. The Senate has been voting on a version of that for weeks now. What's new is this stopgap is now paired with three full-year appropriations bills that would fund some agencies, including ones providing food assistance and services for veterans. The package also has a provision to reverse the firings of federal employees during the shutdown. That same section would prevent more layoffs through January 30th. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also promised a vote on expiring health insurance subsidies. NPR's Sam Greenglass reporting the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to revisit a landmark 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage. As Lisa Autry of member station WKYU reports, the petition came from a former Kentucky

County clerk. A same-sex couple sued former Rowan County clerk Kim Davis for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses on religious grounds. She appealed the $360,000 jury verdict, arguing protection under the First Amendment. Chris Hartman leads the Louisville-based fairness campaign. He fears the 2015 ruling could still be revisited. The reality is that Kim Davis's case was never the one that was going to make it to the Supreme Court. All of the experts agreed that this was the weakest possible challenge to marriage equality in the U.S. The Conservative Liberty Council, which represents Davis, says by declining to hear the case, the court leaves the, quote, wrongly decided 2015 opinion in place. For NPR news, I'm Lisa Autry

in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Many governments around the globe simply give people cash to reduce poverty, as NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, a new study in The Lancet finds these programs can substantially improve maternal and child health. In recent years, there's been loads of research showing cash transfers can have significant benefits for households, but there's been less research looking at countrywide effects. To get a broader view, a team of researchers analyzed different health outcomes across 37 low- and middle-income countries with government-sponsored cash aid programs. The benefits were big. Cash transfers helped about 10% more pregnant women get better, care, which in turn improved child mortality.

Slightly older kids were more likely to get vaccinated, be fed nutritious food, and about 40% less likely to get diarrheal diseases in places with cash transfers. Programs that benefited bigger chunks of the population were associated with greater health improvements. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. This is NPR News from Washington. Syria's foreign minister says in a social media post tonight that the U.S. has lifted sanctions imposed during the former U.S.

Assad government. Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara met with President Trump at the White House today. It's the first visit by a Syrian head of state since the country gained independence in 1946. The U.S. and Syria are expected to formalize an agreement that invites Syria into a coalition that fights the Islamic State Group. Inside one of NASA's centers, employees say there's a campaign of organized chaos and information blackout. It's unclear why, but they do know that President Trump targeted it for cuts earlier this year. NPR's Kadia Riddle reports. The Goddard Space Flight Center is in Maryland, and it's been a crown jewel of scholarship and innovation for NASA for years.

But this year, say employees, they've seen a sharp change in culture and climate. Information withheld from employees, labs closed without reasons, and buildings suddenly shut down. Casey McGrath is an astrophysicist there. He spoke in his personal capacity. Like the upper management is pushing fast and hard to shut down buildings on campus without actually telling anybody. what they're doing. The White House and NASA both did not respond to request for comment on this story. Katie Reddle, NPR News. China has a new visa to try and attract global talent and gain an edge in the tech industry. Similar to the H-1B visa in the United States, China's version targets

skilled science and technology workers. Tighter immigration policies in the U.S. have made China relatively more appealing, but language barriers, quality of life issues, and internet censorship remain challenges. I'm Rylan Barton. You're listening to NPR. our 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 with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. T's and Cs apply.