NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-12-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: November 12, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington on Korva Coleman, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released several emails from the estate of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some refer to President Trump and raise new questions about the extent of their relationship. One of them apparently sent by Epstein in 2011 says Trump spent hours at Epstein's house with an alleged sex trafficking victim. NPR has not confirmed the veracity of these emails. Trump has denied having a meaningful relationship. with Epstein. The House is expected to vote later today on a spending measure that could bring an end to the federal government shutdown. This is day 43. The Senate passed the measure earlier this week. If the House adopts it, it would go to President Trump for his signature. The shutdown continues to slow airline traffic. There are nearly 900 flight cancellations so far today, according to the site, Flightaware.com. The U.S. Supreme Court is extending the time it has to make a decision on whether to require the federal government to pay full-snap food benefits. That hold lasts through tomorrow. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports this appears timed to allow Congress to vote on whether to end the shutdown. The Trump administration had asked the High Court to block full food benefits after a lower court judge ordered them. The extended stay means states can still make only partial payments. The legal wrangling over the country's largest anti-hunger program has kept millions of people who rely on it in limbo. That could change soon as Congress votes on a deal to end the shutdown,

which includes SNAP funding until next fall. Restoring that will be a relief not only to recipients, but also the retail stores where they spend their SNAP dollars and food pantries which have struggled to meet a surge in demand. Jennifer Lutton and PR News, Washington. As President Trump has been pushing Republicans to redraw congressional lines before next year's midterm elections, strong reactions are coming into a Utah court ruling on Monday that goes the other way. From member station KUER, Martha Harris reports Republicans say the state judge overreached. One of Utah's four congressional districts now favors Democrats. Emma Petty Adams is with Mormon women for ethical government, which was part of the 2022 lawsuit prompting the new map.

At a time when politicians are rushing to gerrymander their states for political advantage all over the country. A cross-partisan group of Utah citizens are finally seeing the fruits of their persistence and years-long commitment to do the opposite. But Republican leaders condemned the ruling, calling the map gerrymandered. This court ruling happens to come during a redistricting race to draw maps that could help their party keep control of Congress. For NPR news, I'm Martha Harris in Salt Lake City. On Wall Street, the Dow is up 360 points. The NASDAQ is down 130. NPR. A watchdog group is calling on artificial intelligence company OpenAI to withdraw its new AI video app. The group Public Citizen says the SORA2 app is spreading deep fake disinformation,

creating digital harassment, and lacks any protections for people who hold copyrights. OpenAI has already reached an agreement with the family of Martin Luther King Jr. to stop disrespectful and fake videos of the slain civil rights leader. There's a new generation of artists bringing a familiar medium to TikTok, folk protest music. They're using the traditional style to cut through the chaos of a fast-paced algorithm and endless scrolling. And P.S. Isabel Gomez-Sarmiento has more. Jesse Wells posts dozens of short satirical protest songs to social media. His music addresses the Epstein list, the No King's demonstrations, and the war in Gaza.

War isn't murder. Good men don't die. On and offline, Well's songs are major hits. He's amassed more than 3 million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Last week, he received four Grammy nominations in the Folk and Americana categories. Wells is the most visible example of how digital-savvy artists are reviving plain-spoken protest music for the masses. Isabella Gomez-Armiento and PR News. An atmospheric river is bringing a storm to California. California, it's expected to bring heavy rain and powerful winds. Winter storm warnings are posted in California's eastern mountains. You're listening to NPR.