NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-13-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: November 13, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The longest government shutdown in history has ended after 43 days, and today many federal workers have returned to the office. Jenny Abamu with member station WAMU reports some workers are wary. Ann Morgan says he's happy to be back at the National Institutes of Health, looking for ways to combat anti-microbial resistance. But with Democrats and Republicans still at odds on key issues like health care subsidies, it's hard for him to feel settled. I got in this morning to saying, well, you know, since this has only been extended a short period of time, here's some resources just in case this happens again. So I think people are acutely aware that this could happen again. Colleagues are putting together lists of food and monetary support.

And with the funding extension ending January 30th, Morgan says they have to be prepared. For NPR news, I'm Jenny Abimu and Bethesda. Israeli settlers torched a mosque in a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank last night, just a day after some Israeli leaders condemned such attacks. Settler violence against Palestinians has hit a record high, according to the U.N., as NPR's Kat-Lonstorf reports. The mosque was outside the city of Nablus in the central West Bank. Israeli settlers set it on fire and scrawled graffiti on a remaining wall in Hebrew that read, quote, We are not afraid and keep condemning, after an Israeli military commander issued a rare call

for a crackdown on the violence earlier this week. It's the latest in what the U.N. says is an average of eight settler attacks a day in the West Bank, an all-time high that has coincided with the Palestinian olive harvest. The attacks have provoked expressions of concern from top Israeli officials, military leaders, and members of the Trump administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Still, most such attacks go unpunished by Israel. Kat Lonsdorf, Empire News, Tel Aviv. At the close, the down. fell more than one and a half percent after the index hit a series of record highs. As NPR's Rafael NAM reports, other major indexes also fell as tech shares gave up some of their recent gains. It was one of those days where there's no one major thing that can fully explain the market declines.

Instead, it was a day for investors to catch a breath after the record-setting rally we've seen in markets. On Wednesday, for example, the Dow closed above 48,000 points for the first time. And investors are also waiting to see what will happen with the economic data the government was unable to release during the shutdown. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ index also fell as technology shares retreated. Rafael now, NPR News. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey says crews have found the body of a coal miner missing for days after a mine flooded near Charleston. Foreman Steve Lipscomb had been missing since Saturday when a mine crew hit a pocket of water.

This is NPR News from Washington. The Justice Department is joining a lawsuit to block a new congressional map approved by California voters on Election Day. It's part of the redistricting battle that could determine which party wins control of the U.S. House next year. The lawsuit sets the stage for a high-stakes clash between the Trump administration and Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, who's seen as a likely 28 presidential contender. The music of two annual celebrations collide. on this week's billboard charts as the Halloween rush gives way to Christmas music. NPR's Stephen Thompson reports, if you think the Christmas season starts earlier every year,

there's data to back you up. The new charts cover the weekend of Halloween, so they're full of spooky music, Ghostbusters, somebody's watching me, Monster Mash, and Michael Jackson's thriller, which re-enters the top ten. But a fair bit of Christmas season, but a fair bit of Christmas. music also re-enters this week's charts as fans started streaming their favorites while pumpkins were still on their doorsteps. Michael Boubley's album, Christmas, is one of four holiday records re-entering the album's chart, while two holiday classics make their way back to the Hot 100. They're by Mariah Carey and Wham. Stephen Thompson, NPR News. A small alligator

spotted along the Charles River in Boston this week has been rescued and delivered to safety. Officials say a local wildlife educator captured it last night and it's now awaiting a permanent home. The alligator was most likely an escaped pet, although it's not legal to keep alligators as pets in Massachusetts. I'm Rylan Barton. This is NPR News from Washington.