NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-14-2025 10PM EST

Episode Date: November 15, 2025

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There's a battle playing out over who should control American universities. We're going to bankrupt these universities. In season one, we were guessing what was to come. Now we know. We want $500 million from Harvard. It's season two of The Harvard Plan. This time, it really is personal. Listen to On the Media, wherever you get your podcasts.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Local authorities in Chicago say they arrested 21 people this morning during a protest outside an ice facility. As NPR's Martin Costi reports, it's been the scene of frequent protests as the administration ramped up immigration enforcement in the area. Since the start of Operation Midway Blitz in September, protesters have gathered outside an ice holding facility near Chicago. On this particular morning, a group of those protesters, some identifying as clergy, reportedly surged past a security barrier, triggering a shoving match with Cook County Sheriff's Deputies and State Police, as well as arrests. The holding facility is the target of a lawsuit alludging inhumane conditions. People held on immigration violations describe overcrowding and insufficient food and medical care.

Earlier this week, a federal judge ordered hundreds of immigration detainees let go on bond and monitored release, but the federal government still has a week to comply. Martin Costi, NPR News. In Indiana, lawmakers have rejected calls to redraw congressional maps that would favor Republicans in next year's midterm elections. they say there were not enough votes to address the issue from member station WFY, Ben Thorpe reports. The announcement comes after months of pressure from President Donald Trump to draw maps that could eliminate the two Democratic congressional seats in Indiana. State lawmakers had initially planned to address redistricting during the first two weeks of December. But a growing number of Republican state senators have voiced opposition in the last week. Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Roderick Bray said there were not enough votes to move the idea forward.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun responded to the Senate's decision by urging lawmakers to convene. Braun said in a statement, quote, Our state senators need to do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps. For NPR News, I'm Ben Thorpe in Indianapolis. President Trump is dropping tariffs on several commodities, including beef, coffee, and tropical fruits. It comes after voters cited economic concerns as their top issue during elections earlier this month, resulting in big wins for Democrats. Disruptions to federal research funding are causing many young American scientists to reconsider their career choices. NPR's John Hamilton has more from the

Society for Neuroscience gathering in San Diego. About 20,000 brain scientists are expected to attend this year's meeting. Usually, they discuss topics like the brain circuitry involved in Alzheimer's disease. But a prominent topic at this year's meeting is cuts and disruptions at agencies including the National Institutes of Health. John Morrison of the University of California, Davis, is the society's president. The U.S. has been a world leader in research for decades, and that leadership position is now at risk.

Morrison says many young scientists no longer see a path to a career in research. If they choose other fields, he says, it will slow efforts to treat diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and schizophrenia. John Hamilton, NPR News. It's NPR. Chinese astronauts have returned from their nation's space station after a nine-day delay. It was caused

by tiny cracks in their return capsule likely caused by space debris. Their 204-day stay was the longest for any astronaut at China's space station. Ukrainian forces say they are holding on to a key city in eastern Ukraine, even as Russian forces say they're closing in nearly two years after they first launched their fight to occupy it. NPR's Joanna Kikis reports that both with Ukraine and Russia see the battle as key to shaping narratives about who's winning the war. NPR spoke to four Ukrainian brigades whose soldiers are defending the eastern city of Pukrovsk, a city which Russian attacks have largely destroyed. Small groups of Russian troops have infiltrated the city, leading to intense street battles.

Volodymyr Polovyi is with Ukraine's seventh rapid response corps. The brigades are really exhausted. The enemy has changed its tactic. We have the infiltration of infantry groups, and they are covered by the swarms of drone. Russia is also using an elite drone unit called Rubicon, which hunts down Ukrainian drone operators. Joanna Kikisis and PR News, Kiev.

What is thought to be the world's largest known spider's web has been discovered in a cave on the Albanian-Greek border. researchers published their findings in the journal Subterranean Biology of two different spider species peacefully cohabitating in the giant colony nestled in the pitch black cave. I'm Ryland Barton. 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

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