NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-16-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: November 16, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. With tensions rising between the U.S. and Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro held a rally with his supporters this weekend. Maduro denounced plans for the U.S. to hold the military drills that are expected to begin today in Trinidad and Tobago. And he sang part of Imagine John Lennon's iconic song. On Friday, President Trump suggested that he has. made a decision on Venezuela, but he declined to reveal it. Thousands of U.S. troops are stationed off the coast of South America, and the U.S.'s most advanced warship, the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers expected to arrive in the region today. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. military

has blown up 20 suspected drug smuggling boats. A total of 80 people are believed to have been killed. The Trump administration's latest surge of federal immigration agents brought out protesters in Charlotte, North Carolina. Nick Dela Canal from member station WFAE has more. Hundreds rallied in Uptown Charlotte, demanding Border Patrol leave the city. Hours earlier, agents were seen arresting people across several immigrant corridors. At one East Charlotte car repair, the owner Jessica Arias says agents tackled an employee who tried to run and took him away in a van. He's one of the best worker here.

So the Border Patrol is not here for criminals. They are taking working people. Some restaurants lock their doors with customers inside. Other businesses closed. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it's surging agents to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and to remove public safety threats. For NPR News, I'm Nick Delac Canal in Charlotte. More rain is in the forecast for Southern California,

which has already been soaked by an atmospheric river storm. The region remains on alert for the potential for mud and rock slides. According to a new United Nations report, a vast majority of children in Gaza are showing signs of anxiety and aggression after more than two years of war. Daily military strikes by Israel continue amid a fragile ceasefire, as NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reports. The report found that more than 90 percent of children in Gaza exhibit aggressive behavior or violence. Sadness and withdrawal, as well as disturbed sleep, are also common. The war has led to the collapse of education, health, and social. social systems and repeated displacement and trauma have broken down a sense of safety and stability.

Children will require sustained long-term care to recover, the report says. Humanitarian organizations, including the UN, have stepped up efforts to address mental health services for children in Gaza as a fragile ceasefire is holding in its second month. But there is still daily and deadly bombardment by Israel in Gaza, which Israel says is to dismantle infrastructure used by militants. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, television. And you're listening to NPR News. Voters in Chile are choosing a new president and Congress today in a polarized general election.

Polls suggests that no candidate will win outright in this first round, prompting a December 14th runoff between the two candidates with the most votes. John Bartler reports from the capital, Santiago. It feels like a long time since Chileans voted to make left-wing former student leader Gabrielle Boric, president in 2022. This electoral cycle has been dominated by fears over public security, illegal immigration and international organised crime. Two far-right candidates, Jose Antonio Kast and Johannes Kaiser, have prospered with promises of harsh crackdowns on crime and border security. But polls show

that Janet Hara, a Communist Party politician, is likely to win today's first round of voting with her promises to expand the welfare state. The two candidates with the most votes will face off in a run-off election next month, with polls suggested that that would be a devour. divisive showdown between a communist and an ultra-conservative. For NPR news, I'm John Butler, and San Diego, Chile. Voters in Ecuador are also going to the polls there deciding today whether to once again allow foreign military bases as part of the fight against drug trafficking. Critics cite sovereignty concerns. Today's NFL game in Spain is set to get underway shortly. The Washington commanders are taking on the Miami Dolphins in a game being played at the home stadium of

Real Madrid, one of the most successful soccer teams in the world. The game is the seventh and final overseas game of the season the most ever for the NFL. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.