NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-20-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington on Corva Coleman, the funeral service opens this hour for former Vice President Dick Cheney. He died earlier this month at the age of 84. Cheney served his VP under former President George W. Bush, who will speak at today's service at Washington National Cathedral. President Trump said last week he's lowered tariffs on some food items, such as coffee and produce. Other tariffs are still in place and will affect consumers. NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben explains that Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs, are a good example. The rate on those tariffs has changed this year, but even beyond that, the steel and aluminum products that that tariff covers also have changed. For example, in August, the administration added more than 400 categories to the list of what is affected by those steel and aluminum tariffs, everything from kitchen knives to fire extinguishers. And the administration argued that that was meant to stop firms from circumventing the tariffs. But even if that's true, that example still shows that even when a tariff rates, is set, the tariff itself can still drastically change. NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben reporting.

A federal judge in Marlon will hear arguments today on the Trump administration's effort to deport Kilmar-Abrego-Garcia to Liberia. It's the latest turn in a legal battle between Abrago-Garcia and the government, as NPR's Christian Wright reports. The Trump administration is asking the judge to lift her injunction so that it can deport Abrago-Garcia to Liberia. The West African country agreed to receive him on a strictly humanitarian and temporary basis. But Abrago Garcia's lawyers argue he fears persecution or torture and that he should instead be sent to Costa Rica, which has also agreed to accept him. Abrago Garcia's very public legal fight has raised questions about due process. The administration wrongfully deported him from Maryland to El Salvador in March

violating a judge's order. He's filed a civil suit. Meanwhile, Abrago Garcia's scheduled to be tried in Tennessee on human smuggling charges next year. Kristen Wright, NPR News, Washington. The group Human Rights Watch has released a new report. It says that the Israeli military's emptying of refugee camps in the occupied West Bank amounts to crimes against humanity. NPR's Kat Lundsdorf has more. In January, Israeli forces moved into several densely populated areas in the northern West Bank, forcibly displacing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the UN.

Those people have not been allowed to return to. to their homes since, which in many cases have been demolished by the Israeli military. Israel says the operation is necessary for its security. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the displacement of civilians in occupied territory except temporarily and entitled Displace People to Protection and Accommodation. Human Rights Watch found that Israel has not complied, saying that the forced displacement amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is the longest and largest displacement in the West Bank in decades.

Kat Lonsdorf, Empire News, Jerusalem. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Labor Department released a late report today on the September jobs picture. It says employers created 119,000 jobs that month. That's a stronger number than analysts expected. The report was delayed by the federal government shutdown. Jobs numbers for October were never collected. The child advocacy nonprofit that's called Fairplay has released an advisory today.

The group is warning people against biopies. buying AI toys this holiday season. And Fier's Chloe Veltman reports other groups are raising similar concerns. Fairplay's advisory says play things like AI-powered plushies and robots collect sensitive data and disrupt human relationships among other harms. Rachel Franz is a Fair Play program director. These can have long and short-term impacts on development and it's ridiculous to expect young children to avoid potential harm here.

The advisory echoes the public interest. Research Group's latest annual Trouble in Toyland report. The Consumer Watchdog's findings reveal how AI toys allow kids to chat about sexually explicit topics and have few parental controls. In an email to NPR, the Toy Association, which represents toy manufacturers, said toys sold by responsible manufacturers and retailers must adhere to more than 100 strict federal safety standards and tests. The trade group urges caregivers to shop only from reputable sources.

Chloe Valtman, NPR news. Forecasters have issued flash flood warnings for a few counties in central Texas this morning. A powerful storm is rolling through and several inches of rain are expected to fall. This is NPR.