NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-03-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

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Do you have a question you just don't feel like Googling? We're Ian and Mike, hosts of How to Do Everything. We can help answer all of your most pressing questions, like, can I cook lasagna in my dishwasher? Where do you park your blimp? Or the timeless classic, what's that smell? I, ooh. Listen to the How to Do Everything podcast on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder.

Republicans have held on to a Tennessee congressional seat, but by a much thinner margin than in the past. Mariana Bacquiao from Member Station WPLN reports. At the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Republicans celebrated after a heated race for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. Last year, the GOP swept this district by 22 points. Van Epps fended off a challenge from Democratic State Representative Afton Bain, winning the election by about 9 percentage points. That's according to a race called by the Associated Press. In his victory speech, Van Epps said Democrats shouldn't own the conversation on affordability. And together we'll bring down the cost of living.

I'm tired of too many Republicans ceding affordability to the Democrats. Van Epps will be back on the ballot next year for the midterms after he finishes out his predecessor's term. For NPR News, I'm Mariana Baca Yao in Nashville. Defense Secretary Pete Hagsath is coming under. mounting pressure over the decision to launch a second strike against a suspected drug smuggling boat in September. Hegss spoke about the strike Tuesday, as NPR's Greg Myrie reports. President Trump convened a cabinet meeting and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegss spoke about that operation on September 2nd. That's when the U.S. military hit a suspected drug boat. Nine people were

killed and the boat was set a flame initially. Here's what Hegsa said. I watched that first strike lot. As you can imagine at the Department of War, we've got to a lot of things to do. So I didn't stick around, so I moved on to my next meeting. So he was fully engaged when the initial attack took place and didn't remain around for what followed. Agass said he didn't hear about the second strike order by Navy Admiral Mitch Bradley until later. Bradley is expected to meet with members of Congress this week. U.S. officials hunkered down over a draft peace proposal with their Russian counterparts in Moscow Tuesday. Special envoy Steve Whitkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived.

with an amended version, as NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Analysts say Russian President Vladimir Putin likely will not sign any draft that has the Ukrainian green light, as the Kremlin has changed none of its maximalist demands. It wants Ukraine to give up territory Russia has been unable to take on the battlefield. Speaking to reporters, Putin blamed the Europeans for blocking peace, saying they had changed the draft proposal to make it unacceptable for Russia and would blame Russia if it fails. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking from Ireland, said Ukrainians need certainty and guarantees, and that joining the EU would be a guarantee of certainty for the Ukrainian people.

Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kiev. And you're listening to NPR News. The Trump administration is seeking to force Democrats. led states to provide data about those who receive food assistance through SNAP. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the administration will withhold administrative funds beginning next week, unless those states provide data, including names and immigration status. Democratic states have been resisting the demand for data. A federal judge ruled in October that the Agriculture Department cannot deny funds over data noncompliance.

For decades, scientists have struggled to develop a cure for. for HIV, but the disease can be controlled with daily medication. And Pierre-Shonathan Lambert says new studies out this week brings researchers closer to controlling the virus without taking a pill once a day. HIV is a wily virus that comes roaring back if a patient stops their daily medication. To try to prevent that from happening, two research groups trained the immune system to fight off the virus without the pills. The idea is to coax patients to produce antibodies that can attack many forms of the virus.

In two very small studies published in the journal Nature, the approach showed promise. Several patients kept the virus controlled for months and even over a year without medication. Crucially, the researchers homed in on the immune cells responsible, called CD8 T-cells, knowing this could make it much easier to eventually develop a cure. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. Winter weather advisories remain in place in the northeast, the region being hit by the first major storm of the sun. season leading to hundreds of flight delays Tuesday. This is NPR News. This message comes from

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