NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-03-2025 8PM EST

Episode Date: December 4, 2025

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This message comes from Bayer. Science is a rigorous process that requires questions, testing, transparency, and results that can be proven. This approach is integral to every breakthrough Bayer brings forward. Innovations that save lives and feed the world. Science Delivers.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Federal agents launched a long-expected immigration enforcement sweep today in New Orleans. Immigration lawyers say they have been flooded with calls.

It's the latest area targeted by the Trump administration's campaign to step up arrests and deportations of immigrants who don't have legal status in the country. NPR's Martin Costi has more. So far, the feds are promising something similar here. They say they're going after people who are in the country, legally and have committed crimes. And in New Orleans, they say that means looking for people with criminal histories who are let out of the local jail but not turned over to ICE. That's what the feds want local jails to do, turn them. turn those people over if they're in the country illegally. Trump has been highly critical of what he calls sanctuary policies, which he says

protects criminals from being deported. But all that said, this operation probably won't focus only on criminals because what we've seen in other operations, such as in Chicago, is that most of the people who were swept up on immigration violations did not have criminal records. NPR's Martin Costi reporting, the House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed former Justice Department Special Counsel, Jack Smith, to testify at a deposition later this month. The Republican-led panel wants to question him about his investigations of President Trump, NPR's Ryan Lucas, reports. The House Judiciary Committee is

subpoenaing Jack Smith to provide documents and to appear for a deposition on December 17th. The panel's Republican chairman, Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan, says in a letter that lawmakers believe Smith has information that is vital to its oversight of the Justice Department and Smith's investigations. Smith had previously offered to testify publicly before the committee In a statement, his attorney, Peter Kosky, says Smith is disappointed the committee rejected that offer and instead has subpoenaed him for a closed-door deposition. Still, he says Smith looks forward to speaking with lawmakers to, quote, clarify the various misconceptions about his investigation. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says she'll announce an aid package next week for soybean and other commodity farmers.

NPR's Kirk Sigler reports, many are on the brink of bankruptcy due to inflation in President Trump's trade war. Farmers have been ramping up the pressure on the White House after the harvest. Millions of tons of soybeans are sitting in bins across the Midwest since China has been buying instead from Brazil amid a heated trade war. At the president's cabinet meeting, Ag Secretary Brooke Rawlins told Trump that next week she'll announce, quote, bridge payments to farmers to keep them afloat as trade negotiations continue. For so long our farmers, many of them have been farming for government checks instead of moving their product around the world. These trade deals change that forever. The White House says China has committed to buying 12 million tons of soybeans this year. That's less than half of what they bought last year.

Kirk Ziegler, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Iran's currency has fallen to a new low of 1.2 million real. to the dollar as nuclear sanctions continue to squeeze the economy. Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran appear to have stalled. The record low is increasing pressure on food prices and other costs, making daily life more challenging for Iranians. Federal employees are still recovering after the longest-ever government shutdown, Adrian Scabalind with member station KNAU reports one nonprofit near Grand Canyon National Park is sinking to improve morale, providing free meals to federal

workers. The Grand Canyon Conservancy is hosting meals for residents of Grand Canyon Village and Tucson throughout the holiday season. Kim Acker, who works for the Interior Department, says she's been through several government shutdowns. It's hard on your morale, it's hard on your confidence, it's hard on your bank account. Akker had a medical emergency shortly after she was furloughed. Now, she's unsure if federal employment is reliable. You know, I'm looking at tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills, and it really made me think, can I afford to. to be missing paychecks. Akra says while the free meals help,

she still worries she could be furloughed again next year. The budget resolution only lasts until the end of January. For NPR News, I'm Adrian Scabland in Tucson, Arizona. Sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the tire roll away. Rhythm and blues guitarist Steve the Colonel Cropper has died. He co-wrote classic songs like Sitting on the Dock of the Bay and in the midnight hour during his years

with Stacks, Records, and Memphis, Steve Cropper was 84 years old. 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 with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit wise.com.

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