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Key Headlines of the Day
The House Oversight Committee unveiled a trove of over 20,000 documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. Within these files, new emails surfaced where Epstein frequently expressed dissatisfaction with President Trump and his administration. The documents have sparked varied interpretations between Democrats and Republicans about what they reveal regarding Epstein. Read more.
A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, 2025. Democrats released emails Wednesday in which Jeffrey Epstein suggested Donald Trump was aware of the disgraced financier’s sexual abuse and had “spent hours” with one of his victims at his house.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
- 🎧 Most of Epstein’s emails centered on Trump’s political rise from 2015-2018. NPR’s Stephen Fowler notes that Epstein derided Trump in correspondence, once writing there “isn’t one decent cell in Trump’s body” to former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the email release “proves nothing.” House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes bipartisan efforts to disclose all unclassified Epstein-related files from the Justice Department. Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva’s recent swearing-in may tip the balance for a House vote on the issue.
The longstanding U.S. government shutdown has concluded following President Trump’s signing of a funding bill. This legislation reverses layoffs from the shutdown, ensures back pay for federal workers, and provides agency funding until September’s end. However, it excludes an extension for enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, set to lapse at year’s close. Read more.
- 🎧 NPR’s Barbara Sprunt is monitoring Democratic efforts to propose a bill on expiring subsidies that could garner Republican support during the Senate’s December vote. A successful passage would mark a policy win for Democrats, while Republican opposition could provide Democrats a campaign focal point on health care costs.
- 🎧 There’s potential for a one-year subsidy extension, but no firm deal exists, reports NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin. Republicans argue the subsidies don’t tackle increasing health costs, viewing them as temporary pandemic measures. Conversely, Democrats aim to preserve the subsidies for lower premiums.
Israel deported 154 Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal for Hamas to release its last Israeli hostages. These individuals were exiled to Cairo, barred from returning to Palestinian territories. While Israeli security experts believe the deportation strategy aims to curb militant recidivism, there’s concern about possible long-term security ramifications.
Living Healthier
Experts recommend starting hormone therapy before the age of 60 or within ten years of the start of menopause.
MStudioImages/E+/Getty images
MStudioImages/E+/Getty images
Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.
The FDA is set to withdraw warnings on estrogen-based hormone therapies for menopause symptoms. Initially flagged due to a study linking them to increased heart and cancer risks, experts now recommend starting therapy before age 60 or within a decade of menopause onset, believing it to be safer. Considerations for discussion with healthcare providers:
- 👩⚕️ Experts advise starting therapy before 60 or within a decade of menopause onset.
- 👩⚕️ Discuss treatment duration; typically three to five years, though not a strict rule.
- 👩⚕️ Alternatives exist for those avoiding hormone therapy. Two non-hormonal medications are approved for severe menopause hot flashes.
Visual Stories
The Aurora Borealis lights up the night sky over Monroe, Wisconsin on Tuesday night.
Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Vivid northern lights illuminated the skies on Tuesday night, stretching across many states due to intense geomagnetic storms. These auroras, visible as far south as parts of Florida and Alabama, exemplify the sun’s nearing peak in its 11-year solar cycle. This trend is expected to persist for months. Explore photos of this natural display and learn how to capture them.
Before You Head Out
In a ceremonial event in Philadelphia Wednesday, the U.S. Mint produced its last penny. The one-cent coin, introduced 232 years ago, is being phased out because each one cost nearly 4 cents to produce.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America
- The final penny was minted in Philadelphia as the U.S. government ceases production due to cost inefficiencies. Learn more.
- NPR’s Word of the Week is “nostalgia,” once a medical term, now a complex emotion with commercial potential. Discover its history.
- Stacia’s life was altered by a simple question from a woman who stopped for her during a difficult time. Read her story.
This newsletter was edited by Obed Manuel.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
