Senate’s ACA vote; Fed cuts charges; Venezuela : NPR

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Right this moment’s prime tales

The Senate is ready to vote at this time on two well being coverage plans — one from Democrats and one from Republicans — geared toward lowering prices for people buying medical insurance on Healthcare.gov. In the meantime, some Home Republicans need to power a vote to increase subsidies for the Reasonably priced Care Act, that are set to run out in lower than three weeks. They warn that Republican leaders threat dropping voters and the bulk in the event that they let the subsidies expire with out a substitute.

• 🎧 Republicans maintain a small Senate majority, and since the payments want 60 votes to cross, NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin tells Up First that neither possibility will seemingly transfer ahead. That is unwelcome information for people who find themselves presently navigating open enrollment and are hoping for some aid. Simmons-Duffin spoke with Ellen Allen of Charleston, W.Va., yesterday, who mentioned she enrolled in a bronze plan with out imaginative and prescient and dental protection. This plan prices Allen a month-to-month premium of $1,967.50, which is 4 instances this 12 months’s value for a plan that covers much less. Polling means that the enhanced subsidies are fairly widespread throughout celebration traces, based on Simmons-Duffin. She predicts it is unlikely the votes would be the finish of the story, and that Congress could proceed to work towards an answer.

The Federal Reserve minimize rates of interest by 1 / 4 share level yesterday in a 9-3 vote. The Fed made its determination in an effort to assist the weakening job market. Cussed inflation and delayed financial knowledge sophisticated the decision-making course of. The speed minimize got here as a aid to buyers. The Dow Jones Industrial Common jumped practically 500 factors.

• 🎧 Fed policymakers say in up to date forecasts that they anticipate to chop rates of interest simply as soon as extra in 2026. Inflation has come down considerably, however it nonetheless stays above the Fed’s 2% goal, based on NPR’s Scott Horsley. The president’s tariffs have pushed up the worth of imported items. Though Fed officers do not consider tariffs may have a long-lasting impact on inflation, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says they aren’t taking any probabilities. Powell says the finest approach to assist with affordability isn’t solely to get inflation down but additionally to make sure a sturdy job market.

President Trump mentioned yesterday that U.S. forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi launched a video displaying what seem like U.S. forces and the Coast Guard rappelling from a helicopter onto the tanker. Congress is demanding solutions about U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats, notably with reference to a Sept. 2 incident the place the navy killed two males who survived preliminary strikes. Adm. Alvin Holsey, who oversaw the strikes, is stepping down this week.

• 🎧 Officers haven’t supplied many particulars publicly about Holsey’s departure, however it’s uncommon for a prime commander to go away one 12 months right into a typical three-year task, Steve Walsh of NPR community station WHRO says. Holsey appeared in a closed-door assembly earlier than lawmakers this week to handle issues in regards to the ongoing boat strikes. Stories trace that he was diplomatic in his messaging, Walsh says. In the meantime, lawmakers’ issues stay as they proceed to demand video of the Sept. 2 strike and the administration’s authorized rationale for finishing up round 22 strikes on alleged drug boats, which have killed 87 folks.

Right this moment’s pay attention

As 2025 winds down, it is time to crank up the jams and rejoice the 12 months’s prime music. NPR’s Music group bought the celebration began by tackling the largest query: What had been the very best albums of the 12 months? Whereas one album snagged the coveted spot of NPR Music’s No. 1 album of 2025, the group did not cease there. They had been tasked with crafting a private listing of their prime 10 albums of the 12 months, and singling out one album they’d advocate to anybody. Get able to dive into the group’s elite, no-skips, best-of-the-best 12-pack of albums they might advocate.

Plus, take a look at NPR Music’s favourite songs of 2025, and take heed to a playlist on the streaming platform of your selection. Get extra protection on the very best music of 2025 right here.

Deep dive

Ken Clouse and his spouse Pam have a look at a nonetheless picture taken from a recreation digital camera on their porch. The couple says within the final two years, they’ve often seen black bears of their neighborhood south of Alpine, Texas.

Carlos Morales/NPR

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Carlos Morales/NPR

Black bears have traditionally been West Texas’ largest predator. However overhunting and habitat loss have led to their decline over the many years. Now, black bear sightings have elevated within the state, and researchers consider their populations are rising elsewhere as nicely. Whereas West Texas is celebrating the bears’ return, their presence has posed challenges and issues as they enterprise into neighborhoods, enter yards and threaten livestock and pets. Here is how some states are coping:

• 🐻 In states like Montana and Colorado, residents set up bear-resistant dumpsters and trash bins. In some circumstances, they could use alarm methods or sprinklers to attempt to startle bears.
• 🐻 Wildlife biologists stress that residents ought to take away meals and something that might entice hungry bears to their space.
• 🐻 Biologists are additionally working to organize folks to stay with black bears and educate them within the hope of lowering bear-human conflicts.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Involution, an obscure time period utilized in agricultural economics, leapt from the pages of academia into the Chinese language meme world, then grew to become a part of Chinese language authorities policymaking.

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1. “Involution,” an obscure time period utilized in agricultural economics, is NPR’s “Phrase of the Week.” Here is the way it leaped from academia into Chinese language meme tradition — and the way it in the end influenced authorities policymaking.
2. This week’s Far-Flung Postcard collection takes you to a meals stand within the one-horse city of Marikavalasa in India, the place working girls go to get pleasure from a deal with and unwind within the night earlier than returning to the grind.
3. Sophie Kinsella, the creator of the massively widespread Shopaholic e-book collection, has died on the age of 55. Final 12 months, she introduced she was identified with an aggressive type of mind most cancers in 2022.

This text was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.