Senate to vote on 2 well being care proposals. And, the newest U.S. transfer towards Venezuela

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At present’s prime tales

The Senate is about to vote at present on two well being coverage plans — one from Democrats and one from Republicans — geared toward decreasing prices for people buying medical health insurance on Healthcare.gov. In the meantime, some Home Republicans need to power a vote to increase subsidies for the Inexpensive Care Act, that are set to run out in lower than three weeks. They warn that Republican leaders danger dropping voters and the bulk in the event that they let the subsidies expire and not using a substitute.

• 🎧 Republicans maintain a small Senate majority, and since the payments want 60 votes to move, NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin tells Up First that neither possibility will possible transfer ahead. That is unwelcome information for people who find themselves at the moment navigating open enrollment and are hoping for some reduction. Simmons-Duffin spoke with Ellen Allen of Charleston, W.Va., yesterday, who stated 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 yr’s value for a plan that covers much less. Polling means that the enhanced subsidies are fairly standard throughout celebration traces, in keeping with 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 proportion level yesterday in a 9-3 vote. The Fed made its resolution in an effort to help the weakening job market. Cussed inflation and delayed financial information difficult the decision-making course of. The speed minimize got here as a reduction to traders. The Dow Jones Industrial Common jumped practically 500 factors.

• 🎧 Fed policymakers say in up to date forecasts that they count on to chop rates of interest simply as soon as extra in 2026. Inflation has come down considerably, but it surely nonetheless stays above the Fed’s 2% goal, in keeping with NPR’s Scott Horsley. The president’s tariffs have pushed up the worth of imported items. Though Fed officers do not imagine tariffs may have a long-lasting impact on inflation, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says they aren’t taking any possibilities. Powell says the greatest method to assist with affordability is just not solely to get inflation down but in addition to make sure a strong job market.

President Trump stated yesterday that U.S. forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Legal professional Basic 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, significantly 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 depart one yr right into a typical three-year project, Steve Walsh of NPR community station WHRO says. Holsey appeared in a closed-door assembly earlier than lawmakers this week to deal with considerations in regards to the ongoing boat strikes. Experiences trace that he was diplomatic in his messaging, Walsh says. In the meantime, lawmakers’ considerations 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.

At present’s pay attention

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

Plus, take a look at NPR Music’s favourite songs of 2025, and hearken 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 take a look at a nonetheless picture taken from a sport digital camera on their porch. The couple says within the final two years, they’ve recurrently 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 imagine their populations are rising elsewhere as effectively. Whereas West Texas is celebrating the bears’ return, their presence has posed challenges and considerations as they enterprise into neighborhoods, enter yards and threaten livestock and pets. This 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 techniques 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 decreasing 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.

Getty Photos

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Getty Photos

1. “Involution,” an obscure time period utilized in agricultural economics, is NPR’s “Word of the Week.” This is the way it leaped from academia into Chinese language meme tradition — and the way it finally 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 standard Shopaholic guide collection, has died on the age of 55. Final yr, she introduced she was identified with an aggressive type of mind most cancers in 2022.

This text was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.