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Chapter 1: What did President Trump say about the cost of living in Pennsylvania?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. President Trump visited a Pennsylvania resort and casino last night to tout what he's doing to make the cost of living more affordable for Americans. Speaking to a crowd, Trump insisted his administration has lowered prices compared to the Biden administration.
They... Gave you high prices. They gave you the highest inflation in history. And we're giving you we're bringing those prices down rapidly, lower prices, bigger paychecks.
But inflation this past September, the most recent month that was measured, was at the same point as it was during former President Biden's last month in office. During his talk last night, Trump wandered off the affordability topic and turned to bashing his opponents. He used epithets to describe countries in Africa and immigrants from Somalia.
Chapter 2: What is the Federal Reserve's expected action on interest rates today?
If you don't share our values, contribute to our economy and assimilate into our society, then we don't want you in our country. We don't want you.
Trump also insulted Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, an American born in Somalia. She wrote online that President Trump is a national embarrassment. The Federal Reserve is expected to lower its benchmark interest rate this afternoon. NPR scout Horsley reports it could soon get a little bit cheaper to borrow money.
The Fed has cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point at each of its last two meetings, and investors expect another quarter point cut today as the central bank tries to prop up a sagging job market. Not everyone on the rate-setting committee agrees, however, that another reduction is warranted.
Hawkish committee members are more concerned about stubbornly high inflation and may vote to hold interest rates steady. The Fed is working with less information than usual since the six-week government shutdown prevented federal workers from collecting data on inflation and unemployment in October.
Chapter 3: How many students filled out FAFSA this year, and why is it significant?
November's numbers have also been delayed until next week. Too late to guide Fed policymakers in their decision today. Scott Horsley in Pear News, Washington.
More than a million high school students have filled out this year's federal financial aid form known as FAFSA. More seniors completed the form this fall than in recent years. NPR's Alyssa Nadwarny reports that's despite polling that suggests many Americans are beginning to sour on higher education.
Seeing so many students fill out the financial aid form matters because it's often a critical step in the college process. And it's correlated with more students enrolling in college next year. It's good to have good news about the FAFSA. Bill DeBlond is with the National College Attainment Network.
Chapter 4: Who is the new mayor of Miami and what is her significance?
He says there's two main reasons the numbers are so high this year. First, the form is much simpler thanks to recent legislation by Congress. Second, it was made available way earlier, on September 24th. In the two years prior, the form didn't open until sometime in December. Melissa Nadworny, NPR News, Washington.
And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Voters in Miami have chosen Democrat Eileen Higgins to be their next mayor. She's the first Democrat to hold the job in about 30 years and the first woman ever to hold the job. Higgins is a former Miami-Dade County commissioner. She defeated Republican candidate Emilio Gonzalez, who had been endorsed by President Trump.
Chapter 5: What is the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand?
The conflict between Cambodia and Thailand continues to spiral at the border between the two countries. Hundreds of thousands of civilians in both countries have been evacuated away from the fighting. The renewed warfare comes after Cambodia and Thailand signed a peace agreement several weeks ago. The truce had been negotiated by President Trump and leaders in Malaysia.
Australia has started enforcing its social media ban for children. Kids 16 and younger in Australia cannot access some of the world's biggest platforms. From Melbourne, Christina Kuklia reports.
All 10 listed platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and X, say they will comply with the ban, which requires them to remove accounts held by underage users and prevent new ones from being created. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the new law will change lives. It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced.
Chapter 6: What are the implications of Australia's new social media ban for children?
It's a profound reform. The Australian government says more sites could still be added. That's as some of the major technology companies warn the restrictions are rushed and arbitrary and will be difficult to enforce. Australia's highest court has agreed to hear a legal challenge against the ban next year.