Up First from NPR Epstein Documents Dump, Government Reopens, Affordable Care Act Limbo
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Nov 13, 2025 
Barbara Sprunt, NPR's congressional correspondent, discusses the fallout from the 43-day government shutdown, highlighting what Democrats gained and the challenges ahead for health-care subsidy negotiations. Selena Simmons-Duffin explains the intricacies of ACA tax credits and shares a personal story of how subsidy loss could skyrocket monthly premiums. Stephen Fowler reveals explosive emails from Epstein’s documents that link Trump to the financier, raising questions about political accountability as Congress moves to release more records.
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Epstein Files Link Extensively To Trump
- Epstein's files contained over a thousand references to Donald Trump, showing Epstein tracked Trump's rise and mocked him.
- The released estate documents differ from DOJ files and may not contain everything Congress seeks.
Full DOJ Files Still Withheld
- Congress is pushing to force release of all unclassified DOJ files about Epstein, a different set than the estate documents released to the House.
- Passage would need Senate approval and the president's signature, making success uncertain.
Shutdown Ended Without Subsidy Win
- The 43-day shutdown ended with a funding bill that restored pay and SNAP but did not secure ACA subsidy extensions.
- Democrats split because they weighed ending public suffering against failing to win their core demand.