--:-- Ryland Barton: This message comes from Total Wine and More. November is all about gathering. Total Wine and More has wines, beers, and spirits for special moments. Find what you love and love what you find. Spirits not sold in Virginia and North Carolina. Drink responsibly. Be 21.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Less than a day after voters in California overwhelmingly approved a new congressional map to favor Democrats, Republicans are suing. Carrie Klein, member station KVPR reports on the lawsuit against Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
--:-- Carrie Klein: The federal complaint argues the redrawn district map passed by voters violates the Constitution, specifically the 14th and 15th Amendments. Plaintiffs allege district lines were redrawn in favor of Hispanic voters, which they claim is illegal because Hispanics are not a minority in California.
--:-- Carrie Klein: Lead plaintiff is David Tongipaugh, a Republican state assembly member in Fresno County. This whole process was a sham. And with this lawsuit, we will make sure that we will expose it and we will hold those accountable.
--:-- Carrie Klein: Plaintiffs are asking a panel of judges to issue an injunction preventing the new map from going into effect. The case could make its way to the Supreme Court.
--:-- Ryland Barton: For NPR News, I'm Carrie Klein in Fresno.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The Federal Aviation Administration says it will reduce air traffic by 10 percent across some of the nation's busiest airports to maintain safety during the government shutdown. NPR's Joel Rose reports the agency's dealing with persistent staffing shortages of air traffic controllers.
--:-- Joel Rose: The FAA is planning to reduce air traffic in 40 high-volume markets beginning on Friday. FAA Administrator Brian Bedford says the agency wants to reduce the pressure at those airports before safety is compromised.
--:-- Joel Rose: We're not going to wait until we see something flashing red to say, oh, we should take action now. The FAA has already been delaying flights at some airports because of staffing shortages among air traffic controllers.
--:-- Joel Rose: Those controllers are required to work without pay during the shutdown, but some have taken on second jobs and many are calling out sick.
--:-- Joel Rose: Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy say they'll meet with airline leaders to figure out how to implement the reductions fairly before announcing the details.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Attorney General Pam Bondi is calling Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro a narco-terrorist and says he's a threat to U.S. national security. This comes as the Trump administration is ramping up the pressure against Maduro and sending more military assets to the Caribbean. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: Speaking on Fox Friends, Bondi was asked about the million-dollar reward the U.S. government is offering for information leading to Maduro's arrest. Bondi said Maduro is not Venezuela's legitimate leader and that the reward money is well-deserved.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: We will catch him. This country will catch Maduro. Can't talk about the details, but he should be very frightened.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: American officials accused Maduro of narco-terrorism. He is facing an indictment in U.S. federal court for allegedly leading the Cartel de los Soles, as well as drug trafficking.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and President Trump's acknowledgement that he's authorized CIA covert action in Venezuela has fueled speculation that the Trump administration may take action to try to topple Maduro.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
--:-- Ryland Barton: It's NPR. International police organization Interpol is launching an effort to fight illegal deforestation in tropical areas. It comes ahead of the U.N. Climate Summit in Brazil. The effort's aimed at dismantling criminal networks behind illegal logging and gold mining.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Interpol says they drive large-scale deforestation and generate billions of dollars in illicit profits each year.
--:-- Ryland Barton: McDonald's is saying something that not a lot of restaurant chains have said lately. Customers are spending more. NPR's Alina Seljuk reports the fast food giant credits its deals.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: McDonald's says its U.S. sales grew 2 percent in the latest quarter. Not because people came in more often, but because they spent more when they did.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: The chain points to a return of its snack wraps and extra value meals.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: McDonald's executives repeated that this is a tough period for restaurants, as low-income families especially are feeling the budget squeeze.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: McDonald's executives called out pricier rents and groceries, expensive child care, and inflation, erasing the value of a paycheck.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: At the same time, more high-income shoppers continue to trade down to fast food. Their visits increased by double digits in the quarter.
--:-- Alina Seljuk: McDonald's is forecasting inflation to stay above average well into 2026, especially higher beef prices.
--:-- Ryland Barton: Alina Seljuk, NPR News.
--:-- Ryland Barton: A self-portrait by Frida Kahlo could set records when it's sold at auction later this month. El Sueño La Cama has an estimated price of $40 to $60 million. The painting was created in 1940 and depicts Kahlo in a four-poster bed with a skeleton.
--:-- Ryland Barton: The highest price for a female artist's work is currently $44.4 million for Georgia O'Keeffe's Jimson Weed White Flower No. 1.
--:-- Ryland Barton: This is NPR News.
