Here & Now

The Trump administration says it will restart SNAP food benefits for the nearly 42 million Americans that receive them, but that it will pay out only half the amount people normally get. A federal judge ruled that the government must continue funding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on an emergency basis after the food assistance program ran out of money this weekend. We get the latest from NPR's Jennifer Ludden.

Mohammed Abu Moussa, a radiology technician at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, was released from Israeli detention after being held for 20 months. We speak with him about his treatment in prison, the loss of his son, mother and sister, and what it is like for him to be free after almost two years being held without charges.

Pressure on lawmakers to end the 29-day government shutdown is mounting, and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin joins us to discuss where the shutdown stands and what his party expects from Democrats to reopen the government.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall early Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 storm with wind speeds of 185 m.p.h. It is the most powerful storm to ever hit Jamaica. NPR's Eyder Peralta tells us more.

If the government shutdown continues into November, 34-year-old Pennsylvania mother of three Sara Stone is one of the tens of millions of Americans set to lose food assistance. She joins us to discuss what it means for her family.

Iconic horror writer Stephen King has reimagined a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale: “Hansel and Gretel.” A major inspiration behind his iteration of the tale came from illustrations of the story by the late Maurice Sendak, best known for his work on “Where the Wild Things Are.”

The early childhood program Head Start is facing a cutoff of federal funding at the end of the month because of the government shutdown. Some Head Start educators are already working without pay, other programs are preparing to close. We speak with a teacher and her director based in Tallahassee, Florida.

North Carolina Republicans on Wednesday approved new congressional maps in an effort to boost their chances of holding onto Congress in next year's midterm elections. It's the latest redistricting battle since President Trump pushed Texas to redraw its maps. Political scientist Chris Cooper explains the implications.

Premiums for people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace are set to jump by thousands of dollars when open enrollment begins in a couple of weeks. Cynthia Cox, vice president at independent health policy organization KFF, joins us.

Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director John Sandweg weighs in on the agency’s policing tactics and surveillance technology being used to conduct mass deportations and monitor those who are protesting the Trump administration's immigration policies.