NPR News Now — November 17, 2025, 2PM EST

Overview

This five-minute NPR Newscast, hosted by Lakshmi Singh, provides updates on major legal, political, scientific, economic, and cultural stories of the day. Key stories include judicial criticism of the Justice Department’s case against James Comey, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s high-stakes visit to Washington, the impact of NIH grant cuts, the growing use of AI in holiday retail hiring, and Tom Cruise finally receiving an Oscar.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. Justice Department Missteps in Comey Prosecution

[00:25–01:27]

• Summary:
  A federal judge found potential "profound investigative missteps" in the Justice Department's prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, who faces charges related to his 2020 Congressional testimony.
• Details from Report ([00:48]):
  • Judge William Fitzpatrick ordered prosecutors to hand over all grand jury materials to Comey’s defense.
  • The judge’s opinion cited what he called "a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps that led an FBI agent and a prosecutor to potentially undermine the integrity of the grand jury proceedings."
• Quote:
  • Ryan Lucas: "Fitzpatrick says the record, quote, points to a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps that led an FBI agent and a prosecutor to potentially undermine the integrity of the grand jury proceedings." ([00:58])
• Context:
  This development is one of several challenges Comey is mounting against the Trump Justice Department's case.

2. Saudi Crown Prince’s Return to Washington

[01:27–02:27]

• Summary:
  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will meet President Trump in Washington. The agenda spans investment deals and a possible U.S. defense pact.
• Details from Report ([01:42]):
  • The Prince previously visited Washington seven years prior, before the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
  • Now received "as a partner, not a pariah," the Crown Prince brings promises of “hundreds of billions of dollars in investments in the US under Trump.”
  • Expected requests: F-35 jets, AI chips, nuclear technology, and a congressionally unapproved defense pact.
  • Personal ties between Trump and the Prince remain strong, with Trump again choosing Saudi Arabia for his first international visit.
• Quotes:
  • Aya Batrawi: "The Prince ... returns to Washington as a partner, not a pariah." ([01:47])
  • "Underpinning those talks are personal ties ... as billions from the Gulf flow into Trump's family ventures." ([02:20])
• Context:
  The visit symbolizes shifting international alliances and deepening personal and economic links.

3. NIH Grant Cuts Impact Clinical Trials

[02:27–03:13]

• Summary:
  New research reveals the Trump administration’s cuts to National Institutes of Health grants disrupted hundreds of clinical trials, affecting tens of thousands of patients.
• Details from Report ([02:40]):
  • 383 clinical trials involving at least 74,000 participants were affected between late February and mid-August.
  • Hardest-hit areas: infectious diseases, heart and respiratory disease; even cancer trials—1 in every 37—were impacted.
• Quote:
  • Rob Stein: "Studies involving infectious diseases, heart disease and respiratory diseases were hit hardest. 1 out of every 37 NIH cancer trials was affected." ([03:01])

4. Artificial Intelligence in Holiday Retail Hiring

[03:13–04:22]

• Summary:
  Major U.S. retailers are now using AI to expedite the seasonal hiring process.
• Details from Report ([03:37]):
  • AI tools sort thousands of applicants, flag qualified candidates, and can automatically schedule interviews.
  • While speed is a boon for companies, researchers warn AI can misclassify candidates who don’t use key terms in their resumes.
  • The hiring process is now nearly instant: “For applicants, decisions now come in minutes instead of days.” ([04:16])
• Quote:
  • Windsor Johnson: "Labor researchers say this kind of automated screening has exploded in the last two years. They warn the speed is appealing, but the tools can misqualified workers who don't use the exact keywords the software looks for." ([03:49])
• Context:
  AI is fundamentally changing the job search and recruitment process, especially during high-demand seasons.

5. Tom Cruise Finally Gets an Oscar

[04:22–04:49]

• Summary:
  After more than four decades in film, Tom Cruise received an Academy Honorary Award at the Governor’s Awards.
• Details from Report:
  • The awards were streamed online; other honorees included Debbie Allen, Dolly Parton, and Win Thomas.
• Quote:
  • Tom Cruise (Ira Glass): "I will always do everything I can to help this art form, to support and champion new voices, to protect what makes cinema powerful and, you know, hopefully without too many more broken bones, that would be nice." ([04:33])
• Memorable Moment:
  Touching humility from Cruise as he references his history of doing his own (sometimes dangerous) stunts.

Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

• "Fitzpatrick says the record, quote, points to a disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps..."
  —Ryan Lucas, [00:58]
• "The prince...returns to Washington as a partner, not a pariah."
  —Aya Batrawi, [01:47]
• "Studies involving infectious diseases, heart disease and respiratory diseases were hit hardest..."
  —Rob Stein, [03:01]
• "Labor researchers say this kind of automated screening has exploded in the last two years..."
  —Windsor Johnson, [03:49]
• "I will always do everything I can to help this art form, to support and champion new voices..."
  —Tom Cruise (via Ira Glass), [04:33]

Segment Timestamps

• [00:25] Justice Dept. missteps in Comey case
• [01:27] Saudi Crown Prince visits Washington
• [02:27] NIH grant cuts affect clinical trials
• [03:13] AI reshapes retail holiday hiring
• [04:22] Tom Cruise wins Honorary Oscar

Tone & Style

As with NPR’s established approach, the reporting remained precise, understated, and fact-driven. The stories balanced straight reporting with moments of analysis and human insight—such as Tom Cruise’s tongue-in-cheek Oscar acceptance promise “without too many more broken bones.”

This concise yet comprehensive newscast armors listeners with the day’s top national and international stories, providing pithy context and clear attribution throughout.