NPR News Now: November 21, 2025, 5AM EST

Host: Dave Mattingly, NPR News
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of the morning’s top U.S. and global news stories, focusing on the Trump administration's Ukraine peace proposal, inflammatory political rhetoric, new energy policies, holiday anxiety, and aviation safety.

1. U.S. Peace Proposal for the Russia-Ukraine War

[00:17 – 01:09]

• Overview:
  The Trump administration has introduced a new 28-point proposal intended to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
• Proposal Details:
  • Drafted by Trump's special envoy Steve Wytkoff and Russian businessman Kirill Dmitriev during recent talks in Miami.
  • The plan reportedly asks Ukraine to cede all land in the eastern Donbas region to Russia, effectively granting Russia control over areas beyond their current occupation (88% of Donbas).
  • The proposal was leaked, apparently by Russian sources.
• Implications:
  • The European Union has expressed concern over the proposal's terms.
  • The U.S. approach is widely seen as heavily favoring Russian interests.
• Notable Quote:
  • Tom Bowman: “Again, the proposal appears to give Russia everything they want and more. Right now, the Russians control about 88% of the eastern Donbas region, and this proposal gives them all that land.” [00:41]

2. Political Fallout: Trump’s Extreme Social Media Posts

[01:09 – 02:12]

• Main Issues:
  President Trump has used social media to accuse six Democratic lawmakers of seditious acts “punishable by death,” sharing posts calling for the execution of Democrats, particularly those with military and intelligence backgrounds.
• Congressional Reaction:
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats are denouncing these posts as outright threats to elected officials.
• Lawmakers Respond:
  • A recent video by Democratic Senators and Representatives (Mark Kelly, Alyssa Slotkin, Jason Crow, Chrissy Houlihan, Chris d’Aluisio, Maggie Goodlander) urges military and intelligence personnel to refuse illegal administration orders.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Dave Mattingly: “The president of the United States is calling for the execution of elected officials. This is an outright threat and it's deadly serious.” [01:42]
  • Chuck Schumer: (on Trump’s posts) “That includes resharing a post calling for the hanging of congressional Democrats who previously served in the military and intelligence branches.” [01:27]

3. White House Meeting & Energy Policy Shift

[02:12 – 03:13]

• Scheduled Meeting:
  • President Trump will meet with New York City’s incoming Democratic Socialist Mayor, Zoran Mamdani, at the White House.
• Energy Policy Expansion:
  • The Trump administration is planning to auction new offshore oil and gas leases along California, the eastern Gulf, and the Arctic.
  • The move is promoted as a step toward “energy dominance” for the coming decades.
• Stakeholder Responses:
  • Oil and gas industry: Welcomes fresh investment opportunities.
  • Environmental groups: Condemn the proposal as “high risk and low reward.”
  • Wade Crowfoot, California's secretary for natural resources, calls attention to environmental risks during a press conference held on the coastline.
• Public Discussion:
  • A 60-day public comment period will be held on the new offshore drilling proposal.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Dave Mattingly: “Crashing behind him, expanding offshore oil drilling is a danger.” [03:03]
  • Camila Domonosky: “The proposal calls for auctioning off leases in the eastern Gulf and the untouched high Arctic in Alaska, as well as up and down the California coast, which hasn't seen new drilling in decades.” [02:38]

4. National Holiday Anxiety & Mental Health

[03:13 – 04:20]

• Survey Findings:
  • New American Psychiatric Association data show a significant rise in holiday-related anxiety compared to 2024.
    • 41% expect more holiday stress (up from 28% last year).
    • 44% report a positive mental health impact from the holidays (up from 38%).
• Stress Factors:
  • Grief, economic worries, and affording holiday gifts were top concerns.
  • 75% cite the economy as their main source of anxiety; nearly half feel specifically anxious about it.
• Notable Quote:
  • Ritu Chatterjee: “Among the reasons for anticipating holiday related stress, nearly half cited grief or missing someone, as well as worries about affording holiday gifts. And 3/4 of respondents said the economy is their main source of anxiety…” [03:35]

5. Louisville UPS Plane Crash Investigation

[04:20 – End]

• NTSB Update:
  • Investigators have found evidence of cracks in the engine mount of the UPS cargo plane that crashed in Louisville, Kentucky earlier this month.
  • Incident summary:
    • Plane’s left engine detached during takeoff and the aircraft exploded, killing 14 people (three crew, eleven on ground).
• Historic Note:
  • On this day in 1980, a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas killed 80 people, underscoring the lasting impact of such large-scale disasters.

End of Content
(Summary omits ads and sponsor messages.)

Useful Points for Quick Reference:

• Ukraine peace proposal grants broad concessions to Russia ([00:41]).
• Trump calls for execution of Democratic lawmakers on social media ([01:42]).
• New offshore drilling leases proposed for CA, Gulf, Arctic ([02:38]).
• 41% of Americans expect more holiday stress; economy cited as top concern ([03:35]).
• NTSB finds engine mount cracks after deadly UPS crash ([04:20]).