NPR News Now: 11-21-2025 9PM EST

Date: November 22, 2025
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers key headlines from the United States and abroad, focusing on major political resignations, legal rulings affecting immigration, shifts in trade policy, a police acquittal, international health funding woes, and a dramatic Miss Universe win. The episode highlights the ongoing tension within the Republican party, federal agency actions under President Trump’s second term, and evolving domestic and global policy landscapes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Resigns (00:18–01:15)

• Headline: Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning after a fallout with President Trump.

• Details:

  • Greene cites Trump’s public attacks as her primary reason, triggered by the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Greene’s statement addresses her advocacy for American women who were abused by "rich, powerful men", and the backlash faced from Trump.
  • She predicts a Republican defeat in the upcoming midterms and confirms her last day as January 5th.

  Notable Quote

  “Standing up for American women who were raped at 14 years old, trafficked and used by rich, powerful men should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the president of the United States, whom I fought for.”
  — Marjorie Taylor Greene (00:37)

2. Federal Judge Blocks IRS-ICE Data Sharing (01:15–01:58)

• Headline: A federal court halts IRS from sharing taxpayer addresses with immigration authorities.

• Details:

  • The Trump administration had shared 47,000 addresses with ICE in August.
  • The new court order restricts data sharing unless in direct connection to criminal investigations.
  • The decision is celebrated by small business, union, and nonprofit plaintiffs; it remains unclear if the administration will appeal.

  Summary: "The order bars Treasury Secretary Scott Besant from sharing confidential taxpayer information with the Department of Homeland Security or its sub agencies unless the government is directly engaged in a relevant criminal investigation."
  — Jude Joffe Block (01:29)

3. Trump Meets NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani (01:58–02:53)

• Headline: President Trump holds a surprisingly cordial meeting with New York City’s incoming mayor, Zahran Mamdani.

• Details:

  • Despite earlier accusations—Trump calling Mamdani “his little communist,” and Mamdani branding himself “Trump’s worst nightmare”—the meeting focused on collaboration.
  • Both parties emphasize working together on affordability, specifically the cost of housing and groceries.
  • The overt friendliness points towards practical motivations: Mandani seeking federal funds, Trump aligning with his affordability platform.

  Quotes

  “Expect to be helping him, not hurting him, a big help because I want New York City to be great. Look, I love New York City. It's where I come from. I spent a lot of years there. Now I'm right here.”
  — President Trump (02:27)

4. Trump Lifts Tariffs on Brazilian Imports (02:53–03:11)

• Headline: U.S. drops additional import tariffs on Brazilian goods.
• Details:
  • Move intended to help lower costs for American consumers.
  • Affects coffee, fruit, and beef; welcomed by Brazilian exporters.

5. Ohio Officer Acquitted After Fatal Shooting (03:11–03:46)

• Headline: Connor Grubb, a Blendon Township police officer, acquitted in the fatal shooting of Takia Young, a pregnant Black woman accused of shoplifting.
• Details:
  • Body cam footage shows Young refusing to exit the car, which rolled toward Grubb, who shot her once in the chest.
  • Grubb pleaded not guilty; jury acquitted him on all counts.

6. Global Fund Misses Fundraising Goal (03:46–04:30)

• Headline: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria falls over $6 billion short of its $18 billion target.

• Details:

  • U.S. pledge drops from $6B (2022) to $4.6B, a smaller decrease than anticipated given Trump administration’s foreign aid cuts.
  • Other nations' pledges have also shrunk, with major donors like France and Japan yet to announce.
  • Possible consequences for global health efforts due to lack of funds.

  Summary: "The organization’s coffers will likely be less equipped to fight these deadly diseases."
  — Jonathan Lambert (04:24)

7. Miss Universe Crowning Amid Controversy (04:30–04:56)

• Headline: Fatima Bosch Fernandez of Mexico wins Miss Universe in Bangkok after she was bullied during the event.

• Details:

  • The host’s public bullying led to a walkout by contestants and a tearful apology from the organizer.
  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum commends Fernandez for her courage in standing up against injustice.

  Summary: "Her victory comes after a dramatic pageant in Bangkok where she was publicly bullied by a host. That led to a walkout by some competitors and a tearful apology from the organizer who set it all off."
  — Ryland Barton (04:33)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Critique of Trump (00:37)

  “Standing up for American women... should not result in me being called a traitor and threatened by the president of the United States, whom I fought for.”

• President Trump Emphasizing Cooperation (02:27)

  “Expect to be helping him, not hurting him... I want New York City to be great.”

• Jonathan Lambert on Global Fund’s Shortfall (04:24)

  “The organization’s coffers will likely be less equipped to fight these deadly diseases.”

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:18 — Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns from Congress
• 00:37 — Greene’s direct statement regarding Trump and Epstein files
• 01:15 — Federal court blocks IRS sharing data with ICE
• 01:58 — Trump & NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani’s White House meeting
• 02:53 — Trump lifts tariffs on Brazilian goods
• 03:11 — Acquittal of Ohio police officer in Takia Young shooting
• 03:46 — Global Fund fundraising shortfall
• 04:30 — Miss Universe controversy and Mexico’s win

Tone and Style

The episode maintains NPR’s hallmark impartial, measured delivery. News segments are succinct, factual, and occasionally feature direct, impactful quotes, conveying both the emotional stakes and political realities at play.

For listeners seeking the latest on politics, legal rulings, global funding, and a human interest story from the world stage, this episode concisely packages a broad sweep of top headlines and controversies in under five minutes.