Summary4 min read

NPR News Now: 11-22-2025 11PM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Air Date: November 23, 2025
Episode Theme: The latest national and international news headlines, with updates on diplomacy efforts in Ukraine, legal developments in Arizona, a hazardous fire at the Port of Los Angeles, drone incursions in sensitive European airspace, and college football highlights.

1. Main Theme

This five-minute NPR News update covers the day’s critical stories: U.S.-brokered attempts at a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, ongoing prosecutions in the Arizona ‘fake electors’ case, a dangerous container ship fire in Los Angeles, drone incidents over military bases in Europe, and a roundup of major college football results.

2. Key News Segments & Insights

U.S. Peace Plan for Ukraine

[00:17] – [01:26]

Diplomatic Talks: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff are headed to Geneva for U.S.-Russian negotiations, aiming to end Russia's war in Ukraine with a controversial peace plan.
Plan Details: The U.S. proposal reportedly requires significant concessions from Ukraine, including territory in the east and a ban on joining NATO.
European Criticism: European allies criticize the lack of Ukrainian participation in the negotiations and seek ways to modify the plan.
U.S. Pressure: President Trump expects a response from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy by Thursday, warning that rejecting the plan could cost Ukraine vital U.S. support.

Quote:
“European leaders say they're looking for a way to make the Trump plan more palatable for Ukraine and its European allies. As it stands, it would require Ukraine to cede control of eastern Donetsk and Luhansk and would prohibit Ukraine from trying to join NATO.”
— Rob Schmitz, [00:56]

Arizona ‘Fake Electors’ Case

[01:26] – [02:12]

Legal Proceedings: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes continues efforts to prosecute eleven Republican ‘fake electors’ and seven others for allegedly attempting to subvert 2020 presidential election results.
Judicial Hurdle: The initial indictment was quashed after a judge ruled jurors hadn't been shown a relevant 1887 law text; the AG is appealing to the state Supreme Court.

Quote:
“A spokesman for May has confirmed that she will seek a review of the lower court's ruling by the state Supreme Court.”
— Cameron Sanchez, [02:05]

Port of Los Angeles Container Ship Fire

[02:12] – [03:11]

Hazard: A significant fire caused by hazardous materials aboard a container ship prompted a shelter-in-place order, now lifted, but the fire continues burning offshore.
Response: The ship has been moved about a mile away from the port, reducing the risk to communities. 44 port terminals were temporarily shut.
Safety: All crew were unharmed; arson is not suspected, with an electrical malfunction likely to blame.

Quote:
“We do have very specific information from the manifest and I have identified what are in all of these. So there’s certain ones that are identified for hazardous materials.”
— Fire Captain Adam von Gerpen, [02:45]

Drone Incursions Over NATO Military Bases

[03:11] – [04:21]

Incident: Dutch military failed to shoot down multiple drones flying over Volkel Air Base (one of six European bases with US nuclear bombs), resulting in a temporary airport closure.
Context: Similar drone incidents have occurred at other sensitive sites across Belgium and the Netherlands; authorities have not identified the source.
Impact: The incidents raise concerns about NATO airspace security and vulnerability of strategic assets.

Quote:
“Volkel is one of six air bases in Europe where US Nuclear bombs are stored. The Kleiner Brugel military base in Belgium, also host to nuclear weapons, has similarly seen repeated incidents of drones flying above it in recent weeks.”
— Terry Schultz, [03:50]

College Football Highlights

[04:21] – [04:56]

Game Summaries:
- Ohio State beat Rutgers 42–9, overcoming early injuries.
- Texas A&M shut out Samford 48–0.
- Georgia triumphed over Charlotte 35–3.
- Oklahoma narrowly defeated Missouri 17–16.
- UConn won over FAU in a tight 48–45 match.

3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“President Trump says he wants a response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Thursday. If Zelenskyy rejects it, he risks losing US Support, including crucial intelligence sharing.”
— Rob Schmitz, [01:13]
“At one point, 44 of the La Port’s seven terminals were shut down. It’s believed the fire likely was the result of an electrical malfunction. An investigation is underway. 23 crew members were on the ship. There were no injuries.”
— Steve Futterman, [02:54]
“Drone use is prohibited near airports, airports in the Netherlands. Volkel is one of six air bases in Europe where US Nuclear bombs are stored.”
— Terry Schultz, [03:56]

4. Timestamps for Key Segments

Ukraine Peace Plan: [00:17] – [01:26]
Arizona ‘Fake Electors’ Case: [01:26] – [02:12]
Port of Los Angeles Fire: [02:12] – [03:11]
European Drone Incidents: [03:11] – [04:21]
College Football: [04:21] – [04:56]

This concise episode delivers crucial updates for informed listeners, including the evolving Ukraine peace negotiations, the fate of a prominent election interference case, public safety responses to environmental hazards, transatlantic security incidents, and the latest in sports.

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Transcript13 lines

[00:01]
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[00:18]
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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff are heading to Geneva to try to bring an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Talks are being held there on Sunday. As NPR's Rob Schmitz reports, the discussions are part of the Trump administration's efforts to pressure Ukraine to accept a U S sponsored 28 point peace plan. The plan calls on Kyiv to make many concessions to Russia, including giving up land.
[00:45]
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U.S. officials plan to meet senior Ukrainian officials to discuss Kyiv's response to Trump's peace proposal. Ukraine's European allies have criticized the plan, not least because it was negotiated between the US And Russia without Ukraine's involvement. European leaders say they're looking for a way to make the Trump plan more palatable for Ukraine and its European allies. As it stands, it would require Ukraine to cede control of eastern Donetsk and Luhansk and would prohibit Ukraine from trying to join NATO. President Trump says he wants a response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Thursday. If Zelenskyy rejects it, he risks losing US Support, including crucial intelligence sharing. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.
[01:27]
B
Arizona's attorney general says she'll continue to pursue a case against so called fake electors for trying to change the results of the 2020 presidential election. Cameron Sanchez of member station KJZZ reports.
[01:39]
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Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays began prosecuting the 11 Republican electors and seven other defendants in 2023, and they were indicted by a grand jury on felony charges of fraud, among others. But earlier this year, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sam Myers issued an order quashing the grand jury's original indictment. Myers concluded that the prose did not provide jurors with the text of an 1887 law that the defendants say is central to the case. A spokesman for May has confirmed that she will seek a review of the lower court's ruling by the state Supreme Court. For NPR News in Phoenix, I'm Cameron Sanchez.
[02:13]
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A stubborn container ship fire continues to burn at the Port of Los Angeles at this hour, and hundreds of people are fighting that blaze. But officials have now lifted a shelter in place order for surrounding communities. As Steve Futterman has our reports, the.
[02:28]
E
Order was due to toxic smoke from the blaze, the result of hazardous material on board the ship burning. The ship has now been moved out of the port and anchored around a mile offshore, reducing the threat. Louisiana fire Captain Adam von Gerpen says officials know exactly what's inside the 40 containers.
[02:46]
F
We do have very specific information from the manifest and I have identified what are in all of these. So there's certain ones that are identified for hazardous materials.
[02:54]
E
At one point, 44 of the La Port's seven terminals were shut down. It's believed the fire likely was the result of an electrical malfunction. An Investigation is underway. 23 crew members were on the ship. There were no injuries. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.
[03:12]
B
I'm Dale Willman, and you're listening to NPR News. In the Netherlands, air traffic at a major airport there was suspended on Saturday. That came after the Dutch Defense Ministry says it tried unsuccessfully to shoot down a number of drones over one of its military bases late Friday night. As Terry Schultz reports, it's just the latest incident of unidentified aerial devices that have been entering sensitive NATO airspace.
[03:40]
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The Dutch Air Force used ground based weapons to try to take down several drones flying over Volkel Air Base in the late evening, but the Defense ministry says in a statement the drones were not hit and left the area. An investigation has been opened. Drone use is prohibited near airports, airports in the Netherlands. Volkel is one of six air bases in Europe where US Nuclear bombs are stored. The Kleiner Brugel military base in Belgium, also host to nuclear weapons, has similarly seen repeated incidents of drones flying above it in recent weeks. Brussels Airport has also had to shut down numerous times because of drones in the airspace. There's been no official attribution announced yet for any of these incidents. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.
[04:21]
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Julian Sajan threw two touchdown passes despite missing his top two receivers on Saturday as top ranked Ohio State beat Rutgers 42. 9. The Buckeyes led by just 14 to 13 at halftime before scoring on four consecutive second half drives. Number three Texas A&M, meanwhile, blanked Samford 48 to nothing while number four Georgia beat Charlotte 35. 3. John Matiere threw for 173 yards and two touchdown passes as number eight Oklahoma slipped past number 23, Missouri 176 and UConn beat FAU 48 to 45. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.
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