NPR News Now – November 24, 2025, 3PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme: A fast-paced roundup of major national and international news, covering shifts in public opinion, political-legal controversies, international conflicts, financial markets, entertainment, and holiday travel ahead of Thanksgiving.

1. Latino Views on Economy and Immigration under Trump

[00:18–01:07]

• Major Findings:
  • A large-scale Pew Research Center poll of over 5,000 Latinos reveals strong disapproval of President Trump’s economic and immigration policies.
  • Disapproval Levels:
    • 70% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy.
    • 80% view the current economic situation negatively.
    • 61% say Trump’s policies have worsened conditions.
    • On immigration, two thirds disapprove of Trump’s actions, with many saying he is “doing too much.”
    • Notably: A majority feel concern for their place in the country; 1 in 3 have considered leaving.
• Quote:
  • Domenico Montanaro [00:45]:

    “A majority say they have serious concerns about their place in America, and one in three say they’ve contemplated leaving the country.”

2. Pentagon May Prosecute Senator Mark Kelly

[01:07–02:04]

• Background:
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a possible court martial for Senator Mark Kelly, following Kelly's message—along with five other Democratic lawmakers—to US troops emphasizing they can refuse illegal orders.
  • President Trump called this “treason," even suggesting harsh punishment.
• Legal & Military Implications:
  • While all six lawmakers appeared in the video, only Kelly (a retired officer) is subject to recall and court martial—an act that would be “rare, if not unprecedented.”
• Senator Kelly’s Response:
  • “He won’t be intimidated.”
• Quote:
  • Quill Lawrence [01:44]:

    “President Trump called it treason and suggested the six Democrats be hanged.”

3. US Foreign Policy: Sanctions & Middle East Tensions

[02:04–03:06]

• Venezuela:
  • The Trump administration designates Cartel de los Soles (linked with Venezuela) as a foreign terrorist organization, imposing sanctions on the group and on President Maduro. The Venezuelan government dismissed the move as “ridiculous.”
• Middle East:
  • Israeli forces have killed the second-in-command of Hezbollah in a strike in Beirut, triggering concerns about renewed war a year after a ceasefire.
  • On the Ground:
    • Buildings destroyed; two dozen injured, including women and children.
    • Uncertainty over Hezbollah’s response.
• Quote:
  • Jane Araf [02:36]:

    “You can see they’re pretty much completely destroyed…this was also a residential area with shops on the bottom, and there were at least two dozen others who were injured, including women and children.”

4. Market & Entertainment Update

[03:06–04:17]

• Financial Markets:
  • The Dow Jones is up 225 points.
  • S&P rises 1.5%.
• Box Office:
  • Wicked for Good debuts at #1 in North America with a $150 million opening.
  • Overseas opening exceeds $75 million despite lower brand familiarity outside the U.S.
  • Franchise expected to reach $1 billion globally soon.
• Quote:
  • Bob Mondello [03:40]:

    “The first Wicked film made $758 million worldwide, so their combined box office will reach a billion dollars in the next few days.”

5. White House Holiday & Thanksgiving Travel Surge

[04:17–04:56]

• Holiday Traditions:
  • The annual White House Christmas tree—this year from Michigan—arrived by Clydesdale-drawn carriage. Melania Trump accepted the tree.
• Thanksgiving Travel Projections:
  • Trump family will spend Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago.
  • TSA anticipates screening 18 million air travelers over the holiday period.
  • AAA projects at least 82 million people will drive—over a million more than last year.
• Quote:
  • Lakshmi Singh [04:38]:

    “The Trump family will be spending Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago, while the TSA projects it'll screen nearly 18 million travelers during the holiday period.”

Notable Quotes and Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Description | |-----------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:45 | Domenico Montanaro | “A majority say they have serious concerns about their place in America...” | | 01:44 | Quill Lawrence | “President Trump called it treason and suggested the six Democrats be hanged.” | | 02:36 | Jane Araf | “You can see they’re pretty much completely destroyed… | | 03:40 | Bob Mondello | “Combined box office will reach a billion dollars in the next few days.” | | 04:38 | Lakshmi Singh | “The TSA projects it'll screen nearly 18 million travelers during the holiday period.” |

Episode Tone and Flow

The episode maintains NPR’s trademark brisk, factual, and balanced tone, alternating seamlessly between domestic political drama, international crises, economic updates, entertainment news, and traditional holiday features, offering listeners a compact yet comprehensive news snapshot.