NPR News: 11-24-2025 7PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — November 24, 2025, 7PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst

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Episode Overview

This tightly packed NPR News Now episode covers significant U.S. legal news, a Pentagon controversy involving Senator Mark Kelly, polling insights from the Latino community, the passing of reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, and a rare baby elephant pregnancy at the National Zoo. Each story is briefly detailed with key facts, quotes, and expert reporting.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dismissal of Indictments Against James Comey and Letitia James

[00:19–01:19]

• What Happened:
  A federal judge dismissed indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and NY Attorney General Letitia James due to the improper appointment of U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.
• Details:
  • Halligan's appointment was deemed "defective under the Constitution" ([00:39], Kerry Johnson).
  • The indictments, pursued during the Trump administration, have been nullified but could resurface if the DOJ appeals.
  • Comey and James are additionally contesting the indictments on various grounds.

Notable Quote:

“The ruling means the indictments Halligan won…are dismissed. For now, the Justice Department has the option to appeal and could try to revive both cases.”
— Kerry Johnson, NPR ([01:05])

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2. Pentagon May Prosecute Senator Mark Kelly

[01:19–02:19]

• What Happened:
  Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signaled a possible court-martial for Senator Mark Kelly after Kelly and others urged U.S. troops to refuse illegal orders—a message President Trump called 'treason'.
• Details:
  • Six lawmakers with military backgrounds told troops, “You can refuse illegal orders,” a basic military tenet ([01:33], Quill Lawrence).
  • Trump responded by calling the message treasonous, suggesting severe punishment.
  • Only Kelly, as a retired officer, is subject to recall and military prosecution—an extremely rare occurrence.
  • Kelly declared he "won’t be intimidated".

Notable Quotes:

“Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. That's a basic tenet of military education. But President Trump called it treason and suggested the six Democrats be hanged.”
— Quill Lawrence, NPR ([01:37])

“Senator Kelly responded that he won’t be intimidated.”
— Quill Lawrence, NPR ([02:12])

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3. Pew Study on Latino Concerns over Economy and Immigration

[02:19–03:07]

• What Happened:
  A new Pew Research Center poll highlights deep concern among Latino communities regarding the economy and immigration, with widespread disapproval of President Trump’s policies.
• Details:
  • Over 5,000 Latinos polled, indicating robust data.
  • 70% disapprove of Trump’s job performance on the economy; 80% view his economic actions negatively.
  • 61% believe Trump’s actions worsened immigration; two-thirds disapprove of his handling.
  • Deportation policies are seen as too harsh.
  • One in three have considered leaving the U.S.

Notable Quotes:

“70% disapprove of the job that Trump is doing on the economy, 4 in 5 view it negatively, and 61% say Trump's policies have made things worse on immigration…”
— Domenico Montanaro, NPR ([02:36])

“A majority say they have serious concerns about their place in America, and one in three say they've contemplated leaving the country.”
— Domenico Montanaro, NPR ([03:01])

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4. Death of Reggae Pioneer Jimmy Cliff

[03:07–04:18]

• What Happened:
  Influential reggae star Jimmy Cliff has died at age 81, remembered for elevating Jamaican music and championing resilience through difficult times.
• Details:
  • Cliff's music addressed war, oppression, and tragedy but was “rooted in peace and resilience” ([03:42], Isabella Gomez Sarmiento).
  • Rose to fame via the film "The Harder They Come" (1972), which propelled reggae internationally.
  • Lifelong advocate for Jamaican music and culture.

Notable Quotes:

“Jimmy Cliff’s songs addressed war, oppression and tragedy, but his music maintained a sense of optimism rooted in peace and resilience.”
— Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR ([03:37])

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5. National Zoo Expects First Baby Asian Elephant in 25 Years

[04:18–04:58]

• What Happened:
  The National Zoo in D.C. announces a baby Asian elephant is expected this winter, marking the first such birth in a quarter century.
• Details:
  • Mother: 12-year-old Nai Lin; father: lone bull named Spike.
  • Fetus currently 150–175 pounds; recently seen in an ultrasound.
  • Asian elephants are endangered, with fewer than 50,000 left in the wild.
  • Staff are preparing by “baby-proofing” the enclosure.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:19] – Indictments Dismissed: Comey & James
• [01:19] – Pentagon May Prosecute Sen. Kelly
• [02:19] – Latino Survey: Economy & Immigration
• [03:07] – Markets, Passing of Jimmy Cliff
• [04:18] – National Zoo’s Elephant Pregnancy

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The news tone is direct, concise, and impartial, focusing on high-stakes stories with significant legal and cultural resonance.
• The episode balances somber reporting (Jimmy Cliff’s passing), political controversy, and a ray of good news (zoo elephant pregnancy), providing an efficient yet rich snapshot of the day's biggest events.

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For those who missed this episode, the summary covers all critical developments and their broader significance, maintaining NPR's trademark clarity and credibility.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. A federal judge has dismissed the indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that Lindsay Hal, the U.S. attorney in Virginia that brought the indictments, had been unlawfully appointed. NPR's Kerry Johnson has more.

[Kerry Johnson]

The Trump administration installed Lindsey Halligan as U.S. attorney in Virginia in late September, soon after the prosecutor already in that job expressed doubts about moving forward with charges against prominent critics of President Trump. Now a federal judge has found Halligan's appointment defective under the Constitution. The ruling means that indictments Halligan won against the former FBI director and the sitting New York attorney attorney general are dismissed. For now, the Justice Department has the option to appeal and could try to revive both cases. Lawyers for Jim Comey and Tish James are challenging the indictments on several other grounds. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon may prosecute Senator Mark Kelly. NPR's Cool Lawrence reports. Kelly and others have told US troops not to follow illegal orders.

[Quill Lawrence]

Kelly, a former combat pilot and astronaut, joined five other Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds last week in a message to US Troops. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. That's a basic tenet of military education. But President Trump called it treason and suggested the six Democrats be hanged. The Trump administration has faced legal questions about deployment of National Guard troops domestically and deadly airstrikes on boats suspected of smuggling. Of the six in the video, only Kelly, as a formerly retired officer, can be recalled to face court martial, and Secretary Hegseth said that's what the Pentagon may do after this review, though it would be rare, if not unprecedented, Senator Kelly responded that he won't be intimidated. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

A new Pew study of Latinos finds big concerns over the economy and immigration, and NPR's Domenico Montanaro reports that they blame President Trump's policies.

[Domenico Montanaro]

The Pew Research center polled more than 5,000 Latinos in the past two months, which is more than 10 times the average of a national poll. And what they found was significant. 70% disapprove of the job that Trump is doing on the economy, 4 in 5 view it negatively, and 61% say Trump's policies have made things worse on immigration, 2/3 disapprove of how Trump's handling it. More than that, say that he's doing too much when it comes to deportations. Overall, a majority say they have serious concerns about their play place in America, and one in three say they've contemplated leaving the country. Domenico Montanaro, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading in mixed territory. Dow futures down a fraction. Nasdaq futures are up about 1/10 of a percent. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Grammy winning artist Jimmy Cliff has died at the age of 81. He was one of the pioneers of reggae, helping catapult the genre into the international spotlight. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento has more.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

Jimmy Cliff's songs addressed war, oppression and tragedy, but his music maintained a sense of optimism rooted in peace and resilience.

[Kerry Johnson]

You can get it if you really want.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

Born in a rural village of Jamaica in 1944, Cliff moved to Kingston to pursue music as a teenager. In 1972, he became the breakout star of the film the Harder They Come. Cliff played an aspiring reggae singer who descends into a life of crime after facing poverty and exploitation. He also recorded several songs for the hit soundtrack. For more than six decades, Jimmy Cliff lifted Jamaican music and culture to new heights. Isabela Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

For the first time in 25 years, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is expecting a baby Asian elephant this winter. It will be 12 year old Nai Lin's first baby. She bred with the zoo's lone bull named Spike. The zoo says the Fetus weighs around 150 to 175 pounds and that they're happy about how it looks on a recent ultrasound. And now zoo workers are working on baby proofing the elephant enclosure. Asian elephants are an endangered species with less than 50,000 of them living in the wild. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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