NPR News Now – November 25, 2025, 1PM EST

Episode Theme

In this brisk five-minute update, NPR News Now delivers essential headlines, including shifts in U.S. retail spending, U.S. military action near Venezuela, new research on weight-loss drugs and pregnancy risks, the annual White House turkey pardon, new transparency measures from the X social platform, and a quick financial update.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Retail Spending Slowdown

[00:15–01:15]

• Main Point: Retail growth in the U.S. slowed in September, showing a rise of just 0.2% from August.
• Details:
  • Data release delayed due to government shutdown.
  • Compared to September 2024, spending at retail stores and restaurants rose 4.3%.
  • Back-to-school season drove increased purchases of clothing and electronics, along with more dining out.
  • Major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, and Dick’s Sporting Goods reported strong sales.
  • Industry predicts a record holiday season, citing strong employment and wage growth outpacing inflation.

Notable Quote:

"Consumers [are] cooling off a bit in September as they continued to go out to shop and eat."
— Alina Selyukh, [00:36]

2. U.S. Naval Actions Off Venezuelan Coast

[01:15–02:04]

• Main Point: The U.S. has positioned a naval flotilla near Venezuela and designated a Maduro-linked group as a terrorist organization; President Maduro disputes the claim.
• Details:
  • President Trump’s administration targets drug-trafficking threats in Venezuelan waters.
  • Debate persists if such actions align with America First policies.
  • Cited historical regime-change precedents—success in Panama (1989) versus problematic outcomes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Notable Quote:

"The White House says that Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into the country, and that is America first."
— Franco Ordonez, [01:36]

3. Pregnancy Risks After Stopping GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs

[02:04–03:10]

• Main Point: Women halting GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (such as Wegovy) right before or early in pregnancy may face increased complications, per new JAMA study.
• Details:
  • GLP-1 drugs popular among women of reproductive age; advised to stop before pregnancy due to fetal risks.
  • Study examined nearly 1,800 pregnancies, mostly in women with obesity.
  • Findings: Stopping GLP-1 drugs pre-pregnancy linked to higher risks of:
    • Excess weight gain
    • Gestational diabetes
    • Hypertensive disorders
  • Researchers call for more studies on pre-pregnancy GLP-1 use.

Notable Quote:

"Women who stopped GLP1 medications right before or early in pregnancy also had a higher risk of gaining excess weight, developing gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders... compared to women who did not take these drugs."
— Maria Godoy, [02:25]

4. President Trump’s Annual Turkey Pardon

[03:10–03:42]

• Main Point: President Trump pardons turkeys “Gobble” and “Waddle” at the annual White House ceremony, adding a signature joke at the expense of political critics.
• Details:
  • Traditional Thanksgiving event.
  • President makes a quip about not pardoning Chuck Schumer or Nancy Pelosi.

Memorable Moment:

"I was gonna—I shouldn't say this—I was gonna call him Chuck and Nancy, but then I realized I wouldn't be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people."
— President Donald Trump, [03:33]

5. Social Media Platform X Exposes Influencer Locations

[03:42–04:47]

• Main Point: New X feature reveals user account locations, uncovering influencers falsely presenting as American.
• Details:
  • Some “American” accounts found based in Pakistan, others stirring political content in Nigeria and Bangladesh.
  • Expert Darren Linville of Clemson University highlights financial motives behind such accounts.
  • Several suspicious accounts suspended; welcomed as an unusual moment of transparency online.

Notable Quote:

"In most of these cases, it's most likely just influencers who are trying to make a buck."
— Darren Linville (via Jeff Brumfield), [04:30]

6. Market Update

[04:47–04:54]

• Main Point: The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 545 points, marking a gain of more than 1%.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Retail Spending Update: 00:15–01:15
• Venezuela/US Naval Activity: 01:15–02:04
• GLP-1/Pregnancy Risks: 02:04–03:10
• Turkey Pardon Ceremony: 03:10–03:42
• X Influencer Location Feature: 03:42–04:47
• Market Update: 04:47–04:54

Summary

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise but insightful look at economic trends, international developments, medical research, political theater, social media transparency, and market numbers. Through quick, well-sourced reports and a mix of serious and lighthearted moments, listeners stay informed on the day's essential headlines.