NPR News Now: November 25, 2025, 5AM EST

Host: Dave Mattingly
Episode Theme:
A rapid-fire update on breaking U.S. legal decisions, labor disputes, Pentagon policy shifts, global diplomatic moves, and new scientific research on social media use and mental health.

Key News Stories and Takeaways

1. Indictments Dismissed Against Public Officials

[00:15 - 01:25]

• Federal Judge Ruling:
  • Judge Cameron McGowan Curry has dismissed criminal indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both previously indicted in Virginia.
  • The dismissals stem from President Trump’s appointment of Lindsey Halligan as interim U.S. attorney, which was ruled as unlawful.
• White House Response:
  • Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary:
    • “The Department of Justice will be appealing very soon, and it is our position that Lindsey Halligan is extremely qualified for this position, but more importantly, was legally appointed to it.” (00:41)
• Details of Charges:
  • Comey: False statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation rooted in 2020 testimony.
  • James: Bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution regarding a Norfolk house purchase.
  • Both pleaded not guilty.

2. Trump Administration Sued by Farm Worker Unions

[01:25 - 02:11]

• Proposed Policy Change:
  • Trump administration aims to lower wage rates for foreign H2A visa farm workers, to address a farm labor shortage.
• Labor Union Pushback:
  • Critics assert lower wages would harm American workers and circumvent regulatory processes.
  • Teresa Romero, President of United Farm Workers:
    • “There is nothing America first about extending exploitative gas worker programs of undercutting American wages. So that is what this lawsuit is about.” (01:47)
• Legal Position:
  • Lawsuit claims changes skipped required procedures and would crowd out domestic workers.

3. Pentagon Considers Cutting Ties with Scouting America

[02:11 - 03:09]

• Defense Department Proposal:
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushes for cutting Pentagon ties with Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts).
• Main Justifications (per leaked drafts):
  • Participation in next summer’s Scout Jamboree seen as a national security risk, with resources needed for border security.
  • Criticizes Scouting’s recent gender inclusion and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives.
  • Plans to bar Scout meetings on military bases and end advanced rank benefits for Eagle Scouts joining military.
• DoD Statement:
  • Pentagon refuses to comment, citing inability to authenticate the leaked materials.

4. Diplomatic Developments: Ukraine Peace Talks

[03:09 - 04:02]

• Possible Breakthrough:
  • Ukraine’s National Security Chief, Rustem Umerov, says President Zelenskyy may soon visit Washington to finalize a peace deal with President Trump to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.
• Ongoing Discussions:
  • U.S. and Ukrainian officials (including Secretary of State Marco Rubio) met in Geneva to review Trump’s 28-point peace plan.
  • Rubio characterized the talks as “productive,” even as some European countries expressed concerns.

5. Study: Reduced Social Media Use Linked to Lower Mental Health Symptoms

[04:02 - 04:50]

• Research Overview:
  • JAMA Network Open published a study tracking 400 young adults (18-24) who averaged 2 hours/day on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok.
  • Participants offered a “social media detox,” with 80% participating—dropping usage to about 30 minutes/day.
• Findings:
  • Symptom reductions:
    • Anxiety: Down 16%
    • Depression: Down 24%
    • Insomnia: Down 14%
  • Dr. Ilambe Conrad, researcher:
    • “So we had 80% of participants opting to do detox.” (04:31)

Notable Quotes

• Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary) [00:41]:
  “The Department of Justice will be appealing very soon… Lindsey Halligan is extremely qualified for this position, but more importantly, was legally appointed to it.”

• Teresa Romero (United Farm Workers President) [01:47]:
  “There is nothing America first about extending exploitative gas worker programs of undercutting American wages. So that is what this lawsuit is about.”

• Dr. Ilambe Conrad (Beth Israel Deaconess, study author) [04:31]:
  “So we had 80% of participants opting to do detox.”

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:15 – Legal case dismissed against Comey and James; DOJ response
• 01:25 – Farm worker pay dispute; union lawsuit
• 02:11 – Pentagon-Scouting America policy shift
• 03:09 – Ukraine peace talks update
• 04:02 – Study: Less social media lowers anxiety, depression, insomnia

This fast-paced NPR News Now episode delivered significant legal, political, labor, diplomatic, and scientific headlines with tight reporting, capturing the pulse of a pivotal late-November morning in 2025.