NPR News: 11-25-2025 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 11-25-2025 6AM EST

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivered concise updates on major national and international developments as of November 25, 2025. Key stories included the Pentagon’s probe into Senator Mark Kelly, developments in Ukraine peace talks, congressional hearings on immigration enforcement, the passing of notable figures Viola Ford Fletcher and Udo Kier, and a health update on Jesse Jackson. The reporting is brisk, objective, and focused on primary details and firsthand voices.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pentagon Investigation of Senator Mark Kelly

• [00:14] The Pentagon announced an investigation into Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), a retired Navy pilot, over an alleged breach of military law. This relates to his appearance in a video urging troops to defy illegal orders.
• Context: Retired service members can still be recalled for court martial under federal law.
• Expert Insight [00:46]:
  • Military Lawyer Kevin Carroll:

    "This would be unprecedented, I think... the last thing even similar he could think of was in 1925, so 100 years ago. But that was an active duty officer. This is very different."

  • Carroll suggests the probe may aim to "silence political dissent."
• Senator Kelly's Response [01:08]:
  • Kelly insists he "upheld his oath to the Constitution" and calls the investigation "political bullying."

---

2. Ukraine Peace Talks — Geneva

• [01:08] A peace plan for Ukraine, originally drafted by the US and Russia, has been discarded at ongoing Geneva talks. European leaders are now revising the proposal amid accusations that the original plan favored Russia.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Statement [01:33]:
  • Via social media, Zelenskyy says that ending the war is "now workable" and the right steps are being pursued.
  • Recurrent Ukrainian anxiety over Russian influence, especially in relation to the Trump administration, is noted.
• Civilian Perspective [01:54]:
  • Ruslana Panklieff, businesswoman:

    "I trust Zelenskyy and I trust in my country and in these people who lives in this country, who stay in this country, it's a very strong power, really, people who are not afraid and who be very strong."

  • She expresses confidence that Ukraine will ultimately prevail.

---

3. Congressional Hearing on Immigration Arrests

• [02:12] In Los Angeles, Democratic lawmakers held a hearing focused on the Trump administration’s immigration raids.
• [02:26] Congressman Robert Garcia (CA) led the hearing, expressing national concern:
  • Quote:

    "Right now, Donald Trump. Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, Tom Holman are causing terror not just in Los Angeles, but across the country." ([02:32])

• [02:40] LA Mayor Karen Bass testified that the raids are illegal and racially targeted.
• [02:48] Actor Udo Kier highlighted the everyday nature of enforcement:

  "But just about every day, immigrant enforcement actions continue."

• Personal Account [02:52]:
  • Andrea Velez shared being apprehended despite asserting US citizenship — underscoring a sense of insecurity:

    "Don’t feel safe at all." ([03:01])

• Committee Action:
  • Plan to establish a database for documenting affected individuals’ stories.

---

4. Passings

Viola Ford Fletcher (Tulsa Race Massacre Survivor)

• [03:11] Viola Ford Fletcher, one of the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre ("Black Wall Street"), has died at 111. In recent years, she actively advocated for justice for victims and survivors.

Udo Kier (Actor)

• [03:54] German actor Udo Kier, known for his work in more than 200 films, including Andy Warhol’s horror movies and collaborations with director Lars Von Trier, has died at 81.
  • [04:12] Kier (in a 2021 interview):

    "I believe very much in small things, not big acting things."

  • [04:24] Quoting director Lars Von Trier:

    "His favorite line don’t act, so I try not to act."

• Died in Palm Springs, as reported by Variety.

---

5. Jesse Jackson Health Update

• [04:36] Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, 84, was released from a Chicago hospital in stable condition. Jackson was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:46 | Kevin Carroll (lawyer) | "This would be unprecedented, I think...the last thing even similar he could think of was in 1925..." | | 01:54 | Ruslana Panklieff | "I trust Zelenskyy and I trust in my country and in these people...it's a very strong power..." | | 02:32 | Congressman Robert Garcia | "Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, Tom Holman are causing terror not just in Los Angeles, but across the country." | | 03:01 | Andrea Velez | "Don’t feel safe at all." | | 04:12 | Udo Kier | "I believe very much in small things, not big acting things." | | 04:24 | Udo Kier | "His favorite line don’t act, so I try not to act." |

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:14 — Pentagon investigation of Senator Kelly
• 01:08 — Update on Ukraine peace talks
• 02:12 — Congressional hearing on immigration raids in Los Angeles
• 03:11 — Death of Viola Ford Fletcher, Tulsa Race Massacre survivor
• 03:54 — Passing of actor Udo Kier, career highlights
• 04:36 — Jesse Jackson released from hospital

---

Summary Tone & Language

The episode employs NPR’s signature factual, precise, and empathetic tone, balancing high-level summaries with first-person perspectives and expert analysis. Short soundbites deepen the impact of the reporting, with memorable lines standing out amid rapid-fire headlines.

Transcript

[Data IQ Representative]

This message comes from Data iq. Companies can struggle to turn data into real AI apps. Data IQ makes it easy with low code tools so anyone can build and scale AI. Visit D A T A I K.

[NPR Host (Windsor Johnston)]

U.com NPR LIVE from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Pentagon says it's investigating Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona over possible breaches of military law. Kelly, a former Navy pilot, appeared in a video with several lawmakers calling for troops to Defy illegal orders. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports. A federal law allows retired service members to be recalled for a potential court martial.

[Military Lawyer (Kevin Carroll)]

This would be unprecedented, I think. I spoke with military lawyer Kevin Carroll, who's a retired colonel who served in the first Trump administration, and he said the last thing even similar he could think of was in 1925, so 100 years ago. But that was an active duty officer. This is very different. And it seems Carol said to be an attempt to silence political dissent.

[NPR Host (Windsor Johnston)]

NPR's Quill Lawrence reporting. Senator Kelly said he upheld his oath to the Constitution and dismissed the probe as political bullying. A peace plan drafted by the United States and Russia appears to have been scrapped in the Geneva talks to end the war in Ukraine. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. European leaders are working to revise the proposal, which will is widely seen as favoring Russia.

[NPR Correspondent (Eleanor Beardsley)]

Posting on social media, President Zelensky said the necessary steps to end the war are now workable and a lot of the right things are being taken into account. It's not the first time Ukrainians have anxiously watched Russia try to exert influence over the Trump administration. Businesswoman Ruslana Panklieff says Ukrainians are fighting a just fight.

[Ruslana Panklieff]

I trust Zelenskyy and I trust in my country and in these people who lives in this country, who stay in this country, it's a very strong power, really, people who are not afraid and who be very strong.

[NPR Correspondent (Eleanor Beardsley)]

She believes Ukraine will win this war in the end. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv.

[NPR Host (Windsor Johnston)]

Democratic lawmakers held a congressional hearing in Los Angeles on Monday. Steve Futterman reports. They heard testimony from people affected by immigration arrests directed by the Trump administration.

[Reporter (Steve Futterman)]

Congressman Robert Garcia from California, the House Oversight Committee's top Democrat, led the hearing.

[Congressman Robert Garcia]

Right now, Donald Trump. Donald Trump, Kristi Noem, Tom Holman are causing terror not just in Los Angeles, but across the country.

[Reporter (Steve Futterman)]

Among those testifying was LA Mayor Karen Bass, who said the raids are illegal and focused on race.

[Ruslana Panklieff]

The raids don't dominate the nightly news.

[Actor Udo Kier]

But just about every day, immigrant enforcement actions continue.

[Reporter (Steve Futterman)]

Some relate personal experiences. Andrea Velez described how she was apprehended by agents, and even though she told them she is a US Citizen, I.

[NPR Host (Windsor Johnston)]

Don'T feel safe at all.

[Reporter (Steve Futterman)]

Members of the committee said they are establishing a database for people to document their stories. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[NPR Host (Windsor Johnston)]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. One of the last known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre has died. Viola Ford Fletcher was 111 years old. In recent years, she pushed for justice for the massacre, which destroyed the black community where she grew up. Fletcher was seven when the attack on what was known as Black Wall street began. Her family says she died at a Tulsa hospital surrounded by loved ones. German actor Udo Kier has died. NPR's Andrew Limbong reports. He starred in more than 200 movies and was best known for his work in horror.

[NPR Reporter (Andrew Limbong)]

In the 1970s, Udo Kier starred in two movies produced by Andy Warhol, subverting famous horror Flesh for Frankenste and Blood for Dracula.

[NPR Host (Windsor Johnston)]

You have no refraction from there.

[NPR Reporter (Andrew Limbong)]

Kier kicked off a prolific career full of all types of movies, horror, arthouse, comedy, blockbuster.

[Actor Udo Kier]

I believe very much in small things, not big acting things.

[NPR Reporter (Andrew Limbong)]

Here's KIER In a 2021 NPR interview, reciting some advice he'd gotten from director Lars Von Trier.

[Actor Udo Kier]

His favorite line don't act, so I try not to act.

[NPR Reporter (Andrew Limbong)]

According to Variety, Uroquier died in Palm springs. He was 81 years old. Andrew Limbang, NPR News.

[NPR Host (Windsor Johnston)]

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has been released from a Chicago hospital. A statement from the Rainbow Push coalition says the 84 year old was discharged Monday and is in stable condition. Jackson was first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013. This is NPR News in Washington.

[Mint Mobile Advertiser]

This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month, make the [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months, 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month. Taxes and fees extra first 3 months only. See terms.