NPR News Now – November 25, 2025, 7AM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Episode Theme: The episode covers breaking national and international news stories, with focused reports on diplomacy in Ukraine, crime reduction initiatives, social media transparency, drug safety in pregnancy, and a notable event at the National Zoo.

1. U.S. Diplomacy and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Key Segment: 00:19–01:30

• Revised Peace Plan:
  • The Trump administration has revised its proposed plan to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine after talks in Switzerland.
  • White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirmed President Trump will "keep pushing for a peace agreement."
    • Quote (00:37):
      "The president's been putting a lot of pressure on both leaders for this entire time. We've been talking with both sides. He's been talking to both leaders directly for 10 months now. So, yes, you can expect that pressure to continue. The president wants this war to end." — Caroline Levitt
  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled the latest proposal "the most productive so far," although he did not provide specifics.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky notes sensitive issues still remain, especially regarding prisoners of war and abducted children.
  • Zelensky may visit the United States this week, according to Ukraine's national security chief.

2. Violent Crime Crackdown in Memphis

Key Segment: 01:30–02:15

• Attorney General Pam Bondi lauds the work of a presidential task force in Memphis, Tennessee.

  • Achievement: Over 3,000 arrests made as part of efforts to fight violent crime.
  • Quote (01:36):
    "If you're committing violent crimes, if you're committing any crime, we will find you, we will bring you to justice, and we will protect the law abiding citizens in this country." — Pam Bondi

• Public Concerns & Investigations:

  • Reports from ProPublica and MLK50 show local concerns: unnecessary arrests, racial profiling, and harassment by task force officers.
  • Strain on local systems:
    • County mayor requests more judges for faster case processing.
    • County jail faces overcrowding.
  • Reporter Note:
    "For NPR News, I'm Cynthia Abrams in Nashville." (02:15)

3. Social Media Influencer Transparency on X (formerly Twitter)

Key Segment: 02:15–03:13

• New Feature: Platform "X" now shows the real locations of accounts.
• Findings:
  • Many influencers claim false locations; for example, an "American" account was actually run from Pakistan.
  • Politically-divisive content traced to influencers in Nigeria and Bangladesh.
  • Expert Insight:
    • Darren Linville, Clemson University:
      Quote (02:55):
      "In most of these cases, it's most likely just influencers who are trying to make a buck."
    • X suspends several accounts linked to these disinformation efforts.
    • Linville appreciates the rare transparency online.
      • Quote Highlight (03:00):
        "Linville welcomes the newfound transparency, which is increasingly rare to see online."
  • Reporter Sign-off:
    "Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News." (03:13)

4. GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs and Pregnancy Complications

Key Segment: 03:13–04:23

• Research Findings:
  • Women who stopped taking GLP-1 drugs such as wegovy before or early in pregnancy faced:
    • Increased risk of complications, including preterm birth, excess weight gain, gestational diabetes, and hypertensive disorders.
  • Journal Source: Study published in the medical literature, led by Mass General Brigham, involved nearly 1,800 pregnancies.
  • Advisory: Women are counseled to discontinue these medications due to risks to the fetus.
  • Quote (03:35):
    "Women who stopped GLP-1 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

5. National Zoo Prepares for Asian Elephant Calf

Key Segment: 04:23–04:57

• Milestone Event:
  • Washington, D.C.'s National Zoo is preparing for its first Asian elephant calf birth in nearly 25 years.
  • 12-year-old elephant Neeland is due to deliver between mid-January and early March.
    • Elephant pregnancies can last up to 22 months.
  • Conservation note: There are fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild.
  • Zoo will share updates online, and the herd is visible daily at the Elephant Trails exhibit.
  • Tone: Positive, celebratory — highlighting conservation efforts.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Caroline Levitt on diplomacy:
  "The president's been putting a lot of pressure on both leaders for this entire time..." (00:37)
• Pam Bondi on Memphis arrests:
  "If you're committing violent crimes... we will bring you to justice..." (01:36)
• Darren Linville on influencer motivations:
  "In most of these cases, it's most likely just influencers who are trying to make a buck." (02:55)
• Maria Godoy on study findings:
  "Women who stopped GLP-1 medications right before or early in pregnancy also had a higher risk..." (03:35)

Key Takeaways

• The U.S. continues active diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Crime-fighting initiatives in Memphis lead to thousands of arrests, but trigger concerns over justice and systemic strain.
• Social media platform X's new transparency tool reveals widespread use of misleading account locations among influencers.
• New research highlights the risks of discontinuing popular weight loss drugs around the time of pregnancy.
• Washington’s National Zoo expects a rare baby elephant, shining a spotlight on endangered species conservation.

For detailed coverage and the latest developments, see full episodes and linked NPR sources.