NPR News: 11-25-2025 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: 11-25-2025 9PM EST

Host: Dan Ronan, NPR
Original Air Date: November 26, 2025
Episode Theme:
This rapid-fire, five-minute update covers major headlines from politics to public health, focusing on diplomatic maneuvers around the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a major lawsuit over homelessness funding, a high-profile jewel heist, the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, and a national recall of infant formula linked to botulism.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Developments

00:18–01:20

• Diplomatic Progress:
  The White House claims "tremendous progress" toward a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, though significant details remain unresolved.
• Current Negotiations:
  • Army Secretary Dan Driscoll holds separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in the UAE.
  • President Trump sends his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow to meet Putin.
  • Trump's original "28 point plan" involves Ukraine ceding territory annexed but not controlled by Russia since the conflict began.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made adjustments to this plan, with further "fine tuning."
• Quote:
  • “There are a few delicate but not insurmountable details that need to be sorted out.” — Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary (00:35)

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2. 20 States Sue Over Homelessness Funding Shift

01:20–02:15

• Legal Challenge:
  • 20 states (mostly Democratic-led) are suing the Trump administration over HUD's plans to redirect funds from permanent to transitional housing for the homeless.
  • New HUD restrictions include denying funding to programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), supporting transgender or non-binary people, or not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
• Controversy:
  • The plaintiffs argue these conditions are unlawful, claiming Congress mandated distribution based on need alone.
  • Advocates warn the move could push 170,000 people back onto the streets.
• Quote:
  • “HUD Secretary Scott Turner has said the funding changes are about promoting self sufficiency.” — Jennifer Ludden (01:32)

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3. Louvre Museum Jewel Heist Arrests

02:15–03:02

• Criminal Investigation:
  • Four more arrests in Paris (two men, two women, ages 31–40) linked to October's $100 million royal jewel heist at the Louvre.
  • The method: The thieves arrived in a moving truck with a ladder, wore reflective vests as a disguise, and completed the theft in under 10 minutes.
  • Jewels remain unrecovered; a total of eight have been arrested so far.
• Security Concerns:
  • The audacity of the theft has spotlighted possible security flaws at the Louvre.
• Quote:
  • “They had on reflective vests to look like maintenance workers. The heist took less than 10 minutes.” — Kristen Wright (02:24)

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4. White House Press Secretary’s Relative Arrested

03:02–03:31

• Incident:
  • A relative of current White House Press Secretary, Caroline Levitt, was taken into ICE custody outside Boston earlier this month.
• Details:
  • The situation was originally reported by WBUR (NPR’s Boston affiliate).

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5. Thanksgiving Presidential Turkey Pardon

03:31–04:16

• The Tradition:
  • President Trump continues the tradition, pardoning two turkeys named Waddle and Gobble in the Rose Garden.
  • Ceremony notably interrupted by Gobble's vocal outburst.
• Quote:
  • (03:46) “Today we continue a time honored American tradition. Boy, that's a well trained turkey. See how happy he is. In a few moments, I will grant a full, absolute and unconditional presidential pardon to two handsome Thanksgiving turkeys.” — President Trump
• Aftermath:
  • The turkeys will retire to North Carolina State University in Raleigh; President Trump to Florida for the holiday.

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6. By Heart Infant Formula Botulism Outbreak

04:16–04:55

• Health Crisis:
  • A recall has been issued for all By Heart infant formula products after lab testing found botulism in multiple samples.
  • Outbreak began in August; so far, 31 babies in 15 states have been sickened, possibly stretching back to November 2024.
• Key Details:
  • Botulism bacteria detected in 5 of 36 tested product samples.
  • Illness is rare but potentially deadly, especially in young children.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peace Deal Hopes:

  • “There are a few delicate but not insurmountable details that need to be sorted out.”
    — Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary (00:35)

• On Homelessness Funding:

  • “HUD Secretary Scott Turner has said the funding changes are about promoting self sufficiency.”
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR (01:32)

• Daring Louvre Heist:

  • “They had on reflective vests to look like maintenance workers. The heist took less than 10 minutes.”
    — Kristen Wright, NPR (02:24)

• Turkey Pardon Humor:

  • “Boy, that's a well trained turkey. See how happy he is.”
    — President Trump (03:46)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Time | |--------------------------------------------------------|----------| | Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Updates | 00:18–01:20 | | 20-State Lawsuit Over Homelessness Funding | 01:20–02:15 | | Louvre Jewel Heist Arrests | 02:15–03:02 | | White House Press Secretary’s Relative Arrested by ICE | 03:02–03:31 | | Presidential Turkey Pardon | 03:31–04:16 | | By Heart Infant Formula Botulism Outbreak | 04:16–04:55 |

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Summary Takeaway

This news update offers a high-level briefing on major national and international developments as the holiday season approaches, blending world diplomacy, legal disputes, public health alerts, crime investigations, and a moment of festive tradition at the White House.

Transcript

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[Dan Ronan]

In Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The White House says negotiators have made, quote, tremendous progress on Russia, Ukraine's possible peace deal, but there's still more work to do. This despite a Thursday dead for Ukraine to accept it. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

[Michelle Kellerman]

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says there are a few delicate but not insurmountable details that need to be sorted out. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has been meeting with Russian and Ukrainian delegation separately in the United Arab Emirates. President Trump also says he's sending his special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Trump's original 28 point plan calls for Ukraine to cede territor that Russia has annexed but not managed to win in nearly four years of war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio negotiated some changes to the plan and Trump says it has been, quote, fine tuned. Michelle Kellerman, NPR news, the State Department.

[Dan Ronan]

20 states are suing the Trump administration over cuts to long term housing for homeless people. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. The funding shift comes with new restrictions that states say are illegal.

[Jennifer Ludden]

The federal housing agency HUD wants to shift billions of doll away from permanent housing toward transitional housing and it says it will deny funding to programs that promote dei, acknowledge people who are transgender or non binary or don't cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The lawsuit by the mostly Democratic led states says those conditions are unlawful and it says Congress mandated that homelessness funding be distributed based solely on need. HUD Secretary Scott Turner has said the funding changes are about promoting self sufficiency. Advocates for ending homelessness say the overhaul could push 170,000 people back onto the streets. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

[Dan Ronan]

Prosecutors in Paris have arrested four more people in connection with the jewel heist at The Louvre Museum. NPR's Kristen Wright reports.

[Kristen Wright]

The two men and two women are in custody. Prosecutors say they're from Paris and range in age from 31 to 40. They're suspected of being involved in the October heist at the louvre. More than $100 million worth of royal jewels were stolen in broadcast and still haven't been recovered. The thieves pulled up in a moving truck with a ladder and climbed up to a balcony to break in. They had on reflective vests to look like maintenance workers. The heist took less than 10 minutes. It's raised questions about security at the Louvre, the world's most visited museum. Eight people have been arrested so far. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

A relative of White House press secretary Caroline Levitt has been arrested by ICE outside Boston earlier this month. The woman is reportedly in ICE custody, according to member station wbur. You're listening to NPR News. Ahead of Thanksgiving, President Trump utilized a power that only he has the presidential pardon. Today he took part in a time honored White House tradition and pardoned two Thanksgiving turkeys. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The two turkeys, Waddle and Gobble, were spared a future of being eaten at a ceremony in the Rose Garden. President Trump said the turkeys weighed about 50 pounds each. His remarks were interrupt interrupted a few times by a gobble from Gobble.

[President Trump]

Today we continue a time honored American tradition. Boy, that's a well trained turkey. See how happy he is. In a few moments, I will grant a full, absolute and unconditional presidential pardon to two handsome Thanksgiving turkeys.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The turkeys will spend the rest of their lives at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. The president, for his part, will spend his holiday in Florida. Deepa Shivara, NPR News, the White House.

[Dan Ronan]

The company that makes By Heart infant formula says tests of their products are tied to a botulism outbreak and they show all of the company's products may be contaminated. Lab tests show botulism bacteria in five of 36 samples that were tested from three different lots of the product, potentially causing a rare, sometimes deadly illness in children. Since August, when the outbreak began, at least 31 babies in 15 states have become sickened. And health officials say they believe some of of the children may have become ill as far back as November of 2024. I'm Dan Ronan, NPR News, in Washington.

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