NPR News: 11-26-2025 10PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 26, 2025, 10PM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Date: November 27, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major global and national news, spanning a recent attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C., developments in the Russia-Ukraine peace process, a deadly fire in Hong Kong, litigation over U.S. homelessness policy, the dismissal of a prominent legal case against Donald Trump, new U.S. national park fees for international visitors, and key updates on the Middle East and Peru.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Attack on National Guard Members in Washington, D.C.

[00:11–00:43]

• Two National Guard members were critically injured in a shooting outside a D.C. subway station.
• The attacker, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021, is in custody after being shot.
• President Trump’s address condemned the attack as a “crime against humanity" and called for a review of Afghan refugee admissions from the Biden era.

Notable Quote:

"This heinous assault was an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity."
— President Trump [00:32]

• Trump demands reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees admitted under the previous administration.

2. Russia-Ukraine Peace Efforts

[00:43–01:23]

• U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow as diplomatic efforts continue.
• Recent talks between U.S., Russia, Ukraine, and European leaders in the UAE and Geneva focused on a new U.S. peace proposal with “favorable terms to Russia.”

3. Hong Kong Housing Complex Fire

[01:23–01:59]
Reporter: Charisse Pham

• A massive fire—the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades—killed over 40 and left hundreds missing in a public housing complex.
• The building's bamboo scaffolding and subpar construction materials likely fueled the blaze.
• Three people have been arrested on manslaughter charges.

Notable Quote:

"Hong Kong police said that construction and material found around the buildings did not meet safety standards, were highly flammable, and may have been the reason the fire spread so quickly."
— Charisse Pham [01:45]

4. States Sue HUD Over Homelessness Policy

[01:59–02:47]
Reporter: Owen Henderson

• 21 states are suing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over reductions in permanent supportive housing funding.
• Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, co-leading the suit, argues that pulling funding “cannot be replaced immediately.”
• HUD maintains its stance, while plaintiffs seek a court pause on the changes.

Notable Quote:

"When the administration tries to pull this level of funding from Washington state and many states across the country, that is money that cannot be replaced immediately.”
— Nick Brown [02:25]

5. Georgia Election Interference Case Against Trump Dismissed

[02:47–03:22]

• A judge in Atlanta dismissed the Georgia case against Trump and 14 others regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
• The case was undermined following the removal of the original prosecutor due to conflict of interest.

6. New Fees for International Visitors to U.S. National Parks

[03:22–04:11]
Reporter: Kirk Siegler

• Starting January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents will pay an additional $100 fee at top U.S. national parks; annual pass will cost $250 for foreigners.
• The administration frames this as an “America first” strategy to fund park infrastructure.
• Experts predict this could raise $55 million for Yellowstone alone but warn it may further reduce international tourism amid already declining numbers.

Notable Quote:

“Retired Park Service employees tell NPR this will only worsen that decline.”
— Kirk Siegler [04:05]

7. Middle East: Hostage and Remains Exchanges

[04:11–04:33]

• Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians, a day after Hamas handed over remains of an Israeli hostage.
• Ongoing as part of the current ceasefire; Hamas retains two more Israeli hostages' remains, citing ongoing recovery difficulties due to destruction in Gaza.

8. Peru: Former President Martin Vizcarra Sentenced

[04:33–04:53]

• Martin Vizcarra, former Peruvian President, was sentenced to 14 years for corruption and is barred from office for nine years.
• He was convicted of taking $611,000 in bribes as a state governor.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• President Trump's direct condemnation of the D.C. attack:
  “It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity.” [00:32]

• Nick Brown on HUD lawsuit:
  “...that is money that cannot be replaced immediately.” [02:25]

• Reporting on the Hong Kong fire’s severity:
  “It’s the deadliest fire Hong Kong has seen in decades.” — Charisse Pham [01:23]

• Kirk Siegler on the new park fee:
  "Retired Park Service employees tell NPR this will only worsen that decline." [04:05]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:11] Shooting of National Guard members in D.C.; Trump’s response
• [00:43] Updates on Russia-Ukraine negotiations
• [01:23] Hong Kong fire tragedy
• [01:59] States sue HUD over homelessness support
• [02:47] Georgia election interference case against Trump dismissed
• [03:22] New international visitor fees for U.S. national parks
• [04:11] Israel-Hamas exchanges of remains
• [04:33] Former Peruvian President Vizcarra sentenced for corruption

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This episode delivers essential briefings across national security, international incidents, policy litigation, and global affairs, reflecting NPR’s commitment to high-impact, rapid news delivery.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. In a video posted on social media, President Trump spoke to the nation tonight just hours after a man shot two National Guard members outside a subway station in Washington, D.C. the two guard members are in critical condition while their attacker was also shot and is now in custody.

[President Trump]

This heinous assault was an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity.

[Dale Willman]

Trump said the attacker was an Afghan national. It's believed he entered the US in 2021. Trump is now calling for a reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees who entered the US under the Biden administration. Special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow next week. His efforts to find an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine continue. Officials from the U.S. russia and Ukraine held talks in the United Arab Emirates earlier this week. Talks were also held in Geneva between the U.S. ukraine and European leaders. Those talks focused on a U.S. plan that offered favorable terms to Russia. More than 40 people are dead and hundreds remain missing after a fire broke out at a housing complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Reporter Charisse Pham has more.

[Charisse Pham]

It's the deadliest fire Hong Kong has seen in decades. The five alarm fire, Hong Kong's highest level, burned for several hours. The public housing complex where the fire broke out is home to about 4,600 people. The high rise apartment towers had been under renovation and covered in bamboo scaffolding, a common sight in Hong Kong. Three people have been arrested on suspected manslaughter charges. Hong Kong police said that construction and material found around the buildings did not meet safety standards, were highly flammable, and may have been the reason the fire spread so quickly. For NPR News, I'm Charisse Pham.

[Dale Willman]

In Hong Kong, 21 states are suing the Department of Housing and Urban Development over changes to homelessness support. Spokane Public Radio's Owen Henderson has our story.

[Owen Henderson]

HUD has drastically reduced the amount of money that can go toward permanent supportive housing, saying money should go to approaches that work. But studies show permanent supportive housing is highly successful at reducing homelessness. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown is helping lead the lawsuit.

[Washington Attorney General Nick Brown]

When the administration tries to pull this level of funding from Washington state and many states across the country, that is money that cannot be replaced immediately.

[Owen Henderson]

In a statement, HUD says it stands by its changes. Brown and the other plaintiffs argue these revisions need congressional approval. They're asking the court to pause the changes while the suit goes forward. For NPR News, I'm Owen Henderson in Spokane.

[Dale Willman]

The last effort to prosecute President Trump over his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020 has ended. A judge in Atlanta today dismissed the Georgia election interference case against Trump and 14 other people. The case had faced a difficult path after the original prosecutor was removed because of a conflict of interest. Stocks finished up today. And you're listening to NPR News. International visitors to some of America's most popular national parks will have to pay a large entrance fee starting next year. N. Pierce, Kirk Siegler reports.

[Kirk Siegler]

The Department of Interior says foreign visitors will pay a $100 charge on top of existing entrance fees at the premier parks starting January 1st. The cost of the annual parks pass for non US residents will also rise to $250. The idea, billed by the administration as an America first strategy, is to use the extra revenue to help pay for billions of dol in planned but not yet funded park infrastructure projects. The conservative leaning Property and Environment Research center estimates the new surcharges will raise some $55 million for Yellowstone national park alone. But this also comes amid a steep drop in international tourism to the US Due to politics. Retired Park Service employees tell NPR this will only worsen that decline. Kirk Zigler, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians today, one day after Hamas handed over the remains of an Israeli hostage. The exchanges are part of the ceasefire that went into effect last month. Hamas still has the remains of two hostages who were abducted in the October 2023 Hamas led attack that sparked the fighting in Gaza. Hamas says recovering those remains has been made more difficult by the destruction in Gaza. Former Peruvian President Martin Vizcar is now in prison. He received a 14 year sentence today. He'd been convicted on corruption charges. He he's also barred from holding public office for nine years. He'd been accused of receiving $611,000 in bribes while serving as governor for a Peruvian state. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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