NPR News Now – November 27, 2025, 11PM EST

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Giles Snyder (and NPR Team)
Episode Summary: The latest pressing national and international news, focusing on a shooting incident involving National Guard members in Washington D.C., updates on a Trump legal case in Georgia, U.S.-Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, a deadly fire in Hong Kong, Warner Music's AI licensing deals, and the Winter Olympics torch relay.

Main Theme

This five-minute news update covers breaking events in U.S. politics, international diplomacy, public safety, technological change in the music industry, and sports, offering concise but comprehensive coverage of headline stories as of late November 2025.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National Guard Shooting in Washington, D.C.

• Incident & Reaction:
  • Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot and critically injured in Washington, D.C.
  • President Trump increased National Guard presence in the city following the incident.
• Political Commentary:
  • Trump identified the suspect as an Afghan refugee who entered the U.S. in 2021, calling for a reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees admitted during the Biden administration.
  • “And we will bring the perpetrator of this barbaric attack to swift and certain justice if the bullets going in the opposite direction haven't already done that.” – Jacqueline Diaz, quoting Trump [00:39]
• Ongoing Investigation:
  • FBI, Secret Service, and D.C. Police continue to investigate; the assailant is in custody.
  • D.C. Mayor Bowser called the attack “targeted.”
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced 500 more troops being sent to the capital per Trump’s order.

2. Georgia Election Interference Case Dismissed

• A Georgia judge dismissed the election interference case against Trump and others after the new prosecutor decided not to pursue charges.
• Marks the end of legal efforts tied to Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

3. U.S.-Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan Developments

• Envoy to Moscow:
  • White House envoy Steve Witkoff is headed to Moscow seeking Putin’s approval for a revised Ukraine draft peace plan.
• Leaked Phone Call:
  • Eleanor Beardsley reported on a mid-October call (leaked, authenticity unconfirmed):
    • Witkoff expresses “deep respect for Putin.”
    • Advises a Putin aide to “call President Trump and flatter him over his recent Mideast peace deal.”
    • [Quote] “He instructs the adviser to tell Putin to call President Trump and flatter him…” – Eleanor Beardsley [02:29]
• Ukrainian Perspective:
  • Oleksandr Marezko, Ukrainian parliamentarian, criticized Witkoff’s pro-Russian leanings and praised those “who continue to support Ukraine.”
    • [Quote] “We know that we are dealing with people in the entourage of President Trump who take pro Russian position. Unfortunately. Luckily, there are people who stand firm with American national interests and who continue to support Ukraine.” – Oleksandr Marezko [02:56]

4. Deadly Fire in Hong Kong

• Incident:
  • Hong Kong police arrested three connected to a fatal high-rise fire, the city’s deadliest in years.
  • At least 44 confirmed dead, around 300 missing; fire still burning and hampering rescue efforts.

5. Warner Music—AI Licensing Deals

• Industry Shift:
  • Warner Music Group, previously suing the AI song generators Suno and Udio, signed licensing agreements allowing AI-made songs to use artists’ voices and songwriters’ compositions (with permission).
  • “The new deals will allow paid users of the AI platforms to create songs with the voices of artists and compositions of songwriters who agree to participate.” – Isabella Gomez Sarmiento [03:51]
• Major Warner artists include Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Dua Lipa.
• Commitment for proper compensation to artists and songwriters for AI-driven works.

6. Olympic Flame for Milan-Cortina 2026

• The Olympic torch was lit in Olympia, Greece, in an indoor museum ceremony due to rain.
• Torch relay will traverse all 110 Italian provinces over 63 days before the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Justice After the D.C. Shooting:
  “And we will bring the perpetrator of this barbaric attack to swift and certain justice if the bullets going in the opposite direction haven't already done that.”
  — Jacqueline Diaz, quoting President Trump [00:39]

• On Pro-Russian Sentiment:
  “We know that we are dealing with people in the entourage of President Trump who take pro Russian position. Unfortunately. Luckily, there are people who stand firm with American national interests and who continue to support Ukraine.”
  — Oleksandr Marezko [02:56]

• On AI in the Music Industry:
  “The new deals will allow paid users of the AI platforms to create songs with the voices of artists and compositions of songwriters who agree to participate.”
  — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento [03:51]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:17] – D.C. National Guard shooting, Trump’s remarks, refugee investigation
• [01:12] – Scene report, law enforcement response, troop deployment
• [01:44] – Georgia election case against Trump dismissed
• [02:29] – Leaked call: U.S.-Russia-Ukraine peace plan, Witkoff’s controversial comments
• [03:11] – Hong Kong fire: casualties, rescue efforts
• [03:51] – Warner Music embraces AI-generated music
• [04:30] – Olympic torch relay preparations, ceremony indoors due to rain

Conclusion

This NPR News Now segment presents a rapid, informative tour of breaking and developing stories from global politics to local tragedy, cultural transformation, and the world of sports, all in NPR’s succinct, factual style.