NPR News Now: 11-26-2025 12AM EST

Host: NPR (Gael Snyder)
Date: November 26, 2025
Length: ~5 minutes

Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire summary of major global and national news events as of late November 2025. Key topics include the state of Ukraine-Russia peace talks, new U.S. housing policy lawsuits, political fallout for U.S. lawmakers speaking out against executive orders, ongoing ceasefire and hostage issues in Israel and Gaza, a climbing tragedy in New Zealand, and global financial market updates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks and U.S. Involvement

• Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expresses skepticism about any U.S. peace plan for Ukraine that fails to address the Kremlin’s "core demands."
• Initial U.S. plan was considered "heavily tilted in Russia's favor" ([00:32]).
• The current U.S. proposal is being revised to include feedback from Ukraine and European allies.
• U.S. and Russian representatives are set to discuss these revisions in the United Arab Emirates.
• Meanwhile, fighting continues: heavy Russian attacks on Kyiv and Ukrainian drones striking Russian border regions.
• Notable Quote:

  "[Lavrov] said Moscow is still waiting to hear about a newly amended version of the US Plan, now with input from Ukraine and European powers." — Charles Mainz, NPR ([00:43])

2. President Trump on the Peace Process

• President Trump claims there is "no firm deadline" for Ukraine-Russia peace, but negotiations are progressing ([01:12]).
• Trump is dispatching envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow (to meet with Putin) and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to Kyiv for talks.
• Ukraine “supports the essence of the deal,” but “sensitive issues remain.”

3. 20 States Sue Trump Administration Over Homelessness Funding

• New federal policy redirects billions from permanent to transitional housing.
• Programs that embrace DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), serve transgender or non-binary people, or don’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement will be denied funds.
• The lawsuit, filed by mostly Democratic-led states, claims these conditions are unlawful and violate Congress’s mandate to allocate funding based solely on need.
• HUD Secretary Scott Turner says policy is to "promote self sufficiency," but advocates warn up to 170,000 people could end up back on the street.
• Notable Quote:

  "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." — Jennifer Ludden, NPR ([01:51])

4. FBI and Pentagon Target Democratic Lawmakers Over Military Orders Video

• Rep. Maggie Goodlander (NH) and five other Democratic lawmakers are being investigated after a video circulated of them advising U.S. troops to disregard illegal commands ([02:34]).
• All six have military or intelligence backgrounds.
• Goodlander stands firm:
• Notable Quote:

  "I am doing my job. I will not be intimidated. I will not be harassed. I will continue to do my job and uphold my oath, and I will never give up the ship." — Rep. Maggie Goodlander ([02:48])

• Lawmakers claim the Trump administration seeks to silence dissent.
• Pentagon threatens to recall Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ) to active duty for possible charges.

5. Israel-Gaza Hostage and Ceasefire Developments

• Palestinian militants have handed over human remains via the Red Cross as part of a ceasefire agreement (in effect since October 10).
• Forensic testing will determine if the remains are those of the three remaining hostages in Gaza.

6. New Zealand Climbing Tragedy

• Two climbers, one a U.S. citizen and the other a French national, die on Aoraki/Mount Cook.
• Their bodies were recovered; local authorities are cooperating with the U.S. Consulate.
• The incident is reminiscent of a similar tragedy a year earlier involving missing climbers.
• Notable Context:

  "They were declared dead, but their bodies were never found." — Cristina Kukulyo, NPR ([04:25])

7. Financial Markets Update

• Robust trading in Asia as Japan’s Nikkei rises 1.8%.
• U.S. indices (S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow) post notable gains; Dow up 664 points ([04:36]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Sergei Lavrov on U.S. peace plan review:

  "Russia welcomed the initial version of a US Peace plan for Ukraine, one critic said was heavily tilted in Russia's favor." — Charles Mainz ([00:34])

• Rep. Maggie Goodlander's Defiance:

  "I will not be intimidated. I will not be harassed. I will continue to do my job and uphold my oath, and I will never give up the ship." — Maggie Goodlander ([02:48])

• Jennifer Ludden on homelessness lawsuit:

  "The lawsuit by the mostly Democratic led states says those conditions are unlawful." ([01:51])

Notable Segment Timestamps

• Ukraine-Russia Peace Process & Fighting Update — 00:13–01:12
• President Trump’s Comments & Delegations — 01:12–01:51
• Homelessness Lawsuit & Policy Shift — 01:51–02:34
• Democratic Lawmakers Under Federal Scrutiny — 02:34–02:58
• Israel-Gaza Ceasefire and Hostages Update — 02:58–03:58
• New Zealand Climbing Fatalities — 03:58–04:36
• Global Markets Update — 04:36–04:56

Summary

This concise news bulletin offers a global scan of urgent and developing stories: It spotlights complex Ukraine-Russia diplomacy with U.S. intervention, domestic legal battles over federal housing policies, escalating pressures on dissenting lawmakers, humanitarian and geopolitical developments in Israel and Gaza, international tragedy on Mount Cook, and buoyant signals from international stock markets. The tone is direct and factual, giving listeners a high-level yet highly relevant snapshot of the day’s events.