NPR News Now: 11-26-2025 12PM EST Summary

Overview

This NPR News Now episode presents a concise, five-minute briefing on key global and domestic news stories as of November 26, 2025, at 12PM EST. The episode covers major headlines including the dismissal of President Trump’s Georgia election interference case, developments in Ukraine peace efforts, the recovery of Israeli hostages’ remains, a significant shift in EPA pollution regulation, air traffic controller morale post-shutdown, and the release of abducted Nigerian schoolgirls.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Dismissal of Georgia Election Interference Case

[00:01–00:33]

• Anchor: Lakshmi Singh
• A Georgia court has dismissed the 2020 election interference case against former President Trump and his allies.
• The new prosecutor who replaced Fulton County DA Fani Willis has chosen not to pursue the charges.

Notable Quote:

"A Georgia Court's dismissing the 2020 election interference case against President Trump and allies. The prosecutor who recently took over from Fulton County DA Fani Willis, says he will not pursue the charges." — Lakshmi Singh [00:01]

2. US-Russia-Ukraine Peace Negotiations

[00:34–01:16]

• Reporter: Eleanor Beardsley, Kyiv
• White House envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the Ukraine war.
• Leaked transcripts suggest Witkoff expressed "deep respect" for Putin, although NPR could not independently verify this.
• In the leak, Witkoff advises Putin’s aide to have Putin flatter Trump over his Middle East peace deal to encourage a similar Ukraine-Russia agreement.
• A second leak indicates a 28-point Russia–US peace plan was likely fabricated by Russia and later amended by Ukraine and Europe.

Notable Quotes:

"NPR has not been able to independently confirm the transcripts released by Bloomberg." — Eleanor Beardsley [00:34]
"The Putin call came a day ahead of a White House visit by Volodymyr Zelensky in October and likely dashed the Ukrainian president's hopes for Tomahawk missiles." — Eleanor Beardsley [00:52]

3. Israeli Hostage Remains Identified

[01:17–02:10]

• Reporter: Kat Lonesdorf, Tel Aviv
• Israel identified the remains returned by Hamas as Dror Ohr, a 48-year-old killed in the October 7th attacks two years ago.
• Dror Ohr’s wife was also killed; their two children were subsequently released from Gaza in exchange for Ohr's body.
• Under the ongoing ceasefire deal, Israel will release the bodies of 15 Palestinians.
• Dispute remains over the delay in returning remaining Israeli hostage bodies.

Notable Quotes:

"The body is that of Dror Ohr, a 48 year old who Israel says was killed at his home in the Oct. 7 attack." — Kat Lonesdorf [01:31]
"There are still two more bodies remaining. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately stalling. Hamas has insisted it is struggling to find the bodies on the rubble." — Kat Lonesdorf [02:02]

4. EPA Reverses Own Pollution Regulations

[02:11–02:56]

• Reporter: Michael Copley
• The Environmental Protection Agency asks a federal court to strike down stricter soot regulations set under the Biden administration, citing an incomplete review process.
• The EPA admits it failed to consider the financial burden on power plants and factories.
• Environmental groups warn that rolling back rules would lead to more respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, as well as premature deaths.

Notable Quotes:

"The EPA says tighter limits it put on fine particle pollution called soot were unlawful because it didn't conduct a thorough review required by the Clean Air Act." — Michael Copley [02:25]
"Environmental groups said abandoning the regulation of toxic particles would lead to more cases of asthma, heart disease and early deaths." — Michael Copley [02:53]

5. Air Traffic Controllers’ Morale Post-Government Shutdown

[02:57–03:42]

• Reporter: Joel Rhodes
• Operations have resumed to normal after a prolonged government shutdown.
• The Department of Transportation will give $10,000 bonuses to only 311 of over 10,000 air traffic controllers (those who did not miss a single shift during the 43-day shutdown).
• The bonus policy has caused resentment among many, who feel the rewards are unfairly distributed.

Notable Quotes:

"But only a small fraction of working air traffic controllers will qualify. Just 311 controllers out of more than 10,000 will get the cash bonuses, according to the controllers union." — Joel Rhodes [03:26]
"Some have called the bonuses unfair and even a betrayal of those who did a lot of hard work during the shutdown." — Joel Rhodes [03:37]

6. Nigerian Schoolgirl Abductions and Releases

[03:43–04:32]

• Reporter: Jewel Wright, Lagos
• 24 schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Kebbe state were released; the conditions of their release are unclear.
• One girl escaped immediately after the abduction, which left 25 girls taken initially.
• Nigeria has faced multiple mass school abductions recently, with over 300 students taken last week in a neighboring state.
• While 50 students have escaped, more than 200 remain in captivity; efforts for further releases continue.

Notable Quotes:

"Nigeria has seen a spate of school attacks and abductions in recent weeks. Last week, more than 300 students were taken from another boarding school in the neighboring state. 50 students have since escaped, and more than 200 remain in captivity." — Jewel Wright [04:15]

7. Market Update

[04:33–end]

• Anchor: Lakshmi Singh
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 433 points.

Timestamps for Reference

• Dismissal of Trump’s Georgia case: [00:01]
• Ukraine peace talks & Witkoff leaks: [00:34]
• Israeli hostage body identification: [01:17]
• EPA soots regulation reversal: [02:11]
• Air traffic controller bonus fallout: [02:57]
• Nigerian mass abductions update: [03:43]
• Market update: [04:33]

Tone & Style

The news is presented in the classic NPR tone — succinct, sober, and informative. Direct quotes from field reporters reflect a focus on verified information, balanced perspectives, and compassion for impacted individuals.

Memorable Moments

• The “flattering Trump” strategy in Ukraine peace diplomacy, as reported in leaked transcripts ([00:49]).
• The emotional update on Israeli hostage exchanges, humanizing the ongoing trauma of families ([01:31]).
• The frank admission from the EPA of procedural and economic missteps in climate regulation ([02:25]).
• The sense of divide among air traffic controllers, with some calling the selective bonus system “a betrayal” ([03:37]).
• The scope and persistence of school abductions in Nigeria, with hundreds of children still unaccounted for ([04:15]).

For Further Listening

This episode provides the essentials for those who want to quickly grasp today’s most pressing news stories. For deeper dives into the individual issues, NPR often features follow-up reporting in its longer daily or weekly programs.