NPR News: 11-26-2025 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — November 26, 2025, 1PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh & NPR News Team
Length: ~5 Minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers concise coverage of major national and international stories as of November 26, 2025. Topics include the dismissal of Georgia’s election interference case against President Trump, ongoing political tension over military obedience and accusations of treason among lawmakers, the latest developments in Trump’s Ukraine peace proposal, a coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau, and planned increases in government-backed home loan limits.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Georgia Election Interference Case Dismissed

[00:19 – 01:13]

• Story Summary:

  • A Georgia judge has dismissed the election interference criminal case against President Trump and allies. The decision was at the special prosecutor's request, after the prior DA Fani Willis was removed.
  • The prosecutor cited improbability of progress while Trump is president, acting "in the interest of justice".
  • The case stemmed from the 2020 election, with Trump narrowly losing Georgia to Biden and making a controversial call seeking "11,780 votes".

• Quote:

  • “It was unlikely that legal action against Trump could have moved forward while he's president.” — Alex Helmick ([00:48])
  • “Trump's attorney said the case should never have been brought.” — Alex Helmick ([01:06])

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2. Senator Mark Kelly Rebukes Pentagon Inquiry

[01:13 – 02:01]

• Story Summary:

  • Senator Mark Kelly appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live as he and other Democrats face a Pentagon investigation, following accusations from President Trump that they are "traitors" for telling service members not to follow illegal orders.
  • The FBI is contacting other lawmakers, including Senator Eliza Slatkin.
  • All targeted lawmakers have military or intelligence backgrounds.

• Quote:

  • “The minute I saw the president said they should be hanged, in effect, I knew that our security situation was going to change precipitously. Obviously, I'm worried about my family. I'm worried about my staff. You know, I've served three tours in Iraq. I've done dangerous things. I signed up for this, but my family didn't.” — Sen. Mark Kelly ([01:41])

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3. Ukraine War: Trump Claims Peace Plan Progress

[02:01 – 03:07]

• Story Summary:

  • President Trump updates his "28-point plan" for ending the war in Ukraine, citing only “a few remaining points of disagreement.”
  • He dispatches two envoys: one to Moscow to meet Putin, the other to Ukraine to negotiate with Kyiv.
  • Former NATO Ambassador Ivo Daalder voices skepticism about the substance or feasibility of any plan that satisfies both Kyiv and Moscow.

• Quote:

  • “He doesn't care what the terms of the deal are. He just wants it to end and to be seen as the person who ended it.” — Ivo Daalder ([02:47])

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4. Military Coup Attempt in Guinea-Bissau

[03:15 – 04:24]

• Story Summary:

  • Reports emerge of a coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau, with heavy gunfire near the presidential palace and claims the president has been arrested (not yet independently verified by NPR).
  • The capital, Bissau, experiences violence near the election office after a contested presidential vote in which both candidates have declared victory and the main opposition was barred.
  • Guinea-Bissau has a long history of military coups since independence in 1974.

• Quote:

  • “Witnesses in the capital, Bissau, have reported heavy gunfire, including at the electoral body where provisional results were due to be announced on Thursday.” — Emmanuel Akinwotu ([03:43])
  • “The tiny coastal nation...is one of the poorest countries in the world with a history of military coups since independence from Portugal in 1974.” — Emmanuel Akinwotu ([04:12])

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5. US Raises Backed Mortgage Loan Limits

[04:24 – 04:47]

• Story Summary:
  • The Federal Housing Finance Agency will significantly raise the limit on home loans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can guarantee, up to $832,750 for most single-family homes, starting next year.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Legal Tactics:
  “It was unlikely that legal action against Trump could have moved forward while he's president.” — Alex Helmick ([00:48])
• On Political Threats:
  “The minute I saw the president said they should be hanged, in effect, I knew that our security situation was going to change precipitously.” — Sen. Mark Kelly ([01:41])
• On Ukraine Peace Talks:
  “He doesn't care what the terms of the deal are. He just wants it to end and to be seen as the person who ended it.” — Ivo Daalder ([02:47])
• On Guinea-Bissau Unrest:
  “The tiny coastal nation...is one of the poorest countries in the world with a history of military coups since independence from Portugal in 1974.” — Emmanuel Akinwotu ([04:12])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Georgia Case Against Trump Dismissed: 00:19 – 01:13
• Sen. Mark Kelly on Pentagon Inquiry: 01:13 – 02:01
• Ukraine Peace Proposals: 02:01 – 03:07
• Guinea-Bissau Coup Attempt: 03:15 – 04:24
• Mortgage Limit Increase: 04:24 – 04:47

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains NPR’s signature calm, clear, and impartial tone, delivering complex developments with concise analysis and direct quotes from key figures.

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Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[NPR News Anchor]

A Superior Court judge has dismissed the election interference criminal case in Georgia against President Trump and allies at the request of the special prosecutor from member station WABE in Atlanta, Alex Helmick reports.

[Alex Helmick]

Prosecutor Pete Scandalakis took over the massive RICO case that involved 14 others earlier this month after Fulton County DA Fani Willis was removed. In a statement, Scandalakis said he decided not to pursue the case against the president in the interest of justice. It was unlikely that legal action against Trump could have moved forward while he's president. The case stemmed from Trump narrowly losing Georgia to President Joe Biden in 2020, launching a series of events, including Trump's phone calling to state officials looking for 11,780 votes. Trump's attorney said the case should never have been brought. For NPR News, I'm Alex Helmick in Atlanta.

[NPR News Anchor]

Arizona US Senator Mark Kelly was on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night as he continues to publicly rebuke the Pentagon's investigation into him and other congressional Democrats. President Trump accused them of being traitors for telling US Service members in an online video they are not obligated by law to follow illegal orders. All the lawmakers have either military or intelligence backgrounds. In addition to Kelly, the FBI has.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Been contacting other Democrats, including Senator Eliza Slatkin of Michigan.

[Senator Mark Kelly]

The minute I saw the president said they should be hanged, in effect, I knew that our security situation was going to change precipitously. Obviously, I'm worried about my family. I'm worried about my staff. You know, I've served three tours in Iraq. I've done dangerous things. I signed up for this, but my family didn't.

[NPR News Anchor]

Trump has said he does not want.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The lawmakers executed, but wants them held accountable for undermining his authority as commander in chief. The president has updated his original 28 point plan to end the war in Ukraine. NPR's Frank Ordonez reports. Trump says there are now only a few remaining points of disagreement.

[Frank Ordonez]

President Trump says he's dispatching his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow to meet with President Putin, while sending Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with the Ukrainians to work out the final details. It's just the latest iteration of yo yoing proposal that Trump has presented as he tries to cement his peacemaking legacy. Ivo dalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO says all Trump wants is a deal.

[Ivo Daalder]

He doesn't care what the terms of the deal are. He just wants it to end and to be seen as the person who ended it.

[Frank Ordonez]

But Dalder says the problem is that while the US Agreed to plans with both Russia and Ukraine, Russia and Ukraine have not reached an agreement on any plans with each other. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The dow is up 442 points.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR.

[NPR News Anchor]

Out of the West African nation Guinea.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Bissau, reports of a coup.

[NPR News Anchor]

Sustained gunfire was heard near the presidential palace. Multiple news organizations are reporting that Guinea Bissau's president has been arrested.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR has not independently verify that development.

[NPR News Anchor]

NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu has more on the violent aftermath of a presidential election in.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Which the incumbent and his challenger each declared himself the winner.

[Emmanuel Akinwotu]

Witnesses in the capital, Pissau, have reported heavy gunfire, including at the electoral body where provisional results were due to be announced on Thursday. Both President Umaru Sissoko Mbalo and his closest rival, Fernando Diaz, had claimed victory after a tightly fought election held on Sunday where the main opposition candidate was barred from running. In recent years, President Mbalo has warned of multiple takeover attempts by the military. The latest in October when several military officers were arrested. The tiny coastal nation with a population of around 2 million people is one of the poorest countries in the world with a history of military coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. Emmanuel Akimotu, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is expected.

[Lakshmi Singh]

To significantly increase the size of home loans the government can get guarantee against default starting next year. The FHFA says mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which it oversees, will be able to acquire loans of up.

[NPR News Anchor]

To $832,750 on single family homes in.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Most of the United States. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

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