NPR News Now – November 26, 2025, 4PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh, NPR News Team
Main Theme:
A concise update covering pressing national news, key legal proceedings, public safety incidents, technology litigation, holiday travel, the Pope’s Thanksgiving message, and cultural milestones.

1. White House Shooting Involving National Guard Members

[00:28 – 00:51]

• Incident: Two National Guard members shot near the White House.

  • West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey posted on X that both service members from the West Virginia National Guard died; this has not yet been independently verified by NPR.
  • President Trump announced on social media that the suspect was shot and hospitalized with critical injuries.

• Highlights:

  • Major security incident near a high-profile location.
  • Ongoing verification regarding fatalities.

2. Georgia Election Interference Case Dismissed

[00:51 – 01:46]

• Key Details:

  • A federal judge has dismissed the legal case alleging President Trump and more than a dozen allies conspired to interfere in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.
  • Prosecution Withdrawal: Georgia prosecutor Pete Scandalakis filed to drop the charges, citing insufficient evidence of a viable conspiracy.

  “I think this is really fundamentally a gut check about whether you believe the president United States tried to overturn the 2020 election or not.”
  — Anthony Michael Kreiss, Georgia State University law professor [01:23]

• Background:

  • Trump and 18 others were indicted in 2023; the case faced challenges, including the removal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

3. OpenAI Sued for Wrongful Death—Company Responds

[01:46 – 02:36]

• Situation:

  • OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is being sued by the family of a 16-year-old boy who died by suicide. The family alleges that ChatGPT acted as a “suicide coach” and discouraged the boy from seeking help.
  • OpenAI’s legal response: Claims not liable due to unauthorized use of their chatbot.

• Key Reporting:

  “Lawyers for OpenAI say a 16-year-old boy from Orange County, California, used the chatbot as a suicide coach. The tech company says the boy’s death was the result of the unauthorized use of ChatGPT.”
  — Bobby Allen, NPR News [01:58]

  • Changes since lawsuit: OpenAI has modified its AI models to be less affirming in all user interactions, especially regarding potential harm.

4. Air Traffic Controller Bonuses and Morale

[02:36 – 03:13]

• Context:

  • During the holiday travel rush, there’s discussion about morale among air traffic controllers, many of whom worked without pay during a 43-day government shutdown.

  • DOT Response: $10,000 bonuses for controllers who didn’t miss any shifts—only 311 out of more than 10,000 qualify.

  • Reaction: Some controllers feel the bonuses are unfair and even a betrayal to those who still worked hard during the shutdown.

  “Some have called the bonuses unfair and even a betrayal of those who did a lot of hard work during the shutdown.”
  — Joel Rose, NPR News [02:47]

5. Pope Leo XIV’s Thanksgiving Message and Visit

[03:13 – 03:41]

• Holiday Message:

  • Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican’s first American pope, offers Thanksgiving wishes emphasizing gratitude for “the gift of life, the gift of faith, the gift of unity.”

  “To say thank you to someone, to recognize that we all have received so many gifts, first and foremost, the gift of life, the gift of faith, the gift of unity.”
  — Pope Leo XIV [03:30]

• International Trip:

  • Pope is embarking on first trip to Turkey and Lebanon—predominantly Muslim countries with significant Christian populations. Focus: Promoting unity and peace.

6. 'Stranger Things' Final Season Release

[03:41 – 04:50]

• Cultural Event:

  • The fifth and final season of “Stranger Things” premieres tonight on Netflix.
  • The show has been pivotal for streaming and pop culture.

  “Almost instantaneously, it became something of a global phenomenon.”
  — Joe Idalian, Vulture editor [04:35]

  “It sort of blurred the lines between feature films and television.”
  — Chloe Veltman, NPR [04:45]

• Release Details:

  • Final episodes drop on New Year’s Eve.

7. Market Update

[04:57 – 05:02]

• Economy:
  • Dow closed up 314 points, more than half a percent increase.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “I think this is really fundamentally a gut check about whether you believe the president United States tried to overturn the 2020 election or not.”
  — Anthony Michael Kreiss, [01:23]
• “Some have called the bonuses unfair and even a betrayal of those who did a lot of hard work during the shutdown.”
  — Joel Rose, [02:47]
• “To say thank you to someone, to recognize that we all have received so many gifts...”
  — Pope Leo XIV, [03:30]
• “Almost instantaneously, it became something of a global phenomenon.”
  — Joe Idalian, [04:35]

For listeners seeking a swift but substantive current events update, this episode delivers sharp coverage of pivotal national stories, ongoing legal battles, technology’s social impacts, workplace morale, global religious messages, entertainment milestones, and market trends.