NPR News: 11-26-2025 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: 11-26-2025 6AM EST

Host: Nora Rahim | Date: November 26, 2025

Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode covers the top global and U.S. news stories as of 6AM EST on November 26, 2025. Key topics include the FBI's probe of Democratic lawmakers' military-related statements, the ongoing Israeli-Hamas ceasefire and hostage releases, U.S. involvement in Ukraine peace negotiations, Taiwan's major defense investment, record Thanksgiving travel, and the ongoing eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FBI Investigates Lawmakers’ Video on Military Orders

[00:19]

• The FBI is attempting to interview six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video reminding military personnel not to obey illegal orders. President Trump labeled them "traitors."

• Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, is among those being investigated and could be subject to a court martial.

• Kelly appeared on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live and commented:

  “He can go after me under the Uniform Code of Military justice, which is the law in the military, which is kind of wild because we recited something in the Uniform Code of Military justice, and he’s going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military justice for reciting the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
  — Mark Kelly [00:47]

• Kelly argues the administration is infringing upon his First Amendment rights.

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2. Update on Israel-Hamas Ceasefire and Hostage Identification

[01:08]

• Israel has confirmed that a body released from Gaza is Dror Or, who was killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack.

• Or's wife was also killed; two of their children had been held hostage but were released.

• In exchange, Israel is releasing the bodies of 15 Palestinians as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

  “All remaining hostages, both alive and dead in Gaza, are supposed to be returned to Israel. There are still two more bodies remaining. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately stalling. Hamas has insisted it is struggling to find the bodies under the rubble.”
  — Kat Lansdorf, NPR News [01:30]

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3. U.S. Mediation and Progress Toward Ukraine Peace

[02:12]

• President Trump announced "great progress" on ending the Ukraine war and sent envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged progress and expressed willingness for future meetings involving President Trump and European leaders.

  "And I'm ready to meet with President Trump. There are sensitive points to discuss and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful."
  — Volodymyr Zelensky [02:36]

• Sensitive issues include the status of Russian-occupied regions and future security guarantees.

• Zelensky reported Ukraine shot down 22 Russian missiles and 400+ drones overnight, again stressing skepticism of Russian intentions:

  "And as long as Russia has not taken real steps to shut down its... war machine, he said, no one can take its claims to want peace seriously."
  — Reported by Eleanor Beardsley [03:01]

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4. Taiwan Announces Massive Defense Expenditure

[03:13]

• Taiwan will spend $40 billion to bolster its defense against China, constructing a "Taiwan dome" advanced air defense system and acquiring U.S.-made weaponry.
• President Trump has pressured Taiwan to increase its own defense spending.

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5. Thanksgiving Travel Expected to Hit New Records

[03:48]

• The FAA anticipates the busiest Thanksgiving air travel period in 15 years, though advanced air bookings are down 4% from last year due to complications from a government shutdown.

• Administrator Brian Bedford likened the season to the industry's "Super Bowl":

  "The airlines, airports, TSA, FAA, especially for us, this week is our Super Bowl." — Brian Bedford [03:58]

• AAA forecasts 73 million Americans will travel for Thanksgiving, mostly by car.

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6. Ongoing Eruption of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii

[04:29]

• Kilauea volcano erupted for the 37th time since December, sending lava 400 ft airborne.
• No homes threatened; eruptions remain contained in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
• Kilauea is described as "one of the most active volcanoes in the world."

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Memorable Quotes

• Mark Kelly on court-martial threats:

  "He’s going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for reciting the Uniform Code of Military Justice." [00:47]

• Kat Lansdorf on the ceasefire hostages:

  "All remaining hostages, both alive and dead in Gaza, are supposed to be returned to Israel..." [01:30]

• Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukraine peace talks:

  "I'm ready to meet with President Trump. There are sensitive points to discuss..." [02:36]

• Brian Bedford on Thanksgiving travel:

  "This week is our Super Bowl." [03:58]

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Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Democratic Lawmakers and FBI Investigation: 00:19–01:08
• Israel-Hamas Ceasefire & Hostage Return: 01:08–02:12
• Ukraine Peace Negotiations: 02:12–03:13
• Taiwan Defense Spending: 03:13–03:48
• Thanksgiving Travel Projections: 03:48–04:29
• Kilauea Volcano Update: 04:29–04:57

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This concise NPR News Now episode delivers a rapid, information-rich roundup of the day's most significant headlines, with direct updates from reporters worldwide and notable comments from key political figures.

Transcript

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[Nora Rahim]

Washington, I'm Nora Ram. The FBI is attempting to interview six Democratic lawmakers who made a video reminding those in the military they should not obey illegal orders. President Trump has called them traitors. One of them is Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain. He's also being investigated by the Pentagon that he could be called back into service and subjected to a court martial. He was asked about that last night on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live.

[Mark Kelly]

He can go after me under the Uniform Code of Military justice, which is the law in the military, which is kind of wild because we recited something in the Uniform Code of Military justice, and he's going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military justice for reciting the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

[Nora Rahim]

Kelly says President Trump is infringing his First Amendment right to free speech. Israel says it has positively identified the remains of a body released from Gaza as that of a hostage taken in the October 7, 2023 Hamas led attack. It's the latest handover under a U S. Brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. NPR's Kat Lansdorf reports.

[Kat Lansdorf]

The Israeli prime minister's office confirmed that forensic tests show the body is that of Draw or, a 48 year old who Israel says was killed at his home in the Oct. 7 attack. Orr's wife was also killed. Two of his children were taken hostage into Gaza and later released alive. In exchange for the transfer of Or's body. Israel is expected to release the bodies of 15 Palestinians held by Israel as part of a ceasefire deal implemented nearly seven weeks weeks ago. All remaining hostages, both alive and dead in Gaza are supposed to be returned to Israel. There are still two more bodies remaining. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately stalling. Hamas has insisted it is struggling to find the bodies under the rubble. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Nora Rahim]

In a post on social media, President Trump said great progress has been made on ending the war in Ukraine. He says he's sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow. And NPR's Eleanor Beardsley has more.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that the talks in Geneva had produced an acceptable peace framework to work from during a video addressed to 36 allied nations Tuesday.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

And I'm ready to meet with President Trump. There are sensitive points to discuss and we think that the presence of European leaders could be helpful.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Sensitive points include the status of partially Russian occupied areas of eastern Ukraine and security guarantees after the war. Zelensky said Kyiv had shot down 22 Russian missiles and more than 400 drones overnight.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

And as long as Russia has not taken real steps to shut down its.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

War machine, he said, no one can take its claims to want peace seriously. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Nora Rahim]

This is NPR News in Washington. Taiwan has announced plans to spend $40 billion to improve its defense, citing threats from China. It plans to build a Taiwan dome and air defense system with high level detection and interception capabilities and purchase missiles and other weapons from the US President Trump has been pressing Taiwan to spend more in its own defense. Americans are on the move for Thanksgiving, including millions who will fly to visit family and friends. NPR's Joel Rose reports. The number of people traveling may set another record.

[Joel Rose]

The Federal Aviation Administration says this could be the busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years. And FAA Administrator Brian Bedford says the aviation system is ready for the challenge.

[Mark Kelly]

The airlines, airports, tsa, faa, especially for us, this week is our Super Bowl.

[Joel Rose]

But there are indications that Thanksgiving air travel could be down this year, perhaps because of travelers who made other plans during the government shutdown. Advance bookings were down about 4% compared to last year, according to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium. Still, the number of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving is expected to set records, according to AAA, with the vast majority of the about 73 million traveling by car. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Rahim]

The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big island continues to erupt. It sent lava 400ft into the air yesterday for the 37th time since the current eruption began last December. The U.S. geological Survey says the molten rock was confined within Hawaii Volcanoes national park and no homes were threatened. It's one of the most active volcanoes in the world. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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