NPR News Now — November 26, 2025, 6PM EST

Host: Dale Willman (NPR)
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: Top news across the U.S. and globe, including national security, legal developments, international disaster, climate change impact, and U.S. immigration policy.

1. Washington, D.C. Shooting of National Guard Members

[00:17 – 01:11]

• Incident Overview:
  Two National Guard members were shot and critically wounded near the White House. The suspect approached the troops on the street and opened fire before being subdued and taken into custody.

• Eyewitness Testimony:

  • Reporter Tom Bowman interviewed two young women, Emma McDonald and Layla Christopher, who had just exited the Farragut West Metro station as the shooting occurred.
  • Notable Quote (Layla Christopher, 00:53):

    "We were getting off the Metro coming from Vienna, and we were getting off at Farragut Square. And then we like came up to the street and a National Guards person told us to run."

  • The witnesses sought shelter in a nearby bakery where startled customers reported hearing six shots. Mixed reactions from bystanders: some were frightened, others remained calm with their coffee.

• Government Response:

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured the public regarding safety in the city and is sending 500 additional troops.

2. Georgia Election Interference Case Against President Trump Dismissed

[01:11 – 02:10]

• Key Development:

  • A state court judge dismissed the election interference criminal case against President Trump upon the request of the special prosecutor.

• Background:

  • The case was tied to alleged attempts by Trump to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results, including his call asking for 11,780 votes.
  • Prosecutor Pete Scandalakis took over after Fulton County DA Fani Willis was removed and opted to drop the case, citing the improbability of legal action moving forward during Trump’s presidency.

• Notable Quote (Alex Helmick, 01:31):

  "Prosecutor Pete 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."

3. Deadly High-Rise Fire in Hong Kong

[02:10 – 03:05]

• Incident Overview:

  • A massive fire tore through a public housing high-rise complex, killing at least 36 people and leaving 279 missing.
  • The blaze spread to six buildings and even to a nearby school, affecting a community of around 4,600 residents.

• Potential Causes:

  • The building’s bamboo scaffolding (due for scheduled renovation) accelerated the fire. The local government had commenced phasing out bamboo in favor of fire-resistant steel.
  • Unusually warm and dry conditions had placed the city under high fire danger alert all week.

• Notable Quote (Emily Fang, 02:31):

  "The buildings had been due for renovation and they had been encased in bamboo scaffolding, which quickly caught fire. Last year, the region's government started phasing out bamboo in favor of steel because it is fire resistant."

• Response:

  • Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee visited survivors at a local shelter.

4. U.S. Stock Market Update

[03:05 – 03:19]

• S&P 500: +46 points
• Dow Jones: +314 points

5. New Research: Climate Change and African Health

[03:19 – 04:22]

• Key Points:

  • Africa contributes minimally to global climate pollution but bears disproportionate health impacts.
  • Major Findings:
    • Climate change fueling increases in insect-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.
    • Disasters such as Libya’s 2023 floods are displacing/killing thousands.
    • Nighttime heat, worsened by lack of air conditioning, is linked to a 20% rise in heat deaths in Africa since 2010.

• Notable Quote (Alejandra Barunda, 03:34):

  "Extra warm nights are a hallmark of climate change, and they're particularly unhealthy since people's bodies usually recover during nights. Increased night heat in Africa, where few people have air conditioning, has driven a nearly 20% increase in heat deaths since 2010."

6. U.S. to End Protected Status for Haitian Migrants

[04:22 – 04:56]

• Policy Shift:

  • The Trump administration will end the "temporary protected status" for approximately 353,000 Haitians living in the U.S.
  • Government’s Justification:
    • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that conditions in Haiti are not deemed extraordinary enough to warrant continued protected status.

• Contrasting Voices:

  • The United Nations reports that most of Port-au-Prince remains under gang control, and the nation faces severe health crises from ongoing violence.

Notable Quotes & Moments Recap

• Layla Christopher on DC Shooting:
  "A National Guards person told us to run." [00:53]
• Alex Helmick on Georgia Case Dismissal:
  "...decided not to pursue the case against the president in the interest of justice." [01:31]
• Emily Fang on Hong Kong Fire:
  "They had been encased in bamboo scaffolding, which quickly caught fire." [02:31]
• Alejandra Barunda on Climate Deaths:
  "Increased night heat in Africa ... has driven a nearly 20% increase in heat deaths since 2010." [03:34]

Episode Tone & Takeaways

• Brief, factual, and urgent delivery consistent with NPR’s news-focused programming.
• The episode prioritizes real-time, high-impact global and domestic news, emphasizing eyewitness perspectives, quick updates on legal and policy changes, and the ongoing effects of climate change.

For listeners:
This concise news briefing provides a snapshot of consequential events worldwide, suited for those seeking quick, authoritative updates.