NPR News: 11-26-2025 8AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 8AM EST, November 26, 2025

Host: Nora Ramm, NPR
Episode Theme:
A rapid-fire five-minute national and international news update, focusing on developing political controversies in Washington, international diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine war, ongoing tensions between Israel and Lebanon, holiday drunk-driving risks, and a Thanksgiving alternative.

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1. Political Controversy: FBI Investigates Democratic Lawmakers (00:20–01:35)

• Key Developments:

  • The FBI is seeking to interview six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video encouraging military personnel to defy "illegal orders."
  • President Trump responded by accusing the lawmakers of sedition, “which he said is punishable by death.”
  • Senator Alyssa Slotkin labeled Trump’s move as an attempt to intimidate; Representative Maggie Goodlander firmly rejected the intimidation.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Maggie Goodlander (00:48):

    "I am doing my job. I will not be intimidated. I will not be harassed. I will continue to do my job and uphold my oath and I will never give up the ship."

  • Nora Ramm (Host): The video claimed “American troops swear an oath to the U.S. Constitution, not the president,” and all six lawmakers have military or intelligence backgrounds.

• Important Context:

  • Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, is under Pentagon investigation for possible military law violations.
  • The controversy signals heightened tensions over presidential power and the military’s constitutional role.

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2. Diplomacy: Trump’s Envoy to Moscow for Ukraine Peace Talks (01:35–02:17)

• Key Developments:

  • President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to Moscow for talks with President Putin about a deal to end the Ukraine war.
  • NPR’s Charles Mainnes (reporting from Moscow) says Witkoff’s draft peace plan “initially offered terms favorable to Moscow” but was amended after input from Europe and Ukraine.
  • Russian officials warn that changes could jeopardize the deal.
  • Controversy arose from a leaked transcript in which Witkoff allegedly gave advice on “handling Trump” to a Putin aide. Trump dismissed this, calling it “a standard form of negotiation.”

• Notable Quotes:

  • Charles Mainnes (01:35):

    "Witkoff seeks approval for a draft peace plan that initially offered terms favorable to Moscow, but has since been fine tuned with input from Europe and Ukraine. Senior Russian officials have warned those amendments could make the plan a non starter."

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3. Middle East Report: UN Peacekeepers, Israel & Hezbollah (02:17–03:15)

• Key Developments:

  • The UN in Lebanon reports no evidence that Hezbollah is rebuilding military infrastructure near Israel’s border, contrary to Israeli claims.
  • Israel states its continued attacks in Lebanon are a response to Hezbollah’s actions—claims the UN peacekeepers dispute.
  • According to Lebanese officials, Israeli attacks have killed over 300 people in the last year; nearly half are civilians.

• Notable Quotes:

  • UN Spokesperson, Candace Hardeel (03:01):

    "Again, we haven't seen evidence of any Hezbollah rebuilding, of moving of weapons or anything like that."

  • Jane Araf (NPR, 03:06):

    "The UN says almost half of those killed in the Israeli attacks have been civilians."

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4. Domestic Concern: Drunk Driving Over Thanksgiving (03:15–04:09)

• Key developments:

  • Thanksgiving and its surrounding days are high risk for drunk driving fatalities — over a third of such fatalities are expected to be alcohol-related.
  • Stacey Stewart, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, calls Thanksgiving Eve “the most popular night for drinking, and … one of the most deadliest nights on the road.”

• Notable Quotes:

  • Stacey Stewart (03:42):

    "In fact, Thanksgiving Eve is actually the most popular night for drinking, and it's also one of the most deadliest nights on the road. We refer to Thanksgiving Eve as Blackout Wednesday."

  • Stewart urges arranging safe rides or having a designated driver, even for hosts.

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5. Human Interest: “Adopt a Turkey” Instead of Eating One (04:09–04:43)

• Key Developments:

  • Some nonprofits offer “adopt a turkey” programs—people pay to sponsor turkeys at sanctuaries (“they don't actually take them”) so the birds are spared as a protest against inhumane farming.
  • The Lovin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Colorado runs such a program, emphasizing turkeys’ social and emotional capacities.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Lynette Cook (Lovin Arms, 04:29):

    "They are capable of creating those bonds of friendship with human beings, with each other, with other species. And I think it's important that we..."

  • Host Nora Ramm adds: “Some view the adoption option as a protest against what they call inhumane conditions in turkey farms, that turkeys have feelings and should be treated with kindness.”

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Memorable Moments

• Clip of Defiance: Goodlander’s unwavering vow not to be intimidated by the FBI or executive branch (00:48).
• UN Refutes Israel: Peacekeeping spokesperson’s clear denial of Israeli claims on Hezbollah rebuilding (03:01).
• “Blackout Wednesday”: Striking term for pre-Thanksgiving drinking from MADD CEO Stewart (03:42).

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Key Timestamps Overview

• 00:20 – Lawmakers under FBI investigation for video; Trump accuses them of sedition
• 00:48 – Goodlander's defiant response
• 01:35 – Trump’s envoy to Moscow for Ukraine deal; concerns over peace plan changes
• 02:17 – UN disputes Israeli claims about Hezbollah; casualties highlighted
• 03:15 – Drunk driving warnings for Thanksgiving; “Blackout Wednesday”
• 04:09 – Nonprofits encouraging turkey “adoption” instead of consumption

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Podcast tone: Factual, brisk, and balanced, with direct quotes from newsmakers and field reporters. Coverage moves swiftly through global and national issues, offering brief but substantive updates.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. The FBI is seeking to interview six Democratic lawmakers who who appeared in a video telling members of the military they should defy what they called illegal orders. President Trump accused them of sedition, which he said is punishable by death. Michigan Senator Alyssa Slotkin says the president is attempting to use the FBI to scare them. Another of the six, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, says that won't work.

[Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander]

I am doing my job. I will not be intimidated. I will not be harassed. I will continue to do my job and uphold my oath and I will never give up the ship.

[Nora Ramm]

The lawmakers say their video statement accurately reflected U.S. law that American troops swear an oath to the U.S. constitution, not the president. All six served in the military or intelligence community. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona is a retired Navy captain. He's being investigated by the Pentagon for potential violations of military law. President Trump says his envoy, Steve Witkoff, will soon head to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. President the planned meeting comes as President Trump says he's closing in on a negotiated deal to end the war in Ukraine. NPR's Charles mainnes reports from Moscow.

[Charles Mainnes]

A senior Kremlin aide confirmed Witkoff would meet with Putin next week to discuss the latest US Efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Witkoff seeks approval for a draft peace plan that initially offered terms favorable to Moscow, but has since been fine tuned with input from Europe and Ukraine. Senior Russian officials have warned those amendments could make the plan a non starter. Witkoff's trip also comes in the wake of a leaked transcript from a phone call with a senior Putin aide that appears to show Witkoff providing counsel on handling Trump. While the transcript has not been independently verified by npr, Trump is already downplaying its contents, telling reporters Wyckoff was engaged in a standard form of negotiation. Charles Baines, NPR News, Moscow.

[Nora Ramm]

The UN Peacekeeping mission in Lebanon says it has seen no evidence that Hezbollah has been rebuilding military infrastructure near the border with Israel. Israel cites what had caused rebuilding as the reason for for regular attacks in Lebanon. Jane Araf has more on the story.

[Jane Araf]

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire a year ago, while the militant group Hezbollah has held its fire. Hundreds of Israeli attacks since then have killed more than 300 people, according to the Lebanese government. Israel says without providing evidence, it's responding to the Iran backed group rebuilding its capability. UN Peacekeeping spokesperson in Lebanon Candace Hardeel tells NPR that they have not seen any rebuilding.

[Candace Hardeel]

Again, we haven't seen evidence of any Hezbollah rebuilding, of moving of weapons or anything like that.

[Jane Araf]

The UN Says almost half of those killed in the Israeli attacks have been civilians. For NPR News, I'm Jane Araf in Beirut.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News. Around holidays such as Thanksgiving, drunken driving fatalities tend to increase. Data suggests more than a third of driving fatalities in the next days will likely be linked to alcohol. NPR's Camilla Dominoski reports.

[Camilla Dominoski]

Holidays mean a lot more people on the road, and then on top of that, more alcohol is flowing. Stacey Stewart is the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

[Stacey Stewart]

In fact, Thanksgiving Eve is actually the most popular night for drinking, and it's also one of the most deadliest nights on the road. We refer to Thanksgiving Eve as Blackout.

[Camilla Dominoski]

Wednesday, and Stewart urges anyone going out to have a plan for getting home, like a ride share or a designated driver. And if you're hosting, hosting Thanksgiving, she recommends thinking about whether your guests have safe rides home, a little prep that could make a big difference. Camila Domonosky, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

Here's a happier Thanksgiving story. Some nonprofits are offering to let people adopt a turkey to save it from the dinner table. They don't actually take them, but their dollars go to an annual sanctuary that provides a holiday feast for the turkey. Lynette Cook works at the Lovin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Erie, Colorado.

[Lynette Cook]

Every year around Thanksgiving, we really highlight highlight our turkey residents that you can sponsor. They are capable of creating those bonds of friendship with human beings, with each other, with other species. And I think it's important that we.

[Nora Ramm]

Recognize that some view the adoption option as a protest against what they call inhumane conditions in turkey farms, that turkeys have feelings and should be treated with kindness. I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.

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