NPR News: 11-27-2025 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — 11-27-2025, 1PM EST

Theme/Overview:
This NPR News Now segment covers major developments in national and international news, including a shooting near the White House, President Trump’s continued deployment of National Guard troops, a tragic high-rise fire in Hong Kong, agricultural news from the Pacific Northwest, and a significant court ruling on North Carolina’s redistricting.

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Key News Highlights

Shooting Near the White House

• Federal Investigation
  • Authorities identified the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
    • The suspect is an Afghan man who previously worked with the CIA and immigrated under a U.S. resettlement program. (00:13)
• Victims' Status
  • The two injured Guards, Sarah Beckstrom (20) and Andrew Wolf (24), are from West Virginia and remain in critical condition after surgery.
    • Quote:
      • “Beckstrom and Wolf, both from West Virginia, have come through surgery, but they remain in critical condition.” — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney (00:44)
  • The two were new to their posts in Washington, D.C.

Trump Administration and National Guard Deployment

• Increased Troop Deployment
  • In response to the shooting, President Trump has ordered 500 additional National Guard troops to D.C., bringing the number deployed since August to over 2,000. (01:22)
    • The deployments target Democratic-led cities and are often against the wishes of local authorities.
    • D.C. is unique because the president has direct authority over the deployment.
• Legal Controversy
  • A federal judge has recently ruled this deployment unlawful, but the order is on hold pending appeal.
    • Quote:
      • “Trump’s deployments of the Guard have been controversial and faced a litany of legal battles and blocks.” — Kat Lansdorf (01:22)

Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Disaster

• Tragic Toll
  • At least 65 people are dead, and hundreds are missing following a fire at a large public housing complex in Hong Kong. Firefighters are still searching for survivors. (02:02–03:02)
    • Over 4,600 people lived in the complex, which was under renovation and covered in bamboo scaffolding.
    • The bamboo scaffolding and substandard construction materials contributed to the fire's rapid spread.
    • Authorities have arrested three individuals linked to the renovation company on manslaughter charges.
    • Quote:
      • “The high rise apartment towers had been under renovation and covered in bamboo scaffolding, which caught fire and collapsed.” — Cherise Pham (02:13)

Regional Report: Northwest Potato Production

• Modern Potato Farming
  • In Pasco, Washington, Jordan and Mia Reed grow potatoes primarily for fast food french fries.
    • Potatoes are processed into frozen fries less than 24 hours after harvest. (03:29–03:58)
    • Quote:
      • “I don’t think the average consumer realizes that there’s a difference between all the varieties and how much time and research that the growing community has put back into getting that perfect box of french fries.” — Jordan Reed (03:43)
    • Modern fry potatoes are higher in solid content compared to standard table potatoes.

North Carolina Congressional Map Ruling

• Court Decision
  • A federal court has cleared a new congressional map for North Carolina, likely adding a Republican seat. The new lines target the only swing district in the state. (04:14)
    • A three-judge panel denied requests to block the map’s use ahead of the 2026 elections.
    • This is part of a larger push by President Trump for redistricting in several states.
    • It remains uncertain if plaintiffs, including the NAACP, will appeal to the Supreme Court.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On injured Guard members:
  • "Beckstrom and Wolf, both from West Virginia, have come through surgery, but they remain in critical condition."
    — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney (00:44)
• On National Guard deployment:
  • "Trump's deployments of the Guard have been controversial and faced a litany of legal battles and blocks."
    — Kat Lansdorf (01:22)
• On the Hong Kong fire:
  • "The high rise apartment towers had been under renovation and covered in bamboo scaffolding, which caught fire and collapsed."
    — Cherise Pham (02:13)
• On potato farming:
  • "I don't think the average consumer realizes that there's a difference between all the varieties and how much time and research that the growing community has put back into getting that perfect box of french fries."
    — Jordan Reed (03:43)

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Timeline of Segments

• 00:13-01:06 – White House shooting and investigation
• 01:06-02:02 – National Guard deployment and legal challenges
• 02:02-03:02 – Hong Kong fire and ongoing search for survivors
• 03:29-03:58 – Potato farming in the Northwest
• 04:14-04:56 – North Carolina redistricting court ruling

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This update from NPR News offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of the hour’s major headlines, combining urgent political developments and human interest stories with informative, real-time reporting.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Federal authorities have identified the man who shot two members of the National Guard near the White House on Wednesday. The Trump administration says the suspect is an Afghan, a man who worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. He and his family were allowed to immigrate to the U.S. as part of a resettlement program. NPR's Brian Mann has been following the developments.

[Jeanine Pirro]

We know that 20 year old Sarah Beckstrom and 24 year old Andrew Wolf were patrolling a street in Washington, D.C. yesterday afternoon when a man opened fire with a handgun. Federal officials said this morning that Beckstrom and Wolf, both from West Virginia, have come through surgery, but they remain in critical condition. Speaking this morning, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. jeanine Pirro, said the two injured were new on duty in the Nation's capital.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's NPR's Brian Mann reporting. President Trump is doubling down on his decision to deploy the National Guard to the nation's capital. NPR's Kat Lansdorf reports. In response, the president has ordered an additional 500 troops to the city.

[Kat Lansdorf]

There have been more than 2,000 National Guard troops in D.C. from several states since August, when Trump ordered their deployment over concerns about violent crime. It's part of a pattern of Trump deploying the National Guard to Democratic led cities around the country, often against the wishes of local governors and authorities. D.C. is uniquely different as the president has authority over the National Guard. Trump's deployments of the Guard have been controversial and faced a litany of legal battles and blocks. Just last week, a federal judge in D.C. ruled that the use of troops in the city was unlawful and ordered an end to the deployment. But that has yet to take effect in order to give the Trump administration time to appeal. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

At least 65 people are dead and hundreds are missing after a fire broke out at a massive housing complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Reporter Cherise Pham has more.

[Cherise Pham]

Firefighters are going through the wreckage of apartment buildings floor by floor, searching for survivors. The fire Department said they rescued an elderly man from the 31st floor of 1 of the buildings on Thursday afternoon. Later in the evening, more than 24 hours after the fire started, they found another survivor in a staircase. According to local media reports, the public housing complex where the fire broke out is home to about 4,600 people. The high rise apartment towers had been under renovation and covered in bamboo scaffolding, which caught fire and collapsed. Police said the construction material found around the buildings did not meet safety standards and may have been the reason the fire spread so quickly. Three people from the company responsible for the renovations have been arrested on suspected manslaughter charges. For NPR News, I'm Charisse Pham in Hong Kong.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks across Asia posted gains today. Wall street is close for the Thanksgiving holiday. Trading resumes on the exchange tomorrow. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Northwest is one of the leaders in potato production in the United States. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Anna King reports on what it takes to grow Columbia Basin spuds.

[Anna King]

Jordan and Mia Reed are potato growers in Pasco, Washington. They mainly grow potatoes for fast food, french fries. Their crops become frozen fries nearly 24 hours after they come out of the earth. Here's Jordan Reed.

[Jordan Reed]

I don't think the average consumer realizes that there's a difference between all the varieties and how much time and research that the growing community has put back into getting that perfect box of french fries.

[Anna King]

Reed says the potato varieties he and most Washington growers raise are very different from those on your Thanksgiving table. The modern fry potatoes have higher solid content than potatoes used for mashers. For NPR News, I'm Anna King.

[Windsor Johnston]

A federal court has cleared North Carolina to use a new congressional map that's expected to give Republicans another U.S. house seat. The redrawn lines target the state's only swing district. A three judge panel denied requests to block the map after a hearing earlier this month. North Carolina is one of several states where President Trump has pushed for mid decade map changes ahead of the 2026 elections. It's not clear if the plaintiffs in the case, including the NAACP, plan to appeal the ruling to the U.S. supreme Court. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

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