NPR News: 11-27-2025 2PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – November 27, 2025, 2PM EST

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Windsor Johnston
Date: November 27, 2025
Episode Overview:
This five-minute NPR News update delivers the latest headlines and key stories from the United States and around the world. The episode spans topics from a high-profile shooting near the White House to new research on fevers, Thanksgiving history, a record-setting parade, and Olympic news.

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Main Story Themes

• National Security Incident near the White House
• Obamacare Subsidies: Potential Extension
• Thanksgiving's Historical Roots in Virginia
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Security and Turnout
• Scientific Insight: Fever and Viral Infections
• Olympic Torch Relay Begins for Winter Games

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Shooting near the White House

[00:11–01:04]

• Incident:
  Authorities have identified the man who shot two National Guard members near the White House on Wednesday.
• Victims:
  The West Virginia Guard troops remain in critical condition.
• Suspect:
  Ramanala Lekhinwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, came to the US in 2021 via a Biden administration resettlement program.
• Circumstances:
  He was living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, and "drove across the country to carry out what [U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro] called a brazen, unprovoked attack,"
  — Jackie Northam, NPR [00:35]
• Aftermath:
  The suspect was injured and taken into custody.

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2. Obamacare Subsidies: Policy Shift

[01:04–02:01]

• Background:
  President Trump and Congressional Republicans previously opposed extending expiring Obamacare (ACA) subsidies.
• Current Development:
  "Trump may be reversing his position. He is reportedly considering a plan to extend the subsidies for two years with an income cap, even though it's not clear that Republicans in Congress would go along with that."
  — Mara Liasson, NPR [01:15]
• Quote from Trump:
  "Some kind of extension may be necessary." [Referenced at 01:37]
• Significance:
  More than 20 million people currently benefit from these subsidies. Trump's repeated efforts to end the ACA have not succeeded, highlighting the program's endurance.

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3. Thanksgiving History: Virginia's Early Celebration

[02:01–03:05]

• Historical Note:
  The first Thanksgiving in America was observed in Virginia, two years before the Pilgrims’ event in Massachusetts.
• Ceremony:
  Chief Mark Falling Star Custalo participated in the 348-year-old tribute ceremony at Virginia's Governor's Mansion.
• Cultural Comment:
  "It was quite literally a day to give thanks that they had made it safely to this area of Virginia... and it was ordered to be observed annually, which I think really sort of distinguishes it from perhaps the more famous Massachusetts Plymouth Thanksgiving."
  — Maggie Creech, Virginia Museum of History and Culture [02:38]
• Summary:
  English settlers landed in Virginia in 1619 and began the annual recognition two years ahead of Plymouth Rock.

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4. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

[03:05–03:54]

• Event Recap:
  Crowds lined New York streets for the annual parade featuring signature balloons, marching bands, and floats.
• Security:
  Over 3,000 officers and drones were deployed for public safety.
• Attendance:
  Organizers report one of the largest turnouts since before the pandemic.

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5. Science Spotlight: Fever and the Immune Response

[03:54–04:34]

• Research Focus:
  The role of fever in fighting viral infections, specifically how heat may help.
• Key Finding:
  "Lab mice just so happen to not get feverish when infected with the flu... researchers infected mice and turned up the heat. Mice housed at room temperature got sick after infection, but those housed in conditions simulating a fever fared much better, suggesting that the heat helped them fight the flu."
  — Jonathan Lambert, NPR [03:54]

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6. Olympic Torch Relays to Italy

[04:34–end]

• Olympic Coverage:
  The torch for the 2026 Winter Olympics is en route to Italy. The traditional lighting ceremony in Greece was moved indoors due to bad weather. The Games will be held in February.

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Memorable Quotes

• "He drove across the country to carry out what she called a brazen, unprovoked attack on the two guards."
  — Jackie Northam (U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro quoted) [00:53]

• "Trump may be reversing his position... some kind of extension may be necessary."
  — Mara Liasson (President Trump quoted) [01:35]

• "It was quite literally a day to give thanks... ordered to be observed annually, which I think really sort of distinguishes it from perhaps the more famous Massachusetts Plymouth Thanksgiving."
  — Maggie Creech [02:38]

• "Mice housed at room temperature got sick after infection, but those housed in conditions simulating a fever fared much better, suggesting that the heat helped them fight the flu."
  — Jonathan Lambert [04:13]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Start | |---------------------------------------------|---------| | White House Shooting | 00:11 | | Obamacare Subsidy Reversal | 01:04 | | Virginia’s First Thanksgiving | 02:01 | | Macy's Parade Recap | 03:05 | | Fever & Immune System Research | 03:54 | | Olympic Torch Relay | 04:34 |

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Summary Prepared For:
Listeners seeking a concise yet thorough rundown of the day’s top stories, with historical context, political developments, health science, and cultural updates directly from NPR’s 2pm ET news briefing on November 27, 2025.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[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 West Virginia Guard troops remain in critical condition. And NPR's Jackie Northam reports the suspect was injured and taken into custody.

[NPR Reporter Jackie Northam]

U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro says that his name is Ramanala Lekhinwal and he's a 29 year old Afghan national. And she said he came to the US in 2021 as part of a resettlement program set up by the Biden administration. And Pirro said Lockenwell was living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children and that he drove across the country to carry out what she called a brazen, unprovoked attack on the Two guards.

[NPR News Anchor]

That's NPR's Jackie Northam reporting. President Trump may be changing his mind about extending subsidies to help people buy health insurance. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

[NPR Reporter Mara Liasson]

For months, President Trump and Republicans in Congress said the government should not extend expiring Obamacare subsidies. But now, as a promised December vote on the tax credits nears, Trump may be reversing his position. He is reportedly considering a plan to extend the subsidies for two years with an income cap, even though it's not clear that Republicans in Congress would go along with that. And the president himself said on Tuesday that he would rather not extend the subsidies, but, quote, some kind of extension may be necessary. More than 20 million people benefit from the Obamacare tax credits to help them afford health insurance. President Trump has tried and failed to get rid of Obamacare altogether, but the program has proved tough to uproot. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

As families across the United States gather today for the Thanksgiving holiday, it was technically Virginia, where the first Thanksgiving was honored two years before the Pilgrims in Massachusetts. Brad Kuttner from Radio IQ in Richmond has this report.

[Capital One Announcer]

That's mattapanai chief Mark Falling Star Custalo at Virginia's Governor's Mansion Wednesday morning and as part of the Commonwealth's 348-year-old Thanksgiving tribute ceremony. Maggie Creech at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture says the event marks the grant of land to Virginia's indigenous tribes in 1677.

[Brad Kuttner]

It was quite literally a day to give thanks that they had made it safely to this area of Virginia that they were trying to settle on and to colonize and it was ordered to be observed annually, which I think really sort of distinguishes it from perhaps the more famous Massachusetts Plymouth Thanksgiving.

[Capital One Announcer]

Settlers landed in Virginia in 1619. They started their annual recognition of Thanksgiving two years before the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.

[NPR News Anchor]

Brad Kuttner from Radio IQ Reporting. This is NPR News in Washington. Crowds lined the streets in New York City for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Giant character balloons, marching bands and dozens of floats made their way from the Upper west side to Herald Square. Police say more than 3,000 officers were stationed along the route, with drones monitoring from above. Organizers say the parade drew one of its largest turnouts since before the pandemic. Fever is a common response to viral infection, and many researchers think it helps fight the virus. But precisely how it helps has been a mystery. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports on new research that suggests an answer.

[NPR Reporter Jonathan Lambert]

There are two main ideas for how fevers fight infection. One is that the high temperature is itself the point and helps cook off the virus by messing with its ability to hijack our cells. The other is that high temperatures somehow help our immune system work better. New research in the journal Science suggests that it's the heat that counts, at least in mice. Lab mice just so happen to not get feverish when infected with the flu. So to study this question, researchers infected mice and turned up the heat. Mice housed at room temperature got sick after infection, but those housed in conditions simulating a fever fared much better, suggesting that the heat helped them fight the flu. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The Olympic torch is officially on its way to Italy for the upcoming Winter Games. The flame left Greece yesterday, where the lighting ceremony was moved indoors because of poor weather. The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in February. This is NPR News. This message comes from Carvana. Buy a car 100% [e-mail] with financing to fit your budget. Enjoy seven days to return. If it's not a fit, limitations and exclusions may apply. See return [e-mail].