NPR News: 11-27-2025 3PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 11-27-2025 3PM EST

Episode Overview:
This concise NPR News update covers the top national and international stories, ranging from terrorism investigations and diplomatic disputes to papal diplomacy, breaking news in Asia, and a Thanksgiving human interest piece. The episode captures a variety of urgent developments and provides both global perspective and a glimpse into American culture during the holiday.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Terrorism Investigation Involving Afghan National (00:17–01:18)

• Background:
  Federal officials are investigating Rama Noah Lackinwall, an Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
• Key Details:
  • Lackinwall had worked with a US Government-backed counterterrorism unit in Afghanistan before coming to the US.
  • He was granted asylum in April 2025.
  • The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, is focusing the probe on his background, including relationships and affiliations both in the US and overseas.
  • The two injured National Guard soldiers remain in critical condition after surgery.
• Notable Quote:
  • Kash Patel, FBI Director (00:58):
    “We are fully investigating that aspect of his background as well to include any known associates that are either overseas or here in the United States of America.”

2. US-South Africa Diplomatic Tensions Over G20 (01:18–02:18)

• Background:
  South Africa is contesting former President Donald Trump's claims that the country will be barred from the 2026 G20 summit in Miami.
• Key Details:
  • Trump made controversial social media statements questioning South Africa's G20 membership, citing debunked claims of a “genocide” against white South Africans.
  • The South African government, through President Ramaphosa and a spokesperson, strongly rejected the falsehoods and what they see as disrespectful interference.
• Notable Quotes:
  • South African Government Spokesperson (02:01):
    “South Africa is also a sovereign, constitutional, democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country about its worth in participating in global platforms.”
  • President Ramaphosa (paraphrased by Kate Bartlett, 01:49):
    Regrettable that Trump continues to target South Africa based on misinformation and distortions.

3. Papal Visit to Turkey: Religion and Plurality (02:18–03:06)

• Background:
  Pope Leo embarks on his first overseas trip as pontiff, visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Key Details:
  • The meeting took place in Ankara, amidst calls for Turkey to better protect religious minorities, particularly Christians.
  • Pope Leo reflects on Turkey’s Ottoman heritage as both “a gift and a responsibility.”
  • He warns of the dangers of marginalizing minorities, emphasizing societal enrichment through plurality.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Pope Leo (via translator, 02:41):
    “You have an important place in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and of the whole world.”
  • Ruth Sherlock, summarizing Leo’s message (03:01):
    “Society is alive if it has a plurality… what makes a civil society are the brid that link its people together.”

4. Breaking News: Deadly High-Rise Fire in Hong Kong (03:06–03:58)

• Background:
  Hong Kong is battling its deadliest fire in years.
• Key Details:
  • At least 75 confirmed dead, nearly 300 missing.
  • The fire, which broke out Wednesday, has ravaged seven out of eight buildings in a residential complex.
  • Police have arrested three suspects on manslaughter charges.
• Contextual Note:
  Fire crews continue to evacuate residents as the situation unfolds.

5. Thanksgiving Story: Northwest Free Range Turkey Farming (03:58–04:42)

• Background:
  With Thanksgiving underway, many Americans are choosing free range turkeys. Anna King interviews farmer Nathan Cotrol in Benton City, WA.
• Key Details:
  • Cotrol describes the unique challenges and joyful surprises of raising free-range turkeys, including their tendency to wander and their social personalities.
  • Three tom turkeys—Kawasaki, Blue, and Nag—earn special reprieve from butchering this year, marked with zip ties on their legs.
• Notable Quote:
  • Nathan Cotrol (04:15):
    "When you feed them or when you go out and talk with them, they'll talk back. They're very, really awesome. Honestly. They're just little dogs, essentially. They just follow you around."

6. Market Update & Closing Note (04:42–04:57)

• Key Details:
  • Wall Street is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
  • Markets set to reopen for a half-day tomorrow.

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Kash Patel, FBI Director:
  “We are fully investigating that aspect of his background as well to include any known associates that are either overseas or here in the United States of America.” (00:58)
• South African Government Spokesperson:
  “South Africa is also a sovereign, constitutional, democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country about its worth in participating in global platforms.” (02:01)
• Pope Leo (via translator):
  “You have an important place in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and of the whole world.” (02:41)
• Nathan Cotrol, farmer:
  "When you feed them or when you go out and talk with them, they'll talk back. They're very, really awesome. Honestly. They're just little dogs, essentially. They just follow you around." (04:15)

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Timestamps — Quick Reference

• 00:17: Shooting in D.C., Afghan suspect, terrorism probe
• 01:18: Trump-South Africa G20 statement, SA rebuttal
• 02:18: Pope Leo visits Turkey, statement on pluralism
• 03:06: Hong Kong high-rise fire update
• 03:58: Thanksgiving turkey farming human interest story
• 04:42: Stock market and closing note

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In Summary:
This NPR update weaves together urgent breaking news from world affairs, security, and disaster reporting with the warmth of a Thanksgiving vignette, offering listeners both global perspective and a flavor of the American holiday mindset.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Federal officials and a nonprofit group say the Afghan man who allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. worked with a unit linked to the c. The FBI says the suspect, Rama Noah Lackinwall, is the focus of a terrorism investigation. As NPR's Brian Mann reports, CIA officials.

[Brian Mann]

Have confirmed Lackinwall worked with the US Government in Afghanistan. A non profit group called Afghan Evac says Lackinwall served with an elite counterterrorism unit. FBI Director Kash Patel says that history will be a focus of their probe. We are fully investigating that aspect of his background as well to include any known associates that are either overseas or here in the United States of America. Lackanwell entered the US in 2021 and was granted asylum in April of this year. Officials say the two West Virginia National Guard soldiers injured in Wednesday's attack have undergone surgery and remain in critical condition. Brian Mann, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

South Africa is pushing back against President Trump's claim that he plans to bar the country from next year's G20 summit in Miami. Kate Bartlett reports. South Africa just hosted this meeting of world leaders, a gathering that the Trump administration had boycotted.

[Kate Bartlett]

Trump said on social media that South Africa would not be receiving an invite to the summit event and was unworthy of membership of the G20 altogether. He repeated false claims that the South African government is allowing a, quote, genocide against its white minority. President Ramaphosa said it was regrettable. Trump continued to target South Africa based on misinformation and distortions. He has his spokesman, Vincent south Africa.

[South African Government Spokesperson]

Is also a sovereign, constitutional, democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country about its worth in participating in global platforms.

[Kate Bartlett]

The chairmanship was handed over at government offices this week. Kate Bartlett, NPR News, Johannesburg.

[Windsor Johnston]

Pope Leo met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the first foreign trip of his papacy. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports. The pope pressed Turkey to do more to protect religious religious minorities.

[Ruth Sherlock]

In his speech, made alongside President Erdogan in a large library in Ankara, Pope Leo said Turkey's grand Ottoman past is both a gift and a responsibility.

[South African Government Spokesperson]

You have an important place in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and of the whole world.

[Ruth Sherlock]

Pope Leo warned that sidelining religious minorities, such as its Christian population, would be an impoverishment. Society is alive if it has a plurality, he said, for what makes a civil society are the brid that link its people together. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Ankara.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks across Asia traded higher today, with Japan's Nikkei average up more than 600 points. This is NPR News in Washington. Hong Kong's deadliest fire in years is still burning, with at least 75 people dead and nearly 300 others missing. Fire crews have been pulling residents from two high rise apartment buildings since the blaze broke out Wednesday. By early Thursday, the fire had spread through seven of the complex's eight buildings, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. Police say three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Many Americans may opt for a free range turkey for their Thanksgiving spread this year. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Anna King talked with one Northwest farmer about what it's like to raise these birds.

[Anna King]

Nathan Cotrol is with Chickchaser, a farm and butchering operation out of Benton City, Washington. He says his free range turkeys can sometimes be a pain. They can wander to neighborhoods or get attacked by dogs. But he says there's good parts, too.

[Nathan Cotrol]

When you feed them or when you go out and talk with them, they'll talk back. They're very, really awesome. Honestly. They're just little dogs. Essentially. They just follow you around.

[Anna King]

There's three top breeding tom birds that will be spared this Thanksgiving. They're named Kawasaki, Blue and Nag. The birds get marked with a special zip tie around their legs. For NPR News, I'm Anna King.

[Windsor Johnston]

Wall street is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Markets reopen tomorrow for a half day of trading. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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