NPR News: 11-27-2025 6PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – November 27, 2025, 6PM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Theme:
A concise update on major national and international news—focusing this hour on the targeted shooting of National Guard members in Washington D.C., a deadly fire in Hong Kong, record U.S. holiday sales, Israeli-Palestinian tensions, Americans' political divides at Thanksgiving, a new space station crew, and the Pope’s first international trip.

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1. Shooting of National Guard Members in D.C.

[00:17–01:12]

• Incident Details:

  • Two National Guard members—Andrew Wolfe (24) and Sarah Beckstrom (20)—were shot in Washington, D.C.
  • Both remain in critical condition after surgery.
  • Authorities describe the incident as a "targeted attack" under investigation as an act of terrorism.

• Personal Backgrounds:

  • Beckstrom is an Army specialist from Summersville, WV, joined in 2023.
  • Wolfe is an Air Force staff sergeant from Martinsburg, WV, entered service in 2019.
  • Both have been deployed to D.C. since August.

• Notable Quote:

  "Authorities have described the shooting as a targeted attack and it's being investigated as an act of terrorism."
  – Juliana Kim [01:07]

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2. Deadly Fire in Hong Kong Housing Complex

[01:12–02:10]

• Casualties and Efforts:

  • At least 65 dead, hundreds missing after a fire at a massive public housing complex.
  • Firefighters are searching for survivors floor-by-floor.

• Survivor Stories:

  • Elderly man rescued from the 31st floor; another survivor found in a staircase over 24 hours after the fire began.

• Contributing Factors:

  • The complex housed about 4,600 people, was under renovation, encased in bamboo scaffolding.
  • Construction materials "did not meet safety standards" and may have accelerated the fire’s spread.

• Accountability:

  • Three people from the renovation company arrested on manslaughter suspicions.

• Notable Quotes:

  "Firefighters are going through the wreckage... searching for survivors."
  – Charisse Pham [01:21]

  "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."
  – Charisse Pham [01:45]

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3. U.S. Holiday Retail Sales to Hit Record

[02:10–02:51]

• Key Data:

  • The National Retail Federation projects holiday sales to exceed $1 trillion for the first time.
  • Expected 3.7–4.2% increase over 2024.

• Analysis:

  • Growth attributed to a combination of President Trump's tariffs and increased consumer enthusiasm.
  • Shift in shopping habits: More people are buying earlier, online, and throughout the weekend.

• Notable Quote:

  “This weekend in a shopping context, used to be about, you know, in store on Black Friday. That's changed, right? People are shopping earlier than before, and they're shopping across the holiday weekend, not just in store, but but online.”
  – Mark Matthews [02:35]

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4. Israeli-Palestinian Tensions Escalate

[02:51–03:34]

• Incident:
  • TV footage shows Israeli soldiers killing two Palestinian men in the West Bank after their surrender.
  • Palestinian officials called the incident "murder in cold blood."
  • Israeli military says men were wanted militants who had thrown explosives; investigation underway.

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5. Political Divisions at Thanksgiving

[03:34–04:16]

• Poll Results:

  • NPR/PBS News/Marist poll: Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans see the other side as "mostly close minded" (words used by respondents).
  • 72% of Republicans, 65% of Democrats believe the opposite party is "mostly dishonest."

• Personal Perspective:

  • Democratic voter Teresa Tucker (Michigan) describes worsening political polarization:

    “I think it's definitely gotten worse. I think, unfortunately, this administration has pitted people against each other.”
    – Teresa Tucker [03:55]

  • She stresses the importance of personal connections over politics during the holidays:

    “If we would have more conversations, I think we would find we have a lot more in common than we don't.”
    – Teresa Tucker [04:01]

• Holiday Approach:

  • Tucker's family will avoid politics, focusing on “family and festivities.” (Elena Moore [04:08])

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6. International & Science Updates

[04:16–04:56]

• Space:

  • A new joint US-Russian crew reached the International Space Station after launch from Kazakhstan.
  • The three are expected to stay eight months, joining seven astronauts already on board (from US, Russia, and Japan).

• Papal Visit:

  • Pope Leo XIV visited Turkey for his first foreign trip, lauding Turkey as a "bridge between the west and the East" and a source of "stability and dialogue."
  • He delivered a message of peace in a world "torn by conflict."

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Authorities have described the shooting as a targeted attack and it's being investigated as an act of terrorism.”
  – Juliana Kim [01:07]

• "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."
  – Charisse Pham [01:45]

• “People are shopping earlier than before, and they're shopping across the holiday weekend, not just in store, but but online.”
  – Mark Matthews [02:42]

• "Vast majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say that folks who support the other party are, quote, mostly close minded."
  – Elena Moore [03:34]

• “If we would have more conversations, I think we would find we have a lot more in common than we don't.”
  – Teresa Tucker [04:01]

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For Listeners

This episode offers a rapid yet thorough update on significant news: from terrorism investigations and tragic disasters to economic optimism, international conflict, growing political divides, a milestone space mission, and the Pope's outreach for peace. Each segment encapsulates key facts and prevailing concerns, providing a snapshot of a complex, interconnected world.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The two National Guard members shot Yesterday in Washington, D.C. have been identified as 24 year old Andrew Wolfe and 20 year old Sarah Beckstrom. Both underwent surgery and remain in critical condition, according to authorities. NPR's Juliana Kim reports.

[Juliana Kim]

The West Virginia National Guard says Sarah Beckstrom is an army specialist who joined the service in 2023. Andrew Wolf is an Air Force staff sergeant who entered the service in 2019. Beckstrom is from Summersville in central West Virginia, while Wolf is from Martinsburg, which is in the state's eastern Panhandle and less than a two hour drive to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Both Beckstrom and Wolf had been deployed to D.C. since August, when the troop deployment in the city began. Authorities have described the shooting as a targeted attack and it's being investigated as an act of terrorism. Juliana Kim, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

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. Cherise Pham has more Firefighters are going.

[Charisse Pham]

Through the wreckage of apartment buildings floor by floor, searching for survivors. The 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.

[Dale Willman]

The National Retail Federation says holiday sales will likely surpass $1 trillion for the first time this year. If their prediction holds, it would mean a 3.7 to 4.2% sales increase over 2024. Federation chief econom economist Mark Matthews says the increase would in part be due to President Trump's tariffs. But he also says Americans are in a spending mood and they're shopping even earlier.

[Mark Matthews]

What we've seen over time is, you know, this this weekend in a shopping context, used to be about, you know, in store on Black Friday. That's changed, right? People are shopping earlier than before, and they're shopping across the holiday weekend, not just in store, but but online.

[Dale Willman]

Videos being shown on TV stations in the Middle east right now appear to show Israeli soldiers killing two Palestinian men in the occupied west bank after they had already surrendered. Palestinian officials say the men were murdered in cold blood. Israel's military says it's investigating the claim, and it says the two were wanted militants who had thrown explosives at troops. You're listening to NPR News. For many Americans, it's an unspoken rule to avoid political discussions at the Thanksgiving dinner table. And as NPR's Elena Moore reports, the latest NPR PBS News Marist poll may help explain why it finds that both Democrats and Republicans are skeptical of people who are in the other party.

[Elena Moore]

Vast majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say that folks who support the other party are, quote, mostly close minded. Plus, 72% of Republicans and 65% of Democrats believe those on the other side of the aisle are, quote, mostly dishonest. For some, like Democratic voter Teresa Tucker in Michigan, engaging in political discussions has become difficult.

[Teresa Tucker]

I think it's definitely gotten worse. I think, unfortunately, this administration has pitted people against each other. And, you know, if we would have more conversations, I think we would find we have a lot more in common than we don't.

[Elena Moore]

She says this holiday season, the focus at her dinner won't be on politics, it'll be on family and festivities. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

A new joint US Russian crew has reached the International Space Station. The team lifted off this afternoon from Kazakhstan and docked with the station several hours later. The three are expected to stay at the space station for eight months. They're joining seven other astronauts already in space, including three from the US Three from Russia and one from Japan. Pope Leo XIV is in Turkey today, where he said that country could become a source of stability and dialogue in a world torn by conflict. And he praised the country's historic role in of being what he called a bridge between the west and the East. The pope also offered a message of peace. It was his first international trope, a trip as pope. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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