NPR News: 11-28-2025 1AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 1AM EST, November 28, 2025

Host: Giles Snyder | Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now segment delivers a concise roundup of major global and national news as of November 28, 2025, at 1AM EST. Featured topics include a targeted attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., new U.S. anti-drug operations in the Dominican Republic, a deadly high-rise fire in Hong Kong, devastating floods in Southeast Asia, environmental regulatory rollbacks in Brazil, and the passing of golf champion Fuzzy Zeller.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. Targeted Attack on U.S. National Guard Troops in Washington, D.C.

• [00:20] President Trump announced the death of Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member, during his Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops.

• Beckstrom was one of two Guard members shot in a targeted attack; the second remains in critical condition.

• The incident occurred during their deployment in Washington, D.C.—part of President Trump's ongoing deployment of National Guard troops to the capital and other Democratic-led cities.

• [00:53] Kat Lahnsdorf, NPR:

  • Over 2,000 National Guard troops from several states have been stationed in D.C. since August, in response to concerns about violent crime.
  • The deployments have been controversial, often opposed by local governments and embroiled in legal battles.
  • A recent federal court ruling found the deployment unlawful, ordering it to end, but this is paused pending appeal by Trump's administration.

  Notable Quote:

  • "Trump's deployments of the Guard have been controversial and faced a litany of legal battles and blocks." — Kat Lahnsdorf [01:12]

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2. U.S.–Dominican Republic Anti-Drug Trafficking Agreement

• [01:32] Dominican Republic President Luis Avenadar authorized U.S. operations within the San Ysidro air base and international airport near Santo Domingo to fight drug trafficking.

• The announcement came during a joint appearance with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth.

  Notable Quote:

  • "The purpose is clear: to strengthen the air and maritime protection ring maintained by our armed forces, a crucial effort to prevent the entry of narcotics and to strike a more decisive blow against transnational organized crime." — President Luis Avenadar (interpreted) [01:50]

• This marks the first major public security agreement between the countries, as the U.S. intensifies counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean.

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3. Deadly Hong Kong High-Rise Fire

• [02:04] Death toll rises to at least 94 after a massive fire in a public housing complex; the tragedy is now one of the deadliest fires in Hong Kong’s history.

• [02:31] Cherise Pham, NPR:

  • Fire spanned seven high rises, with some units burning more than 40 hours after ignition.
  • Renovation materials, including netting and bamboo scaffolding, were not up to safety standards and contributed to the disaster.
  • Falling debris blocked emergency vehicles. Three construction company workers arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

  Notable Quote:

  • "As they caught fire, some scaffolding collapsed and turned into falling debris, blocking emergency vehicles in the early hours of the fire." — Cherise Pham [02:51]

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4. Southeast Asia Flooding Crisis

• [03:16] Ongoing search and rescue after torrential monsoon rains in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
• At least 69 dead and dozens missing in Sumatra, Indonesia.

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5. Brazil’s Congressional Overturn of Environmental Vetoes

• [03:16] Brazil's Congress overturned President Lula’s key vetoes on an environmental licensing bill, weakening environmental protections.

• [03:56] Julia Carneiro, NPR:

  • The new law, dubbed the “Devastation Bill,” allows controversial self-declared licensing and reduces oversight for companies exploiting natural resources.
  • 56 of 63 vetoed provisions were re-instated, against the government's warnings of environmental harm.
  • The move is a significant setback for President Lula amid political crisis and right-wing opposition.

  Notable Quote:

  • "Congress had passed the bill in July, but Lula had vetoed 63 key provisions. Lawmakers have now overturned 56 of these, including a controversial self-declared licensing provision." — Julia Carneiro [04:12]

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6. Obituary: Fuzzy Zeller, Major Golf Champion

• [04:39] Two-time major winner Fuzzy Zeller has died at age 74.
• Zeller was a fan favorite on the PGA tour but was also known for facing backlash after making a racist joke about Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "Trump’s deployments of the Guard have been controversial and faced a litany of legal battles and blocks."
  — Kat Lahnsdorf [01:12]

• "The purpose is clear: to strengthen the air and maritime protection ring maintained by our armed forces..."
  — President Luis Avenadar (interpreted) [01:50]

• "As they caught fire, some scaffolding collapsed and turned into falling debris, blocking emergency vehicles in the early hours of the fire."
  — Cherise Pham [02:51]

• "Lawmakers have now overturned 56 of these, including a controversial self-declared licensing provision."
  — Julia Carneiro [04:12]

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:20: Breaking news—National Guard member killed in D.C.
• 00:53: Context and controversy over National Guard deployments—Kat Lahnsdorf
• 01:32: U.S.–Dominican Republic security agreement—President Avenadar's remarks
• 02:04: Hong Kong fire update and investigation
• 02:31: Reporter Cherise Pham details the fire aftermath
• 03:16: Southeast Asia flood disaster update
• 03:56: Brazil environmental rollback—Julia Carneiro's analysis
• 04:39: Death of Fuzzy Zeller

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This summary captures the essence and urgency of the latest hourly news update, with clear attributions and direct quotes from correspondents and key figures.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom is dead. Trump made the announcement during his Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops, was 20 years old. She was one of two West Virginia Guard members who were shot in Washington, D.C. wednesday in what officials say was a targeted attack. The other remains in critical condition. The two are in Washington as part of President Trump's deployment to the nation's capital. Trump has ordered another 500 troops to the city. As NPR's Kat Lahnsdorf reports, there have.

[Kat Lahnsdorf]

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.

[Giles Snyder]

Dominican Republic President Luis Avenadar says he has authorized the US Government to operate inside restricted areas within the San Ysidro air base and the international airport near Santo Domingo to help in the fight against drug trafficking. Here he is speaking through an interpreter with Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth by his side.

[Luis Avenadar (interpreted)]

The purpose is clear to strengthen the air and maritime protection ring maintained by our armed forces, a crucial effort to prevent the entry of narcotics and to strike a more decisive blow against transnational organized crime.

[Giles Snyder]

The announcement marks the first major public agreement the US has struck with the Caribbean nation amid the US Attacks against alleged drug smuggling boats in the region. At least 94 people are now confirmed dead after that massive fire tore through a public housing complex in Hong Kong. Search and rescue operations ongoing but are expected to come to an end Friday. Cherise Pham has more on one of the deadliest fires in the city's history.

[Cherise Pham]

Firefighters are now going floor to floor to search for any residents that may still be trapped inside. The fire burned through seven high rises. It's now under control, but some units were still burning more than 40 hours after the fire first broke out. The complex had been under renovation and was covered in bamboo scaffolding and netting. The netting and some other construction material were not up to standard, according to police. As they caught fire, some scaffolding collapsed and turned into falling debris, blocking emergency vehicles in the early hours of the fire. An official from the fire department said police have arrested three people from the contract company in charge of the renovations on suspicion of manslaughter. For NPR News, I'm Charisse Pham in Hong Kong.

[Giles Snyder]

This is NPR News. A search and rescue effort is ongoing in Southeast Asia following floods that hit parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The region has been hit by torrential rain. Authorities on Sumatra and Indonesia say at least 69 people are dead and nearly three dozen are missing following monsoon rains. Over the past week, Brazil's Congress has overturned vetoes on a bill that eases environmental licensing. It's a major setback for the government and environmental protection. Another blow for President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva amid an ongoing political crisis with the right wing led Congress. Julia Cardiero reports.

[Julia Cardiero]

Brazil's Senate has voted overwhelmingly to overturn vetoes imposed by President Lula on a new environmental licensing law dubbed the Devastation Bill. It weakens the system to obtain environmental licenses, which are mandatory for companies that use natural resources. Congress had passed the bill in July, but lula had vetoed 63 key provisions. Lawmakers have now overturned 56 of these, including a controversial self declared licensing provision. The government had appealed to lawmakers, arguing that reversing the vetoes could cause immediate impact on the environment. This comes on the week after the UN climate talks. COP 30 wrapped up in Brazil. For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiro in Rio.

[Giles Snyder]

Two time major golf champion Fuzzy Zeller has died. The PGA announced Zeller's death Thursday. He was 74 years old. Zeller was a fan favorite, but he also faced backlash for a racist joke he made about Tiger woods and at the 1997 Masters. This is NPR News.

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