NPR News: 11-28-2025 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 11-28-2025 2AM EST

Date: November 28, 2025
Host: Giles Snyder, NPR
Length: 5 minutes

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Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international events as of early November 28, 2025. The broadcast covers a deadly attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C., deepened political divisions among Americans, Thanksgiving on the International Space Station, diplomatic and wartime developments involving Russia, the first trip abroad by Pope Leo, and significant snowfall across the Great Lakes region.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Death of National Guard Member in D.C. Shooting

• Announcement: President Trump announced the killing of 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Backstrom during his Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops.
• Incident Details:
  • Backstrom was one of two West Virginia Guard members shot in what officials describe as a “targeted attack” in Washington, D.C.
  • The suspect, identified as an Afghan national granted asylum under the Biden administration, is in custody.
• Executive Response:
  • President Trump responded on social media, pledging to “permanently pause migration from… Third World countries.”

Notable Quote:

“She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. It’s just happened. She was savagely attacked. She’s dead.”
— President Trump (00:28)

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2. Increasing Political Division Among Americans

• Polling Data:
  • An NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds overwhelming mutual distrust between Democratic and Republican voters:
    • Vast majorities describe the other side as “mostly closed minded”
    • 72% of Republicans and 65% of Democrats believe opponents are “mostly dishonest”
• Personal Perspective:
  • Michigan Democrat Teresa Tucker shares that political conversations have grown more difficult, preferring to keep holiday gatherings focused on family rather than politics.

Notable Quotes:

“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.”
— Teresa Tucker (01:54)

“…the focus at her dinner won’t be on politics. It’ll be on family and festivities.”
— Elena Moore (02:07)

(Coverage: 01:32–02:15)

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3. Thanksgiving Celebrated on the International Space Station

• Event:
  • U.S.-Russian crew launched to the ISS from Kazakhstan, arriving in time for Thanksgiving.
• Space Feast:
  • Traditional freeze-dried fare enhanced by special treats (crab meat, salmon, lobster) sent up on a recent resupply.
  • NASA designates Thanksgiving as an off-duty day, allowing crew to relax and connect with loved ones.

Notable Quote:

“We’ve even got some lobster, which is amazing. So I think it’s going to be a really, really delicious meal and I can’t wait to share it with everyone, including our new crewmates.”
— Astronaut Zena Cardman (02:54)

(Coverage: 02:15–03:15)

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4. Prospects for Peace in Ukraine

• Diplomatic Opening:
  • Russia’s President Vladimir Putin regards new U.S. proposals as the “starting point” for ending the Ukraine war, but insists Ukrainian troop withdrawal is required.
  • Putin frames President Trump’s peace plan as “issues put forward for discussion rather than… a draft agreement.”

(Coverage: 03:15–03:45)

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5. Pope Leo’s First Foreign Visit — Message in Turkey

• Context:
  • Pope Leo meets Turkish President Erdogan on his first overseas trip as the first American pope.
• Key Message:
  • Pope Leo praises Turkey’s historic legacy yet calls for greater protection of religious minorities, warning of the societal cost in sidelining groups such as Christians.
  • Emphasizes diversity as essential to a thriving society.

Notable Quote:

“You have an important place in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and of the whole world.”
— Pope Leo (04:10)

“…for what makes a civil society are the bridges that link its people together.”
— Pope Leo, via Ruth Sherlock (04:17)

(Coverage: 03:45–04:35)

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6. Major Snow Event Hits the Great Lakes

• Weather Impact:
  • Lake effect snow producing heavy accumulations—15 inches in Marquette, Michigan, and over 30 inches in some Wisconsin locations.
  • More snow expected with an additional storm system approaching over the weekend.

(Coverage: 04:35–04:55)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump: “She’s no longer with us… She was savagely attacked. She’s dead.” (00:28)
• Teresa Tucker (voter): “If we would have more conversations, I think we would find we have a lot more in common than we don’t.” (01:54)
• Astronaut Zena Cardman: “We’ve even got some lobster, which is amazing.” (02:54)
• Pope Leo: “You have an important place in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and of the whole world.” (04:10)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Pres. Trump announces Guard member’s death: 00:19–01:32
• Political division poll / holiday dinner: 01:32–02:15
• Thanksgiving on the ISS: 02:15–03:15
• Putin on Ukraine proposals: 03:15–03:45
• Pope Leo in Turkey: 03:45–04:35
• Great Lakes snowfall report: 04:35–04:55

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This episode provides a rapid-fire yet substantial overview of pressing national and global news, offering direct voices from political, personal, and scientific domains while capturing the tone and mood of the events as they unfold.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

LIVE from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Backstrom is dead.

[President Trump]

She's no longer with us. She's looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. It's just happened. She was savagely attacked. She's dead.

[Giles Snyder]

Trump made the announcement during his Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops. Beckstrom was 20 years old. She was one of the two West Virginia Guard members who were shot in Washington, D.C. wednesday in what officials call a targeted attack. The the suspect is in custody and has been identified as an Afghan national who came to the US during the Biden administration and was granted asylum earlier this year. Late Thursday, President Trump posted a long message on social media saying he will permanently pause migration from what he said are Third World countries. 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 Paul 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 closed 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, 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.

[Giles Snyder]

A U.S. russian crew has started a mission on the International Space Station. Following a successful launch, the rocket lift off Thursday from Kazakhstan. As NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports, they arrived in time for a fest festive holiday meal.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

Thanksgiving in space has long meant pouches of freeze dried, irradiated and thermostabilized foods, everything from smoked turkey to yams. But this fall, on a resupply mission, NASA workers sent up some extra treats. In a video, astronaut Zena Cardman showed off a bag full of packaged items like crab meat and salmon.

[Astronaut Zena Cardman]

We've even got some lobster, which is amazing. So I think it's going to be a really, really delicious me and I can't wait to share it with everyone, including our new crewmates.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

NASA says that Thanksgiving is an off duty day for the crew so they can relax and talk with family members on the ground. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

This is NPR News. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he sees US Proposals to end the war in Ukraine as a starting point, saying that the draft plan could become the basis of future agreements to end the war. Speaking to reporters Thursday at the end of three day visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin insisted that Ukrainian forces pull back or be overrun. And he described President Trump's peace plan as a set of issues put forward for discussion rather than a draft agreement. Pope Leo met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the first foreign trip of his papacy. NPR's Wu Sherlock reports that the first American pope pressed Turkey to do more to protect 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.

[Pope Leo]

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 bridges that link its people together. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Ankara.

[Giles Snyder]

Lake effect snow is piling up in the Great Lakes region with the most accumulations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The National Weather Service says a snowfall that began Wednesday measured 15 inches in Marquette in Wisconsin. One location is reporting more than 30 inches. And forecasters say another storm system could bring even more snow this weekend. This is NPR News.

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