NPR News Now — November 28, 2025, 3PM EST

Host: Nora Raum
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This concise news update covers major national and international headlines from the afternoon of November 28, 2025. Key stories include the ongoing investigation of a shooting near the White House, record-breaking holiday sales expectations, developments in Israel and Palestine, a high-profile political resignation in Ukraine, weather-related delays in Colorado’s ski season, and an expansion of the Starbucks workers’ strike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. White House Shooting: Updates & Investigation

• [00:16-01:10]
  • A 24-year-old National Guardsman remains in critical condition after being shot near the White House; a second Guardsman, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, has died from her wounds.
  • The suspect is a 29-year-old Afghan national who had previously worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan war.
  • U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Perot, announced the suspect faces a first-degree murder charge and emphasized an ongoing investigation with search warrants executed across multiple states.
    • Notable quote:

      "We continue to seek warrants and to execute on those warrants even as we speak... to make sure that this prosecution is as factful as we need in terms of the law and the evidence." — Jeanine Perot, U.S. Attorney ([00:48])

2. Black Friday Shopping Projections Amid Economic Uncertainty

• [01:10-02:12]
  • Despite public concerns regarding inflation, tariffs, and economic uncertainty, retailers expect record-breaking holiday sales.
  • The National Retail Federation predicts holiday sales will surpass $1 trillion, a 4% increase over last year.
  • While Deloitte projects a more conservative 3% growth, even retailers who braced for a difficult season are optimistic, partially because delayed tariff implementation let them build up inventory.
  • Much of the consumer spending is attributed to wealthier shoppers.
    • Notable quote:

      "This promises a shopping season that's far from the flop many feared earlier in the year when President Trump began to launch tariffs on almost all imports." — Lina Selyuk, NPR ([01:44])

3. Global Headlines

• Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

  • [02:12-03:10]
    • Israeli forces fatally shot two Palestinian men in Jenin, West Bank, after the men appeared to surrender; video evidence shows the men unarmed, compliant, and kneeling before being shot.
    • The Israeli military claims the two were "wanted individuals" and has opened an investigation, though human rights groups note such probes rarely lead to prosecutions.
      • Notable quote:

        "In the videos, the two Palestinian men come out of a garage holding their hands up and lifting their shirts to show they're unarmed. They're ordered to their knees and comply before gunshots ring out..." — Kat Lansdorf, NPR Tel Aviv ([02:31])

• Ukraine Political Shakeup

  • [03:10-03:52]
    • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff and lead negotiator, Andrei Yermak, has resigned following a raid by anti-corruption investigators related to energy sector fraud.

4. U.S. Weather & Lifestyle Updates

• Colorado Ski Season Delay
  • [03:52-04:32]
    • Beaver Creek Resort and Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Colorado have both delayed their openings due to unusually mild weather; current temperatures are about 10°F warmer than average.
    • Colder temperatures are expected soon, which could help with snowmaking efforts.
      • Notable quote:

        "We do start to see temperatures start to fall into the 20s and teens as the week progresses, which will certainly bring some relief to the snowmaking efforts." — Kate Abbott, National Weather Service ([04:12])

    • Colorado’s snowpack remains well below normal levels for this time of year.

5. Labor & Economic News

• Starbucks Workers’ Strike Expansion
  • [04:32-04:54]
    • The union representing Starbucks workers is expanding its ongoing strike—launched on November 13—to more than 120 stores across 85 cities.
    • Striking workers are demanding a union contract, higher pay, and better working hours.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the seriousness of the White House shooting probe:

  "We continue to seek warrants and to execute on those warrants even as we speak... to make sure that this prosecution is as factful as we need in terms of the law and the evidence."
  — Jeanine Perot, U.S. Attorney ([00:48])

• On record holiday shopping despite economic worries:

  "This promises a shopping season that's far from the flop many feared earlier in the year when President Trump began to launch tariffs on almost all imports."
  — Lina Selyuk, NPR ([01:44])

• On video evidence of the Jenin killings:

  "In the videos, the two Palestinian men come out of a garage holding their hands up and lifting their shirts to show they're unarmed... before gunshots ring out and the men slumped to the ground, apparently dead."
  — Kat Lansdorf, NPR ([02:31])

• On weather hopes for ski resorts:

  "We do start to see temperatures start to fall into the 20s and teens as the week progresses, which will certainly bring some relief to the snowmaking efforts."
  — Kate Abbott, National Weather Service ([04:12])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:16] — White House Shooting: Update and Investigation
• [01:10] — Black Friday and Holiday Sales Forecast
• [02:12] — Israeli Forces Shoot Two Palestinians in Jenin
• [03:10] — Ukraine: Top Negotiator Resigns Amid Raid
• [03:52] — Colorado Ski Resorts Delay Openings Due to Warm Weather
• [04:32] — Starbucks Workers Escalate Strike

This episode delivers a rapid, fact-driven summary of top news stories, reflecting NPR’s trademark journalistic style: clear, to-the-point, and focused on the biggest headlines shaping the day.