NPR News Now – 5PM EST (Nov 28, 2025)

Main Theme

This concise news update covers major national and international developments of the day, including President Trump's new immigration restrictions, investigation into a shooting near the White House, a deadly fire in Hong Kong, the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, and a widespread safety recall for Airbus aircraft.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Announces Immigration Cuts After D.C. Shooting

• [00:17–01:27]
  • President Trump plans to "cut off immigration" from 19 countries he describes as "poverty stricken" and "Third World."
  • This follows the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
  • Quote:
    • Trump "vowed on social media to, quote, permanently pause migration from all countries he deemed Third World."
      — Alana Wise, 00:42
  • Trump explicitly blamed Somali immigrants in Minnesota and used a slur against the state's governor.
  • The restriction will apply even to current green card holders from these countries.
  • The deployment of National Guard troops was initially in response to crime concerns, but D.C. crime had reportedly hit a 30-year low prior to their arrival.

2. Vetting of Afghan Refugees Under Scrutiny

• [01:27–02:09]
  • The White House is reviewing the vetting of Afghan refugees resettled since the 2021 withdrawal.
  • The suspected shooter was an Afghan national who had served in a CIA-backed Afghan military unit, with extensive vetting.
  • Quote:
    • "I think there's a worthy debate about the way some Afghans came to this country and the chaos around the withdrawal in 2021. But this case is not a case where there was insufficient vetting."
      — Elliott Ackerman, Marine Corps veteran, 01:49
  • Over 75,000 Afghans arrived under the 2021 resettlement program.

3. Hong Kong Public Housing Fire Tragedy

• [02:09–03:11]
  • At least 128 dead after a massive fire in a Hong Kong housing complex—the worst in the city’s history.
  • The fire burned for over 40 hours due to flammable, sub-standard construction materials and faulty alarms.
  • Corruption probe underway; 11 people arrested, including construction company staff.
  • Quote:
    • "Temperatures on some floors were still too hot for rescuers to enter, warning that the death toll could climb even higher."
      — Cherise Pham, 02:30

4. 100th Birthday of the Grand Ole Opry

• [03:11–04:20]
  • The Grand Ole Opry celebrates a century since its founding in Nashville (Nov 28, 1925).
  • Its influence spans American music, launching careers and hosting legends like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Hank Williams.
  • Notable birthplace of the Johnny Cash and June Carter romance.
  • The Opry remains both an institution and top Nashville tourist attraction.
  • Quote:
    • "The Grand Ole Opry kicked off with an elderly fiddler named Uncle Jimmy Thompson, who recorded this a few years later."
      — Neta Ulaby, 03:34

5. Airbus Orders Fleet-wide A320 Software Fix

• [04:20–04:56]
  • Safety recall for ~6,000 Airbus A320 jets globally due to risk of solar radiation corrupting main flight control data.
  • Most aircraft will be temporarily grounded for a quick software rollback, but some will require more extensive hardware modifications.
  • Quote:
    • "Strong solar radiation can corrupt data used by flight control systems."
      — Windsor Johnston, 04:20

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Immigration Suspension:
  "Trump vowed on social media to, quote, permanently pause migration from all countries he deemed Third World."
  — Alana Wise, 00:42

• On Afghan Vetting:
  "But this case is not a case where there was insufficient vetting."
  — Elliott Ackerman, 01:49

• On Fire Aftermath in Hong Kong:
  "Temperatures on some floors were still too hot for rescuers to enter, warning that the death toll could climb even higher."
  — Cherise Pham, 02:30

• On Grand Ole Opry’s Cultural Role:
  "The Grand Ole Opry kicked off with an elderly fiddler named Uncle Jimmy Thompson..."
  — Neta Ulaby, 03:34

• On Airbus Technical Alert:
  "Strong solar radiation can corrupt data used by flight control systems."
  — Windsor Johnston, 04:20

Segment Timestamps

• [00:17] — Trump immigration announcement & shooting details
• [01:27] — White House Afghan vetting review
• [02:09] — Hong Kong fire tragedy and corruption probe
• [03:11] — Grand Ole Opry centenary celebration
• [04:20] — Airbus A320 software recall and flight safety alert

This episode provides a rapid-fire roundup of evolving headlines, combining sharp reporting with crucial context, maintaining NPR's signature concise and informative tone.