NPR News Now: November 28, 2025, 7PM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Producer: NPR News Team
Episode Theme: A concise roundup of national and international news, capturing the day’s top stories in politics, aviation safety, consumer behavior, arts & culture, and global incidents.

1. Renewed Debate on U.S. Immigration Policy

[00:17–01:07]

• Key Points:

  • President Trump intensifies calls for stricter immigration policies following a shooting near the White House that left one National Guard member dead and another in critical condition.
  • The President proposes a “permanently pause migration from so-called third world countries” and threatens to revoke millions of immigrants’ legal statuses.
  • Trump ties immigration to a broad range of U.S. issues, from crime to housing shortages, framing these as components of wider “social dysfunction.”

• Notable Quote:

  “He [President Trump] pledged to seek to expel millions of immigrants from the US by revoking their legal status.”
  — Vanessa Romo, 00:37

• Additional Development:

  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has halted all asylum decisions pending further notice.

2. Airbus Orders Software Fix for A320 Fleet After Safety Incident

[01:07–02:15]

• Key Points:

  • Airbus mandates an immediate software update for thousands of its A320-series jets due to “strong solar radiation” corrupting flight control data.
  • Follows an October 30 incident where a JetBlue flight lost altitude abruptly, injuring several passengers. The cause is attributed to a corrupted flight control system from solar radiation.
  • The urgent fix could result in major travel delays and cancellations, impacting the busy holiday travel season.

• Notable Quote:

  “Now those systems will need to be updated in order to fly safely, which could cause major delays and cancellations during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.”
  — Sarah Ventri, 01:36

• Industry Context:

  • The A320 family is the most used aircraft model globally, with 9,000+ planes in service.

3. U.S. Holiday Shopping Season Sees Record Online Spending

[02:15–03:12]

• Key Points:

  • Online sales on Thanksgiving hit a new record: $6.4 billion—over 5% higher than the previous year.
  • More shoppers made purchases before Thanksgiving dinner, driven by earlier, deeper retailer discounts.
  • Notable surges in home-related items (appliances, electronics, exercise equipment, security systems).
  • Top toy sellers include Squishmallows, Miss Rachel Learning Toys, Pokemon trading cards, plus classics like Legos and Hot Wheels.

• Notable Quote:

  “Adobe notes a big uptick in purchases for the home… including refrigerators and freezers, exercise equipment, speaker systems, TVs and home security products.”
  — Alina Selyuk, 02:31

4. Louvre Ticket Price Hike Targets Non-European Visitors

[03:12–04:15]

• Key Points:

  • The Louvre Museum in Paris will raise entry prices for Americans and other non-EU visitors to $37 (up from $25), effective January.
  • Revenue will fund a major six-year renovation, following a high-profile jewel heist and security concerns.
  • Upgrades include new entrance, extensive camera installation, and a dedicated Mona Lisa display room.

• Notable Quote:

  “The urgency of renovations was exposed last month when four robbers took off with $102 million worth of crown jewels, which have still not been recovered.”
  — Rebecca Rossman, 03:31

5. High-Rise Fire in Hong Kong Claims 128 Lives

[04:15–04:56]

• Key Points:

  • Fire in a Hong Kong residential complex kills at least 128; dozens remain missing.
  • The blaze spread rapidly through seven buildings, mainly occupied by older residents.
  • Flammable facade panels and scaffolding fueled the fire’s spread.
  • Authorities have arrested eleven people, including contractors and managers, in connection with ongoing renovation work.
  • Fire crews prioritized calls for help, but the fire’s rapid progression limited escape.

• Notable Quote:

  “Firefighters prioritized apartments where residents had called for help, but crews say the flames moved too fast for many to escape.”
  — Windsor Johnston, 04:15

Memorable Moments & Overall Tone

• The episode balances urgency and clarity, moving briskly from one headline to the next, echoing the format’s focus on concise, reliable news delivery.
• Themes of crisis (policy debate, aviation risk, catastrophic fire) are juxtaposed with vignettes of everyday life (holiday shopping), providing a snapshot of both anxiety and normalcy at the start of the holiday season.

Useful Timestamps for Quick Reference

• 00:17: Immigration crackdown after shooting
• 01:07: Airbus mandates jet software update
• 02:15: Holiday online spending record
• 03:12: Louvre announces price hike
• 04:15: Hong Kong fire tragedy

Listeners seeking a rapid, authoritative briefing on current events will find this episode efficient and informative, seamlessly blending political news, consumer trends, global culture, and developing emergencies.