NPR News Now — November 29, 2025, 12PM EST

Host: Norah Ram
Episode Summary:
This five-minute news update from NPR covers developing stories from Washington on new U.S. immigration restrictions, a diplomatic push on the war in Ukraine, significant aviation disruptions involving Airbus, severe weather globally and across the U.S., the rise of AI-generated fake videos, and a resolution between Northwestern University and the federal government regarding grant funding.

1. Tightening U.S. Immigration Rules

Reported by Danielle Kurtzleben
[00:19–01:18]

• The White House has implemented stricter rules on entry into the United States.
• President Trump announced a freeze on migration from "all Third World countries."
• Federal agencies responded via social media:
  • US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Announced a halt to all asylum decisions to increase screening.
  • State Department: Paused visa issuance for those traveling on Afghan passports.
• President Trump, in a late-night post, suggested not only halting immigration from certain countries but also considering denaturalizing some immigrants who have become U.S. citizens.
• These policy changes follow an incident: an Afghan man was accused in a D.C. shooting that killed a National Guard member and injured another.
• Quote:
  • “U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Enlow posted on social media that his agency has, quote, halted all asylum decisions. The goal, he said, is to better screen people entering the country.” — Danielle Kurtzleben, [00:36]

2. Russia-Ukraine War: Diplomatic Push

Reported by Charles Maynes
[01:18–02:18]

• Russia conducted deadly overnight drone and missile strikes on Kyiv, killing two and wounding at least seven.
• The U.S. has put forward a revised peace proposal, apparently modified after criticism that the earlier version favored Moscow.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled openness to discussions, with the stipulation that Ukraine make key concessions, particularly regarding territory claimed by Russia.
• Ukrainian negotiators plan to meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who will later travel to Russia for further talks with Putin.
• Quote:
  • “Putin has suggested the plan could still be the basis of a settlement, but only if Ukraine is the one to make key concessions, among them a demand to surrender territory claimed but not controlled by Russia.” — Charles Maynes, [01:52]

3. Major Airbus A320 Jet Software Issue

Reported by Joel Rose
[02:18–02:55]

• Airbus grounded thousands of A320 jets globally due to flawed flight control system software—impacting travel during a busy weekend.
• Airlines must downgrade to earlier, safer versions of the software or swap the computers for compatible ones.
• The issue isn’t technically difficult to fix, but each plane could take several hours, causing widespread disruption.
• Quote:
  • “It’s not a difficult fix as these things go, but it will take time, several hours per plane.” — Joel Rose, [02:49]

4. Severe Weather in the US and Sri Lanka

US Weather:
[02:55–03:16]

• Winter storm warnings and advisories stretch from North Dakota to Ohio.
• Cold weather will continue through tomorrow, complicating travel plans for many Americans.

Sri Lankan Disaster:
[03:16–03:50]

• At least 159 dead in Sri Lanka after days of extreme rain and landslides; more than 200 people remain missing.
• Tens of thousands have been displaced during the holiday weekend.
• Authorities fear the death toll may climb further.

5. Rise of AI-Generated Fake Videos

Reported by Jeff Brumfield, with expert Mike Caulfield
[03:50–04:32]

• There’s an explosion of AI-generated “slop” videos circulating online, including among personal networks.
• Expert Guidance:
  • Trust your instincts: If a video looks off, it may be fake.
  • Check authenticity by searching for corroborating evidence, news coverage, or reverse image searches.
  • Profiles producing fake content may often disclose this if you investigate.
• Quote:
  • “If you feel there's something weird about that cute cat video your aunt sent you, you may be right.” — Mike Caulfield, [03:50]
  • “We're being overrun by slop.” — Jeff Brumfield, [04:02]

6. Northwestern University Federal Grants Deal

[04:32–04:56]

• Northwestern University agreed to pay $75 million to the U.S. government over three years.
• In turn, the Trump administration will restore hundreds of millions in previously frozen federal grants.
• The freeze stemmed from the Administration’s allegation that the university inadequately combated antisemitism.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On abrupt immigration changes:
  “USCIS Director Joseph Enlow posted on social media that his agency has, quote, halted all asylum decisions. The goal, he said, is to better screen people entering the country.” — Danielle Kurtzleben, [00:36]
• On U.S. diplomatic efforts in Ukraine:
  “Putin has suggested the plan could still be the basis of a settlement, but only if Ukraine is the one to make key concessions…” — Charles Maynes, [01:52]
• On viral fake videos:
  “If you feel there's something weird about that cute cat video your aunt sent you, you may be right.” — Mike Caulfield, [03:50]
  “We're being overrun by slop.” — Jeff Brumfield, [04:02]

Additional Notes

• The episode offers a rapid yet comprehensive roundup of major U.S. and global news, with succinct expert insights and practical tips (e.g., on spotting fake videos).
• The tone is urgent but clear, providing concise details on each story so listeners are quickly brought up to speed.