NPR News Now: 11-29-2025, 2PM EST

Host: Nora Ram, NPR
Date: November 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now update delivers the top stories in the U.S. and around the world, covering new FDA vaccine regulations, record-breaking holiday spending, air travel disruptions following Airbus software concerns, a deadly high-rise fire in Hong Kong, the death of acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard, and Northwestern University’s major settlement over anti-Semitism charges.

Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. FDA to Take Stricter Approach to Vaccine Regulation

[00:17 – 01:18]

• Top FDA officials announce plans to require much more stringent evidence on vaccine safety and efficacy.
• Prompted by an email from FDA Deputy Vinay Prasad, alleging that COVID-19 vaccines caused the deaths of at least ten children.
• FDA Commissioner Marty Makary is driving this stricter approach based on newly uncovered evidence.
• Independent public health experts dispute the causality of these deaths and criticize the administration for "unsupported and misleading claims."

Notable Quote:

• “FDA Commissioner Marty Makary says the agency will require much stricter evidence that vaccines are safe and effective.” — Rob Stein, [00:35]
• “Independent public health experts, however, question the claim that the COVID vaccines caused these deaths, citing the administration's pattern of making unsupported and misleading claims.” — Rob Stein, [01:08]

2. Record-Setting Black Friday Sales

[01:18 – 02:14]

• Black Friday 2025 saw record-breaking online sales, up more than 9% over last year (according to Adobe Analytics).
• Popular items: televisions, Nintendo Switch, Apple AirPods, appliances, toys, and gift cards.
• Retailers are discounting deeper and earlier in the season, hoping to prompt spending despite consumer uncertainty.
• National Retail Federation projects that overall holiday sales may top $1 trillion for the first time, even with consumer sentiment at “the lowest level since the pandemic.”
• Much of the increased spending is being driven by wealthier shoppers.

Notable Quote:

• “Despite all the worries about inflation, tariffs and economic uncertainty, consumer sentiment is near the lowest level since the pandemic. Still, the National Retail Federation forecast overall holiday sales might top $1 trillion for the first time.” — Alina Selyuk, [01:45]

3. Holiday Air Travel Disrupted by Airbus Software Order

[02:14 – 03:06]

• Airbus orders immediate software fixes for 6,000 A320 jets worldwide after an incident where a JetBlue flight lost cabin pressure.
• Incident believed to be linked to solar radiation corrupting flight control software.
• FAA directs U.S. airlines to install the update.
• American Airlines: ~200 affected planes; Delta & United: only a few.
• Concerns about the reliability of aviation technology during peak travel.

Notable Quote:

• “An analysis found that intense solar radiation may have corrupted computer code critical to the aircraft's flight control systems.” — Rebecca Rosman, [02:34]

4. Winter Storm Warnings for Travelers

[03:06]

• Winter storm warnings in effect from South Dakota to Ohio threaten to complicate driving over the holidays.

5. Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Leaves 128 Dead, 150 Missing

[03:06 – 03:51]

• A fire in a Hong Kong apartment complex has killed at least 128, with 150 people still missing.
• Investigators are examining whether fire alarms worked and if building materials met safety standards.

6. Playwright Tom Stoppard Dies at 88

[03:51 – 04:38]

• Tom Stoppard, celebrated playwright (“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”), has died at age 88.
• Born Tomas Straussler, he fled the Nazis, lost his father, and settled in England.
• Known for dense, linguistic, intellectually challenging plays covering themes of identity, politics, and art.
• Won a screenwriting Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love” (1999).

Memorable Quotes:

• “I'd been turned into a little English boy. I was very happy being a little English boy…” – Tom Stoppard, [04:08]
• “He became a superstar playwright with works like The Real Thing and the semi autobiographical Leopoldstadt.” — Jeff London, [04:14]

7. Northwestern University Settles Over Anti-Semitism Enforcement

[04:38 – 04:56]

• Northwestern University will pay $75 million to resolve a charge that it failed to counter anti-Semitism.
• The resolution allows restoration of substantial federal research funding.

Closing

Host: Nora Ram, NPR News, Washington

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• FDA Vaccine Regulation Announcement: [00:17 – 01:18]
• Black Friday Sales & Analysis: [01:18 – 02:14]
• Airbus Software Order & Flight Disruptions: [02:14 – 03:06]
• Winter Storm Warnings: [03:06]
• Hong Kong High-Rise Fire: [03:06 – 03:51]
• Tom Stoppard Obituary: [03:51 – 04:38]
• Northwestern University Settlement: [04:38 – 04:56]