NPR News Now — November 29, 2025, 8AM EST

Host: Louise Schiavone
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: A concise update on the morning’s top U.S. and world news stories.

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode delivers rapid-fire, up-to-the-minute headlines on U.S. immigration policy changes, global airline safety concerns, post-Black Friday holiday spending, the prevalence of AI-generated videos online, and security and child protection measures in Europe.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Tightens Immigration Rules

[00:11–01:14]

• After a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C. involving an Afghan man, the White House and associated federal agencies have abruptly tightened U.S. immigration policy.

  • All asylum decisions halted: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) puts asylum on hold temporarily (“to better screen people entering the country”).
  • Afghan visas paused: No new visas for Afghan passport holders.
  • Denaturalization threat: President Trump signals an intent to revoke U.S. citizenship for some naturalized immigrants.
  • Announcement made via government and social media postings after the DC shooting which left one National Guard member dead.

  Notable Quote:

  • Danielle Kurtzleben:

    "President Trump posted that he wants to not only stop immigration from certain countries, but also to denaturalize some American immigrants who have become citizens." [00:51]

2. Airbus Technical Problem & Airline Impact

[01:14–02:02]

• An aviation safety scare: intense solar radiation can cause flight computer malfunctions in Airbus A320 jets.

  • Airbus orders urgent software and hardware fixes, but only about 1,000 out of 11,500 jets affected.
  • Estimated “about a 10% grounding” until resolved.
  • Issue expected to be resolved quickly for most planes via a three-hour software update; some need hardware replacement.
  • Potential downstream effects: could disrupt some UPS deliveries, especially following a crash of a different aircraft type (MD-11) in Louisville earlier this month.

  Notable Quote:

  • David Gleave (British aviation safety investigator):

    “Many of the airplanes just require a software update, so that takes about three hours on the ground… I believe less than 1,000 aeroplanes are affected... So we could see about a 10% grounding until this is sorted out.” [01:38–01:58]

3. Holiday Spending Surge on Black Friday

[02:02–03:11]

• Black Friday set new records for online retail:

  • Online sales up more than 9% from last year.
  • Big-ticket items: TVs, Nintendo Switch, Apple AirPods, appliances, toys, gift cards.
  • Retailers are offering “deeper discounts than anticipated.”
  • Despite inflation and low consumer sentiment, the National Retail Federation expects overall U.S. holiday sales might exceed $1 trillion for the first time.
  • Noted that increased spending was “propped up by wealthier shoppers.”

  Notable Quote:

  • Alina Selyuk:

    “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.” [02:46–03:02]

4. Rise of AI-Generated “Fake” Videos Shared Online

[03:11–04:12]

• More Americans are sharing AI-generated videos over the holidays.

• Mike Caulfield (University of Washington) describes a boom in “AI video slop”—fake or heavily manipulated social media content.

• Listeners are advised to be skeptical of suspicious-looking viral content.

  • Tips to identify fakes: reverse image search, corroborating news stories, scrutiny of account profiles (many will disclose they use AI).

  Notable Quotes:

  • Mike Caulfield:

    "If you feel there's something weird about that cute cat video your aunt sent you, you may be right." [03:30] "A reverse image search can turn up news stories or posts to neighborhood groups. Comments by users can also provide clues." [03:54]

  • Jeff Brumfield:

    "We're being overrun by slop." [03:42]

5. Europe: Child Protection & Christmas Market Security

[04:12–04:54]

• Sweden: Government cracking down on the online trade in childlike sex dolls, in partnership with advocacy groups and e-commerce platforms.

  • Police reports filed against Amazon and others.

• Germany: Heightened security at Christmas markets one year after a terror attack in Magdeburg; Nuremberg market now open with added protection.

  Notable Moments:

  • Brief summary of coordinated government and community actions in response to both issues.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps and Attribution)

• Danielle Kurtzleben [00:51]:
  “President Trump posted that he wants to not only stop immigration from certain countries, but also to denaturalize some American immigrants who have become citizens.”

• David Gleave [01:38]:
  “Many of the airplanes just require a software update, so that takes about three hours on the ground... So we could see about a 10% grounding until this is sorted out in.”

• Alina Selyuk [02:46]:
  “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.”

• Mike Caulfield [03:30]:
  “If you feel there’s something weird about that cute cat video your aunt sent you, you may be right.”

  • [03:54]: “A reverse image search can turn up news stories or posts to neighborhood groups. Comments by users can also provide clues.”

• Jeff Brumfield [03:42]:
  “We’re being overrun by slop.”

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:11] Immigration changes after DC shooting
• [01:14] Airbus A320 technical issue, UPS delivery effects
• [02:02] Black Friday online sales record, economic outlook
• [03:11] AI-generated videos—how to spot fakes
• [04:12] Sweden’s crackdown on childlike sex dolls, German Christmas market security

Language & Tone

• The episode maintains NPR’s hallmark brisk, authoritative, and clear news delivery.
• Quotes from officials and experts provide factual insight without speculation.
• The mood is urgent but informative; the snippets are concise, blending hard news with practical consumer tips.

Overall:
This NPR News Now segment provides swift, substantive updates on pivotal U.S. policy, safety and economics, with actionable insights for consumers on digital media literacy and international security developments. The episode stands as a representative snapshot of the day’s key stories, balancing gravity with context in just five minutes.