NPR News: 11-29-2025 9PM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now: Evening Update – November 29, 2025, 9 PM EST

Main Theme

This episode delivers concise updates on top national and international stories, including a deadly shooting in Washington D.C., the aftermath of Russian attacks in Kyiv, severe winter weather disrupting post-Thanksgiving travel, a devastating fire in Hong Kong, robust box office results, and surging Black Friday online sales.

---

Key News Highlights

1. Security Tightens in Washington D.C. After Shooting

• [00:20–01:17]
  • Incident Overview: Law enforcement escalates security following the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in D.C. One has died; the other remains critically injured.
  • Presidential Response: President Trump deploys 500 more troops to D.C. and announces newly tightened immigration restrictions.
  • Victim Profiles:
    • Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old Army National Guard Specialist from Weber Springs, WV, fatally shot near a Metro station.
    • Andrew Wolf, a 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sergeant from Martinsburg, WV, in critical condition.
  • Notable Quote:
    • David Folkenflick on Beckstrom:

      “She was said to have volunteered to stay in D.C. over the long holiday weekend so others could return home.” (00:59)

---

2. Kyiv Cleans Up After Russian Missile & Drone Attacks

• [01:17–02:21]
  • Background: Overnight missile and drone attacks kill two and injure dozens in Kyiv.
  • Resident Voices:
    • Oksana Honahan, local resident, recounts the terror and resilience during the assault.

      • "I live in that building and like it was boom boh like within a second, very quickly shahed drone was flying and we went to the shelter." (01:49)

    • Honahan, on Ukrainian spirit of perseverance:

      • "We are Ukrainian, she says that's it. No matter how hard they hit us, we will survive if only to make them angry that we're still alive." (02:07)

  • Recovery Efforts: Utility workers restore services and residents repair damage.

---

3. Winter Storm Disrupts Thanksgiving Travel

• [02:21–03:16]
  • Storm Warnings: Impact stretches from South Dakota to Ohio, creating hazardous road conditions and flight cancellations.
  • Travel Impact: Over 800 flights canceled at Chicago O’Hare; numerous car crashes in multiple states.
  • Expert Advice:
    • Andrew Orison, National Weather Service Meteorologist:

      "Tuesday, the travel conditions will be worse as there will be more of a widespread impact for rainfall. And also if you get far enough north, areas getting snow that will be accumulating." (02:58)

  • General Warning: Officials urge travelers to avoid the roads as the storm hits.

---

4. Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Update

• [03:16–03:46]
  • Casualties: Death toll reaches 128; the fire devastated seven buildings.
  • Vulnerable Population: Many victims were older adults, with bamboo scaffolding cited as a factor.
  • Rescue Efforts: Search and rescue for survivors ongoing.

---

5. Box Office Boom: Blockbusters Dominate Theaters

• [03:46–04:26]
  • Top Films: Both “Zootopia 2” and the “Wicked” sequel attract massive audiences.
  • Projected Earnings: Combined Thanksgiving weekend returns are estimated at $250 million.
    • “Zootopia 2” leads with $155 million.
    • The “Wicked” sequel is close behind at $95 million.
  • Comparisons: The numbers surpass most pre-pandemic weekends, albeit shy of last year’s “Wicked” and “Moana 2.”
  • Notable Quote:
    • Bob Mondello:

      "Rabbits and foxes and witches. Oh my...are burning up the cinema turnstiles with what's predicted to be a combined Thanksgiving weekend total of a quarter of a billion dollars." (03:46)

---

6. Black Friday Sees Surge in Online Shopping

• [04:26–04:59]
  • Records Broken: More Americans shopped online, spending nearly $12 billion on Black Friday.
    • Online sales up 9% year-over-year per Adobe Analytics.
  • Consumer Behavior: Shoppers favored staying home—using laptops and phones rather than braving crowded stores and cold weather.
  • Notable Statistic: Adobe tracked over a trillion site visits for this data.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sarah Beckstrom’s Dedication:

  “She had served as a military police soldier. It was said to have volunteered to stay in D.C. over the long holiday weekend so others could return home.”
  — David Folkenflick (00:59)

• Ukrainian Resilience:

  "No matter how hard they hit us, we will survive if only to make them angry that we're still alive."
  — Oksana Honahan (02:07)

• Weather Outlook Warning:

  "Tuesday, the travel conditions will be worse as there will be more of a widespread impact for rainfall..."
  — Andrew Orison (02:58)

• Box Office Fever:

  "Rabbits and foxes and witches. Oh my...are burning up the cinema turnstiles with what's predicted to be a combined Thanksgiving weekend total of a quarter of a billion dollars."
  — Bob Mondello (03:46)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• D.C. Shooting and Response: 00:20–01:17
• Kyiv Attacks & Aftermath: 01:17–02:21
• Winter Storm Disruptions: 02:21–03:16
• Hong Kong Fire Update: 03:16–03:46
• Box Office Report: 03:46–04:26
• Black Friday Online Sales: 04:26–04:59

---

This episode encapsulates a moment of significant unrest, resilience, celebration, and economic activity across the globe heading into the holiday season.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Charles Schwab with its original podcast on Investing. Each week you'll get thoughtful, in depth analysis of both the stock and the bond markets. Listen today and [e-mail] oninvesting or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Law enforcement is taking steps to tighten security in the wake of the shooting Wednesday of two National Guard members in Washington. One Guard member has died and the other is in critical condition. NPR's David Folkenflick reports. President Trump says 500 more troops will be sent to D.C. in response and immigration will be curtailed from a number of countries.

[David Folkenflick]

20 year old army National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. She grew up in Weber Springs, West Virginia. She was deployed in D.C. and according to authorities, ambushed near a Metro station there. She died on Thanksgiving of her injuries. She had served as a military police soldier. It was said to have volunteered to stay in D.C. over the long holiday weekend so others could return home. The national guard said that U.S. air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolf, a 24 year old from Martinsburg, West Virginia, remains in critical condition.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's NPR's David Folkenflick reporting. Ukrainians in Kyiv are cleaning up after a Russian missile and drone attacks overnight. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Two people were killed and dozens of others were injured.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Residents of this Kyiv housing complex are busy repairing after the attack. 42 year old Oksana Honahan is sweeping up with a tree branch broom. She says nobody slept all night.

[Oksana Honahan]

I live in that building and like it was boom boh like within a second, very quickly shahed drone was flying and we went to the shelter.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Utility workers are reconnecting electricity and plumbing. Residents line up to get plumbing plywood boards cut for their blown out windows. I ask Honahan how Ukrainians keep rebounding. We are Ukrainian, she says that's it. No matter how hard they hit us, we will survive if only to make them angry that we're still alive. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Windsor Johnston]

A powerful winter storm is causing travel disruptions as people head home from the Thanksgiving holiday. NPR's Chandelyse Duster reports.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect from South Dakota to portions of Ohio. The National Weather Service says the storm will bring heavy snowfall and hazardous travel conditions. By Saturday afternoon, more than 800 flights leaving and coming to Chicago O' Hare International Airport had been canceled. Car crashes have also been reported in multiple states. National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Orison says Monday will be a better day to travel.

[Andrew Orison]

Tuesday, the travel conditions will be worse as there will be more of a widespread impact for rainfall. And also if you get far enough north, areas getting snow that will be accumulating.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Officials are warning travelers in the path of the storm to stay off the roads. Chandelyse Duster, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is npr. The death toll from a high rise fire in Hong Kong has climbed to 128. The blaze swept through seven buildings this week. Many of the residents were older adults. Authorities say bamboo scaffolding helped fuel the flames. Search crews are still working to find survivors. A pair of blockbuster sequels are packing movie theaters this holiday weekend. NPR's Bob Mondello has the details.

[Bob Mondello]

Rabbits and foxes and witches. Oh my Disney Zootopia 2, I want.

[Unidentified Movie Enthusiast]

The Fox and that Rabbit and and.

[Bob Mondello]

The Oz prequel sequel Wicked for good.

[Unidentified Movie Enthusiast]

Think of what we could do together.

[Bob Mondello]

Are burning up the cinema turnstiles with what's predicted to be a combined Thanksgiving weekend total of a quarter of a billion dollars. In North America, the zoo critters lead with roughly $155 million, while in their second week, the pink and green witches are collecting about 95 million combined. That puts them well ahead of the top five hits in most pre pandemic weekends, but behind last year's all time power couple, the first Wicked and and Moana, too. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Shoppers in the US spent nearly $12 billion online Black Friday. That's according to new data from Adobe Analytics. The firm says more people stayed home and shopped on laptops and phones instead of braving cold weather and crowded stores. Online spending was up more than 9% from last year, based on Adobe's tracking of more than a trillion visits to retail sites. I'm Windsor Johnston and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from Mattress Firm tired of losing sleep? Mattress Firm sleep experts can match you with a Tempur Pedic mattress built to absorb motion. Shop the Black Friday sale and save up to $500 on select Tempur Pedic sets. Restrictions apply.