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

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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.