NPR News Now – November 30, 2025, 6PM EST

Host: Dan Ronan
Length: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now update delivers a concise round-up of national headlines and major stories, focusing on military actions in the Caribbean, shifting public perceptions of crime, electric vehicle market trends post-tax credit, record Black Friday sales, recent cancer survivorship medical findings, and college football standings.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Investigation Into U.S. Military Strikes on Caribbean Drug Smuggling Boats

[00:13 – 01:22]

• Background:
  The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are set to investigate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's orders for strikes on alleged drug boats, amid controversy over the circumstances of the attacks.

• Details:

  • NPR sources confirm Hegseth ordered two strikes on September 2, with the second targeting survivors from the first.
  • "The Washington Post first reported that Hegseth gave a spoken order for the military to kill everyone on board the vessel." (Lydia Calitri, 00:34)

• Notable Quote:

  • Republican Congressman Don Bacon criticized the actions on ABC’s This Week:

    "People want to surrender, you don't kill them. And they have to pose an imminent threat. It's hard to believe that two people on a raft trying to survive would pose an imminent threat."
    (Don Bacon, 00:58)

• Context:

  • The strikes are part of "Operation Southern Spear," a Trump administration effort to crack down on drug trafficking.
  • At least 21 such strikes have been documented.

2. U.S. Public Concern About Crime Falls as Crime Rates Drop

[01:22 – 02:21]

• Poll Findings:

  • Recent Gallup data: fewer Americans now see crime as "a very serious problem"—the lowest since 2018.
  • Reports reflect major crime drops nationwide in 2025—including homicides, vehicle theft, and burglaries.

• Analysis:

  • Perceptions of safety do not always align with real crime trends.
  • Political context affects public sentiment:

    "Even though crime was also falling last year, Republicans only became less concerned about it this year when President Trump took office. And the reverse is true for Democrats, although to a lesser extent."
    (Meg Anderson, 02:08)

3. Electric Vehicle (EV) Market Trends After Tax Credit Removal

[02:21 – 03:14]

• Market Shifts:

  • Federal $7,500 tax credit for new EVs expired at the end of September; immediate dip in new EV sales.
  • Used EV sales, however, are rising compared to last year.

• Consumer Sentiment:

  • More shoppers now say they're likely to consider an EV, according to industry trackers.
  • Global EV sales show robust growth (nearly 37% of total new vehicle sales).

• Quote:

  "Buyers had 7,500 reasons to hurry up and buy an EV in September, which means not buying one in October. But while sales of new EVs have indeed plunged, sales of used EVs are still growing compared to last year."
  (Camila Domonoske, 02:39)

4. Record Online Sales for Black Friday Amid Retail Shifts

[03:14 – 03:56]

• Sales Data:
  • Online Black Friday sales hit $11.8 billion, marking over 9% growth from the prior year––a new record.
  • Brick-and-mortar retail sales dropped 9% during the same period.

5. Increased Depression Risk Among Cancer Survivors

[03:56 – 04:38]

• Research Summary:

  • A new study (JAMA Oncology) assessed over 50,000 breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors.
  • Nearly 11% overall developed depression years after diagnosis; the rate was highest for breast cancer survivors (13%).

• Risk Factors:

  • Risk increased for those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, and for those with pre-existing anxiety.

• Quote:

  "In this group, the risk was highest for breast cancer survivors, with more than 13% developing depression five to 10 years after their cancer diagnosis."
  (Ritu Chatterjee, 04:01)

6. College Football: Big Ten and SEC Standings

[04:38 – 04:55]

• Current Rankings:
  • Ohio State and Indiana University—both undefeated—are set to play for the Big Ten Championship.
  • Georgia moves up to the SEC’s number three spot.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Don Bacon on the ethics of military orders:
  "People want to surrender, you don't kill them." (00:58)
• Meg Anderson on the intersection of politics and crime perception:
  "Even though crime was also falling last year, Republicans only became less concerned about it this year when President Trump took office." (02:08)
• Camila Domonoske explaining post-incentive sales dips:
  "Buyers had 7,500 reasons to hurry up and buy an EV in September, which means not buying one in October." (02:39)
• Ritu Chatterjee highlights long-term cancer survivorship risks:
  "Risk was highest for breast cancer survivors, with more than 13% developing depression five to 10 years after their cancer diagnosis." (04:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Military Strikes Investigation: 00:13 – 01:22
• Crime Perception & Realities: 01:22 – 02:21
• EV Market & Tax Credit: 02:21 – 03:14
• Black Friday Retail Trends: 03:14 – 03:56
• Depression in Cancer Survivors: 03:56 – 04:38
• College Football Standings: 04:38 – 04:55

This summary captures the factual, calm, and contextual tone of NPR’s bulletins and provides a quick yet comprehensive guide to the headlines of November 30, 2025.