NPR News Now – December 2, 2025, 3PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Length: ~5 minutes
Theme: Top news updates from the U.S. and around the world, focusing on military actions, legal controversies, major crime stories, economic developments, regulatory crackdowns, and business lawsuits.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delivers a concise roundup of the day’s most critical stories: fallout from a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean, a high-profile presidential pardon, crime news in Washington D.C., an arrest involving terror threats, a significant lawsuit regarding tariffs, and a crackdown on truck driving schools.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Controversy over Caribbean Military Strike

• Summary:
  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responds to allegations of potential war crimes after a U.S. strike on a suspected drug boat, specifically regarding a follow-up strike that killed survivors.
• Key Quote:
  • Pete Hegseth:

    “I watched that first strike live. ... I moved on to my next meeting. A couple hours later I learned that that commander had made the ... authority to do. ... Admiral Bradley made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat.” (00:35)

• Context:
  Members of Congress and military lawyers are questioning the legality of the action, prompting congressional inquiries (01:01).

2. Juan Orlando Hernandez Pardon

• Summary:
  Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez is released after receiving a pardon from President Trump. He had been serving a 45-year sentence for assisting drug traffickers.
• Key Points:
  • Trump's justification: He believes Hernandez was “wrongfully imprisoned under the Biden administration.” (01:27)
  • Hernandez’s wife publicly thanks Trump on X (formerly Twitter).

3. Shooting of National Guard Members in D.C.

• Summary:
  Ramanullah Lochinwal, an Afghan asylum grantee, is charged in a shooting near the White House that killed one and critically injured another.
• Key Points:
  • Lochinwal had aided U.S. forces in Afghanistan and was granted asylum by the Trump administration.
  • He appeared in court from his hospital bed (01:45).

4. Arrest for Terror Threats in Texas

• Reporter: Ryan Lucas
• Summary:
  Mohamed Alokozai, an Afghan citizen, is charged for making violent threats in a video posted on social media. The FBI used facial recognition for identification.
• Key Quote:
  • Ryan Lucas:

    “Court papers say a man seen in the video claimed that he wanted to conduct a suicide attack against the other participants of the video call and that he wanted to build a bomb in his vehicle.” (02:30)

  • Alokozai admitted to making the statements. (02:45)

5. Business & Economy Update

• Stock Market:
  • The Dow is up 219 points (0.5%) at 47,508, and the S&P has risen 22 points (02:59).

6. Costco and Tariff Lawsuit

• Reporter: Alina Selyukh
• Summary:
  Costco joins dozens of companies suing the Trump administration over import tariffs, as the issue heads to the Supreme Court.
• Key Quote:
  • Alina Selyukh:

    “Lower courts previously found that Trump set new rules by improperly using emergency economic power...” (03:22)

  • Costco's imports represent about a third of its U.S. sales.

7. Crackdown on Truck Driving Schools

• Reporter: Joel Rose
• Summary:
  The Transportation Department may revoke accreditation for nearly 3,000 truck driving schools over compliance issues, with warnings to an additional 4,000.
• Key Quote:
  • Joel Rose:

    “The crackdown on trucking schools is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to ensure that drivers are qualified and eligible to hold a commercial driver’s license.” (04:14)

  • The DOT also proposed new restrictions on immigrant drivers, but these rules are currently on hold.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Pete Hegseth on the military strike:

  “Admiral Bradley made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat.” (00:57)

• Ryan Lucas on the Texas arrest:

  “The FBI used facial recognition technology to identify the man in the video as Alokozai, leading to his arrest.” (02:37)

• Alina Selyukh on Costco and tariffs:

  “Costco's filing ... does not say how much the retailer has paid in tariffs, but earlier this year, executives said imported goods make up about a third of what Costco sells in the U.S.” (03:36)

• Joel Rose on the DOT crackdown:

  “Truckers say there are safety problems in the industry, but immigrant advocates argue the administration is targeting qualified drivers because of their citizenship status.” (04:43)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 0:16 – Military strike controversy
• 1:27 – Juan Orlando Hernandez released after Trump pardon
• 1:47 – Shooting of National Guard members (Lochinwal charged)
• 2:22 – Terror threat arrest in Texas (Alokozai case)
• 2:59 – Stock market update
• 3:22 – Costco sues Trump administration over tariffs
• 4:14 – DOT moves to shut down non-complying driving schools

Summary Flow & Relevance

This brief, content-rich segment delivers snapshots of ongoing controversies involving U.S. military actions, dramatic legal decisions, public safety concerns, economic indicators, and federal regulatory actions. It maintains a factual, urgent tone, focusing on transparency and accountability, with frequent attributions and clarifications on the status of investigations and legal proceedings.

For listeners or readers, this summary captures the episode’s essential details and context—ideal for staying informed on key news issues of the day.