The NewsWorthy – Nov 25, 2025: Criminal Cases Dismissed, Holiday Travel Rush & Crypto Selloff

Host: Lacey Evans (filling in for Erica Mandy)
Episode Summary:
In this episode, Lacey Evans covers a whirlwind of the day’s biggest headlines—with updates on major criminal cases, changing refugee policies, severe weather events, massive Thanksgiving travel, and the ongoing volatility in crypto markets. Other highlights include White House holiday traditions, Amazon’s AI ambitions, and new philanthropic efforts. Delivered in The NewsWorthy’s signature fast, concise, and upbeat style.

Main Theme

Today’s episode offers a rapid rundown of the latest news affecting politics, weather, technology, and the holiday season, focusing on fairness and an accessible approach.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Criminal Charges Against Trump’s Opponents Dismissed (00:44)

• Cases Dropped: Federal judge dismissed criminal cases against James Comey (former FBI director) and Letitia James (NY Attorney General), both considered adversaries of President Trump.
• Reason for Dismissal: Prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump attorney with no prior prosecutorial experience, was not lawfully appointed, invalidating the charges.
• Details of Charges:
  • Comey: Accused of lying to Congress about FBI leaks.
  • James: Accused of bank fraud related to misrepresenting a home for mortgage purposes.
• What’s Next: Charges could be refiled by another prosecutor; US Attorney General Pam Bondi signaled continued legal action, possibly heading to the Supreme Court.

  “Many experts believe this will eventually end up before the US Supreme Court.” (01:50, Lacey Evans)

• Reactions: Both Comey and James called the charges baseless.

2. US Refugee Policy Overhaul (02:45)

• New Memo Leaked: White House instructing review and re-interview of nearly 235,000 refugees admitted under the Biden administration, aiming at security concerns.
• Rationale: Trump administration distrusts previous vetting, citing “quantity over quality.”
• Impact: Could lead to refugees losing status; resettlement organizations call the initiative “a cruel misuse of taxpayer money.”
• Further Restrictions: Refugee cap set to a record low (7,500), favoring white Afrikaners from South Africa.

3. Severe Weather & Tornadoes Hit Houston (03:43)

• Damage Reported: Over 100 homes damaged, but no fatalities or serious injuries.
• Weather Outlook:
  • Tornado watches still active across eastern Texas and Louisiana.
  • New storms brewing for the Midwest (snow in Minnesota and Michigan) and Northeast (heavy rain).
  • Separate storm system expected for the Northwest by day’s end.

4. Thanksgiving Travel Surge (04:38)

• Record Travel Numbers: Nearly 82 million Americans expected to travel at least 50 miles, per AAA—a 2% increase year-over-year.
• Peak Times:
  • Airports busiest today, with possible delays due to recent government shutdown recovery.
  • Roads busiest on Wednesday afternoon/evening and Sunday for return trips.
• Tips for Travelers: Best to leave before noon today or wait until Thanksgiving Day itself to avoid congestion.

5. Holiday Shopping Scams & AI Risks (05:34)

• Visa’s ‘Holiday Threats’ Report:
  • Scammers using AI to create realistic text for phishing websites and deepfake voices.
  • Example: AI-generated calls asking, in a familiar voice, for holiday gifts to steal credit info.
  • Package scams (impersonating FedEx/UPS), prompting victims for personal info.
  • Fake charity drives exploiting holiday generosity.
• Advice: Confirm legitimacy of charities and shipping notifications before responding.

  “AI can also use just a short clip of someone’s voice and make a call seem like it’s from a person you know...” (05:53, Lacey Evans)

• More info: Full Visa scam list available on the podcast’s website.

6. Ethiopian Volcano Eruption—A Rare Event (07:09)

• First in 12,000 Years: Halegoubi volcano erupts, sending ash over Ethiopia and into air routes, causing aviation advisories across the Middle East and India.
• Impact: Local livestock communities potentially at risk, monitored via satellite; no casualties so far.

7. US–China Relations Update (07:48)

• Trump’s Pending Visit to Beijing: Accepted Xi Jinping’s invitation; slated for April.
• Topics Covered: War in Ukraine, fentanyl, trade, and Taiwan’s sovereignty.
  • Xi reiterates claim over Taiwan; US remains opposed to force, urges Taiwan to bolster defense.

8. Cryptocurrency Market Selloff (08:40)

• Bitcoin Downturn: Worst week for Bitcoin since Feb, off more than 30% from last month’s highs; over $1 trillion lost in market value.
• Causes: Stock market pullback, expectations that interest rate cuts may pause.
• Concern: The bigger size of the crypto sector could now have larger ripple effects on Wall Street compared to past “crypto winters.”

9. Amazon’s $50B Government AI Investment (09:37)

• Major Infrastructure Push: Amazon to build ~$50B in AI infrastructure/data centers for US government, adding nearly 1.3 gigawatts of computing power.
• Comparison: 1 GW = enough power for 750,000 American homes.
• Industry Trend: Huge AI investments also by OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Meta, Google.
• Environmental Concerns: Data centers’ water and energy usage sparking pushback.
• Goal: “Remove the barriers currently holding the government back and help the US Lead the AI race.” (10:07, Lacey Evans)

10. Philanthropy: Rockefeller Foundation & Mr. Beast Partnership (10:28)

• Collaborative Initiative: Targeting youth engagement in giving, starting with issues like child hunger and child labor.
• Significance: Merging Mr. Beast’s digital reach with Rockefeller’s philanthropic muscle for broader impact.

11. White House Holiday Traditions (11:00)

• Turkey Pardon: Trump presides over the annual event; turkeys Gobble and Wobble temporarily housed at a DC hotel.
• Christmas Tree Arrival: First Lady Melania Trump receives an 18.5-foot white fir from Michigan.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Pam Bondi on Legal Action:

  “We’ll be taking all available legal action.” (01:45, attributed via Lacey Evans)

• Visa AI Scam Warning:

  “AI can also use just a short clip of someone’s voice and make a call seem like it’s from a person you know asking you for a special gift for the holidays as a way to steal your credit card information.” (05:53, Lacey Evans)

• White House Travel Tip:

  “The best time to leave is before noon today or on Thanksgiving Day. On the way home, Sunday is expected to have the most traffic this week.” (05:03, Lacey Evans)

• Amazon’s Ambition:

  “Amazon says this investment will remove the barriers currently holding the government back and help the US Lead the AI race.” (10:07, Lacey Evans)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Criminal Cases Dismissed: 00:44–02:28
• Refugee Policy Changes: 02:28–03:43
• Tornadoes & Weather Update: 03:43–04:38
• Thanksgiving Travel Rush: 04:38–05:34
• Holiday Scam Alert: 05:34–06:01
• Ethiopian Volcano Eruption: 07:09–07:48
• Trump–China Diplomacy: 07:48–08:40
• Crypto Market News: 08:40–09:37
• Amazon’s AI Investment: 09:37–10:28
• Rockefeller & Mr. Beast: 10:28–11:00
• White House Holiday Traditions: 11:00–11:49

Trivia Tuesday

• This Week’s Question:
  “On average, how many questions does the Butterball Turkey Talk line answer from callers during the holiday season?” (12:46)
  (Tune in next week for the answer)

• Last Week’s Answer:
  The Czech Republic leads the world in beer per capita—average person drinks 152 liters per year. (13:08)

The NewsWorthy continues to offer an upbeat, fact-driven round-up, making national and global headlines accessible for busy listeners.