Targeted Attack On National Guard, Trump Case Dismissed, Russia Awaits Peace Terms

Summary

Up First from NPR

Episode: Targeted Attack On National Guard, Trump Case Dismissed, Russia Awaits Peace Terms

Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Amy Martinez
Correspondents: Kat Lonsdorf, Sam Greenglass, Charles Mains

---

Overview

This episode of Up First unpacks three of the day’s major news stories:

1. The targeted shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
2. The formal dismissal of the last remaining criminal case against President Trump relating to the 2020 election.
3. The state of ongoing US-led peace negotiations with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict, amid controversy over the US envoy's conduct.

The episode features reporting and expert commentary in NPR’s signature concise and factual style, focusing sharply on developments with significant political, legal, and international implications.

---

1. Targeted Shooting of National Guard Members Near the White House

Segment starts: [02:40]

The Incident

• What happened: Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. Both are in critical condition.
• Nature of the attack: The Mayor of Washington, D.C. described it as a “targeted” attack.
• Suspect: The shooter, Rahmanala Lakhinwal, was subdued and is in custody after being shot.
• Initial confusion: West Virginia’s governor initially reported the Guard members as killed, but walked this back, confirming both are in critical condition.

Key Quote:

“The shooting occurred about 2:15 pm yesterday. At a press conference, the D.C. metropolitan Police said that the gunman came around a corner and opened fire at the Guard members while they were on patrol nearby.”
— Kat Lonsdorf, [03:10]

Political Fallout and Rhetoric

• Presidential Response: President Trump, in a video statement, labeled the attack as an “act of terror” and claimed the shooter came to the US from Afghanistan under a Biden-era program.
• Homeland Security Confirmation: The DHS identified the suspect as an Afghan national who entered through Operation Allies Welcome, a program enabling Afghans to resettle in the US post-2021.

Key Quote:

“We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.”
— President Trump, [04:31]

• Policy Response: The Trump administration subsequently halted processing Afghan immigration applications—a move likely to impact Afghans previously allied with the US or NATO.
• Trump’s Action: After the attack, Trump ordered an additional 500 troops to D.C., doubling down on the current National Guard presence despite legal controversy.

Context: National Guard Deployment

• Troop numbers: Over 2,000 Guard troops have been present in D.C. since August due to orders from Trump, citing crime concerns.
• Controversy: The deployment has faced legal challenges, with a federal judge just last week ruling it unlawful (implementation pending further appeal).
• Local impact: The presence is highly visible, with troops patrolling and assisting city services, but remains a contentious issue.

Key Quote:

“In D.C. a federal judge just last week ruled that the use of troops in the city was unlawful and ordered an end to the deployment… Meanwhile, after yesterday's attack, Trump doubled down, saying he was ordering an additional 500 troops to the city.”
— Kat Lonsdorf, [05:05]

---

2. Trump Georgia Election Case Dismissed

Segment starts: [06:22]

The Decision

• What happened: The last remaining criminal case against President Trump, relating to 2020 election interference in Georgia, has been dismissed.
• By whom: The new special prosecutor, Pete Scandalakis, dropped all charges—including racketeering—having taken over after Fulton County DA Fani Willis was removed for conflict of interest.
• Rationale: Scandalakis found weaknesses in the evidence and suggested the federal justice system was a more appropriate forum (a case there was already dropped after Trump’s return to office).

Key Quote:

“He concluded that the federal justice system would have been a better place for this prosecution… Scandalakis also noted it would have been illogical and unduly burdensome to sever Trump from the case and continue against the other defendants.”
— Sam Greenglass, [07:14]

Background and Legacy

• The original allegation: Investigation stemmed from Trump’s “find 11,780 votes” phone call to Georgia’s Secretary of State; the subsequent grand jury process led to Trump’s indictment in 2023.
• Notable visual: Trump’s mugshot at Fulton County Jail became “one of the enduring images of this time.” Four defendants took plea deals, convictions for them remain.
• Reaction: Trump posted on social media that “law and justice have prevailed”; no immediate reply from Fulton DA’s office.
• Expert insight: Legal scholars argue the dismissal wasted an opportunity for public truth-telling and accountability.

Key Quote:

“This was really an opportunity for justice and reconciliation and for a kind of truth telling. And that has been squandered.”
— Anthony Michael Kreiss, law professor (via Sam Greenglass), [08:55]

• Pardons: Trump has pardoned associates allegedly involved in attempts to overturn the result; charges in Georgia held extra weight because state convictions are immune to federal pardons.
• Long-term impact: The case’s end likely means Trump will never face trial for post-2020 election activities, which could embolden future challenges to election outcomes.

---

3. US-Russia Peace Talks Over Ukraine

Segment starts: [09:59]

The Negotiating Table

• Upcoming meeting: US Envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Moscow next week to present a revised US peace proposal to Vladimir Putin.
• The situation: The US plan was initially seen as favorable to Moscow—reportedly even offering Ukrainian territory to Russia, but has since been revised with input from Europe and Ukraine to remove these concessions.

Key Quote:

“Witkoff will come to Moscow sometime next week ... Really seeking Putin's approval or at least reaction to this draft US proposal that initially offered terms favorable to Moscow but has since been fine tuned.”
— Charles Mains, [10:27]

Controversy over Envoy's Actions

• Leaked transcripts: Witkoff appears to have worked closely with Kremlin officials, including advising them on timing and strategy for talks with Trump—suggesting efforts to undermine Ukrainian President Zelensky.
• Media reaction: A Bloomberg report heightened scrutiny of Witkoff’s objectivity as a mediator.

Key Quotes:

“That Bloomberg report really appeared to show what many already suspected, that Russia had a significant role in shaping this initial Trump peace plan and that Witkoff was working closely, critics would say too closely, with his Kremlin counterparts.”
— Charles Mains, [11:18]

“That's what a dealmaker does. You got to say, look, they want this. You've got to convince him with this. You know, that's a very standard form of negotiation.”
— President Trump, [11:54]

Aftermath and Fallout

• Russian response: Kremlin contacts acknowledge regular discussions with Witkoff, hinting that conversations may have been intercepted.
• Who leaked?: Speculation abounds about the leaker’s motive—with possibilities including Europeans, Ukrainians, Americans, or even Russian hardliners.
• Political impact: Some Republicans are calling for Witkoff’s resignation. But the focus appears to be shifting given that the original pro-Russian proposal is now off the table.

Key Quote:

“In a way, you know, it may not matter, just in the sense that this document that Witkoff is accused of helping promote, really, that was tilted in Russia's favor. It's already undergoing significant revisions. It's no longer the one that everyone's focused on.”
— Charles Mains, [13:05]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump’s call for aggressive review of Afghan immigrants: “We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.” [04:31]
• Expert reaction to case dismissal: “This was really an opportunity for justice and reconciliation and for a kind of truth telling. And that has been squandered.” — Anthony Michael Kreiss [08:55]
• On US negotiation tactics: “That's what a dealmaker does. You got to say, look, they want this. You've got to convince him with this. You know, that's a very standard form of negotiation.” — President Trump [11:54]
• Describing the effect of leaks on the peace process: “The list of those against US Russian cooperation is long...there are people who will stop at nothing to undermine it.” — Dmitry Peskov via Charles Mains [12:23]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:40] — Shooting near White House, Guard members critical, suspect details
• [03:48] — Trump’s statement and anti-immigrant rhetoric
• [05:05] — Context of National Guard deployments and legal controversy
• [06:22] — Dismissal of Georgia election interference case
• [07:49] — Historical background: Trump’s “find the votes” call
• [08:55] — Expert criticism on missed opportunity for justice
• [09:59] — Russia-Ukraine peace talks and Witkoff’s upcoming trip
• [11:18] — Witkoff’s leaked interactions, critique of US negotiating stance
• [13:05] — Political fallout, revision of peace plan

---

Conclusion

This Up First episode presents an essential news rundown with sharp insight and critical analysis into three major news stories shaping the US political and international landscape: an attack on National Guard troops in D.C. and its immigration and security implications; the closure of Trump’s final criminal case with ramifications for democratic norms; and America’s controversial approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine war, with diplomatic intrigue at the highest levels.

Transcript

[Amy Martinez]

Two National Guard members are in critical condition after being shot near the White House. President Trump says a suspect came to the US From Afghanistan.

[Political Commentator]

We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here.

[Amy Martinez]

What is Trump calling for? I'm Amy Martinez, and this is up first from NPR News. President Trump will face no legal consequences for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The last outstanding election interference case against the in Georgia has now been officially dismissed.

[Political Commentator]

This was really an opportunity for justice and reconciliation, and that has been squandered.

[Amy Martinez]

What's the reason for the decision? And US Special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to arrive in Moscow next week. Where do things stand in the ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine? Stay with us. We'll give you all the news you need to start your day.

[Sponsor Announcer 1]

This message comes from BetterHelp. This month, BetterHelp's encouraging people to reach out, grab lunch with a friend, call your parents, or even find Support in therapy. BetterHelp makes it easy with its therapist match commitment and over 12 years of experience matching users with qualified professionals. Just like that lunch with a friend. Once you reach out, you'll wonder why you didn't do it Sooner. Go to betterhelp.com NPR for 10% off your first month. This message comes from the Natural Resources Defense Council. Record breaking temperatures, extreme floods, wildfires and other natural disasters can be overwhelming, but there's hope. NRDC defends the planet in and out of the courts for the sake of all future generations. But they need your support. Donate [e-mail] first and your gift will be matched five times.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

This message comes from Dell Technologies. Your new Dell PC with Intel Core Ultra helps you handle a lot when your holiday to DOS get to be a lot. That's the power of a Dell PC with Intel inside. Get [e-mail] holiday this message comes from NPR's sponsor, Shopify. No idea where to sell? Shopify puts you in control of every sales channel. It is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Whether you're a garage entrepreneur or IPO ready, Shopify is the only tool you need to start, run and grow your business without the struggle. Once you've reached your audience, Shopify has the Internet's best converting checkout to help you turn them from browsers to buyers. Go to shopify.com NPR to take your business to the next level.

[Amy Martinez]

Today, two West Virginia National Guard members are in critical condition after they were shot near the White house in Washington, D.C. wednesday afternoon. The city's mayor described the attack as targeted. The suspected gunman, who was also shot, is in custody. And the attack comes as President Trump has deployed the National Guard to several cities around the country. Country a pattern that has been controversial and challenged in the courts. For more, we're joined by NPR's Kat Lonsdorf. Kat, tell us about what happened with the shooting.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

Yeah.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

The shooting occurred about 2:15pm yesterday. At a press conference, the D.C. metropolitan Police said that the gunman came around a corner and opened fire at the Guard members while they were on patrol nearby. Guard members quickly intervened and subdued the shooter. Police say it's unclear at this time who shot the shooter. The two injured Guard members, who, like you said, were from West Virginia, Virginia, were both rushed to hospitals. Earlier yesterday, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey had said the Guard members were killed, but walked that back less than an hour later. Authorities have since said that the two are in critical condition.

[Amy Martinez]

And it sounds like the president is talking about the suspected shooter.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

Yeah.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

In a video statement yesterday, President Trump said the shooter was someone who came to the US From Afghanistan. The Department of Homeland Security later identified the shooter as Rahmanala Lakhinwal and said he came to the US as part of a Biden administration program called Operation Allies welcome that allowed thousands of Afghans to enter the country after the Taliban retook power of Afghanistan back in 2021. Those people came in on two year grants of parole, then later had to apply for other ways to stay in the country permanently, like asylum and go through rigorous screening. NPR has not yet independently verified when or why lackawall entered the country and a motive for the shooting is not yet known. In that video last night, Trump called the attack an act of terror.

[Political Commentator]

We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

He also repeated anti immigrant rhetoric. The Trump administration then announced that it had stopped processing immigration applications for Afghan nationals. And a this will likely affect a number of Afghans who worked with the US government or NATO forces during the 20 year war in Afghanistan and have largely been left in limbo after the Trump administration curbed immigration.

[Amy Martinez]

Yeah. Now the National Guard back to them for a second because They've been in D.C. for a few months now. Why were they sent here in the first place?

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Yeah. There have been more than 2,000 National Guard troops in D.C. from several states, including West Virginia, since August when Trump ordered the deployment over concerns about the city's crime rate. This has been part of a pattern of Trump deploying the National Guard to Democratic led cities around the country, often against the wishes of local governors and authorities. And D.C. is unique. Unlike the 50 states, the President has the authority to deploy the National Guard to D.C. i live in D.C. and in the past few months, I see members of the National Guard pretty much every day. They're out patrolling the streets and groups, and they've been helping with beautification efforts. But these deployments have been very controversial in places like Portland, Oregon, or Chicago, federal judges almost immediately intervened and blocked them. Those are still tied up in legal battles. And in D.C. a federal judge just last week ruled that the use of troops in the city was unlawful and ordered an end to the deployment that has yet to take effect to give the administration time to appeal. Meanwhile, after yesterday's attack, Trump doubled down, saying he was ordering an additional 500 troops to the city.

[Amy Martinez]

That's NPR's Kat Lonsdorf. Kat, thank you very much.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Thank you.

[Amy Martinez]

The last outstanding criminal case against President Trump is now closed. A judge in Georgia dismissed the historic election interference case in its entirety on Wednesday. That's after a special prosecutor moved to drop charges against Trump and his remaining co defendants. NPR's Sam Greenglass joins us now. Tell us more about the decision to drop the charges. Sam.

[Sam Greenglass]

This decision was made by a special prosecutor named Pete Scandalakis. He took over the case after a court removed Fulton County District Attorney Fonny Willis last year for an alleged conflict of interest stemming from a personal relationship she had with a special prosecutor. It then fell to Scandalakis, head of a state prosecutor's counsel, to decide what to do with the case. And after reviewing the evidence and the law, he concluded all char charges should be dismissed.

[Amy Martinez]

Okay. What was his rationale?

[Sam Greenglass]

Scandalak has questioned the strength of some of the charges, including the racketeering charge at the heart of the indictment. And he concluded that the federal justice system would have been a better place for this prosecution. Federal prosecutors did bring charges against Trump, but that case was dropped as Trump returned to the White House. Scandalakis also noted it would have been illogical and unduly burdensome to sever Trump from the case and continue against the other defendants.

[Amy Martinez]

No, you know, it's kind of hard to forget about the phone call that started it all. Sam, the find 11,780 votes call.

[Sam Greenglass]

Yeah. This investigation began not long after that call when Trump asked Georgia's secretary of state to find him the votes he needed to win. Georgia DA Fani Willis eventually asked a grand jury for an indictment, which she announced in a dramatic news conference in August 2023, the defendants engaged in a.

[Charles Mains]

Criminal racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia's presidential election result.

[Sam Greenglass]

Trump and his co defendants pleaded not guilty. His mugshot at the Fulton County Jail is one of the enduring images of this time. Four defendants later accepted plea deals and those convictions remain.

[Amy Martinez]

Now that the case is over, Sam, I gotta imagine the president has said at least a few things about it.

[Sam Greenglass]

Sure. Trump wrote on social media that law and justice have prevailed in Georgia. We have not heard from the Fulton District Attorney's office, but I did call up Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreiss, and he told me it would have been important for the public even just to hear the evidence at trial.

[Political Commentator]

This was really an opportunity for justice and reconciliation and for a kind of truth telling. And that has been squandered.

[Amy Martinez]

Has been squandered, he says. So then what's the legacy then of this effort, this years long effort then?

[Sam Greenglass]

Trump recently pardoned allies allegedly involved in the effort to overturn the 2020 result. The ones named were never charged in a federal case, but they were charged in Georgia where any convictions would have been immune from the pardon. Now those charges have been dropped. With the end of this case, it's extremely likely Trump will never face trial over his activities after the 2020 election. You know, as Christ pointed out to me, the case fizzled, could embolden future candidates to try to overturn an election and that the criminal justice system has shown it may not be equipped to respond.

[Amy Martinez]

That's NPR's Sam Greenglass. Sam, thanks a lot.

[Sam Greenglass]

Thanks a.

[Amy Martinez]

President Trump says his envoy, Steve Witkoff, will soon head back to Moscow for another round of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting comes as Trump says he's closing in on a negotiated deal to end the war in Ukraine. Yet questions hover over Witkoff's role as a mediator following leaked transcripts of his interactions with key Kremlin officials. Now, to dive into this a little bit more, we're joined by NPR's Charles Mains from Moscow. So Charles, let's start off with this latest US Peace plan.

[Charles Mains]

Yeah, sure. A you know, Witkoff will come to Moscow sometime next week to meet with Putin to talk about the plan. And he's really seeking Putin's approval or at least reaction to this draft US proposal that initially offered terms of favorable to Moscow but has since been fine tuned. That according to the White House, with input from Europe and Ukraine. And what that means is probably a lot of the things that Moscow liked about the plan, such as that Ukraine giving up territory to Russia that Moscow's forces don't currently control are probably gone. But the truth is we don't know the final details and neither do the Russians. Top people at the Foreign Ministry, however, have made clear that any significant changes in Ukraine's interests would make the revised plan a non starter. So Witkoff really has his work cut out for him.

[Amy Martinez]

Well, especially given that Bloomberg report about that initial U.S. plan that Witkoff promoted, that, you know, it was heavily influenced by Moscow.

[Charles Mains]

Yeah, exactly. And that Bloomberg report really appeared to show what many already suspected, that Russia had a significant role in shaping this initial Trump peace plan and that Witkoff was working closely, critics would say too closely, with his Kremlin counterparts. A special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. The calls show Witkoff in particular giving advice on how and when Putin should engage with Trump for maximum effect, including to apparently undermine Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of a key trip he was making to the White House last month. And yet Trump seemed to play this down. Here he is on Air Force One yesterday.

[Political Commentator]

That's what a dealmaker does. You got to say, look, they want this. You've got to convince him with this. You know, that's a very standard form of negotiation.

[Charles Mains]

Now, I should add that the Russians involved here have also commented a Dmitriev called the transcript a fake off, however acknowledged that he regularly holds talks with it cough, including he added on WhatsApp, the implications that some of those conversations might have been intercepted.

[Amy Martinez]

Okay, and assuming the conversations are real, do we have any idea who would be behind the leak?

[Charles Mains]

Well, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, noted that whether or not these leaks are genuine, that the list of those against US Russian cooperation is long. Let's listen. So here Peskov says that this peace process by the US Is underway and it's a serious one involving President Trump and Putin and others. And as a result, there are people who will stop at nothing to undermine it. Now, as to who that might be, it's really an equal opportunity speculation situation. I mean, Europeans, Ukrainians, of course, some Americans and even hardline Russians have been unhappy about Trump's attempts that detente with Moscow.

[Amy Martinez]

I guess if undermining the peace plan was indeed the goal, I mean, is it working or has it worked?

[Charles Mains]

Well, I mean, some Republicans are already calling for Witkoff's resignation, and that's again Republicans, and we'll have to see if his portfolio as a mediator is somehow reduced going forward. But in a way, you know, it may not matter, just in the sense that this document that Witkoff is accused of helping promote, really, that was tilted in Russia's favor. It's already undergoing significant revisions. It's no longer the one that everyone's focused on.

[Amy Martinez]

That's Charles Mainz in Moscow. Thanks a lot, Charles.

[Charles Mains]

Thank you.

[Amy Martinez]

And that's up first for Thursday, November 27th. I'm eMartinez. The NPR app keeps public radio in your pocket. You'll find a mix of local, national and international news, plus the best podcasts from the NPR network. Download the NPR app in your your App Store. Today's episode of Up first was edited by Miguel Macias, Ben Swayze, Robbie Griffiths, H.J. mai and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carly Strange, and our deputy executive producer is Kelly Dickens. Happy Thanksgiving and join us again tomorrow.

[Sponsor Announcer 1]

Foreign. This message comes from Mint Mobile. At Mint Mobile, their favorite word is no. No contracts, no monthly bills, no hidden fees. Plans start at $15 a month. Make the [e-mail] switch. That's mintmobile.com switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month 5 gigabyte plan required, equivalent to $15 a month. New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.

[Sponsor Announcer 2]

This message comes from homes.com what kind of programs does this school have? How are the test scores? These are all things parents ask when they home shop. That's why Each listing on Homes.com includes extensive reports on local schools. Homes.com, we've done your homework. This message comes from Bombas. Treat your feet right this season with merino wool, cashmere, long staple cotton and more. Premium materials, better basics. Visit bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off your first order.