WSJ What’s News: Two National Guard Members Shot in Washington, D.C.

Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Alex Osola
Producer: Pierre Bienaimé
Notable Guests: Will Parker (WSJ Reporter), Caroline Kimeiu (WSJ Africa Correspondent)

Episode Overview

This episode covers breaking national and global news:

• The shooting of two National Guard members near the White House in Washington, D.C.
• A Georgia judge dismissing the election interference case against former President Trump.
• Atlanta's opening of its first government-backed grocery store in 20 years.
• The Maasai's lawsuit against Ritz-Carlton/Marriott over a luxury safari camp in Kenya.
• Key updates from business, finance, and international stories.

The show maintains its fast-paced, factual tone, delivering concise news with occasional in-depth reporting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shooting of National Guard Members in Washington, D.C.

[00:44–01:38]

• Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House while deployed in D.C.
• A suspect was also shot and is in custody.
• National Guard deployed to aid law enforcement; President Trump was not in D.C. at the time (he was in Florida for Thanksgiving).
• U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth condemned the attack:
  • Quote:
    “We will secure our capital. We will secure our cities. In fact, this happened just steps away from the White House. It will not stand. And that's why President Trump has asked me and I will ask the Secretary of the Army to the National Guard to add 500 additional troops National Guardsmen.”
    —Pete Hegseth [01:21]
• Listeners are directed to WSJ.com for updates.

2. Georgia Judge Drops Election Interference Case Against Trump

[01:38–03:27]

• The long-running case against Trump and his associates, accusing them of criminal racketeering to overturn the 2020 election, was dropped at the prosecutor’s request.
• New prosecutor Peter Scandalakis cited insufficient evidence and the unlikelihood of compelling a sitting president to stand trial.
• Four co-defendants had already reached plea deals; all others pleaded not guilty.
• Trump’s lawyer welcomed the dismissal.
• This is part of a trend of high-profile cases against Trump being dropped.

3. Fatal Fire in Hong Kong

[03:27–04:07]

• At least 36 people killed, hundreds injured or unaccounted for after a fire tore through a high-rise housing complex.
• The blaze began in a 2,000-apartment unit complex from the 1980s.
• A firefighter died at the scene; officials still investigating the cause.

4. Campbell's Exec Fired Over Controversial Comments

[04:07–04:24]

• Campbell’s VP of IT, Martin Bally, was fired after being caught on tape saying the company made “highly processed food for poor people.”
• The company confirmed the voice was his; Bally did not comment for the story.

5. Atlanta Launches First City-Backed Grocery Store in Downtown

[04:24–06:54]

• The $8 million Azalea Fresh Market is the first full-service grocery in downtown Atlanta in two decades.
• Addressing food deserts and providing access to affordable, fresh groceries are the main goals.
• Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens explained the motivation:
  • Quote:
    “They have to eat. They live somewhere where they eat every day. So you're okay with them spending more time trying to get to food than other people. And that just burned me up. It totally burned me up. And I was like, screw it, we're going to do it ourselves.”
    —Andre Dickens [04:07]
• Reporter Will Parker highlighted past failures of city-backed stores and what Atlanta is doing differently:
  • Partnering with Savi Provisions, a grocery operator with private-sector expertise, aiming for profitability within three years.
• Other cities (New York, Madison, WI) plan similar initiatives. New York’s mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani wants government stores to compete on price with private grocers.

6. Business & Financial News Roundup

[07:47–09:47]

• U.S. markets extended gains, with NASDAQ up 0.8%, assisted by rate-cut expectations.
• Robinhood stock surged 11% after announcing a futures and derivative exchange.
• The SEC rejected Dream Exchange’s application to run a stock exchange, citing undisclosed ties to the Church of Scientology and possible securities law violations.

7. Maasai Lawsuit Against Ritz-Carlton/Marriott in Kenya

[09:47–12:24]

• Maasai elders allege a new Ritz-Carlton luxury safari camp blocks a critical wildlife migration corridor in the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
• Reporter Caroline Kimeiu described the camp:
  • “It's very high end. The whole camp is essentially suspended on wooden platforms and has bridges and some animals can pass underneath... It has absolutely fantastic views. So, yeah, it's a pretty cool safari camp, I'd say that.” [09:47]
• Maasai elder Menime Olol Dapash is seeking removal of the camp and replanting of indigenous trees.
• The camp received an exemption from a ban on new developments in the reserve.
• Marriott declined to comment; local county officials say concerns are unfounded, emphasizing jobs and revenue.
• Camp is open but below expected occupancy due to the controversy. The case is highly watched within Kenya.

Notable Quotes

• Pete Hegseth (on D.C. shooting):
  “We will secure our capital. We will secure our cities... It will not stand.” [01:21]
• Andre Dickens (on food access in Atlanta):
  “They have to eat... And that just burned me up. It totally burned me up. And I was like, screw it, we're going to do it ourselves.” [04:07]
• Will Parker (on Atlanta’s approach):
  “They think in partnering with someone whose expertise is in running grocery stores that they can be more successful than perhaps some other experiments with publicly backed or funded grocery stores in the past.” [05:16]
• Caroline Kimeiu (on the Maasai lawsuit):
  "Essentially they are saying that the Ritz Carlton is blocking this dramatic event." [10:25]

Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• [00:44] Shooting and National Guard deployment in D.C.
• [01:38] Election interference case dropped in Georgia.
• [04:07] Mayor Dickens on food deserts and city grocery stores.
• [05:16] Will Parker outlines private-public partnership.
• [09:47] Caroline Kimeiu on the Maasai lawsuit and the luxury camp.
• [10:25] Reasons and demands behind the Maasai legal action.
• [11:03] Government and corporate responses to the lawsuit.

Tone and Style

• Factual, brisk, and news-driven with moments of personal insight from interviewees.
• Quotes are direct and maintain speakers’ original urgency or emotion.

This episode serves as a comprehensive roundup of urgent national events, global legal battles, and urban policy developments, delivering concise yet informative analysis suitable for business-minded listeners and the general public alike.