NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-21-2025 6PM EST

Episode Date: November 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. The Coast Guard is taking a more firm public stance against the display of nooses, swastikas, and other hate symbols. That's after outcry over a new policy that appeared to downgrade the severity of them. Steve Walsh, with member station WHRO and Norfolk, has the deals. As first reported by the Washington Post, the Coast Guard released a new harassment manual, which labeled things such as displaying the Confederate flag as merely divisive. The manual also eliminates a stand-alone process for investigating instances of hate. The Coast Guard pushed back at the idea that the policy had been weakened, but late Thursday issued a new policy saying that

nooses and swastikas and other symbols of hate must be removed from all Coast Guard facilities. The Department of Defense has been going through a similar process of reviewing hazing, bullying, and harassment definitions across the military, but has not released a policy. From MPR News, The State Department says Nigeria is taking seriously the Trump administration's concerns about attacks on Christians. A Nigerian delegation was in Washington this week, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Earlier this month, President Trump warned that he would stop all aid to Nigeria and may go into the country, quote, guns ablazing to stop terrorists from killing Christians. State Department officials say the Nigerians heard U.S. concerns and sent a high-level team to Washington to meet Pentagon officials

and the Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau. Republican Congressman Riley Moore says he had what he calls Frank, honest, and productive talks with the Nigerian delegation, too. He says the Nigerians have a chance to deepen relations with the U.S. if they prioritize the protection of Christians. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. As Americans start traveling for the holidays, the proportion who have gotten their annual flu and COVID-19 vaccinations remains low.

R's Rob Stein reports. Only about 14% of adults and less than 6% of children have gotten one of the updated COVID-19 vaccines, according to the CDC, and only about one-third of adults and kids have gotten their annual flu shot. That's despite the fact that the U.S. is less than a week away from Thanksgiving, when many people will travel and gather with friends and family. The good news is that so far, there aren't a lot of people catching COVID and flu right now. But flu is on the rise, and COVID is expected to also pick up soon. Rob Stein and PR News.

The Trump administration is suing California for providing in-state college tuition to students who don't have legal status. Backers of the law say students generally were brought to the U.S. when they were children and are as much a part of their communities as U.S. citizens, similar lawsuits have been filed against other states. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The widow of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is calling for the release of the transcript of a 2019 phone call between President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. She's joining Democratic lawmakers who are raising questions about what Trump may have received in exchange for his embrace of the crown prince. Trump has dismissed U.S. intelligence findings that Prince Muhammad authorized Khashoggi's killing. Senate Democrats are investigating leadership at the John F. Kennedy Center for the performing arts for what it calls cronyism and corruption.

The center's president, Ambassador Richard Grinnell, refuted the claims. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has more. Senator Sheldon White House claims that current Kennedy Center leadership is responsible for, quote, millions in lost revenue, luxury spending, and preferential treatment for Trump allies. Documents posted on a Senate committee website appear to support those claims, including letter. the soccer organization FIFA, take over the center for three weeks rent-free. In a letter, White House asked Kennedy Center President Richard Grinnell to turn over documents related to the center's financial management, expenditures, donors, and comments by December 4th. Grinnell wrote back to White House saying his letter is filled with partisan attacks and false accusations. The letter is posted to the Kennedy Center's social media. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington. Pope Leo

the 14th has revealed he uses. is a different wordal start word each day. He divulged his strategy playing the popular New York Times online game during an online encounter with American young people. I'm Ryland Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.