NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-26-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump says he's sending his envoy, Steve Wittkoff, to Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump says the 28-point proposal backed by the U.S. wasn't really a plan at all, but a concept that has allowed the parties to get closer to an agreement. Well, that was just a map. All that was is a map. That was not a plan. It was a concept. and from there they've taken each one of the 28 points

and then you get down to 22 points, a lot of them was solved and actually very favorably saw. So we'll see what happened. Trump spoke with reporters last night on Air Force One on his way to his Florida resort for Thanksgiving. Taiwan's president has announced a $40 billion special defense budget citing the threat from mainland China. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports.

The $40 billion will be spent. from 2026 to 2033. Much of it will be used to purchase missiles and other weapons from the U.S. That includes missiles for a multi-layered air defense system dubbed the T-Dome. President Trump has pushed Taiwan to spend more on its own defense. Taiwan has committed to raise defense spending

to 5% of GDP by 2030. Taiwan's president, Lai Qingdu, said that the special budget will promote peace across the Taiwan Strait by strengthening deterrence. The budget still has to be passed by Taiwan's parliament, which is controlled by the opposition Guamindang Party. The Guamindang advocates less defense spending and more engagement with Beijing.

Anthony Kuhn in PR News, Seoul. A fire swept through an apartment complex in Hong Kong today. Authorities say at least 13 people were killed. In Bangladesh, thousands of people are homeless after a fire swept through a crowded slum in the capital, Dhaka. Officials say about 1,500 homes were destroyed, no deaths were reported. A special congressional election in Tennessee is now less than a week away. Mariana Bucke Yao with member station WPLN reports from Nashville.

Tennessee's 7th Congressional District has long been considered solidly Republican by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Newly retired U.S. Congressman Mark Green won the district by 22 points last year. But that rating has changed to likely Republican, and the race is heating up. between Democratic candidate Afton Bain and her Republican opponent, Matt Van Epps. Tennessee GOP chair Scott Golden says he's focused on turnout, especially during the holiday season. I think if there's concern, it's just that people aren't aware that they have the opportunity to vote right now. Analysis from the Cook Political Report shows that Democratic voters may be more motivated to go to the polls on December 2nd. For NPR News, I'm Mariana Baca Yao in Nashville.

This is NPR News in Washington. The Federal Housing Finance Agency is increasing the size of home loans that the government can guarantee against default. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be able to acquire loans as much as $832,750 on single-family homes starting next year. The agency adjust the loan limits every year to reflect higher prices. The number two job at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been vacant since last winter. Now NPR has learned the new principal deputy director will be Dr. Ralph Abraham. Rosemary Westwood from member station WWNO has more. Dr. Abraham is a former Republican congressman.

He's been a vocal supporter of RFK Jr's leadership at Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC. Abraham has publicly called the COVID vaccine dangerous. As Louisiana Surgeon General, Abraham forbid the state health department from promoting any vaccines or holding public vaccine events. Dr. Nirov Shah used to hold this deputy director position during the Biden administration. He called Abraham's appointment atrocious. With the addition of Dr. Abraham, they now have a scientific gloss that they can put on their anti-vaccine theories. The CDC has not said when Abraham will start his new role.

For NPR News, I'm Rosemary Westwood in New Orleans. The Labor Department reported this morning the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week by $6,000 to a seasonally adjusted $216,000. This suggests that layoffs remain low. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow Plus at plus. That's plus.npr.org.