NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-28-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: November 28, 2025

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The internet made it possible for anyone to turn creativity into income, and millions are trying. But what happens when our ideas, our language, even our culture, are shaped by what's monetizable? This week, TED Radio Hour explores the rise of the creator economy and how new tech, like AI, could define what we value next. Listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your pie. Live from NPR News, I'm Jail Snyder. President Trump says West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Bexstrom is dead. Trump made the announcement during his Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops. Bexstrom was 20 years old.

She was one of two West Virginia Guard members who were shot in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, and what officials say was a targeted attack, the other remains in critical condition. The two were in Washington as part of President Trump's deployment to the nation's capital. Trump has ordered another 500 troops to the city, as NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reports. There have been more than 2,000 National Guard troops in D.C. from several states since August when Trump ordered their deployment over concerns about violent crime. It's 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. D.C. is uniquely different, as the President has authority over the National Guard. Trump's deployments of the Guard have been controversial and faced a litany of legal battles and blocks.

Just last week, a federal judge in D.C. ruled that the use of troops, the city was unlawful and ordered an end to the deployment, but that has yet to take effect in order to give the Trump administration time to appeal. Kat Lonsdorf, Empire News. Dominican Republic President Luis Abidadair says he has authorized the U.S. government to operate inside restricted areas within the San Jacido Air Base and the International Airport near Santa Domingo to help in the fight against drug trafficking. Here he is speaking through an interpreter with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by his side.

The purpose is clear to strengthen. strengthen the air and maritime protection ring maintained by our armed forces, a crucial effort to prevent the entry of narcotics and to strike a more decisive blow against transnational organized crime. The announcement marks a first major public agreement the U.S. has struck with a Caribbean nation amid the U.S. attacks against alleged drug smuggling boats in the region. At least 94 people are now confirmed dead after that massive fire tore through a public housing complex in Hong Kong. Search and rescue operations ongoing but are expected to come to an end Friday. Charisse Fam has more on one of the deadliest fires in the city's history. Firefighters are now going floor to floor to search for any residents that may still be trapped inside. The fire burned through seven high rises.

It's now under control, but some units were still burning more than 40 hours after the fire first broke out. The complex had been under renovation and was covered in bamboo scaffolding and netting. the netting and some other construction material were not up to standard, according to police. As they caught fire, some scaffolding collapsed and turned into falling debris, blocking emergency vehicles in the early hours of the fire, an official from the fire department said. Police have arrested three people from the contract company in charge of the renovations on suspicion of manslaughter. For NPR News, I'm Cherise Pham in Hong Kong. This is NPR News.

A search and rescue effort is ongoing in Southeast Asia following floods that hit parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The region has been hit by torrential rain. Authorities on Sumatra and Indonesia say at least 69 people are dead and nearly three dozen are missing following monsoon rains over the past week. Brazil's Congress has overturned vetoes on a bill that eases environmental licensing. It's a major setback for the government and environmental protection. blow for President Luis Anaccio Lula de Silva, amid an ongoing political crisis with the right-wing-led Congress. Julia Carniero reports. Brazil's Senate has voted overwhelmingly to overturn vetoes imposed by President Lula on a new

environmental licensing law. dubbed the devastation bill, it weakens the system to obtain environmental licenses, which are mandatory for companies that use natural resources. Congress had passed the bill in July, but Lula had vetoed 63 key provisions. Lawmakers have now overturned 56 of these, including a controversial self-declared licensing provision. The government had appealed to lawmakers, arguing that reversing the vetoes could cause, quote, immediate impact on the environment. This comes on the week after the UN climate talks, COP 30, wrapped up in Brazil. For NPR News, I'm Julia Carnero in Rio. Two-time major golf champion, Fuzzy Zeller has died.

The PGA announced Zeller's death Thursday. he was 74 years old. Seller was a fan favorite, but he also faced backlash for a racist joke he made about Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com.

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