NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-01-2025 10PM EST

Episode Date: December 2, 2025

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This message comes from Bayer. Science is a rigorous process that requires questions, testing, transparency, and results that can be proven. This approach is integral to every breakthrough Bayer brings forward. Innovations that save lives and feed the world. Science Delivers.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. The Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. last week, appeared to suffer a personal crisis before. for the attack. That's according to a refugee resettlement volunteer who worked closely with Ramanula, Lackenwal, over a period of years. NPR's Brian Mann reports. The volunteer who worked with Lackenwal in Bellingham, Washington, spoke with NPR on condition of anonymity because they said they feared for their safety. When they first worked with Lackenwell in 2022, he appeared hopeful and outgoing. But by 2023, his condition appeared to worsen as he struggled to find steady work. My biggest concern was that he would harm

himself, the volunteer said. I worried he would be suicidal. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Nome said Sunday Lackenwal appeared to be radicalized after coming to the U.S. from Afghanistan, but the volunteer who worked with Lackenwall and his family said there was no sign of that. They described an individual who seemed to be experiencing a deepening personal crisis. Brian Mann, NPR News. In Tennessee, a special election this week will determine who fills the state's empty congressional seat. As Mariana Bakiyahu of member station WPLN reports, polling shows the race will be tight in a district that overwhelmingly support. reported President Trump last year. Polling by Emerson College finds that only two points separate Democrat Afton Bain

and Republican Matt Van Epps, with Van Epps in the lead. The numbers are a stark contrast to just last year when incumbent Republican Mark Green won Tennessee's 7th Congressional District by 22 points. Green's surprise retirement this summer left the seat open for newcomers in a district that has been a Republican stronghold for decades. Trump now has a 47% approval rating in the district, with 49% disapproving of his job as president, according to the poll. Whoever wins the election will have to run for re-election next year during the midterms. For NPR news, I'm Mariana Baca Yao in Nashville.

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, appeared in court today for the first time since September. NPR's Sarah Ventry reports these suppression hearings will determine what, evidence will be admissible at his New York state trial. Mangione's lawyers are fighting for certain critical pieces of evidence to be excluded from his New York state trial, including a handgun and a notebook in which prosecutors say Mangione wrote of his intent to, quote, whack a health insurance executive. Both things were found in Mangione's backpack at the time of his arrest, which the defense argues happened without a search warrant. The defense also wants to suppress him of Mangione's statements to police, which they say were

given before he was told he had the right to remain silent. The hearings will continue throughout the week. Sarah Ventry, NPR News, New York. The Northeast is gearing up for its first major snowstorm of the season. Some parts of New England are expecting up to 10 inches of snow tomorrow. U.S. stocks dropped today. This is NPR News. New York City officials say Starbucks will pay about $35 million to more than 15,000 New York City workers to settle claims that it denied them stable schedules and arbitrarily cut their hours. The coffee giant also agrees to comply with the city's Fair Workweek law going forward. Pope Leo is in Lebanon on his first papal visit to the Middle East. Lebanon is grappling with a long-running economic and security crisis that has

prompted young people in particular to leave the country. Jane Arraf reports on his message to them. people from across Lebanon greeted the Pope with songs and skits. They brought him poignant tokens symbolic of what the country has faced, burnt wood from a home destroyed in war, soil, and a passport symbolizing suicide and emigration. The Pope responded, Dear young people, perhaps you regret inheriting a world torn apart by wars and disfigured by social injustice. Yet there is hope and there is hope within you. He said along with hope, they have the gift of time to shape the future. For NPR News, I'm Jane Arath in Beirut. Ragebate is the Oxford University Press's word of the year. The phrase refers to online content

that's deliberately designed to elicit anger in order to drive traffic to a particular social media account. Rage bait topped a short list including aura farming and biohack. The word of the year is selected by analyzing new and emerging words of cultural significance. I'm Ryland Barton. This is NPR News from Washington. 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. Tease and Cs apply.