NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-01-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: December 1, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Dave Mattingly. The Armed Services Committees in the House and Senate are launching investigations into U.S. military strikes on two suspected drugboats in the Caribbean ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegsef. NPR's Lydia Kalitri reports. A source not authorized to speak publicly confirms to NPR that Hegseth ordered two strikes on an alleged drug boat on September 2nd. The second attack, killing the survivors of the first. The Washington Post first reported that Hexeth gave a spoken order for the military to kill everyone on board the vessel. Republican Congressman Don Bacon is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He told ABCs this week, When people want to surrender, you don't kill them, and they have to pose an imminent threat. It's hard to believe that two people on a raft trying to survive would pose an imminent threat. The military has carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats as part of a

Operation Southern Spear, a campaign that the Trump administration says is aimed at tackling drug trafficking. Lydia Kalitri, NPR News, Washington. Later this week, lawmakers in Florida are expected to begin redrawing the state's congressional map in an effort to help Republicans in next year's midterm elections. President Trump and Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, have been urging lawmakers to make the changes, as NPR's Greg Allen reports. Florida Republicans currently hold a 20 to 8 advantage over Democrats in Congress. Governor DeSantis has said he believes the last census wasn't accurate, and the Republicans should have as many as five additional seats. Florida's House Speaker initially resisted plans to take up redistricting, but relented,

naming members to a committee that's holding its first meeting to consider whether to redraw the maps. The Florida meeting follows moves to redraw congressional maps in several other states, including California and Texas. Democrats are poised to pick up as many as five additional seats in California after voters there approved redistricting. A Texas plan giving Republicans as many as five additional seats is on hold pending a Supreme Court review. Greg Allen and PR News, Miami. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says progress continues to be made in an effort to end Russia's war with Ukraine. This is delicate, it's complicated.

There are a lot of moving parts, and obviously there's another party involved here that they'll have to be a part of the equation. Rubio was speaking to reporters in Florida yesterday, where he met with members of a Ukrainian delegation, A U.S. official says President Trump's special envoy, Steve Whitkoff, will leave from Moscow today for talks with Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is asking for a presidential pardon. In a video statement, Netanyahu says it's impossible for him to carry out his security and diplomatic responsibilities amid the ongoing corruption trial. The charges include accepting bribes and fraud. This is NPR News from Washington. Authorities in Stockton, California say they're still searching for a suspect in a weekend

shooting that left four people dead and 11 others wounded. The shooting occurred at a child's birthday party at a banquet hall on Saturday. Three of those killed were children ages 8, 9, and 14. The local sheriff's department says investigators believe it was a targeted shooting. Stockton is about 80 miles east of San Francisco. American skier Michaela Schifrin has qualified for the upcoming Winter Olympics. NPR's Becky Sullivan says Schifrin captured her 104th career World Cup win yesterday in the slalom in Colorado. Schifrin's 104 World Cup wins are far more than any other skier in history, man or woman. But the races this weekend at Copper Mountain fell on the anniversary of a freak puncture injury she's sustained during a crash at a giant slalom race last year in Vermont.

It took months to recover physically, and she struggled with PTSD. In slalom, she is back to top form. She has won every World Cup slalom race so far this season, but a podium in giant slalom has remained elusive. She finished in 14th place in the GS race here on Saturday, after she said she was thrilled with her progress. I think the best thing is making it to the finish of this GS at this time of the year. That would I would rank that above everything else.

Her next race is next weekend in Canada. The Olympics are in February. Becky Sullivan, NPR News. Mountain, Colorado. Ohio State and Indiana, both undefeated, remain one and two. In this week's Associated Press, top 25 college football rankings, Georgia moves up to number three. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.