NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-02-2025 6PM EST

Episode Date: December 2, 2025

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Live from NPR news in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he did not see two survivors on an alleged drug boat struck in the Caribbean. But NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, Heggseth says an admiral made the correct decision to sink the boat. Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting, the defense secretary said that he had authorized Admiral Frank Bradley to execute the operation, but that he himself was not in the room when the second strike occurred. watch that first strike lot. As you can imagine, at the Department of War, we got a lot of things to do. So I didn't stick around for the hour and two hours, whatever,

where all the sensitive site exploitation digitally occurs. So I moved on to my next meeting. The original attack killed nine people on the boat, leaving two survivors, who, according to the Washington Post, were clinging to the boat. Hegseth said he learned later of the additional strike, killing the survivors. An act that critics say in a time of war would constitute a war crime.

Franco, Ordonias, NPR News, the White House. The Trump administration says it will withhold snap food aid from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states if they don't provide information about recipients, including immigration status. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the action will root out fraud in the program. Democratic-led states have sued to block the requirement. The tech billionaires behind Dell are donating more than $6 billion that will go into investment accounts for children, Michael and Susan Dell announced the donation today. NPR's Stephen Besaha reports the money will be used to expand soon to be created Trump accounts.

25 million children under the age of 11 will get $250 invested in Trump accounts that will include kids born too early to get one of the $1,000 investments that will be set up for eligible children, born between the beginning of 2025 and the end of 2028. Michael and Susan Dell also said the money will only go to children in zip codes where the median income is less than 100. $150,000. These accounts can be used for education, buying a home, starting a business, or saving for their future. The Dells are hoping this will inspire philanthropists and employers to donate more funding to the accounts. Stephen Besaha, NPR News.

The man accused of shooting two National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. last week, has pleaded not guilty during video court appearance from his hospital bed. Ramanola Lockenwall is accused of. killing 20-year-old specialist Sarah Bexstrom and wounding 24-year-old staff sergeant Andrew Wolf. Lock and while it was shot during the confrontation. Voters are casting ballots during a special election for a congressional seat in Tennessee. It follows the resignation of GOP congressman Mark Green. President Trump and Republicans are hoping to recover from recent losses in New Jersey in Virginia. Democrats hope a victory will be a boost to them ahead of midterms next year. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

India is ordering smartphone manufacturers to install a government-run cybersecurity app on all new devices. The order requires the app to be pre-installed within 90 days and prevents users from deleting it. It will also be pushed onto older models through software updates. The government says the app will block and track lost phones and shut down fraudulent connections, but privacy advocates are concerned over how that data might be exposed or used. Senate Democrats are blasting the Trump administration for cuts at the U.S. Forest Service that they say are to blame for the agency being way behind in its wildfire prevention work. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports the administration has disputed the claims. The Democrats are citing a recent analysis by retired firefighters that shows the U.S. Forest Service is 38% behind its own targets for prescribed fires, thinning, and other projects aimed at making Western public forests less vulnerable to wildfires.

This follows President Trump. hiring freeze, and doge cuts, in a letter to the Forest Service chief Democrats, including Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Mark Heinrich of New Mexico, demand a response by next week on questions like how many wildland firefighters are actually on the job and where specific staffing gaps are causing the delay in prevention work. The Trump administration has maintained its cuts are making the forest service more efficient and the agency has what it needs to fight fires. Kirk Sigler, NPR News, Boise. Rose and Bruno Mars's APT topped Apple Music's global song chart in 2025.

They're followed by Kendrick Lamar and Sizz's Luther in second. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.