NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-03-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: December 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington on Corvick Coleman, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is saying more about a controversial U.S. military boat strike in the Caribbean on September 2nd. He says he saw the initial strike, but did not see the second one that killed two survivors. Some lawmakers say that strike may be a war crime. NPR's Deirdre Walsh tells us the House and Senate Armed Services Committee say they'll investigate. Members of both parties are really demanding to review the evidence and this timeline. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he backed current U.S. policy saying he agrees the administration has the authority now for these attacks in the Caribbean and Hegeseth as part of the team that put those policies in place. But he also added that Hegeseth, quote, serves at the pleasure of the president. That's not exactly an endorsement of the secretary. And Pierce, Deirdre Wals, reporting the Trump administration says it is targeting boats suspected of smuggling drugs to the U.S.

ceasefire talks between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended in Moscow yesterday. There was no breakthrough. NATO ministers are meeting today in Brussels. They're reiterating support for Ukraine. And Pierre Fatima al-Kasab reports Britain has pledged millions more in aid to Ukraine. Speaking at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Britain's Foreign Secretary of Eck Cooper announced an additional $13 million to support Ukraine, energy infrastructure, after heavy Russian airstrikes in recent days, led to power cuts. Because whilst President Putin is seeking to switch the lights off and plunge Ukraine into darkness, we will continue to work to switch the lights back on.

She blamed Russia's President Vladimir Putin for the lack of a peace deal, saying both President Trump and Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky were seeking peace, but that Putin was attempting to escalate war. Fatima al-Kasab, NPR News, London. Senate Democrats are slamming the Trump administration for cuts to the U.S. Forest Service. They say that cuts put the agency way behind in wildfire prevention work. NPR's Kirk Siegler reports the White House disagrees. 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 wildfire. wildfires. This follows President Trump's 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. NPR's Kirk Siegler reporting. This is NPR. The Department of Homeland Security says it launched an immigration operations today in New Orleans. The Trump administration says

it's targeting violent criminals. Activists have been warning city residents to stay indoors if they are at risk of detention. Louisiana Republican Governor Jeff Landry is welcoming the operation. New Orleans mayor-elect is Democrat Helena Moreno. She was born in Mexico. She says, the action is not what the city needs. She is seeking other federal aid. Separately, a federal judge has blocked widespread immigration arrests in Washington, D.C., that unless federal authorities have warrants or clear probable cause. Activists sued on behalf of people who alleged they were wrongly detained. They claim that was without warrants or the probable cause standard. Online streamer YouTube has released its annual trends report, NPR's Chloe Veldman, has more. Some things haven't changed. In 2025, Media Personality, Mr. Beast, makes his sixth consecutive appearance at the top of YouTube's content creator list. Meanwhile, the streamer's new personalised YouTube recap feature enables users to see and share a summary of their individual viewing and listening habits throughout the year. It also ascribes them a personality type

based on the data, like Serenity Seeker or Self-improver. A YouTube short promotes the service. Tube Recaps, as about you. Other streamers have already implemented similar offerings, such as Spotify's Wrapped and Apple Music's replay. Chloe Veltman, NPR News. And I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.