Chapter 1: What recent military deals is the U.S. making with Saudi Arabia?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stephens. President Trump says the U.S. plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. As NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, the Saudi crown prince is expected to meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to discuss the fighter jets as well as security and efforts to normalize relations with Israel.
I am planning a deal with you. You want to buy? You've been a great ally. They've got to like us very much. Look at the Iran situation, what we did in terms of obliterating, you know, we obliterated their nuclear capability.
Chapter 2: How is the UN Security Council addressing the Gaza conflict?
Yeah, I will say that we will be doing that. We'll be selling F-35s.
Experts say the sale of F-35s would change the military balance in the region while raising questions about Washington's long-held position of maintaining Israel's, quote, qualitative military edge, which was signed into a 2008 law. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.
The UN Security Council has backed a peace plan for Gaza, authorizing an international force for the next two years. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that the U.S. is calling this a significant step for the Middle East.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz says the world has the power to, quote, douse the flames and light the path to peace. He praised the Security Council for backing a plan to set up a board of peace led by President Trump and to authorize an international force to coordinate with Egypt and Israel.
Chapter 3: What concerns are rising about the AI industry bubble?
The resolution today provides troop contributing countries with the framework they need for moving forward with the international stabilization force. and global financial institutions the mechanisms they need for channeling investment.
The U.S. ambassador calls this resolution just the beginning. Russia, which proposed a different draft, abstained from the vote. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.
An investment company owned by billionaire Peter Thiel has sold its $100 million stake in chipmaker NVIDIA. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, it's adding to investor fears that the artificial intelligence industry is in a bubble.
Peter Thiel's hedge fund selling off a massive investment in NVIDIA came after SoftBank did the same last week. Together, the moves are stoking investor concern that the AI industry is in a speculative bubble that could soon pop.
Chapter 4: Why is FEMA's acting head resigning after criticism?
Tech firms are pouring billions into AI data centers and infrastructure. The payoff is uncertain. Wall Street trader Michael Burry has become a prominent voice in the AI bubble discourse. Burry made hundreds of millions of dollars by betting against the housing market before the subprime mortgage crash and was a central figure in the book The Big Short.
Burry recently revealed that his asset management company is betting against NVIDIA. He wrote on X, sometimes we see bubbles. Bobby Allen, NPR News.
This is NPR. After six months on the job, acting head of FEMA is resigning. David Richardson's departure comes amid criticism of FEMA's response to natural disasters.
Chapter 5: What changes are being proposed to federal waterway protections?
Richardson is a former Marine who's also led the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office at the Department of Homeland Security. He replaced acting FEMA head Cameron Hamilton. The Trump administration is proposing to scale back federal protection of some U.S. waterways. Details from NPR's Nate Rott.
For decades, courts, presidential administrations and interest groups have argued about what specific waterways qualify for federal protection under the Clean Water Act. Industry or individuals need federal permits to pollute a federally protected waterway, and many farming, ranching, and developer groups argue that the 1972 law has been too widely applied.
The Environmental Protection Agency says its new proposed definition of what waterways qualify should give those groups relief. An analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council finds that 85 percent of the country's wetlands will no longer be protected under the new proposal. And wetlands, the environmental group points out, provide drinking water, flood protection and wildlife habitat.
Chapter 6: How many people are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year?
Nate Rott, NPR News.
AAA is projecting nearly 82 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, U.S. domestic flights are returning to normal following brief air traffic restrictions imposed during the government shutdown. Thousands of flights were delayed or canceled as air traffic controllers called in sick while taking on second jobs in order to pay their bills.
This is NPR News.