NPR News: 12-01-2025 11PM EST
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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theschmidt.org.
Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. The White House is defending a U.S. military attack on a boat allegedly carrying drugs as lawful and says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not order a second strike on survivors. But as NPR's Quill Lawrence reports, sources dispute that.
One of the strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in September left survivors. They were killed by a second U.S. attack. Military experts say that would be a war crime or, with no declared war, simply murder. NPR and others reported that the second strike was authorized by Hegseth. President Trump said he knew nothing about it. And the White House says Navy Admiral Frank Bradley carried out the order, including the second strike that killed all survivors. But a U.S. official who is not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that Hegseth was the target engagement authority and gave an either verbal or written command to the admiral ordering two strikes to kill and two additional strikes to sink the boat.
Hegseth is expected to appear soon in Congress to defend the controversial strikes. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
A son of the infamous Sinaloa cartel leader El Chapo has pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to drug trafficking charges. Joaquin Guzman-Lopez is the latest Sinaloa cartel figure to face justice in the United States. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas reporting.
Joaquin Guzman-Lopez pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and continuing criminal enterprise charges. He was arrested by U.S. authorities in July 2024 in Texas, along with Ismael Elmayo Zambada-Garcia, who helped found the Sinaloa cartel and was one of Mexico's biggest drug lords. Guzman Lopez is the latest senior Sinaloa cartel figure to plead guilty in U.S. federal court, following his brother, Ovidio, as well as Elmayo, who both pleaded guilty earlier this year. Guzman Lopez's father, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, was convicted in 2019 for his role leading the Sinaloa cartel and is currently serving a life sentence in U.S. prison. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
Thousands of truck driving schools could be forced to close after review by federal regulators. NPR's Joel Rose reports that the Federal Department of Transportation found many schools may not be complying with government regulations.
The Transportation Department says it plans to revoke the accreditation of nearly 3,000 trucking schools unless they can prove they're up to federal standards. The DOT is warning another 4,000 schools that they could face similar action. The crackdown on trucking schools is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to ensure that drivers are qualified and eligible to hold a commercial driver's license. The DOT has also proposed significant new restrictions on which immigrants can get a CDL – but a court put those rules on hold. Truckers say there are safety problems in the industry, but immigrant advocates argue the administration is targeting qualified drivers because of their citizenship status.
Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
Authorities in California are asking for help from the public as they search for anyone responsible for the Saturday evening shooting at a toddler's birthday party. Officials say three children ages 8, 9, and 14 and a 21-year-old man were killed and 11 others were wounded when gunfire erupted inside a banquet hall in Stockton. No arrests have been made and authorities are urging witnesses to come forward. The wintry weather in Illinois led to a ground stop Monday evening at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration says the ground stop was issued due to snow and ice after more than eight inches fell at the airport over the weekend. In the Northeast, forecasters say parts of northern New England could see up to 10 inches on Tuesday.
Rihanna has not released an album since 2016, but this week she scored a major milestone on the Billboard charts, as NPR's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento reports.
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