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NPR News Now

NPR News: 12-02-2025 6PM EST

02 Dec 2025

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.098 - 13.979 Unknown

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.

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15.14 - 31.849 Ryland Barton

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he did not see two survivors on an alleged drug boat struck in the Caribbean on But NPR's Franco Ordonez reports Hegseth says an admiral made the correct decision to sink the boat.

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32.07 - 43.989 Franco Ordonez

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.

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44.45 - 57.699 Pete Hegseth

I watched that first strike live. As you can imagine, at the Department of War, we've 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.

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57.719 - 78.303 Franco Ordonez

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 Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

78.323 - 94.163 Ryland Barton

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.

Chapter 2: What recent military decision did Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discuss?

94.444 - 112.794 Ryland Barton

Democratic-led states have sued to block the requirement. The tech billionaires behind Dell are donating more than $6 billion that'll go into investment accounts for children. Michael and Susan Dell announced the donation today. NPR's Stephen Basaja reports. The money will be used to expand soon-to-be-created Trump accounts.

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113.114 - 134.742 Stephen Basaja

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 $150,000.

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134.982 - 146.958 Unknown

These accounts can be used for... Education, buying a home, starting a business, or saving for their future.

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147.279 - 153.789 Stephen Basaja

The Dells are hoping this will inspire philanthropists and employers to donate more funding to the accounts. Stephen Basaha, NPR News.

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153.809 - 172.478 Ryland Barton

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 Lachenwal is accused of killing 20-year-old specialist Sarah Beckstrom and wounding 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe. Lachenwal was shot during the confrontation.

172.898 - 193.668 Ryland Barton

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 and Virginia. Democrats hope a victory will be a boost to them ahead of midterms next year. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

195.651 - 216.642 Ryland Barton

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'll 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.

216.908 - 235.052 Ryland Barton

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.

235.235 - 253.675 Kirk Siegler

The Democrats are citing a recent analysis by retired firefighters that shows the U.S. Forest Service is 38 percent 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's hiring freeze and doge cuts.

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