NPR News Now – Dec 5, 2025, 2 PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Length: 5 Minutes
Summary By: [ChatGPT Podcast Summarizer]

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode covers the top headlines at 2 PM EST on December 5, 2025. Major topics include new CDC hepatitis B vaccine guidance, Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. and HBO Max, the latest developments in legal actions involving New York Attorney General Letitia James, a U.S. military operation in the Pacific, a January 6th investigation update, and Spotify Wrapped’s new “listening age” feature.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. CDC Narrows Hepatitis B Vaccine Guidance for Newborns

[00:15 – 01:17]

• Policy Update: CDC advisors recommend hepatitis B vaccination at birth only for infants of mothers who test positive, rolling back decades of universal newborn dosing.
• Rationale & Debate:
  • The previous approach was credited with reducing liver disease.
  • The change reflects a shift toward respecting parental decision-making.
• Dissent:
  • Pediatrician Cody Meissner objects:

    “Do no harm is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording, and I vote no.” (00:50, Meissner)

  • The measure passes, 8–3, with CDC staff asserting the group must make population-level recommendations.

2. Netflix Acquires Warner Bros. Film Studio and HBO Max

[01:17 – 02:04]

• Deal Details: Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. Film Studio and HBO Max for $82.7 billion, surpassing Comcast and Paramount Skydance.
• Warner Brothers Discovery: Will spin out TV networks, including CNN and TNT.
• Scrutiny:
  • Legal/Policy Analyst warns of potential interventions:

    “…state attorneys general might well want to scrutinize this on their own… who will potentially face higher… subscription fees. As there are fewer major movies and television streamers like HBO, like Netflix to draw from, the likelihood is prices could go up.” (01:48, Legal/Policy Analyst)

3. Grand Jury Declines to Indict NY AG Letitia James

[02:04 – 03:03]

• Case Summary:
  • Virginia grand jury declines to indict NY AG Letitia James on mortgage-related charges.
  • DOJ retains the option to re-present to another grand jury.
• Background:
  • President Trump has called for James to be prosecuted.
  • Previous bank fraud case was dismissed due to prosecutor’s improper appointment.
  • DOJ retried with a new prosecutor, but the grand jury rejected charges—an increasingly common occurrence.
  • Letitia James’ Response:

    “…the charges are baseless and it’s time for the weaponization of the justice system to stop.” (02:52, Carrie Johnson paraphrasing James)

• Attorney for James: Says this should end the case.

4. Markets Update

[03:03 & 04:44]

• Dow Jones: Up 164 points to 48,015 (03:03); later updated to up 153 points (04:44)
• S&P: Up 14 points (04:44)
• Nasdaq: Up 53 points (04:44)

5. U.S. Military Action in the Pacific

[03:15–03:45]

• Incident:
  • U.S. military strikes a “drug boat” in the Pacific, killing four aboard.
• Allegations:
  • U.S. Southern Command says the vessel was operated by a terrorist organization, following known drug trafficking routes.

6. January 6th Pipe Bombs Case Development

[03:45–04:00]

• Update:
  • Brian Cole Jr., accused of planting two pipe bombs before the January 6th Capitol riot, makes first court appearance.
  • DOJ says he spoke with law enforcement for over four hours; no further details were disclosed.

7. Spotify Wrapped Introduces “Listening Age”

[04:00–04:44]

• New Feature:
  • Spotify Wrapped now shows users a “listening age,” based on their favored musical era.
  • Calculation relies on the “reminiscence bump”—adults’ strongest connections are to their teen years’ music.
• Illustrative Example:
  • Rachel Treisman:

    “For example, someone fond of 1970s music might get a listening age in their 60s as if they had been a teen at that time. That might explain why electropop star Charli XCX…has a listening age of 75.” (04:19, Treisman)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Do No Harm at CDC Vaccine Panel:

  “Do no harm is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording, and I vote no.”
  (00:50, Pediatrician Cody Meissner)

• Legal/Policy Implications of Netflix Merger:

  “…state attorneys general might well want to scrutinize this on their own… the likelihood is prices could go up.”
  (01:48, NPR Legal/Policy Analyst)

• Spotify's Quirky New Metric:

  “That might explain why electropop star Charli XCX…has a listening age of 75.”
  (04:19, Rachel Treisman)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | CDC Hepatitis B Vaccine Policy | 00:15–01:17 | | Netflix–Warner Bros./HBO Max Merger | 01:17–02:04 | | Letitia James Grand Jury | 02:04–03:03 | | Markets Update I / II | 03:03 / 04:44| | U.S. Military Strikes Drug Boat | 03:15–03:45 | | Jan 6th Pipe Bomb Suspect Court Appearance | 03:45–04:00 | | Spotify Wrapped “Listening Age” Feature | 04:10–04:44 |

Overall Tone & Style

Direct and fact-based, with concise reporting and occasional personal viewpoints (notably during the hepatitis B vaccine panel and Letitia James story). Occasional humor and cultural observation (as with Spotify's “listening age”) lend a lighter tone in brief spots.

End of Summary