NPR News Now – December 6, 2025, 10AM EST

Host: Louise Schiavone
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers concise updates on major global and national events, ranging from U.S. military operations, upheaval in Ukraine, and business mergers, to changes in vaccination recommendations, entertainment memorabilia, wildlife policy, and the passing of prominent architect Frank Gehry.

Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. U.S. Military Strike on Alleged Drug Vessel

[00:17–01:01]

• Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced via social media that the U.S. military conducted its 22nd known strike on a boat suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.
• NPR’s Quill Lawrence reports a surveillance video shows the boat igniting, and notes the attack coincided with a Congressional briefing by Admiral Mitch Bradley regarding a prior Sept. 2 strike.
• Political responses diverge:
  • Some Democratic lawmakers claim video evidence shows "two surviving crew members were killed while trying to right their capsized boat."
  • Republicans denounce the operation as "illegal military action."

Notable Quote:

“Video of that incident showed that two surviving crew members were killed while trying to right their capsized boat.”
– Quill Lawrence ([00:53])

2. Russian Attacks on Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure

[01:01–01:57]

• Russia launched a mass missile and drone attack targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure (not civilian structures).
• NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley details daily coping mechanisms in Kyiv: air raid sirens, generators on sidewalks, and rolling blackouts affecting everyday life.
• Victoria Muscaluk, 27, reflects the resilience of Ukrainians:
  • "You are getting used to it and you need to handle somehow to, you know, to have your mental state on the normal level."

Notable Quote:

“The Kremlin is trying to cripple Ukraine’s energy structures ahead of another winter of war. Generators hum away on the sidewalks of Kyiv and people plan their lives around the rolling blackouts.”
– Eleanor Beardsley ([01:23])

“Unfortunately, you are getting used to it and you need to handle somehow to, you know, to have your mental state on the normal level.”
– Victoria Muscaluk, via Eleanor Beardsley ([01:45])

3. Major Business & Economic News:

[01:57–02:59]

• Netflix is acquiring Warner Brothers movie studios and HBO streaming service for $72 billion.
  • The deal could reshape the entertainment industry landscape, pending regulatory approval.
  • Warner Bros. stock soared on the news.
• The broader market saw gains amid mixed economic signals:
  • September inflation: Consumer prices up (according to a delayed report).
  • Private employers cut "tens of thousands of jobs."
  • Federal Reserve expected to lower interest rates next week.

Notable Quote:

“Netflix is spending $72 billion to get even bigger. The streaming giant has agreed to buy Warner Brothers movie studios and HBO streaming service in a megadeal that could reshape the entertainment industry.”
– Maria Aspen ([02:13])

4. CDC Panel Revises Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation

[02:59–03:17]

• Federal vaccine advisory committee votes to end routine birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine for all U.S. newborns.
• New recommendation: Only administer at birth if the mother tests positive.
• Marks a significant change from long-standing U.S. medical guidance.

5. Entertainment: Elf Costume Auction & Indiana Jones Fedora

[03:17–04:04]

• Will Ferrell’s “Elf” costume sold for over $300,000 at a British auction house.
  • The costume is especially valued as only a handful were produced for the film.
• A fedora from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom fetched $485,000 at the same auction.

Memorable Moment:

“Looks like a Christmas tree.”
– Maria Aspen, during Vicki Barker’s report ([03:38])

6. Florida Black Bear Hunt Reinstated

[04:04–04:41]

• Florida reopens black bear hunting for the first time in a decade, issuing 172 permits (one bear per hunter).
• Over 160,000 people applied, and some permits reportedly went to opponents of the hunt, intending not to use them in protest.
• Bear populations have rebounded from a few hundred in the 1970s to over 4,000.

7. Remembering Frank Gehry

[04:42–04:56]

• Frank Gehry, visionary architect, dies at 96.
• Renowned works include:
  • Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
  • Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles
  • Facebook’s Northern California HQ

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “Video of that incident showed that two surviving crew members were killed while trying to right their capsized boat.”
  – Quill Lawrence ([00:53])

• “The Kremlin is trying to cripple Ukraine’s energy structures ahead of another winter of war. Generators hum away on the sidewalks of Kyiv and people plan their lives around the rolling blackouts.”
  – Eleanor Beardsley ([01:23])

• “Unfortunately, you are getting used to it and you need to handle somehow to, you know, to have your mental state on the normal level.”
  – Victoria Muscaluk ([01:45])

• “Netflix is spending $72 billion to get even bigger. The streaming giant has agreed to buy Warner Brothers movie studios and HBO streaming service in a megadeal that could reshape the entertainment industry.”
  – Maria Aspen ([02:13])

• “Looks like a Christmas tree.”
  – Maria Aspen ([03:38])

Segment Timestamps

• US Military Strike – [00:17–01:01]
• Ukraine’s Energy Crisis – [01:01–01:57]
• Business/Economy & Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger – [01:57–02:59]
• CDC Vaccine Recommendation Change – [02:59–03:17]
• Elf & Indiana Jones Auction – [03:17–04:04]
• Florida Black Bear Hunt – [04:04–04:41]
• Frank Gehry Obituary – [04:42–04:56]

This episode delivers a tight overview of major headlines with vivid reporting, first-hand perspectives, and insights into ongoing geopolitical, economic, scientific, and cultural developments.