NPR News Now: December 6, 2025, 11AM EST

Host: Nour Ram
Length: ~5 minutes
Theme: Rapid-fire coverage of major U.S. and global news events, legal developments, and cultural moments as of midday December 6, 2025.

Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode covers:

• President Trump’s controversial new national security strategy and its European implications
• Updates on Russia’s attack in Ukraine and Gaza ceasefire negotiations
• Supreme Court decisions on Texas redistricting and birthright citizenship
• Lawsuits against the AI company Perplexity for copyright infringement
• An unusual protest at the Tower of London targeting the imperial state crown

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. National Security Strategy on Europe

[00:11-01:12]

• Anchor: Nour Ram

• Correspondent: Terry Schultz (Brussels)

• President Trump’s new national security strategy criticizes Europe, citing “economic decline” and “impending civilizational erasure.”

• The document blames the EU for undermining liberty and sovereignty, warning of a demographic shift in NATO countries due to “excessive immigration.”

• German Marshall Fund’s Ian Lesser predicts limited appreciation for the document in Europe but notes it will resonate with the far right:

  • Quote: “But the hard right and those who share that view about migration and replacement theories and things of that nature will find in this some common cause.” (Travis Crum, 00:50)

• Former Swedish PM Carl Bildt calls it “bizarre” that the document singles out Europe as the only at-risk area for democracy.

2. Conflict Updates: Ukraine and Gaza

[01:12-02:05]

• Ukraine:

  • Russian overnight drone and missile attacks targeted Ukrainian energy facilities.

• Gaza Peace Negotiations:

  • Qatar’s PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman El Thani states, “‘What we have just done is a pause. We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire.’” (Sheikh Mohammed, 01:38)
  • For a true ceasefire, he insists on full withdrawal of Israeli forces and restoration of movement for Gaza’s people.
  • Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and the U.S. are pushing for the “next phase,” but caution that it is only temporary.

• Background:

  • The first phase began October 10 with a halt to fighting and a hostage exchange.

3. Texas Redistricting and National Ripple Effects

[02:05-03:08]

• The Supreme Court allows Texas to use its mid-decade congressional redistricting map—initiated by Republicans—but this doesn’t guarantee GOP control, despite President Trump’s hopes.
• Expert insight:
  • “The Signal that gets sent with this case is gonna reverberate in the legal challenges to California, future legal challenges to other mid decade redistricting maps…” (Travis Crum, 02:41)
  • Democrats in Virginia and Maryland are considering similar mid-term redistricting to counter Texas; GOP-led states like Missouri and North Carolina are following Texas’s lead.

4. Supreme Court & Birthright Citizenship Executive Order

[03:08-03:52]

• Supreme Court will hear a case on President Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship to children whose parents are citizens or legal residents.
• Lower court previously found this violated the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all born in the U.S.

5. AI and Copyright: Lawsuits Against Perplexity

[03:52-04:29]

• Filed by: New York Times, Chicago Tribune
• Allegation: Perplexity’s AI chatbot copies stories verbatim, which the publishers allege is copyright infringement.
• Perplexity responds, suggesting publisher lawsuits against tech companies are an old story:
  • Quote: “Fortunately, it’s never worked or we’d all be talking about this. By telegraph.” (Perplexity statement, paraphrased by Bobby Allen, 04:12)
• Additional concern: Perplexity “hallucinates,” attributing false facts and harming publishers’ reputations.
• The Times reportedly attempted to license its stories to Perplexity over the past 18 months without success.

6. Protest at the Tower of London

[04:29-04:54]

• Part of the Tower was closed after protesters from “Take Back Power” smeared apple crumble and yellow custard on the display case containing the imperial state crown.
• The group demands higher taxes on the extremely wealthy.
• Four protesters were arrested.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Europe and U.S. strategy:
  “But the hard right and those who share that view about migration and replacement theories and things of that nature will find in this some common cause.”
  —Travis Crum, [00:50]

• Gaza negotiations:
  “What we have just done is a pause. We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire... unless there is a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces... which is not the case right now.”
  —Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman El Thani, [01:38]

• On redistricting’s national ripple effect:
  “The Signal that gets sent with this case is gonna reverberate in the legal challenges to California...”
  —Travis Crum, [02:41]

• Tech v. news industry lawsuits:
  “Fortunately, it’s never worked or we’d all be talking about this. By telegraph.”
  —Perplexity (via Bobby Allen), [04:12]

Key Timestamps

• [00:11] – NPR headline introductions, Trump admin’s national security strategy on Europe
• [01:12] – Ukraine/Russia update; shift to Gaza ceasefire talks
• [02:05] – Texas redistricting and implications
• [03:08] – Supreme Court to consider birthright citizenship order
• [03:52] – NYT & Chicago Tribune sue AI company Perplexity
• [04:29] – Tower of London protest, tax-the-rich messaging

This summary covers the essential news, perspectives, and direct quotes from NPR News Now, offering a quick yet nuanced understanding of current headline events and their broader context.