NPR News Now: December 6, 2025 — 1AM EST

Host: Doua Halisai Kautel
Duration: 5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise update on major national and international news stories, including CDC vaccine guidance, an ICE raid incident, inflation and Fed policy, a blockbuster entertainment industry deal, World Cup soccer draws, and political response to anti-immigrant rhetoric.

1. CDC Revises Hepatitis B Vaccination Guidance

[00:16–01:06]

• The CDC's advisory committee, after three decades of universal recommendation, voted 8–3 to narrow its guidance on hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns.
• New Recommendation: Only infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B should be vaccinated at birth. Others are advised to consult with their doctors, possibly waiting until at least 2 months old for vaccination.
• Parents are also urged to discuss testing their children before receiving the second and third vaccine doses.
• This shift comes amid a broader review of childhood vaccinations led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his skepticism regarding vaccines.

Notable Quotes:

• Rob Stein ([00:38]):
  “The committee voted to only urge that babies born to women who test positive for the virus get vaccinated at birth … [others] would be counseled to talk to their doctors about waiting.”
• Rob Stein ([01:06]):
  “The new recommendations would also urge parents to talk to their doctors about testing their kids first before necessarily getting the second and third doses.”

2. ICE Raid in Tucson—Pepper Spray Used on Congresswoman

[01:06–02:18]

• Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) reported being pepper sprayed during an ICE operation at a Tucson restaurant.
• Incident followed her recent swearing-in after a special election.
• Video posted on social media showed masked ICE agents and plumes of smoke; ICE confirmed multiple arrests during the operation but did not clarify its use of pepper spray.
• Congresswoman Grijalva was seeking information at the site during the incident.

Notable Quotes:

• Elisa Resnick ([01:38]):
  “In a video posted on X, Grijalva says she was sprayed in the face while attempting to get more information about an ICE raid …”
• [Soundbite, paraphrased] ([01:46]):
  “We came up on a community that was protecting their people. We had, I would say, maybe 40 ICE agents, most of them masked in several vehicles.”

3. Inflation Remains High but Fed Expected to Cut Rates

[02:18–03:10]

• Commerce Department’s latest report: Prices in September rose by 2.8% compared to last year—a slight increase over the previous month.
• Core inflation (excludes food and energy): Edged slightly lower, indicating some stability.
• Despite persistent inflation, analysts expect the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates by a quarter percentage point next week, with more concern for job market weakness than rising prices.
• Consumer sentiment has improved slightly but remains low compared to last year.

Notable Quotes:

• Scott Horsley ([02:28]):
  “Core inflation… was slightly lower than in August. Investors think the Fed is more concerned about weakness in the job market than rising prices right now.”
• Scott Horsley ([02:52]):
  “A survey by the University of Michigan shows consumers are feeling slightly better about the economic outlook than they were a month ago, but sentiment is still pretty gloomy compared to this time last year.”

4. Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery — Historic Hollywood Deal

[03:15–03:54]

• Netflix will buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $72 billion, also assuming $10 billion in debt, bringing the total to over $82 billion.
• This marks a landmark entertainment industry deal—if approved, Netflix would gain control of major franchises including Batman, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones.
• The acquisition follows a fierce bidding war and could reshape Hollywood’s landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Doua Kautel ([03:15]):
  “Netflix has announced it will buy the legendary Hollywood studio Warner Bros. Discovery for $72 billion… a watershed deal with a price tag of more than $82 billion.”

5. FIFA World Cup Draw: US Faces Familiar Opponents

[03:54–04:36]

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw placed the US men's national team in a group with Paraguay, Australia (both recent US victories in friendlies), and a TBD playoff winner (Turkey, Kosovo, Slovakia, or Romania).
• Format: 12 groups of 4; top teams advance after group matches.
• Tournament expansion to 48 teams will make knockout qualification easier.
• France, though a favorite, drew a challenging group including Norway and star striker Erling Haaland.

Notable Quotes:

• Becky Sullivan ([03:54]):
  “The US got a favorable draw. They'll face Paraguay and Australia, both of whom the Americans beat in friendly matches this fall.”
• Becky Sullivan ([04:23]):
  “But with the tournament's expansion to 48 teams, it will be easier than ever to reach the knockout stage.”

6. Somali Americans Respond to Trump’s Immigration Remarks

[04:36–04:54]

• Somali American community in Minnesota is publicly condemning recent statements from President Trump targeting Somali immigrants.
• This is part of an ongoing national conversation about immigration and the treatment of minority communities.

Summary Table of Key Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Begins | Key Speaker | |-----------------------------------------------|-----------|-------------------| | CDC Hepatitis B Guidance Update | 00:16 | Rob Stein | | ICE Raid—Pepper Spray on Congresswoman | 01:06 | Elisa Resnick | | Inflation and Federal Reserve Outlook | 02:18 | Scott Horsley | | Netflix Buys Warner Bros. Discovery | 03:15 | Doua Kautel | | FIFA World Cup Draw | 03:54 | Becky Sullivan | | Somali American Response to Trump Remarks | 04:36 | Doua Kautel |