NPR News Now — December 7, 2025, 10AM EST

Host: Louise Schiavone, NPR
Episode Theme: Hourly headlines and updates on key U.S. and global news stories

Episode Overview

This five-minute segment delivers succinct yet impactful coverage of major news stories breaking in the U.S. and around the world. Topics include U.S. military policy in the Caribbean, controversy over drone strikes, the return of Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem amidst the Hamas-Israel war, an autonomous vehicle safety recall at Waymo, a foiled coup in Benin, alterations to the record of a transgender health official, and the announcement of the latest Kennedy Center honorees.

Main News Segments

1. U.S. Military Strikes on Drug Traffickers

[00:14–01:25]

• Topic: U.S. military actions against drug traffickers in the Caribbean have continued under the Trump administration.
• Key Speaker: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Ronald Reagan Library.
• Hegseth’s Position:
  • Describes so-called "narco terrorists" as "the al Qaeda of our hemisphere."
  • States:

    "We are hunting them with the same sophistication and precision that we hunted al Qaeda."
    — Pete Hegseth, [00:27]

  • Denies reports that he ordered all individuals on a boat be killed, dismissing media sources:

    "Is anybody here from the Washington Post? I don't know where you get your sources, but they suck. Of course not."
    — Pete Hegseth, [00:46]

• Political Response:
  • Democrats question the legality of the strikes.
  • Senator Mark Warner (Senate Intelligence Committee):

    "I want to see the execution order. I want to hear the communications between the admiral who made the second strike decision. I want to have all that data point. Obviously, I'm very, very, very troubled."
    — Mark Warner, [01:09]

  • Warner calls for the release of strike videos and for Hegseth to resign.

2. Christmas Returns to Bethlehem after Israel-Hamas War

[01:25–02:02]

• Topic: After two years of conflict, Bethlehem sees the return of public Christmas celebrations.
• Notable Speaker: Bethlehem’s Mayor, Meher Kanawati, addresses crowds at Manger Square.
• Quote:

  "We want peace. We want life. We are so much in need for this peace so we can continue living in our cities and in Palestine."
  — Mayor Meher Kanawati, [01:47]

• Public Response:
  • Crowd cheers the lighting of a towering Christmas tree.
  • Local businesses hope for renewed prosperity.

3. Waymo Recalls Self-Driving Car Software

[02:02–03:11]

• Topic: A software flaw in Waymo’s autonomous vehicles caused cars to illegally pass stopped school buses; a federal investigation is ongoing.
• Incidents:
  • Atlanta TV showed Waymo car passing a bus with stop sign extended.
  • Austin, TX school district documented 19 similar cases; in one, a student had just crossed in front of the car.
• Company Response:
  • Waymo states the issue is fixed and will file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA.
  • No injuries reported.
  • Note: Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent; Google is an NPR supporter.

4. Coup Attempt Fails in Benin

[03:14–04:06]

• Topic: An attempted military coup in Benin has been thwarted.
• Details:
  • 14 individuals arrested; coup announced by soldiers on national TV.
  • Soldiers claimed to oust President Patrice Talon (sic — should be "Talon").
  • Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri named by coup plotters as new leader.
  • ECOWAS, a West African regional bloc, condemns the coup as unconstitutional.
  • Benin has a history of coups since its 1960 independence.
  • President Talon, elected in 2016, has faced accusations of authoritarianism.
• Reporter: Michael Koloki with on-the-scene updates.

5. U.S. Government Alters Transgender Official’s Portrait Identification

[04:06–04:54]

• Topic: The Department of Health and Human Services updated its identification of Admiral Rachel Levine’s portrait. The Trump administration replaced her chosen name with her previous one.
• Context:
  • Admiral Levine was the first transgender person confirmed in her role under the Biden administration.
• Other Headlines:
  • President Trump honored Kennedy Center Awards recipients in the Oval Office before the award show taping:
    • Recipients: Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Michael Crawford, and Kiss.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• "We are hunting them with the same sophistication and precision that we hunted al Qaeda."
  — Pete Hegseth, [00:27]
• "Is anybody here from the Washington Post? I don't know where you get your sources, but they suck. Of course not."
  — Pete Hegseth, [00:46]
• "I want to see the execution order... I'm very, very, very troubled."
  — Sen. Mark Warner, [01:09]
• "We want peace. We want life. We are so much in need for this peace..."
  — Mayor Meher Kanawati, [01:47]

Key Takeaways

• The U.S. continues aggressive anti-drug operations in the Caribbean, drawing domestic political scrutiny.
• After two years of war, Bethlehem celebrates Christmas again, signifying hope for peace.
• Waymo faces regulatory action after safety issues; demonstrates responsiveness with recall.
• Another coup attempt in Benin underscores ongoing instability and tensions in West Africa.
• Political and cultural developments continue in the U.S., including recognition of prominent artists and changes affecting LGBTQ+ officials.

End of summary. Ads, intros, and outros have been omitted for clarity.