NPR News: 12-07-2025 3PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: 12-07-2025 3PM EST

Host: Nora Ramm (NPR)
Date: December 7, 2025
Summary:
This five-minute NPR News Now episode covers the latest headlines: U.S. immigration policy towards Somali communities, a new U.S.-U.K. drug pricing and tariff deal, a foiled coup attempt in Benin, new developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict and Netanyahu’s status, Miami mayoral elections as a bellwether, Kennedy Center Honors under Trump’s influence, and President Trump’s challenge to Congressman Henry Cuellar’s party loyalty.

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Immigration and Somali Community Statements

[00:13–01:07]

• Border Policy Comments:
  • Nora Ramm reports on remarks by Tom Homan, dubbed the “border czar.”
  • President Trump referred to Somali immigrants as “garbage” and expressed a wish to expel them.
  • Tom Homan: “I don't know what President Trump was thinking when he said he wants Somalis out of the country,” but expresses full agreement with Trump’s policies.
  • Emphasizes focus on “public safety and national security threats.”

Key Quote:

“If you're a US citizen, you know you don't have nothing to fear. … If you're a resident alien, you have a felony conviction, by statute, you could be set up for deportation.”
— Tom Homan ([00:42])

• Homan targets criminal records among resident aliens, particularly within Minnesota’s Somali community.

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U.S.–U.K. Drug Tariff & Pricing Deal

[01:07–01:59]

• Trade Agreement Summary:
  • NPR’s Sidney Lupkin explains a new agreement sparing UK drug exports from “hefty Trump tariffs” for at least three years.
  • In exchange, UK’s NHS will pay 25% more for new medicines and reduce drug maker rebates.
  • Purpose: Even the global playing field on drug costs and incentivize U.S. investment and jobs.
  • Office of the United States Trade Representative cited as the source.

Key Quote:

“UK will increase the prices its health service pays for new medicines by 25% and will reduce rebates paid by drug makers.”
— Sidney Lupkin ([01:41])

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Foiled Coup Attempt in Benin

[01:59–02:54]

• Event Overview:
  • Reporter Emmanuel Okinwutu covers soldiers appearing on Benin state television, claiming to have deposed President Patrice Talon.
  • Gunfire reported near the residence of Talon in Porto-Novo.
  • Later, Benin’s government claimed to have restored order; the president is confirmed safe.
  • Context: Talon accused of authoritarianism, with recurrent coup attempts in the region.
  • Coup attempt follows prior accusations of government crackdown on dissent.

Key Quote:

“Gunshots were heard near the president's residence … but later … the interior minister announced they had regained control … the president was safe.”
— Emmanuel Okinwutu ([02:34])

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Israel, Gaza, and Netanyahu Statements

[02:54–03:14]

• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expects ceasefire talks with Hamas to move forward.
• Netanyahu says a pardon on corruption charges won’t lead him to quit politics.

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Miami Mayoral Election as Political Bellwether

[03:14–03:34]

• Early voting for Miami’s new mayor is underway.
• The race is viewed as an early indicator of broader national political trends ahead of the midterm elections.
• Democrats are hopeful to win after three decades.

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Kennedy Center Honors—Changes Under Trump

[03:34–04:31]

• Segment by Elizabeth Blair:
  • Kennedy Center Honors recognize lifetime achievement in performing arts; recipients this year include Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Kiss, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford.
  • This year’s selection process is significantly influenced by President Trump: “He said he was 98% responsible for selecting the honorees … he will be hosting the event.”
  • Past honorees and the traditional, extensive selection process are contrasted with this year’s changes.

Key Quote:

“This year, it's really the President Trump show. He said he was 98% responsible for selecting the honorees.”
— Elizabeth Blair ([04:13])

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Trump Criticizes Rep. Henry Cuellar

[04:31–04:56]

• President Trump, having recently pardoned Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar for bribery charges, criticizes Cuellar for not switching parties.
• Cuellar chooses to run as a Democrat, prompting Trump to post: “Oh well, next time, no more Mr. Nice Guy.”

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Memorable Quotes

• “If you're a US citizen, you know you don't have nothing to fear.”
  — Tom Homan ([00:42])

• “UK will increase the prices its health service pays for new medicines by 25% and will reduce rebates paid by drug makers.”
  — Sidney Lupkin ([01:41])

• “Gunshots were heard near the president's residence … but later … the interior minister announced they had regained control … the president was safe.”
  — Emmanuel Okinwutu ([02:34])

• “This year, it's really the President Trump show. He said he was 98% responsible for selecting the honorees.”
  — Elizabeth Blair ([04:13])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:13] Border czar Tom Homan on Somali immigration
• [01:07] U.S.–U.K. drug trade deal
• [01:59] Foiled coup in Benin
• [02:54] Netanyahu on Gaza negotiations
• [03:14] Miami mayoral elections
• [03:52] Kennedy Center Honors under Trump
• [04:31] Trump slams Rep. Henry Cuellar

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Overall Tone:
Straightforward, rapid-fire reporting typical of NPR News Now. The report maintains a factual, neutral style but pulls in direct quotes for a sense of immediacy and gravity.

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Best for:
Listeners seeking an efficient, comprehensive update on breaking headlines and evolving political stories in the U.S. and abroad.

Transcript

[Capital One Announcer]

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[Nora Ramm]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Border czar Tom Homan said today he doesn't know what President Trump was thinking when he said he wants Somalis out of the country. The president had called them garbage and but Homan said he agrees 100% with Trump's efforts to target Somali immigrants in Minnesota. He said the Trump administration is concentrating on public safety and national security threats.

[Tom Homan]

We also know there's a large illegal Somali community there. There's illegal alien community, large illegal alien community there. If you're a US citizen, you know you don't have nothing to fear. We're looking for criminal and also if you're a resident alien, you have a felony conviction. By statute, you could be set up for deportation. So we're looking for public safety threats, national security threats and illegal aliens.

[Nora Ramm]

Homan was interviewed on CNN. A deal between the U.S. and the United Kingdom would spare the UK's drug exports from hefty Trump tariffs for at least three years in exchange for more investment in the U.S. and creating more jobs. NPR's Sidney Lumpkin reports.

[Sidney Lupkin]

New drugs typically cost a lot more in the US than they do in other countries, and the Trump administration has been announcing deals with drug companies to try to even the playing field. Now the US has a deal with another country, the uk. The UK will increase the prices its health service pays for new medicines by 25% and will reduce rebates paid by drug makers. That's according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. In exchange, UK drugs, drug ingredients and medical technology will exempt from US tariffs for at least three years. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The government of Benin says it's foiled an attempted coup. Soldiers had appeared on state television today and announced they'd deposed the president and taken over the country. It's the latest of several attempted coups in West Africa in recent years. NPR's Emmanuel Okinwutu reports.

[Emmanuel Okinwutu]

The soldiers took over the state broadcaster and announced in a live address that they had deposed President Patrice Talon. Gunshots were heard near the president's residence in the capital, Portnovo, but later on Sunday, the interior minister announced they had regained control, and a government spokesperson told the AFP news agency that the president was safe. Talon has been in power since 2016 and was due to step down next April after elections. He has faced accusations of authoritarianism, but attempted military coups in the region have grown common. And last year, Benin's government said it arrested multiple officials for planning a takeover. Emmanuel Akimotu, NPR News, Lagos.

[Nora Ramm]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today he expects negotiations will move forward soon on the next stage of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu also said that if he is granted a presidential pardon on corruption charges, he would not withdraw from political life. This is NPR News in Washington. Early voting is underway in Miami for a new mayor. Election Day is Tuesday. Although it's a local race, it's seen as an early test of the nation's political move before next year's midterm elections. The Democrats are hoping to win the mayor's office for the first time in nearly 30 years. Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, the rock band Kiss, Gloria Gaynor and English actor and singer Michael Crawford all received Kennedy center honors tonight, which celebrates achievements in the performing arts. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports. This year's Kennedy center honors will be different from past years.

[Elizabeth Blair]

A Kennedy center honor is traditionally for artists who've made a major contribution to the performing arts. It's considered to be a prestigious lifetime achievement award that in theory, has cultural gravitas. Past winners include people like Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, George Clooney, LL Cool J and Alvin Ailey. In the past, the selection process took several months and involved a lot of different stakeholders. This year, it's really the President Trump show. He said he was 98% responsible for selecting the honorees. Something else that's different is that he will be hosting the event.

[Nora Ramm]

NPR's Elizabeth Blair. President Trump is slamming Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar for not switching parties. Trump had pardoned him, who was charged with accepting bribes. Be Cuellar decided that he'll run for reelection as a Democrat. In a social post today, the president called that a lack of loyalty. He said, oh, well, next time, no more Mr. Nice Guy. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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