NPR News Now: 12-09-2025, 9AM EST – Episode Summary

Overview
This episode delivers concise updates on major national and global news stories from the morning of December 9, 2025. Key topics include President Trump’s economic commentary and policy controversies, judicial rulings on executive actions, conflicts over SNAP data requests, the designation of a Muslim civil rights group as a terrorist organization, a United Nations condemnation of Israeli actions in East Jerusalem, and the return of a U.S. astronaut from space.

Main Stories & Key Insights

1. President Trump Comments on the Economy and Policy Controversies

• President Trump will speak tonight about the economy in Pennsylvania.
• In an interview with Politico, Trump claimed, "I give the US Economy a huge A," attributing current conditions to his administration while referencing data unchanged since President Biden’s term.
  • Notable Quote (00:20): President Trump: "I give the US Economy a huge A."
• Trump reversed his earlier willingness to release video footage of a controversial second strike on a Caribbean boat.
  • Initially said he had "no problem with releasing video," but later deferred the decision to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
    • Notable Quote (01:12, 01:19): President Trump: "Whatever Hegseth wants to do is okay with me. Whatever he decides is okay with me."
  • He insulted a journalist during the exchange, calling her "obnoxious and a terrible reporter."
    • Notable Quote (01:21): Danielle Kurtzleben: "Trump went on to insult the journalists, calling her obnoxious and a terrible reporter."
  • Congress is scrutinizing Hegseth’s actions after viewing the classified video.

2. Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Wind Energy Executive Order

• U.S. District Judge Patty Sarris ruled that President Trump’s order to halt new wind energy projects is "arbitrary and capricious," siding with 17 Democratic-led states and D.C.
  • The pause violated statutory requirements, as federal agencies are required to process such matters within a reasonable time frame.
  • Notable Quote (01:51): Giles Snyder: "[Judge Sarris] ruled in favor of a coalition of 17 Democratic led states... calling the executive order arbitrary and capricious."
• The halt on permitting had lasted 11 months.

3. SNAP Data Dispute Between States and Federal Government

• Over 20 Democratic-led states refuse to share detailed SNAP (food assistance) data with the Trump administration, citing privacy and legal concerns.
  • A judge’s October injunction blocks the USDA from withholding funds over this data.
  • Requested data include recipients’ names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, income, and immigration status.
  • The states propose sharing de-identified data but want guarantees that information will not fuel immigration enforcement.
  • Notable Quote (02:33): Jude Joffe-Block: "The states say they object to the federal government collecting Americans personal data without a clear need for it and cited legal and data security concerns."

4. Florida Labels Major Muslim Civil Rights Group as Terrorist Organization

• Governor Ron DeSantis designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization, following Texas’ lead in the previous month.
  • CAIR has already challenged Texas in court and vows to sue Florida.
  • Key Fact (03:17): The group is one of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights organizations.

5. UN Condemns Israeli Raid on U.N. Palestinian Refugee Agency Offices

• Israeli police raided the UN agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem to collect municipal debts.
  • The UN claims Israeli police seized equipment and replaced the UN flag with the Israeli flag.
  • UN Secretary General António Guterres called the raid "unauthorized entry" and demanded respect for UNRWA premises’ inviolability.
  • Israel alleges some UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas attack of October 2023.
  • Notable Quote (03:49): Jerome Sokolowski: "Police say they raided the offices to collect municipal debts. An Unruh statement says they seized IT equipment and other property and replaced the UN flag on the roof with an Israeli flag."

6. Astronaut Jonny Kim Returns From the ISS

• Astronaut Jonny Kim and two Russian cosmonauts have safely returned to Kazakhstan after an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station.
  • Kim is a Navy SEAL and Harvard-trained physician.
  • Key Note (04:38): Achievement highlights the ongoing collaboration on the ISS.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump (Politico interview; [00:20]): “I give the US Economy a huge A.”
• President Trump (on video release; [01:12–01:19]): “Whatever Hegseth wants to do is okay with me. Whatever he decides is okay with me.”
• Danielle Kurtzleben, on Trump’s media response ([01:21]): “Trump went on to insult the journalists, calling her obnoxious and a terrible reporter.”
• Giles Snyder, on judicial review ([01:51]): “Judge Sarris said the indefinite pause violates a statutory requirement that federal agencies conclude work on such matters within a reasonable time.”
• Jude Joffe-Block, on state resistance ([02:33]): “The states say they object to the federal government collecting Americans personal data without a clear need for it and cited legal and data security concerns.”
• Jerome Sokolowski, on the UNRWA raid ([03:49]): “An Unruh statement says they seized IT equipment and other property and replaced the UN flag on the roof with an Israeli flag.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Economy & Caribbean Strike: 00:13 – 01:37
• Wind Energy Executive Order Overturned: 01:37 – 02:15
• SNAP Data Dispute: 02:15 – 03:14
• CAIR Designated as Terrorist Organization in Florida: 03:17
• UN Condemns Israeli Action: 03:17 – 04:38
• Astronaut Jonny Kim Returns: 04:38 – 04:56

This brief, tightly-packed NPR News update offers listeners a brisk tour through some of the morning's most significant headlines, with a focus on U.S. executive decisions, federal court responses, state-federal tensions, global diplomacy, and achievements in space exploration.