NPR News Now: December 10, 2025 – 6AM EST

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Korva Coleman, covers the latest headlines in U.S. politics, economic policy, education, global affairs, and tech regulation. Key stories include President Trump’s Pennsylvania speech on cost of living, a pending Federal Reserve interest rate decision, strong high school FAFSA completions, a historic Miami mayoral election, the escalating Cambodia-Thailand conflict, and Australia’s sweeping social media ban for minors.

1. Domestic Politics & President Trump’s Pennsylvania Visit

• President Trump’s Speech on Affordability

  • Trump visited a Pennsylvania resort and casino, focusing on economic issues for American families.
  • Emphasized his administration’s efforts to make living more affordable, contrasting with the Biden administration:
    • President Trump (00:32):
      “They gave you high prices. They gave you the highest inflation in history, and we're bringing those prices down rapidly. Lower prices, bigger paychecks.”
  • NPR clarifies that inflation as of September matches Biden’s last month in office.

• Controversial Rhetoric on Immigration and Opponents

  • Trump veered to criticizing opponents, using inflammatory language about African countries and Somali immigrants.
    • President Trump (01:04):
      “If you don't share our values, contribute to our economy and assimilate into our society, then we don't want you in our country.”
  • Trump also singled out Rep. Ilhan Omar, prompting her response online:
    • Korva Coleman (01:13):
      “She wrote online that President Trump is a national embarrassment.”

2. Federal Reserve: Interest Rate Decision

• Anticipated Fed Rate Cut
  • The Federal Reserve is expected to lower benchmark interest rates for the third consecutive time to support a weakening job market.
    • Scott Horsley (01:34):
      “The Fed has cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point at each of its last two meetings, and investors expect another quarter point cut today…”
  • Some Fed policymakers are concerned about persistent inflation and may push to keep rates steady.
  • Decision difficulty is compounded by data gaps due to a six-week government shutdown, delaying key economic indicators.
    • Scott Horsley (01:56):
      “The Fed is working with less information than usual since the six week government shutdown prevented federal workers from collecting data on inflation and unemployment…”

3. Education: FAFSA Completion Rate Soars

• High School Seniors and Financial Aid
  • Over a million high school students have filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, outpacing recent years.
  • This spike comes despite growing skepticism about higher education among Americans.
  • Key Factors:
    • The FAFSA was simplified and made available earlier (Sept 24).
    • Bill DeBlon, National College Attainment Network (02:47): “First, the form is much simpler, thanks to recent legislation by Congress. Second, it was made available way earlier...”
    • Early FAFSA completion correlates with higher college enrollment rates.

4. U.S. Politics: Miami’s Historic Mayoral Election

• Eileen Higgins Elected Miami Mayor
  • First Democrat in ~30 years and first woman ever elected as Miami’s mayor.
    • Defeated Republican Emilio Gonzalez, who had Trump’s endorsement.
    • Higgins is a former Miami Dade County commissioner.

5. International News

• Escalation at the Cambodia-Thailand Border

  • The conflict is intensifying, with hundreds of thousands evacuated from both countries.
  • This comes despite a recent peace agreement mediated by President Trump and Malaysia’s leadership.

• Australia’s Social Media Ban for Minors

  • New law bars children 16 and under from major platforms (YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, X, and more).
    • Cristina Kukliel (04:12):
      “All 10 listed platforms ... say they will comply with a ban which requires them to remove accounts held by underage users and prevent new ones from being created.”
    • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (04:28):
      “It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced. It's a profound reform.”
    • Tech companies warn the ban is rushed and hard to enforce, with Australia’s high court set to review the law next year.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump on Cost of Living: 00:14 – 01:13
• Fed Rate Cut Decision & Challenges: 01:34 – 02:14
• FAFSA Application Surge: 02:14 – 03:08
• Miami Mayoral Election: 03:14 – 03:26
• Cambodia-Thailand Conflict: 03:26 – 03:50
• Australia’s Social Media Ban: 04:12 – 04:50

Notable Quotes

• President Trump (00:32):
  “They gave you high prices. They gave you the highest inflation in history, and we're bringing those prices down rapidly. Lower prices, bigger paychecks.”
• President Trump (01:04):
  “If you don't share our values, contribute to our economy and assimilate into our society, then we don't want you in our country. We don't want you.”
• Bill DeBlon on FAFSA (02:47):
  “First, the form is much simpler, thanks to recent legislation by Congress. Second, it was made available way earlier on September 24.”
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (04:28):
  “It is one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has faced. It's a profound reform.”

Summary Takeaways

• President Trump is focusing his campaign rhetoric on economic issues but also continues to use divisive language on immigration.
• The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates again despite incomplete economic data due to recent government shutdowns.
• FAFSA completions hit a new high, tied to legislative changes that simplified and accelerated the application process.
• Eileen Higgins makes history as Miami’s first female and first Democratic mayor in decades.
• Major international incidents include a resurgent border conflict in Southeast Asia and Australia’s world-first social media ban for minors, which faces impending legal scrutiny.

For more in-depth coverage, tune in to the full news update or follow up with NPR’s hourly reports.