NPR News Now – December 11, 2025, 10PM EST

Brief Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise roundup of top stories in U.S. and global news, focusing on a failed redistricting effort in Indiana, U.S. action in Venezuela, weather crisis in Gaza, new financial regulations, foster care reforms, and the ongoing moratorium on New England shrimping.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Indiana Senate Blocks Trump-Backed Redistricting

• [00:19-01:20]

  • Main Story: Indiana's Republican-led Senate voted down a Trump-advocated proposal to redraw congressional districts to benefit GOP election chances.
  • Context: Trump has urged Republican states to undertake mid-decade redistricting efforts pre-midterms, fearing Democratic gains.
  • Tactics: Trump lobbied lawmakers directly and threatened to campaign against those not supporting the proposed maps.
  • Outcome: Despite pro-Trump rallies, the plan failed, and Trump began distancing himself from the effort.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Trump had intensely lobbied Indiana lawmakers, promising to campaign against them if they didn't support the gerrymandered maps.” – Tamara Keith [00:39]
  • “I wasn't working on it very hard. Would have been nice. I think we would have picked up two seats if we did that.” – Donald Trump [01:07]
  • “And then Trump repeated his threats to primary state lawmakers who voted against the plan.” – Tamara Keith [01:13]

2. U.S. Seizure of Oil Tanker off Venezuela

• [01:20-01:43]

  • Event: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified about the seizure, calling it a strategic move against drug trafficking.
  • U.S. Position: The action was described as “a successful operation” aimed at deterring regimes involved in drug transit to the U.S.
  • Venezuelan Response: Venezuela denounced the seizure as “international piracy.”

  Notable Quotes:

  • “…to ensure that we're pushing back on a regime that is systematically covering and flooding our country with deadly drugs and killing our next generation of Americans.” – Kristi Noem [01:31]

3. DOJ Case Against NY AG Letitia James Dismissed

• [01:43-02:23]
  • Context: For the second time, a grand jury declined to indict Letitia James on mortgage fraud charges.
  • Reason: The federal judge dismissed the case citing the prosecutor’s lack of proper authority.

4. Winter Storm Crisis in Gaza

• [02:23-03:07]

  • Situation: Gaza faces severe winter storms, compounding the suffering of 850,000 displaced persons.
  • Conditions: Tents are soaked, sewage floods the streets, and there's a lack of sufficient winter clothing for families.
  • Aid and Barriers: While Israel claims aid is entering Gaza (blankets, tents, plastic sheeting), the Norwegian Refugee Council and U.N. agencies cite impediments to supply flows.
  • Personal Accounts: Nehla al Masjdub describes sheltering under collapsed plastic tarps with her eight children.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Families here say they only have one set of winter clothes and no way to dry them.” – Aya Batrawi [02:43]
  • “Nehla says the plastic tarping she and her eight kids shelter under collapsed from the rain on their heads last night.” – Aya Batrawi, via Anas Baba [02:55]

5. Wall Street Hits Record Highs

• [03:07-03:22]
  • Report: The S&P 500 closed at a new all-time high, up 0.2%.

6. Treasury Proposes Regulation Rollback

• [03:22-03:53]
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Besant suggested reducing regulations established after 2008 to prevent further "burdensome" impacts on financial firms.
  • Reactions: Senator Elizabeth Warren warned that deregulation would expose the economy to greater risk.

7. Shift in Foster Youth Survivor Benefit Policy

• [03:53-04:33]

  • Policy Change: The Trump administration instructed states to stop taking Social Security survivor benefits from foster youth, stating the funds belong to the children.
  • Background: NPR's 2020 investigation showed these benefits can help children with key expenses after leaving foster care.
  • Current Status: 10 states now pass survivor checks to youths; HHS is pushing for nationwide adoption.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “When a parent dies, Social Security pays survivor benefits to dependent children. But for kids in foster care, it's common for states to cash those checks as reimbursement for foster care. Now [...] HHS says that practice is wrong, that the checks belong to the child.” – Joseph Shapiro [03:53]

8. New England Shrimping Moratorium Extended

• [04:33-04:57]

  • Industry Impact: Moratorium on shrimp fishing, in place since 2014, is extended another three years due to population collapse from warming waters.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Rising temperatures have created an inhospitable environment for the shrimp and their population. Population is too low to fish sustainably.” – Ryland Barton [04:44]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “[Trump] has been trying to get GOP run states to tilt the playing field in his party's favor.” – Tamara Keith [00:39]
• “Venezuela's government has called the seizure an act of international piracy.” – Ryland Barton [01:43]
• “Nehla says the plastic tarping she and her eight kids shelter under collapsed from the rain on their heads last night.” – Aya Batrawi, via Anas Baba [02:55]

Segment Timestamps for Reference

• Indiana Redistricting Blocked: 00:19–01:20
• US Seizure of Oil Tanker (Venezuela): 01:20–01:43
• Letitia James DOJ Case: 01:43–02:23
• Gaza Winter Storm Crisis: 02:23–03:07
• Wall Street Record: 03:07–03:22
• Treasury Regulation Proposal: 03:22–03:53
• Foster Youth Survivor Benefits Reform: 03:53–04:33
• New England Shrimp Moratorium: 04:33–04:57

This NPR News Now episode offers quick, substantive updates spanning U.S. politics, foreign affairs, humanitarian crises, economic developments, and environmental changes—equipping listeners with an up-to-date overview of key headlines as of December 11, 2025.