NPR News Now: December 11, 2025, 1AM EST

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This concise NPR News Now episode offers a comprehensive five-minute update on top global and national events, including escalating U.S.-Venezuela tensions, major oil lease sales, key decisions by the Federal Reserve, extreme weather across the U.S., a high-profile art heist in Paris, and the passing of a beloved author. The episode delivers essential headlines and context for busy listeners seeking a quick yet thorough news briefing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rising U.S.-Venezuela Tensions ([00:20] – [01:13])

• President Trump announced the U.S. has seized a Venezuelan oil tanker.
• Military Pressure: The U.S. Navy increase in the Caribbean is described as the biggest buildup in decades.
• Political Tensions: The U.S. is offering a $50 million bounty for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom it accuses of drug trafficking.
• Economic Sanctions: U.S. sanctions target Venezuela’s oil, pushing it to sell mainly to China at a steep discount.

"The US has offered a $50 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, who the US claims is a narco trafficker."
—Quill Lawrence, [00:39]

"Trump has said the US may soon begin striking targets inside Venezuela’s borders."
—Quill Lawrence, [00:52]

2. U.S. Oil Drilling Rights and Federal Reserve Action ([01:13] – [03:03])

Oil Lease Auction

• Major Oil Companies: 30 oil firms, including Shell and BP, are offering $300 million for Gulf of Mexico drilling rights.
• New Drilling Projects: For the first time in decades, the Trump administration is selling leases off the coasts of Florida and California.

Federal Reserve Rate Cut

• The Fed cuts key interest rate by a quarter point for the third time in 2025.
• Chair Jerome Powell notes the labor market and inflation outlook remain unchanged due to delays in official data.

"Although official employment data for October and November are delayed, available evidence suggests that both layoffs and hiring remain low..."
—Fed Chairman Jerome Powell ([01:49]–[02:06])

• Internal Division: The decision was contested; two committee members wanted to hold rates, another wanted a deeper cut.
• Economic Uncertainty: Policymakers lacked complete data due to a six-week government shutdown.

"The cut was widely expected but unusually contested. Two members of the Federal Reserve's rate setting Committee wanted to keep rates steady, while a third member...voted for a deeper cut."
—Maria Asman, [02:17]

• Results: Wall Street rallies, with the Dow Jones rising 497 points.

3. Severe Weather Across the U.S. ([03:19] – [03:36])

• Pacific Northwest: Persistent storms bring heavy rain, flooding, landslides.
• Wyoming: Over a foot of snow possible.
• Upper Midwest to New England: Separate storm brings lake effect snow and bitter cold.

4. Paris Louvre Heist Investigation ([03:36] – [04:39])

• Daylight Robbery: Thieves escaped with French Royal jewels minutes before police arrived.
• Security Failures: Broken cameras, insufficient monitoring screens, and poor coordination cited.
• Financial Loss: Over $100 million in jewels stolen.

"Agents in the security control room did not have enough screens to follow the images in real time."
—Eleanor Beardsley, [03:56]

"Give or take 30 seconds, the thieves could have been prevented from escaping."
—Head of Investigation, as reported by Eleanor Beardsley, [04:10]

• Recommendations: Modern CCTV, better glass, and improved coordination could have prevented the theft.

5. Death of Author Sophie Kinsella ([04:39] – [04:58])

• Passing of a Literary Star: Sophie Kinsella (Madeline Wickham) dies at 55.
• Legacy: Sold tens of millions of books; “Shopaholic” series adapted into a 2019 film.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• U.S.-Venezuela Tensions:
  "Trump has said the US may soon begin striking targets inside Venezuela’s borders."
  —Quill Lawrence, [00:52]

• Federal Reserve Outlook:
  "Available evidence suggests that both layoffs and hiring remain low and that both households' perceptions of job availability and firms' perceptions of hiring difficulty continued to decline."
  —Jerome Powell, [01:49]

• Louvre Heist:
  "Give or take 30 seconds, the thieves could have been prevented from escaping."
  —Head of Investigation (via Eleanor Beardsley), [04:10]

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [00:20] – [01:13]: U.S.-Venezuela oil, sanctions, military tension
• [01:13] – [02:17]: Oil lease sale; Federal Reserve rate cut & analysis
• [03:19] – [03:36]: Storms from Pacific Northwest to New England
• [03:36] – [04:39]: Paris Louvre jewel heist investigation
• [04:39] – [04:58]: Sophie Kinsella’s passing

Tone & Style

• Straightforward, factual, measured—typical of NPR’s news delivery.
• Balanced reporting with direct quotes and clear attributions.

This episode delivers a fast-paced, clear-eyed briefing of the day's most urgent and intriguing stories, equipping listeners with essential knowledge in under five minutes.