NPR News Now – December 11, 2025, 3PM EST

Host: Louise Schiavone, NPR
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme: Rapid-fire updates on key US political, legal, and cultural stories of the hour

1. Partisan Healthcare Proposals Fail in Senate

[00:14–01:17]

• Overview:
  The Senate voted on two rival health care proposals with major implications for Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance subsidies. Neither bill passed as enhanced pandemic-era subsidies are about to expire.

• Key Details:

  • Over millions of Americans face crushing premium hikes if subsidies expire.
  • Democratic Proposal: Sought a 3-year extension of the subsidies. Four Republicans crossed party lines to support, but it fell short.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), 00:48:
      “The consequences for ordinary people will be that they will have to delay response to their health care. And for many people, they will literally pay with their lives.”
  • Republican Proposal: Pushed for up to $1,500 in health savings accounts for high-deductible ACA plans. It also failed.
  • Some lawmakers express hope that the impasse will drive new negotiations, but for consumers, time is running out.

2. Legal Fight Over ICE Detainee’s Release

[01:17–02:24]

• Overview:
  The Trump administration plans to appeal a federal court order to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody—a case reflecting ongoing tension over judicial activism.

• Key Details:

  • Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, was erroneously sent to a prison in El Salvador, violating a US judge’s order.
  • Upon his return to the U.S., he was charged with human smuggling, but there’s no final removal order for his deportation.
  • District Judge Paula Zinnis in Tennessee ruled for his immediate release, citing legal missteps by the government.
  • White House Reaction:
    • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, 01:32:
      “The White House...opposed this activism from a judge who is really acting as a judicial activist, which we've unfortunately seen in many cases across the country.”

• Notable Court Language:

  • Judge Zinnis: “The court will grant Abrego Garcia's petition for immediate release from ICE custody.”

3. Major Flooding in Washington State

[02:24–03:05]

• Overview:
  Catastrophic floods are affecting northern Washington, prompting mass evacuations and major disruptions.

• Key Details:

  • At least 20 rivers are flooding, affecting over 100,000 people, particularly in Skagit County, north of Seattle.
  • Residents share stories of sudden evacuation and fear of loss:
    • Leslie Schluesner, resident, 02:31:
      “Want to leave our home. I just don't want to lose everything we have in there, but we had no choice.”
  • Relief efforts are hampered by the weather; volunteers struggle to feed people due to road closures:
    • Carol Jensen, Red Cross, 02:41:
      “We ordered pizza to be delivered, thought it was going to come and they couldn't get here because of the flooded roads.”
  • The Skagit River is expected to set a new record, cresting 2 feet higher than 1990’s peak on Friday.

4. Market Update

[03:05–03:30]

• Overview:
  Brief check-in on Wall Street:
  • Dow: Up 695 points
  • Nasdaq: Down 68 points

5. Update: Holiday Music Charts

[03:30–04:17]

• Overview:
  Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” again dominates the Billboard Hot 100, driven by streaming and seasonal nostalgia.

• Key Details:

  • The song, released in 1994, has been #1 every December since 2019.
  • Has topped the Hot 100 for 19 non-consecutive weeks—tying records with “Old Town Road” and last year’s hit “Tipsy.”
  • Stephen Thompson, 03:30:
    “For anyone who watches the Billboard charts in December, it should come as no surprise that the number one song in the country belongs to Mariah Carey.”

6. Launch of Trump's “Gold Card Visa” Program

[04:17–04:54]

• Overview:
  The Trump administration launches an ambitious new visa program, aiming to attract top foreign talent and pump revenue into federal coffers.

• Key Details:

  • “Gold Card Visa” offers a path to a US green card—and potentially citizenship in the future—for those who pay:
    • $1 million for individuals
    • $2 million per foreign-born employee (for corporations)
    • Plus, a $15,000 vetting fee
  • The program intends to “attract top talent and generate federal revenue.”
  • President Trump claims its pathway to citizenship is “stronger than the traditional route,” even though it initially grants a green card only.

Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes

• Sen. Raphael Warnock on healthcare (00:48):
  “They will literally pay with their lives.”
• WH Press Secretary Caroline Levitt on ICE appeal (01:32):
  “This activism from a judge who is really acting as a judicial activist...”
• Washington resident Leslie Schluesner on evacuating (02:31):
  “I just don't want to lose everything we have in there, but we had no choice.”
• Red Cross volunteer Carol Jensen on flood difficulties (02:41):
  “They couldn't get here because of the flooded roads.”
• Stephen Thompson on Mariah Carey (03:30):
  “It should come as no surprise that the number one song in the country belongs to Mariah Carey.”

Timestamps and Segment Guide

• 00:14: Senate health care votes & subsidies expiring
• 01:17: White House to appeal judge’s order on ICE detainee
• 02:24: Washington state floods; mass evacuations
• 03:05: Markets update
• 03:30: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” tops charts
• 04:17: Trump administration unveils Gold Card Visa program

NPR News Now delivers a concise update on significant current events—providing political, legal, social, and cultural headlines in under five minutes, with direct quotes and immediate, human-centered reporting.