NPR News Now — December 11, 2025, 6PM EST

Overview

This NPR News Now episode offers a succinct roundup of major national and global news stories, including dramatic developments in U.S. counter-drug operations, the impasse over Affordable Care Act subsidies, catastrophic flooding in Washington State, the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a notable immigration case, a scientific breakthrough about ancient plants, and Disney’s major investment in artificial intelligence.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Counter-Drug Operation & Venezuela Oil Tanker Seizure

• [00:14–00:45]
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem credits the Trump administration's ongoing efforts against drug trafficking for the U.S. seizure of a merchant oil tanker off Venezuela.
• Noem frames the operation as a significant victory in the fight against narcotics and criminal regimes, highlighting presidential leadership.
  • Kristi Noem [00:33]:

    "It was a successful operation directed by the president 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."

• President Trump also commented favorably, while Venezuela's government denounces the act as 'international piracy.'

2. Affordable Care Act Subsidies Set to Expire

• [00:45–01:56]
• The pandemic-era expansion of ACA tax credits is about to end amid Congressional gridlock.
• Senate Democrats’ proposal to extend existing subsidies failed, lacking the 60 votes needed, even with some Republican support.
• A competing GOP plan for increased health savings accounts met the same fate.
• Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply critiques Republicans for obstructing action:
  • Chuck Schumer [01:32]:

    "Republicans have all but guaranteed that tens of million of people will see their premiums double or triple or more next year."

• Speaker Mike Johnson says the House will vote on a health care bill, but specifics remain unsettled, and centrist Republicans are pushing compromise.

3. Devastating Flooding in Washington State

• [01:56–02:50]
• More than 20 rivers are flooding in Western Washington; Skagit County experiences mass evacuations, affecting 100,000 people.
• Insight from evacuees and Red Cross volunteers highlights disruption and uncertainty:
  • Leslie Schluesner [02:16]:

    "I didn't want to leave our home. I just don't want to lose everything we have in there. But we had no choice."

  • Carol Jensen [02:27]:

    "We ordered pizza to be delivered, thought it was going to come and they couldn't get here because of the flooded roads."

• National Weather Service predicts unprecedented river levels, surpassing 1990 flood records.

4. Escalating Crisis in Gaza

• [02:50–03:45]
• A severe winter storm has compounded Gaza's humanitarian crisis.
• Heavy rains have flooded refugee tent camps, severely worsening conditions.
• Aid organizations claim Israel is not meeting its ceasefire commitment of admitting 600 aid trucks per day.
• UN warns of worsening health risks from cold, overcrowding, and poor sanitation.

5. Immigration: ICE Release Case

• [03:45–03:53]
• Maryland judge releases Kilmar Obrego Garcia from ICE custody.
• Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador, became a symbol of the Trump administration’s strict immigration enforcement.
• The administration is appealing the decision.

6. Scientific Discovery: Ancient Plants and Infrared Pollinator Attraction

• [03:53–04:29]
• NPR’s Nell Greenfield Boyce reports on cycads—ancient, palm-like plants—that attract pollinators by heating up their cones to emit infrared light.
• Nocturnal beetles with heat-sensing antennae are drawn to these cones, predating the evolution of showy flowers.
• Scientists tested this with artificial heated cones, confirming beetles’ attraction.
  • Nell Greenfield Boyce [03:53]:

    "Long before colorful flowers emerged to attract later insects like bees and butterflies, plants were using an infrared glow to attract poor sighted pollinators that were active at night."

7. Disney’s $1 Billion OpenAI Investment

• [04:29–04:54]
• Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI's Sora tool to produce videos featuring 200+ iconic characters—including Mickey Mouse, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars universes.
• Disney issues a cease-and-desist to Google for allegedly using its intellectual property without authorization for AI training.

Memorable Quotes

• Kristi Noem (re: Venezuela tanker) [00:33]:

  "It was a successful operation directed by the president 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."

• Chuck Schumer (re: ACA subsidies impasse) [01:32]:

  "Republicans have all but guaranteed that tens of million of people will see their premiums double or triple or more next year."

• Leslie Schluesner (re: Washington flooding evacuation) [02:16]:

  "I didn't want to leave our home. I just don't want to lose everything we have in there. But we had no choice."

• Nell Greenfield Boyce (re: plant science discovery) [03:53]:

  "Long before colorful flowers emerged to attract later insects like bees and butterflies, plants were using an infrared glow to attract poor sighted pollinators that were active at night."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Venezuela tanker seizure & counter-drug policy: 00:14–00:45
• ACA tax credits expiring, Congressional gridlock: 00:45–01:56
• Washington State floods, evacuee stories: 01:56–02:50
• Gaza humanitarian crisis & aid shortfall: 02:50–03:45
• Release of Kilmar Obrego Garcia from ICE custody: 03:45–03:53
• Cycads & infrared pollinator attraction (plant science): 03:53–04:29
• Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI; IP dispute with Google: 04:29–04:54

Conclusion

In this concise news update, NPR covers urgent domestic and international stories, blending U.S. political developments with human stories of crisis and scientific breakthroughs. Political polarization persists in health care debates, natural disasters disrupt thousands of lives in Washington State, and technology and science both uncover the past and shape the future.