NPR News: 12-11-2025 9AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – December 11, 2025, 9AM EST

Main Theme:
A concise roundup of the morning’s top news stories: updates on Ukraine peace efforts, shifting sentiments among young U.S. voters, severe flooding in Washington, a scandal involving University of Michigan’s football coach, and an unusual prison drone incident.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. Urgent Ukraine Peace Talks

• Summary:
  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is participating in critical talks with about 30 country leaders via video, focusing on the ongoing peace process.
• Key Points:
  • Zelensky has been visiting European allies as peace plan negotiations continue between Europe and the U.S.
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz states the sticking point is what “territories and concessions” Ukraine might make (00:36).
  • European leaders hope to finalize proposals with President Trump in Europe soon, pending his response (00:57).
  • Quote:
    “A critical moment is how European leaders describe it.” — Lauren Frayer (01:07)
• Timestamps:
  • Ukraine Peace Talks: [00:14]–[01:13]

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2. Young Voters Disenchanted with Politics

• Summary:
  A University of Chicago survey reveals deep dissatisfaction among young Americans (ages 18–42) with both major parties.
• Key Points:
  • 6 in 10 young Americans have negative views of both Democrats and Republicans.
  • Economic concerns—high cost of living, especially food and healthcare—dominate their worries.
  • Almost one-third of respondents think they will be financially worse off than their parents.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “There is a real sense that these individuals and these parts of the administration are not delivering.” — Jeanine Herbst (01:51)
• Timestamps:
  • Young Voter Sentiment: [01:13]–[02:09]

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3. Flood Emergency in Western Washington State

• Summary:
  Authorities warn of evacuations as record rainfall causes rising rivers and threatens low-lying areas.
• Key Points:
  • Unhoused people and their pets have been rescued and sheltered.
  • Governor Bob Ferguson seeks a federal disaster declaration from President Trump to address the emergency.
  • The National Weather Service reports that the area faces several more days of heavy rain.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “We're providing obviously shelter beds, meals, dry clothes, you know, a place for their pets.” — Michael K., Camp Hope (02:14)
    • “The next few days are going to be very critical.” — Capital One/Carvana Announcer, quoting Governor Bob Ferguson (02:44)
• Timestamps:
  • Flood Journal: [02:09]–[02:53]
  • Weather Forecast: [02:53]

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4. University of Michigan Football Coach Fired Amid Scandal

• Summary:
  Head football coach Sharon Moore is dismissed after an investigation into misconduct and hours before his arrest for alleged assault.
• Key Points:
  • Moore was terminated with cause for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
  • After his dismissal, he was arrested; police are withholding details pending investigation.
  • Moore previously led the team to a winning record but faced NCAA sanctions.
• Timestamps:
  • Coach Scandal: [03:14]–[03:59]

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5. Drone Smuggling Incident at South Carolina Prison

• Summary:
  Authorities stopped a drone attempting to deliver a crab and steak dinner—plus contraband—into Lee Correctional Institution.
• Key Points:
  • The drone carried crab legs, steak, marijuana, cigarettes, and seasoning in a Piggly Wiggly bag.
  • This marks the first time “meal fixings” were part of a drone drop; drugs are a more frequent cargo.
  • Officials note drones are an escalating challenge for contraband prevention.
  • Memorable Detail:
    • “This one with the meal fixings, that's a first.” — Prison officials, paraphrased by Jeanine Herbst (03:59)
• Timestamps:
  • Prison Drone Incident: [03:59]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Ukraine Peace Talks:
  “A critical moment is how European leaders describe it.” — Lauren Frayer (01:07)

• On Young Voters and Economy:
  “There is a real sense that these individuals and these parts of the administration are not delivering.” — Jeanine Herbst (01:51)

• On Emergency Efforts:
  “We're providing obviously shelter beds, meals, dry clothes, you know, a place for their pets.” — Michael K. (02:14) “The next few days are going to be very critical.” — Gov. Bob Ferguson, cited at (02:44)

• On Unusual Contraband:
  “This one with the meal fixings, that's a first.” — (03:59)

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Financial Markets Quick Update

• US Futures: Dow up slightly, Nasdaq down about half a percent — [02:53], [03:59]

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Segment Timestamps

• Ukraine Peace Talks: [00:14] – [01:13]
• Young Voter Survey: [01:13] – [02:09]
• Washington Flood Emergency: [02:09] – [02:53]
• Financial Markets: [02:53], [03:59]
• Michigan Football Scandal: [03:14] – [03:59]
• Prison Drone Drop: [03:59]

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Tone:
Factual, concise, with a touch of dry wit in reporting quirks (e.g., the prison meal incident).

This summary brings you up to date on the main headlines delivered by NPR News Now at 9AM EST on December 11, 2025.

Transcript

[Capital One/Carvana Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Quicksilver card. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com for details.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is holding urgent talks today with leaders from about 30 countries. It's the latest gathering of a so called coalition of the willing led by Britain, France and Germany. NPR's Lauren Frayer reports. Today's meeting is being held by video conference.

[Lauren Frayer]

Zelensky has been traveling around Europe meeting allies this week as revisions to a US Backed peace plan are sent back and forth across the Atlantic to the White House. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Mertz says the main issue to be resolved is what territories and concessions Ukraine is prepared to make. He said he and his French and British counterparts suggested finalizing proposals with President Trump in Europe this weekend. Trump told reporters he's waiting to hear answers before progressing.

[Jeanine Herbst]

There are a lot of things happening.

[Elena Moore]

A lot of people say it's closer than it's ever been.

[Lauren Frayer]

A critical moment is how European leaders describe it. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London.

[Jeanine Herbst]

As Republicans and Democrats gear up for the midterm elections next year, they're each losing ground with a key young voters. That's according to a newly released University of Chicago survey of more than 5,000 young Americans ages 18 to 42. NPR's Elena Moore reports. These voters are feeling increasingly unhappy with politics as they struggle with a high cost of living.

[Elena Moore]

This latest poll finds that roughly 6 in 10 young Americans have unfavorable impressions of both parties. Kathy Cohen runs the GenForward survey. She argues that the dissatisfaction young people feel is tied to their concerns about the economy.

[Jeanine Herbst]

There is a real sense that these individuals and these parts of the administration are not delivering.

[Elena Moore]

The poll finds that nearly nine in 10 young people are concerned about the price of food and the cost of health care. Plus, about a third think they're going to be worse off financially than their parents. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In western Washington state.

Authorities are warning people to be ready to evacuate low lying areas as flooding intensifies from several rounds of record rainfall. Unhoused people and their pets have been rescued from the riverbanks and taken to a local shelter. Michael K. Is with Camp Hope. We're providing obviously shelter beds, meals, dry clothes, you know, a place for their pets. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a state of emergency and says he needs President Trump to sign a disaster declaration.

[Capital One/Carvana Announcer]

I want to emphasize how important it is that we get this declaration from the federal government. The situation is extremely serious. The next few days are going to be very critical.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The National Weather Service says the atmospheric river is expected to dump heavy rain along the coast for the next couple of days. US Futures contracts are trading in mixed territory at this hour. Dow futures are up a fraction. Nasdaq futures are down just over a half percent. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

The University of Michigan has fired its head football coach hours before he was booked on assault charges. Brett Dahlberg with Michigan Public has more.

[Capital One/Carvana Announcer]

The University of Michigan says Sharon Moore was terminated with cause after a university investigation turned up credible evidence that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Hours after his arrest, police near Ann Arbor responded to an alleged assault. Police said there was no ongoing threat to public safety, but they couldn't share any more details to maintain the integrity of the investigation. Moore led the Wolverine football team for two years. He had a winning record, but he was also sanctioned by the NCAA over sign stealing and recruiting violations. For NPR News, I'm Brett Dahlberg.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Prisoners in South Carolina had their plans for a crab and steak holiday dinner for Officials say a drone dropped crab legs, steak, two bags of marijuana, a pack of cigarettes and Old Bay seasoning, of course, to the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville over the weekend. It was packed in a Piggly Wiggly supermarket bag. It was intercepted before the prisoners got it. Prison officials say smugglers sent drones to the prison every night trying to drop drugs into the prison yard. But they say this one with the meal fixings, that's a first. A 2023 report from the National Institute of Justice says drones are a growing for prison staff and the better detection strategies are needed to prevent contraband deliveries. Again on Wall Street, U.S. futures contracts and mixed territory. Dow futures up slightly. Nasdaq futures down about a half percent. This is NPR News. This message comes from Carvana. Buy a car 100% online at Carvana.com with financing to fit your budget. Enjoy seven days to return if it's not a fit. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See return [e-mail].