NPR News: 12-12-2025 11PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 12-12-2025, 11PM EST

Host: Dale Willman | Date: December 13, 2025
Format: Five-minute national and world news roundup

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Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now segment covers major legal and political stories from the U.S. and abroad, climate and science highlights, and a sports headline. Central themes include political appointment controversies, legal disputes over presidential actions, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, weather emergencies, and a notable college football incident.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Prosecutor Resigns Amid Appointment Controversy

[00:11 - 01:10]

• Julianne Murray, the top U.S. attorney in Delaware, announces her resignation.
• The move follows a federal appeals court ruling against a Trump-era prosecutor’s appointment in New Jersey—reasoning that could apply in Delaware as well.
• Murray, a former state GOP leader, says she wants to avoid her office becoming a “political football.”
• Delaware’s Democratic senators opposed her nomination, stalling any permanent appointment.

“She doesn’t want the office to become a, quote, political football.”
— Kerry Johnson, NPR News [00:33]

2. Lawsuit Over White House Ballroom Construction

[01:10 - 01:55]

• The National Trust for Historic Preservation sues President Trump and his administration.
• The lawsuit claims White House renovations (including new ballroom) proceeded without required oversight approvals.
• Carol Quillen (National Trust): Group is compelled to act in defense of American history and public interest.
• White House defends the construction, stating presidential prerogative for such projects.

“We need to speak on behalf of the American public...because our history matters.”
— Carol Quillen [01:40]

3. US Pressures Ukraine on Peace Deal; Europe’s Role

[02:05 - 03:07]

• Ukrainian and European leaders meet in Paris for peace talks on Russia's war.
• The U.S. is undecided on sending negotiators but pressures Ukraine to concede control of Donbas to Russia.
• President Zelensky considers a public referendum, though Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections in wartime.
• Polls show Ukrainian opposition to territorial concessions.
• Europe’s rhetorical support for Ukraine contrasts with declining financial aid.

“But just to give in to the aggressor, that is not something that we can agree upon after what we have gone through.”
— Ivana Klimpush Tinsade, Ukrainian lawmaker [02:50]

4. Northwest Floods & National Guard Response

[03:07 - 03:43]

• Washington state experiences historic floods following torrential rain.
• Water is receding but will remain high for days; National Guard assists with evacuations in northern Seattle.
• Bridges washed out, families stranded on rooftops.

5. Skywatching: Geminid Meteor Shower

[03:43 - 04:27]

• The annual Geminid meteor shower peaks this weekend.
• Viewers are encouraged to find a dark area, let eyes adjust, and watch late at night or after moonrise (keep back to the moon).
• The event stands out for the number and brightness of meteors, despite cold December nights.

“If you can brave the cold, find a dark spot and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust, then watch the sky and wait.”
— Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News [03:43]

6. Ex-Michigan Coach Charged with Stalking, Home Invasion

[04:27 - 04:53]

• Former University of Michigan football coach Sharon Moore was charged with stalking and home invasion after allegedly threatening to harm himself at his ex-lover’s home.
• He was fired earlier in the week once university officials were notified.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She doesn’t want the office to become a, quote, political football.”
  — Kerry Johnson [00:33]

• “We need to make the case that these processes are important and that respecting them matters because our history matters.”
  — Carol Quillen [01:40]

• “But just to give in to the aggressor, that is not something that we can agree upon after what we have gone through.”
  — Ivana Klimpush Tinsade [02:50]

• “If you can brave the cold, find a dark spot...watch the sky and wait.”
  — Nell Greenfield Boyce [03:43]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment Topic | |----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 00:11 | US attorney resignation controversy | | 01:10 | Lawsuit over White House ballroom project | | 02:05 | Ukraine-Russia peace talks; US and European positions | | 03:07 | Washington state flood crisis; National Guard actions | | 03:43 | Geminid meteor shower tips | | 04:27 | U. Michigan coach charged; sports headline |

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Tone & Style

• Direct, neutral, and fact-based reporting.
• Brief but empathetic treatment of sensitive topics (politics, war, personal tragedy).
• Highlights reasoned commentary from affected officials and experts.

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For listeners: This episode offers quick but significant updates on political-legal news, global conflict, climate events, science, and sports—capturing the day’s essential stories in under five minutes.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Dale Willman]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The top federal prosecutor in Delaware is resigning as questions about how the Trump administration is installing U.S. attorneys continues. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports that courts across the country are are considering challenges to those prosecutors on the grounds that they were not lawfully appointed.

[Kerry Johnson]

Julianne Murray says she's leaving her job as U.S. attorney in Delaware because she doesn't want the office to become a, quote, political football. A federal appeals court recently invalidated the appointment of a Trump prosecutor in New Jersey, and the same reasoning could apply in Delaware, too. Murray's a former leader of the state's Republican Party. She says she will continue to serve the Justice Department in a different role. Delaware's two Democratic senators would not support Murray for the job, so any nomination for her to serve permanently was going nowhere on Capitol Hill. Carrie Johnson, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

A nonprofit group is suing President Trump and his administration, arguing his White House ballroom project hasn't gotten legally required approvals. As NPR's Tamara Keith reports, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is asking for a temporary halt to construction activity.

[Tamara Keith]

The east wing of the White House was torn down to make way for President Trump's ballroom, and the work continues even as no plans have been submitted to the relevant oversight bodies. Carol Quillen is president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

[Carol Quillen]

We feel like we have no choice here. We need to fulfill our mission. We need to speak on behalf of the American public, and we need to make the case that these processes are important and that respecting them matters because our history matters.

[Tamara Keith]

White House spokesman Davis Engel says President Trump has full legal authority to beautify the White House just just as his predecessors did. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Ukrainian and European representatives will be in Paris Saturday for more talks on ending Russia's war on Ukraine. President Trump, Meanwhile, says the U.S. is still weighing whether to send negotiators. NPR's Jeroenika Kissis reports from Kyiv that the U.S. is pressing Ukraine to leave the eastern region of Donbas in Russia's hands.

[Jeroenika Kissis]

Public opinion polls show that Ukrainians strongly oppose giving up territory to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's exploring whether to hold a public referendum on the issue. Though holding elections during wartime is against Ukraine's constitution, the Trump administration is favoring Moscow in negotiations. Lawmaker Ivana Klimpush Tinsade says facing Russia without US Support would be incredibly difficult.

[Carol Quillen]

But just to give in to the aggressor, that is not something that we can agree upon after what we have gone through.

[Jeroenika Kissis]

European leaders say they stand with Ukraine, but Europe's financial support to Ukraine has declined this year. Joanna Kakisis, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Cave stocks finished down on Wall street today, and you're listening to NPR News. Floodwaters are finally dropping in Washington state, but authorities say water levels will remain high for several more days. Torrential rains in the northwestern US have caused historic floods that washed over bridges and stranded some families on their rooftops. National Guard troops went door to door in Burling of Seattle on Friday to evacuate people. One of the strongest meteor showers of the year will peak tomorrow night going into early Sunday morning. But as NPR's now greenfield Boice reports, you could also try looking out tonight.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

The annual Geminid meteor shower happens when the Earth passes through a field of tiny particles left behind by an asteroid. That debris hits our atmosphere and produces bright streaks of light. Like the summertime Perseids, this meteor shower produces a good number of shooting stars. Happens when it's a lot colder outside still. If you can brave the cold, find a dark spot and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust, then watch the sky and wait. Some of the best viewing will be late at night before the crescent moon rises or once the moon is up. You can keep your back to it so that its light won't swamp out your view. Nell. Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Former University of Michigan football coach Sharon Moore was charged Friday with stalking and home invasion. Officials say he broke into the home of a woman with whom he was having an affair and threatened to kill himself in front of her. She had broken off the relationship and reported it to university officials. Moore was fired as coach on Wednesday because of the affair. I'm Dale Willman, and this is NPR News.

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