NPR News: 12-12-2025 2PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — December 12, 2025 (2PM EST)

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Louise Schiavone, delivers sharp, rapid-fire updates on key developments ranging from U.S. military leadership changes in Latin America, legal controversies around military strikes, new Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a notable sports achievement, an uplifting animal rescue story, and the passing of a renowned British author. The episode maintains NPR's signature concise, factual style.

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Key News Highlights

1. U.S. Navy Leadership Change in Latin America

[00:15 – 00:50]

• Admiral Alvin Holsey, commanding U.S. military forces in Central & South America and the Caribbean, unexpectedly steps down two years early.
• No reason for the early departure or successor provided.
• Admiral Holsey was noted for fostering regional cooperation and previously voiced concerns over “boat strikes” in the Caribbean.

Notable Quote

“Must continue across the whole of government to deliver at the point of need to respond to shared threats in our neighborhood. The time is now.” — NPR Reporter quoting official statement [00:42]

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2. Legal Uncertainty Over U.S. Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats

[00:50 – 02:05]

• Over the past three months, U.S. forces destroyed 20+ vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in 80+ deaths.
• The Trump administration defends the operations as legal—citing counter-narcotics efforts.
• Former military lawyers and experts question the lawfulness, causing anxiety among service members.
• Some military personnel are now consulting outside legal groups fearing future prosecutions.

Notable Quotes

“We’re receiving a lot more calls in the last three months than we did before.” — Frank Rosenblatt, Orders Project [01:38]

• Rosenblatt’s group reports inquiries from staff officers and drone pilots concerned about implications of their involvement.

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3. Israeli Settlement Expansion in the West Bank

[02:05 – 03:03]

• Israel greenlights 19 new settlements and 760 homes in occupied West Bank territory.
• Policy spearheaded by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, described as a far-right nationalist and settler.
• Smotrich asserts, “Jews have a God given right to the land.”
• Context: The West Bank’s occupation dates back to 1967. Over 500,000 Israeli settlers reside there.
• Settlements condemned as illegal under international law; the UN reports more than 1700 settler attacks on Palestinians in 2025.

Notable Quote

“A lot of people think that turtles and tortoises are solitary by nature, but they absolutely occur in colonies and groups in nature.” — Chris Leone [04:04]

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4. Financial Markets Update

[03:03]

• At this hour:
  • Dow Jones: Down
  • NASDAQ: Off by 374 points

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5. Sports: Lindsey Vonn’s World Cup Comeback

[03:03 – 03:44]

• Lindsey Vonn wins her 44th World Cup downhill skiing race—the first since March 2018.
• Victory at St. Moritz, Switzerland; Vonn is now 41.

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6. Uplifting Animal Rescue: Rockalina the Box Turtle

[03:44 – 04:29]

• Rockalina, an eastern box turtle rescued from a New York home after 50 years in captivity, is thriving at Garden State Tortoise.
• Rockalina’s first social encounter with a hatchling is described as a milestone in her rehabilitation.
• Chris Leone, her caretaker, dispels myths that turtles are solitary animals, plans to establish a turtle colony for her.

Memorable Moments

“She’s literally nose to nose.” — Alina Hartunian [03:46] “She’s like sniffing its little butt.” — Alina Hartunian [04:00] “When Leone first saw Rockalina back in February, she was wan and looked near death. Now she’s thriving.” — Alina Hartunian [04:11]

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7. Obituary: Joanna Trollope

[04:29 – 04:54]

• Celebrated British author Joanna Trollope dies at 82 in her Oxfordshire home.
• Famous for novels about rural English romance, e.g., The Rector’s Wife and Marrying the Mistress.
• Honored as Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth six years ago.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | NPR Reporter | “Must continue across the whole of government to deliver at the point of need to respond to shared threats in our neighborhood. The time is now.” | 00:42 | | Frank Rosenblatt | “We’re receiving a lot more calls in the last three months than we did before.” | 01:38 | | Chris Leone | “A lot of people think that turtles and tortoises are solitary by nature, but they absolutely occur in colonies and groups in nature.” | 04:04 | | Alina Hartunian | “She’s literally nose to nose.” | 03:46 | | Alina Hartunian | “She’s like sniffing its little butt.” | 04:00 |

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Summary Table of Segments

| Time | Topic | |----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:15 | Admiral Holsey steps down early from Latin America military command | | 00:50 | Legal fears over U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats | | 02:05 | New Israeli settlements approved in West Bank | | 03:03 | Stock Market update; Lindsey Vonn’s World Cup win | | 03:44 | Rockalina the turtle’s recovery story | | 04:29 | Joanna Trollope obituary |

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This episode provides a brisk yet incisive picture of the day’s major headlines, balanced with memorable human and animal interest stories, in NPR’s reliable, impartial tone.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. U.S. navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, who's been in charge of U.S. military forces in Latin America for a year, today relinquished his duties two years early. Holsey, who was responsible for US Military activity in Central and South America and the Caribbean, had previously raised concerns about boat strikes in the Caribbean. While at his post, he stressed the importance of regional military cooperation, that work.

[NPR Reporter]

Must continue across the whole of government to deliver at the point of need to respond to shared threats in our neighborhood. The time is now.

[Louise Schiavone]

Holsey's post ordinarily lasts three or four years. No explanation for the change has been offered, and a replacement for Holsey has not been announced. Some members of the US Military are seeking advice from outside groups, fearing they could face legal consequences for any involvement in the Trump administration's deadly strikes on suspected drug boats. Over the past three months, the US has blown up more than 20 such vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing over 80 people. NPR's Ryan Lucas has details.

[Ryan Lucas]

The Trump administration says the strikes are legal and aim to stop the flow of illicit drugs, but experts, including former military lawyers, disagree. The vast gulf over the lawfulness of the operations is putting American service members in a tough spot, prompting some to seek outside legal guidance.

[Frank Rosenblatt]

We're receiving a lot more calls in the last three months than we did before.

[Ryan Lucas]

That's Frank Rosenblatt with the Orders Project, a non partisan group that provides legal support for members of the US Military. His organization and others NPR spoke with say they've received calls from service members, including staff officers and at least one drone pilot, with concerns about potential legal blowback for themselves for taking part in the campaign. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Louise Schiavone]

The Israeli government has approved a number of new settlements in the occupied west bank, stoking fears of annexation of the territory. NPR's Hadil Al Shalshi has the latest.

[Hadil Al Shalshi]

The Israeli government has approved plans for 19 new settlements in the occupied west bank, saying the proposals would strengthen settlement life in the territory. Israeli Finance Minister Betsell El Smotrich is in charge of settlement policy and said more than 760 new homes on existing settlements were also approved. Smolc, a far right nationalist and settler himself, has said Jews have a God given right to the land. Israel first occupied the west bank during the 1967 Mideast War and has since permitted more than 500,000 settlers there. The settlements are considered illegal under international law. The UN has recorded more than 1700 settler attacks on Palestinians in the west bank so far this year. NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Louise Schiavone]

On Wall street at this hour, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down the NASDAQ off 374. This is NPR News. In Washington, Lindsey Vonn has scored her 44th win in world cup downhill skiing. With her first win Since March of 2018, the 41 year old Vaughn took the World cup prize at St. Moritz in Switzerland. The story of Rockolina, the neglected eastern box turtle, has a new character. Rocklina was rescued earlier this year from a New York home where she'd spent the last half century living on a kitchen floor, mostly eating cat food. NPR's Alina Hartunian has more on her recovery.

[NPR Reporter]

Oh, my God.

[Alina Hartunian]

She's literally nose to nose.

[Chris Leone]

Chris Leone of Garden State Tortoise, New Jersey, said Rockalina's meeting with the hatchling was a milestone. It was the first time she's interacted with her own kind so closely since she was taken from the wild in the 1970s.

[Alina Hartunian]

She's like sniffing its little butt.

[Chris Leone]

Over the weekend, he posted a video on YouTube of the encounter.

[Alina Hartunian]

A lot of people think that turtles and tortoises are solitary by nature, but they absolutely occur in colonies and groups in nature.

[Chris Leone]

When Leonie first saw Rocklina back in February, she was wan and looked near death. Now she's thriving. The hatchling and Rocklina will continue to have supervised meetings as Leone works toward the ultimate goal, creating a little turtle colony for Roccolina. Alina Hartunian, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

British writer Joanna Trollope has died at 82. She passed away peacefully at her Oxfordshire home. Her family says Trollope was known for her best selling novels about romantic escapades in rural England. Titles included the Rector's Wife and Marrying the Mistress. Six years ago, Queen Elizabeth made her a commander of the Order of the British Empire. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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