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.

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]

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.

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]

4. Financial Markets Update

[03:03]

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

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.

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]

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.

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 |

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 |

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.