NPR News Now: December 12, 2025, 7AM EST

Overview

This fast-paced five-minute NPR News Now episode gives listeners a concise update on the most pressing developments in U.S. politics, health care, immigration, and public health as of the morning of December 12, 2025. Important topics include President Trump’s executive order overriding state AI regulations, deadlocked health care legislation in the Senate, a high-profile immigration release, controversy over vaccine safety guidance, and ongoing U.S. measles outbreaks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence Laws

• Reporter: Bobby Allen
• [00:13 – 01:13]
• President Trump signs an executive order directing the Justice Department to challenge state-level AI regulations.
  • Rationale: States passed over 100 AI-related laws this year while Congress has not legislated, leading to a complicated “patchwork.”
  • Tech industry lobbied for uniform federal oversight.

Notable Quotes:

• President Trump:

  “Every time you make a change, and it could be a very reasonable change, you still won't get it approved if you have to go to 50 states. So this centralizes it.”
  (00:48)

• Opposition comes from both Democrats and Republicans, including prominent MAGA figures.
• David Sachs (White House AI and crypto czar and venture capitalist) played a key role advancing the order.

2. Senate Stalemate on Health Care Bills

• Host: Jeanine Herbst
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune (Republican)
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat)
• [01:13 – 02:03]
• Both Republican and Democratic health care bills fail in the Senate as ACA subsidies near expiration, risking increased premiums for millions.
• Democrats proposed a three-year extension of ACA (Obamacare) tax credits.
• Republicans criticize the plan as extending the “status quo” without reforms.

Notable Quotes:

• Sen. John Thune:

  “Democrats so called plan is a three year extension of the status quo. No reforms, no revisions, no rethinking of the way that Obamacare works.”
  (01:33)

• Sen. Chuck Schumer:

  “Republicans just blocked the Democrats bill for a clean, simple extension of the ACA tax credits, the last chance they had to ensure people's premiums do not skyrocket in the coming months.”
  (01:48)

• President Trump has not offered a health care alternative; House GOP aims for a vote next week.

3. Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Release from ICE Detention

• Reporter: Jimena Bustillo
• [02:03 – 03:06]
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier in the year, is released from ICE custody following a federal judge’s orders.
• The Trump administration intended to appeal the release but did not act quickly enough.
• Abrego Garcia’s story has become a focal point in debates over immigration policy.
• He was detained and returned to the U.S. after months in prison, and is now charged with human smuggling.
• Judge Polazinis found no legal basis for continued detention.

4. Vaccine Safety Dispute between WHO and U.S. Administration

• Reporter: Jonathan Lambert
• WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
• [03:06 – 04:14]
• The World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirms there is no evidence linking vaccines to autism, countering the Trump administration’s latest stance.
• The CDC website was revised to say a vaccine-autism link “can’t be ruled out.”
• President Trump has publicly suggested vaccines can cause autism.
• WHO’s fourth evidence review (spanning 30+ studies over 15 years) found no causal link.

Notable Quotes:

• Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus:

  “This is the fourth such review of the evidence. All reached the same conclusion, vaccines do not cause autism.”
  (03:56)

• WHO: Childhood immunizations have saved at least 154 million lives in the last 50 years.

5. Measles Outbreaks and Vaccination Coverage

• Host: Jeanine Herbst
• [04:14 – 04:56]
• Hundreds quarantined in South Carolina after a significant measles outbreak linked to low vaccination rates and post-holiday travel.
  • Cases mainly in Spartanburg County.
  • The outbreak started in October, persists due to insufficient vaccine coverage.
• Other 2025 outbreaks: Western Texas (spread to Oklahoma and New Mexico); multi-state outbreak at the Utah-Arizona border.

Notable Quotes with Speakers and Timestamps

• President Trump on federalizing AI regulation:
  “Every time you make a change, and it could be a very reasonable change, you still won't get it approved if you have to go to 50 states. So this centralizes it.” (00:48)

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune:
  “Democrats so called plan is a three year extension of the status quo. No reforms, no revisions, no rethinking of the way that Obamacare works.” (01:33)

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:
  “Republicans just blocked the Democrats bill for a clean, simple extension of the ACA tax credits, the last chance they had to ensure people's premiums do not skyrocket in the coming months.” (01:48)

• WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus:
  “This is the fourth such review of the evidence. All reached the same conclusion, vaccines do not cause autism.” (03:56)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:13 – Trump’s executive AI order (Bobby Allen)
• 01:13 – Senate health care bills fail; premiums in jeopardy (Jeanine Herbst, John Thune, Chuck Schumer)
• 02:03 – Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from ICE custody (Jimena Bustillo)
• 03:06 – WHO vaccine safety statement vs. Trump administration (Jonathan Lambert, Dr. Tedros)
• 04:14 – Measles outbreak in South Carolina and other states (Jeanine Herbst)

Memorable Moments

• Rare bipartisan and intra-Republican opposition to Trump’s federal overtake of state AI lawmaking.
• The clock running out on ACA subsidies—risk of premium spikes for millions.
• The reversal of U.S. health agency guidance on vaccine safety, creating sharp contrast with the global scientific community.

This episode encapsulates a tense moment in U.S. governance and public health, with rapidly shifting policy, heated political standoffs, and the tangible impact of these decisions on everyday Americans.