NPR News: 12-13-2025 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 14, 2025, 11PM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News update covers major breaking news and top headlines from the U.S. and world, including a campus shooting at Brown University, a deadly ISIS attack in Syria, developments in health care policy, record-breaking winter weather, Israel-Hamas conflict updates, and a milestone birthday for Dick Van Dyke. Sports and local interest stories round out the broadcast.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shooting at Brown University

• [00:15] A shooting during finals at Brown University in Rhode Island left at least two dead and nine injured. The suspect remains at large.
  • Providence Mayor Brett Smiley [00:30]:

    “We have two priorities right now as community—one, to bring the individual responsible to justice and two, to pray for the full recovery of those affected. The Brown community's heart is breaking, and Providence's heart is breaking along with it."

• [00:50] Police released a video of the suspect, last seen leaving the engineering building. A shelter-in-place order is issued for the campus and surrounding area.

2. ISIS Attack in Syria; U.S. Response

• [00:50] President Trump vows retaliation after an ISIS gunman killed two American service members and a U.S. civilian in Palmyra, Syria. The Pentagon reports the soldiers were involved in counterterrorism operations.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth [01:15]:

    “The attack, which took place in the city of Palmyra, comes just over a year after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. … The gunman was killed by partner forces. Three other service members were injured in the attack.”

  • President Donald Trump [01:34]:

    "Of Syria is, as they told me, and I'm not surprised. He's devastated by what happened. This was an ISIS attack on U.S. and Syria."

• The attack heightens regional tensions, sparking a pledge from President Trump for reprisal against ISIS.

3. U.S. Health Care Policy Showdown

• [01:53] House Republicans unveil a health care package they argue will reduce costs, while Democrats criticize it for not extending expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits.
  • Jude Joffe-Block [02:07]:

    "The enhanced tax credits are slated to expire at the end of the year. And when they do, the out of pocket costs for millions of Americans who buy their insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace will skyrocket."

  • The GOP plan focuses on “the real drivers of health care costs,” including insurance grouping for small businesses and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers.
  • Both Democratic and Republican attempts to address tax credits have failed in the Senate. Congress faces a tight timeline before the holiday recess.

4. Severe Winter Weather Across the U.S.

• [02:50] Dangerous arctic temperatures engulf Chicago, Minneapolis, and much of the northern U.S., reaching as far south as Alabama and Georgia. Grand Forks, ND, recorded wind chills as low as minus 36°F.
• In the Pacific Northwest, communities monitor for landslides as floodwaters recede.

5. Israel Strikes Hamas in Gaza

• [03:13] Israeli military strikes a vehicle in Gaza, reportedly killing Raid Saad, a top Hamas leader linked to the October 2023 attack. Hamas has not confirmed Saad’s death. The airstrike followed an explosive device wounding two Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza.

6. Dick Van Dyke Turns 100

• [03:51] Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke celebrates his 100th birthday.
  • Bob Mondello [03:51]:

    “On his begin on Broadway 65 years ago, he was doing his best to prompt a smile.”

  • Audio moments from Van Dyke’s career, including “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Mary Poppins,” and a reflection from “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me.”
  • Dick Van Dyke (via old interview) [04:25]:

    "All of us involved say the Dick Van Dyke show was the best five years of our lives. It was. We were like otters at play."

  • Mondello celebrates Van Dyke’s ongoing creativity and work at age 100.

7. Sports Highlight: Army-Navy Game

• [04:37] Navy defeats Army 17–16 to take the Commander in Chief Trophy. The winning score came from an 8-yard touchdown pass with six and a half minutes left.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Providence Mayor Brett Smiley [00:30]:

  "We are a week and a half away from Christmas, and all of us are getting calls from concerned families, parents, employees."

• President Trump [01:34]:

  “This was an ISIS attack on U.S. and Syria.”

• Jude Joffe-Block [02:07]:

  “When they do, the out of pocket costs for millions of Americans who buy their insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace will skyrocket.”

• Bob Mondello on Dick Van Dyke [04:31]:

  "Dick Van Dyke still playing at the age of 100."

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Brown University Shooting: 00:15 – 00:50
• ISIS Attack & U.S. Response: 00:50 – 01:53
• Health Care Policy Battle: 01:53 – 02:50
• National Weather Update: 02:50 – 03:13
• Israel-Hamas Update: 03:13 – 03:51
• Dick Van Dyke’s 100th Birthday: 03:51 – 04:37
• Army-Navy Game Recap: 04:37 – 04:54

---

Tone & Style

• Direct, somber when reporting tragedies and violence.
• Urgent, especially regarding public safety and breaking news.
• Lighter, reflective for Dick Van Dyke tribute.
• Factual, balanced, and succinct as typical of NPR newscasts.

---

This summary provides a comprehensive breakdown of the NPR News Now 11PM EST report for December 14, 2025, highlighting the crucial events, memorable audio moments, and expert commentary from both NPR journalists and key newsmakers.

Transcript

[Capital One Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail].

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. At least two people were killed and nine others injured at Brown University today in a shooting that has shocked the Rhode island school. The shooting took place during final exams. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley says the suspect remains at large.

[Providence Mayor Brett Smiley]

We have two priorities right now as community one, to bring the individual responsible to justice and two, to pray for the full recovery of those affected. The Brown community's heart is breaking, and Providence's heart is breaking along with it. We are a week and a half away from Christmas, and all of us are getting calls from concerned families, parents, employees.

[Dale Willman]

Police have released a video showing the suspect who was last seen leaving the school's engineering building. A shelter in place, order is in effect for the campus as well as people living near the school. President Trump is vowing to retaliate after an ISIS gunman killed two American service members and one US civilian in central Syria today. As NPR's Lydia Kalitri reports, the Pentagon says the soldiers were supporting a counterterrorism operations in the region.

[Pete Hegseth]

The attack, which took place in the city of Palmyra, comes just over a year after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the gunman was killed by partner forces. Three other service members were injured in the attack before boarding Marine One. President Trump told reporters the new president.

[President Donald Trump]

Of Syria is, as they told me, and I'm not surprised. He's devastated by what happened. This was an ISIS attack on U.S. and Syria.

[Pete Hegseth]

Trump says the U.S. will retaliate against ISIS. Lydia Calitri, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

House Republicans are unveiling a health care policy package that they say will reduce health costs. But as NPR's Jude Joffe block reports, Democrats are blasting the proposal for not extending the Affordable Care act tax credits.

[Jude Joffe-Block]

The enhanced tax credits are slated to expire at the end of the year. And when they do, the out of pocket costs for millions of Americans who buy their insurance on the Affordable Care act marketplace will skyrocket. House Speaker Mike Johnson says the GOP proposal instead tackles, quote, the real drivers of health care costs. It will allow small businesses to band together to buy health insurance plans. It also attempts to lower drug costs by imposing new requirements on pharmacy benefit managers. A Democratic bill to extend the tax credits for three years failed in the Senate, as did a Republican proposal. Members of Congress are running out of time to address health care costs before the holiday recess at the end of the week. Jude Joffe Block, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Arctic temperatures are spreading across the northern US this evening, bringing dangerous wind chills to Chicago and Minneapolis. On Saturday, Grand Forks, North Dakota, felt like it was minus 36 degrees, and winter advisories are reaching as far south as Alabama and Georgia. In the Pacific Northwest, meanwhile, people are watching for possible landslides as floodwaters there begin to recede. This is NPR News. Israel says its military has killed a top Hamas leader during a strike on a civilian vehicle in Gaza. The the strike came after an explosive device detonated in southern Gaza and wounded two Israeli soldiers. Military officials say Raid Saad was killed in the strike. They claim he was an architect of the October 2023 attack that led to the war with Hamas. Hamas has not confirmed the death. Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke's birthday is today. He's 100 years old. Van Dyke starred in everything from Mary Poppins to Diagnosis Murder. And as he celebrates the start of his second century, NPR's Bob Mondello reflects.

[Bob Mondello]

On his begin on Broadway 65 years ago. He was doing his best to prompt a smile.

[President Donald Trump]

The gray skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face.

[Bob Mondello]

He took a week off from Bye Bye Birdie to audition for a TV sitcom. Carl Reiner was cooking up the Dick Van Dyke show. And once that was established, Disney tapped him to play a chimney sweep opposite Julie Andrews.

[President Donald Trump]

It's a Jolly Holiday with Mary.

[Bob Mondello]

Van Dyke would star in dozens of other projects, from Bedknobs and Broomsticks to a guest appearance on Days of Our Lives a couple of years ago at 90s. But as he told NPR's Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[President Donald Trump]

All of us involved say the Dick Van Dyke show was the best five years of our lives. It was. We were like otters at play.

[Bob Mondello]

Dick Van Dyke still playing at the age of 100. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Navy beat army on Saturday 17 to 16, winning the Commander in Chief trophy. Blake Horvath threw an eight yard touchdown pass to Eli Heidenreich in the fourth and six with six and a half minutes left for the winning score. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[Warby Parker Announcer]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Warby Parker, the One stop Shop for all your vision needs. They offer expertly crafted prescription eyewear plus contacts, eye exams and more for everything you need to see. Visit your nearest Warby Parker store or head to warbyparker.com.