NPR News Now – 12-13-2025, 12AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Air Date: December 13, 2025

Overview

This five-minute NPR news update covers several major stories of national and international importance, including newly released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, a federal lawsuit over 2020 election ballots in Georgia, the ongoing deportation fight involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, renewed debate over TSA collective bargaining, flood damage in Montana, Russian athletes re-entering international competition, and a college football award for Indiana’s quarterback. The brief but information-rich segment delivers key headlines and context with input from NPR correspondents and named sources.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Release of Epstein Estate Photos and Related Political Response

[00:20 – 00:44]

• News: House Oversight Committee Democrats released two rounds of photos from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate.

• Volume: More than 95,000 photos provided to Congress by the Epstein estate.

• Political Response: President Trump downplayed the photos’ significance when asked for comment.

  "Well, I haven't seen it, but I mean, everybody knew this man. He was all over Palm Beach. He has photos with everybody. I mean, almost there are hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him."
  — Donald Trump ([00:34])

• Developing Story: The Trump administration faces a deadline next week to release Epstein case files held by the Department of Justice.

2. Department of Justice Lawsuit Over Fulton County Election Ballots

[00:44 – 01:54]

• Subject: The DOJ is suing Fulton County, Georgia, for access to 2020 general election ballots at the heart of President Trump's baseless election fraud claims.
• Details:
  • Lawsuit filed in Atlanta, naming the Fulton County Clerk of Courts.
  • County claims ballots and records are sealed and require a court order for release.
  • The DOJ cites the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to support the federal investigation.
• Context: Multiple investigations have not substantiated fraud claims in Georgia’s 2020 election.
• Attribution: Raul Bali, WABE.

3. Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s Deportation Struggle

[01:54 – 02:50]

• Update: Abrego Garcia avoids rearrest following a months-long deportation battle.
• Legal Twist: Originally misdeported to El Salvador, Garcia is now protected by a federal judge’s order barring detention during ongoing legal motions.
• Personal Impact:

  "We'll never know what their plans were for this morning, whether it was a check in, whether they were planning to arrest him. But he's walking out the door and he's heading back to Prince George's county to be with his family, with his child, with his wife who are waiting there for him."
  — Simon Sandoval Moshenburg, Abrego Garcia’s lawyer ([02:17])

• Additional Note: Garcia still faces human smuggling charges.

4. Debate Over Collective Bargaining Rights for TSA Employees

[02:50 – 03:14]

• Policy Attempt: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has renewed efforts to end collective bargaining for TSA airport screeners, citing national security needs.
• Union Response: The American Federation of Government Employees claims this effort violates a preliminary injunction against the contract’s termination.

5. Flooding in Montana Due to Atmospheric River

[03:31 – 04:22]

• Situation: Northwest Montana towns Libby and Troy experience significant flooding and bridge washouts from persistent rain.
• Firsthand Account:

  "Our home is fine. A lot of water in the yard, but that has receded now and about a half an inch in our shop of water, but we got that all cleaned up."
  — Sandy Oliveira, Libby resident ([03:56])

• State Response: Governor Greg Gianforte declares a state of emergency; full extent of damage under assessment, with more rain forecast.
• Reporting: Erin Bolton, Montana Public Radio.

6. Russian Athletes Return to International Competition

[04:22 – 04:37]

• Development: Russian athletes receive visas to compete in the World Cup luge event at Lake Placid, NY, under a neutral flag.
• Context: First World Cup appearance since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.
• Controversy: Ukrainian athletes oppose Russian participation.

7. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza Named Top College Quarterback

[04:37 – 04:59]

• Achievement: Mendoza wins the Davey O’Brien Award and is named APA Player of the Year.
• Team Success: Led Indiana (the Hoosiers) to an undefeated 13-0 season; team is now the top seed in the college football playoffs.

Notable Quotes

• "He was all over Palm Beach. He has photos with everybody."
  — Donald Trump on Jeffrey Epstein photos ([00:34])

• "We'll never know what their plans were... but he's walking out the door and he's heading back to Prince George's county to be with his family..."
  — Simon Sandoval Moshenburg on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s release ([02:17])

• "Our home is fine. A lot of water in the yard, but that has receded now..."
  — Sandy Oliveira, regarding flood impacts in Libby, MT ([03:56])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein Photos & Trump Reaction: 00:20–00:44
• DOJ Sues Fulton County Over Ballots: 00:44–01:54
• Deportation Fight—Abrego Garcia: 01:54–02:50
• TSA Collective Bargaining Dispute: 02:50–03:14
• Montana Flooding: 03:31–04:22
• Russian Athletes at Luge World Cup: 04:22–04:37
• Indiana’s Mendoza Wins Top Quarterback Award: 04:37–04:59

For those seeking a concise but comprehensive update on the latest U.S. and international news, this NPR News Now episode delivers quick, authoritative reporting on fast-moving political, legal, and human interest stories.