NPR News: 12-13-2025 12PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – Summary

Episode: NPR News: 12-13-2025 12PM EST
Host: Windsor Johnston, NPR
Date: December 13, 2025
Length: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

In this concise newscast, NPR presents the top news stories from around the world. Major headlines include U.S. military actions against drug traffickers in Latin America, the political disillusionment of young American voters, an American journalist’s call for an investigation after being wounded by Israeli fire, deadly violence involving U.S. personnel in Syria, the ongoing conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, and a widespread cold snap across the United States.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. U.S. Military Strikes on Drug Operations in Latin America

[00:17–01:03]

• President Trump's Statement:
  • Announces plans for U.S. land strikes against drug traffickers in Latin America, with Venezuela specifically mentioned.
  • No details on timing or targets revealed.
  • Quote (Trump):

    "It's not only land strikes, Venezuela, it's land strikes on horrible people that are bringing in drugs and killing our people."
    — [00:30]

• Background:
  • Recent U.S. strikes targeted boats suspected of smuggling, reportedly killing over 80 people.
  • U.S. forces also seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

2. Washington State Flooding

[01:03–01:12]

• Situation:
  • Floodwaters remain high after days of heavy rain.
  • Rivers may stay elevated with more rainfall expected.

3. Young Voters' Disenchantment with U.S. Politics

[01:12–02:12]

• University of Chicago Survey:
  • More than 5,000 Americans aged 18–42 surveyed.
  • Dramatic unease and dissatisfaction with both major parties.
  • 6 in 10 young Americans hold unfavorable opinions of both parties.
  • Kathy Cohen (GenForward):
    • Economic anxiety is a driving factor.
    • Quote (Cohen):

      "The poll finds that nearly nine in 10 young people are concerned about the price of food and the cost of health care, plus, about a third think they're going to be worse off financially than their parents."
      — [02:00]

  • Young voters widely feel that politicians are failing them.
    • Quote (Michael Sullivan):

      "There is a real sense that these individuals and these parts of the administration are not delivering."
      — [01:54]

4. U.S. Journalist Wounded in Israeli Strike Calls for Inquiry

[02:12–03:12]

• Incident:
  • Dylan Collins, an American video journalist, was wounded in Lebanon by Israeli tank fire in 2023. The attack killed a Reuters cameraman and was captured on video.
  • Collins is pressing for a U.S. investigation, characterizing the official reaction as "deafening silence."
    • Quote (Collins):

      "I thought that when an American citizen is wounded in an attack carried out by the US's greatest ally in the Middle east that we'd be able to get some answers. But for two years I'd been met by deafening silence."
      — [02:42]

  • The IDF states the incident is still under examination; they deny targeting journalists.
  • Committee to Protect Journalists: 59 journalists and media workers killed by the Israeli military since October 2023.

5. U.S. Casualties in Syria Following ISIS Attack

[03:12–03:36]

• Details:
  • Two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian killed.
  • Three more service members injured in Syria by an ISIS gunman (who was subsequently killed).

6. Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict Despite Ceasefire Claims

[03:36–04:33]

• Situation:
  • President Trump claimed via Truth Social to have brokered a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia.
  • Despite this, fighting continues—confirmed by Thai military officials, with Cambodia accused of using heavy weapons and Thailand retaliating.
    • Quote (Michael Sullivan):

      "Clashes had continued across seven border provinces on Saturday, with Cambodia using heavy weapons, forcing Thailand to retaliate."
      — [03:51]

  • Cambodia accuses Thailand of targeting infrastructure.
  • Thai PM vows to protect the country until all threats are removed.

7. Severe Cold Snap in the United States

[04:33–04:56]

• Weather Alert:
  • Bitter Arctic cold spreading across much of the U.S.
  • Some regions will see the coldest temperatures of the season.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump on drug traffickers:

  "It's not only land strikes, Venezuela, it's land strikes on horrible people that are bringing in drugs and killing our people."
  — [00:30]

• Kathy Cohen on young voters:

  "The poll finds that nearly nine in 10 young people are concerned about the price of food and the cost of health care, plus, about a third think they're going to be worse off financially than their parents."
  — [02:00]

• Dylan Collins (journalist injured in Israeli strike):

  "I thought that when an American citizen is wounded in an attack carried out by the US's greatest ally in the Middle east that we'd be able to get some answers. But for two years I'd been met by deafening silence."
  — [02:42]

• Michael Sullivan on Thailand-Cambodia conflict:

  "Clashes had continued across seven border provinces on Saturday, with Cambodia using heavy weapons, forcing Thailand to retaliate."
  — [03:51]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:17] — Start of news; Trump on land strikes
• [01:12] — Young voters losing faith in U.S. politics
• [02:25] — Journalist wounded in Israeli strike demands answers
• [03:12] — U.S. casualties in Syria from ISIS attack
• [03:51] — Fighting continues between Thailand and Cambodia
• [04:33] — National weather update: Arctic cold outbreak

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Tone:
Straightforward, urgent, and factual—typical of NPR's fast-paced headline news format.

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This summary captures the critical stories and themes from the December 13, 2025, 12PM EST edition of NPR News Now, providing context, insights, and key quotes for listeners who want to stay informed.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump says the United States is preparing to carry out land strikes against drug trafficking operations in Latin America.

[Frank Lankvitt]

It's not only land strikes, Venezuela, it's land strikes on horrible people that are bringing in drugs and killing our people.

[Windsor Johnston]

Trump didn't offer details on timing or location of the strikes. The administration says the military actions are aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks. The US carried out strikes on boats in the region it says were smuggling drugs, actions that officials say have killed more than 80 people in recent days. US forces also seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Floodwaters remain high across parts of Washington State after days of heavy rain. Officials say rivers could stay elevated for several more days with more rainfall on the way. A new survey shows lawmakers from both parties are losing ground with young voters ahead of next year's midterms. New data released from the University of Chicago question more than 5,000 young Americans between the ages of 18 and 42. NPR's Elena Moore reports. These voters are feeling increasingly uneasy, unhappy with politics as they struggle with the high cost of living.

[Kathy Cohen]

This latest poll finds that roughly 6 in 10 young Americans have unfavorable impressions of both parties. Kathy Cohen runs the GenForward survey. She argues that the dissatisfaction young people feel is tied to their concerns about the economy.

[Michael Sullivan]

There is a real sense that these individuals and these parts of the administration are not delivering.

[Kathy Cohen]

The poll finds that nearly nine in 10 young people are concerned about the price of food and the cost of health care, plus, about a third think they're going to be worse off financially than their parents. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

An American journalist who was wounded in an Israeli strike in Lebanon is renewing his call for the U.S. to investigate the incident as a targeted attack. NPR's Frank Lankvitt reports.

[Frank Lankvitt]

Dylan Collins is a video journalist from Vermont who works for AFP. In 2023, he and fellow reporters were hit twice by Israeli tank fire, which killed a Reuters cameraman. Collins captured the attack on video. Collins spoke Thursday outside the Capitol.

[Windsor Johnston]

I thought that when an American citizen is wounded in an attack carried out by the US's greatest ally in the Middle east that we'd be able to get some answers. But for two years I'd been met by deafening silence.

[Frank Lankvitt]

More than two years later, The Israeli Defense Force, or idf, says the incident is still being examined. The Committee to Protect Journalists says the IDF has targeted and killed 59 journalists and media workers since October 2023. The IDF denies it target targets journalists. Frank Lankford, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News in Washington. The US Military says two US Service members and one US Civilian were killed in an attack in Syria today. In a post on X from U.S. central Command on December 13, two U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were killed and three service members were injured as a result of an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman in Syria. The gunman was killed. Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia continues despite President Trump's announcement on Friday that he had brokered a ceasefire. Michael Sullivan reports.

[Michael Sullivan]

In his post on Truth Social, President Trump said he'd spoken to the leaders of both countries and that both had agreed to cease all shooting. But Thai Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri told reporters that clashes had continued across seven border provinces on Saturday, with Cambodia using heavy weapons, forcing Thailand to retaliate. And Cambodia's Information ministry accused Thai forces of targeting bridges and other infrastructure. Overnight, Thai Prime Minister Anatin Chandvirakun posted on Facebook that Thailand will continue its military action until there are no more threats to our land and people. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Bangkok.

[Windsor Johnston]

Another surge of bitter cold is spreading across much of the country this weekend. Forecasters say Arctic will push into large parts of the central and eastern U.S. some areas could see their coldest temperatures of the season so far. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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