NPR News: 12-13-2025 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 13, 2025, 1PM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Length: 5 Minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode of "NPR News Now" delivers a concise update on major U.S. and global news as of December 13, 2025. In just five minutes, headlines range from tragic losses in Syria to political developments at home and abroad, ongoing extreme weather, and updates on national events including the Powerball jackpot and college football.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. U.S. Fatalities in Syria

[00:17]

• Incident: Two American service members and a U.S. civilian were killed in Syria after being ambushed by a lone gunman. Three additional service members were wounded, and the attacker was killed.
• Impact: This highlights the ongoing risks faced by U.S. personnel abroad.

Quote (Windsor Johnston, 00:17):
"U.S. Central Command says two American service members and one U.S. civilian were killed in an attack in Syria today after they were ambushed by a lone gunman. Three additional service members were wounded. The attacker was killed."

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2. Flooding and Landslide Risks in Washington State

[00:51]

• Situation: Floodwaters are receding after record rains, but the threat isn't over.
• Risks: Highly saturated ground raises risks of landslides; some highways have already been closed.
• Outlook: More rain is expected Sunday, potentially raising floodwaters again. Authorities report no deaths so far. Burlington, a farming community north of Seattle, is among the worst hit.

Quote (Scott Greenstone, 00:51):
"It could be, unfortunately, that more damage is coming because right now... there's a high risk of landslides across the region."

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3. Congressional Deadlock Over Health Care

[01:07]; [01:37]

• Status: Senate rejected both Democratic and Republican health care bills as ACA subsidies near expiration, with a deadline looming.
• Key Points:
  • House Republicans to hold votes on a new bill next week.
  • Their proposal contains cost-saving but not subsidy extension.
  • Senate votes failed to extend subsidies or to direct funds to low-income Americans.
  • Without action, 2025 premiums for ACA enrollees may spike by 75%.

Quote (Amy Held, 01:37):
"Expiring tax credits mean the average ACA enrollee will see their premium costs spike 75%."

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4. Political Prisoners Released in Belarus

[02:22]; [02:34]

• Development: Belarus released over 120 political prisoners after a deal brokered by the Trump administration.
• Conditions: U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash trade.
• Who’s Freed: High-profile opposition leaders, including Nobel laureate Ales Belyatsky and protest leader Maria Kolesnikova.
• Context: This is part of a broader push to exchange sanctions relief for human rights concessions. Around 1,200 political prisoners remain.

Quote (Charles Mainz, 02:34):
"It means long sought freedom for many of the most high profile critics of the regime of Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko."

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5. Other Notable Headlines

President Trump at Army-Navy Game & Heisman Trophy

[03:13]

• President Trump to attend Army-Navy game in Baltimore.
• Heisman Trophy award ceremony to take place in New York City tonight.

Powerball Jackpot Hits $1 Billion

[03:48]

• Prize: Cash value is over $457 million, Powerball’s seventh-largest jackpot.
• Context: Just months after another billion-dollar jackpot.
• Larger jackpots in recent years are due to higher ticket prices, but odds to win remain about 1 in 292 million.

Quote (Matt Bloom, 03:48):
"The jackpot has an estimated cash value of just over $457 million... the odds of winning the jackpot aren't much better... they sit at roughly 1 in 292.2 million."

Extreme Cold and Weather Alerts

[04:30]

• Pacific Northwest: More flooding possible.
• Midwest & Northeast: National Weather Service warns of near-record cold in Minnesota and North Dakota; snow moving into Ohio Valley and Northeast.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Windsor Johnston (U.S. Fatalities in Syria, 00:17):
  "U.S. Central Command says two American service members and one U.S. civilian were killed in an attack in Syria..."
• Scott Greenstone (Washington State Landslides, 00:51):
  "Right now with all the deeply saturated earth from all this rainfall… there's a high risk of landslides across the region."
• Amy Held (Health Care Subsidies, 01:37):
  "Expiring tax credits mean the average ACA enrollee will see their premium costs spike 75%."
• Charles Mainz (Belarus Prisoner Release, 02:34):
  "It means long sought freedom for many of the most high profile critics of the regime of Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko."
• Matt Bloom (Powerball Odds, 03:48):
  "According to the game's organizers... they sit at roughly 1 in 292.2 million."

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:17 — Syria attack & U.S. casualties
• 00:51 — Washington State flood update
• 01:37 — Health care legislation deadlock
• 02:34 — Belarus political prisoners released
• 03:13 — President Trump at Army-Navy, Heisman preview
• 03:48 — Powerball jackpot update
• 04:30 — National weather alerts (cold, snow, floods)

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Summary

This NPR News Now episode delivers urgent updates on U.S. losses in Syria, the trajectory of severe flooding in Washington, a deepening health care crisis as Congress stalls, a significant diplomatic breakthrough in Belarus, massive lottery stakes, and severe U.S. weather. The news is delivered succinctly, maintaining an even, direct tone and prioritizing clarity and key facts, making it ideal for listeners seeking a quick but comprehensive news overview.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. U.S. central Command says two American service members and one U.S. civilian were killed in an attack in Syria today after they were ambushed by a lone I gunmen. Three additional service members were wounded. The attacker was killed. Floodwaters are slowly receding across parts of Washington state after days of record rainfall. Scott Greenstone of members station KOUW reports. Rivers are expected to stay high for several more days.

[Scott Greenstone]

It could be, unfortunately, that more damage is coming because right now with all the deeply saturated earth from all this rainfall, right. There's a high risk of landslides across the region. A couple landslides have already closed some regional highways for periods of time.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's Scott Greenstone reporting. More rain is in the forecast for Sunday, which could push water levels back up again. So far, authorities say no deaths have been reported. Among the hardest hit areas is Burlington, a farming community north of Seattle. The Republican led Senate rejected two competing health care bills this week. And the NPR's Amy Held reports lawmakers are deadlocked less than a month before subsidies are set to skyrocket for millions of Americans.

[Amy Held]

Health care in the US Is already the most expensive in the developed world, something people increasingly can't afford. House Republicans plan to hold votes next week on their health care bill released Friday. It does include some cost saving measures, but not an extension of Affordable Care act subsidies set to expire next year. To pass, it would need Democratic support in the Senate. Earlier Friday, the Senate voted on subsidies as promised when Democrats agreed to vote to end the government shutdown last month. That health care vote failed. So did the Republican plan that would have directed health care money to low income Americans. Expiring tax credits mean the average ACA enrollee will see their premium costs spike 75%. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

The former Soviet republic of Belarus has released more than 120 political prisoners under a deal brokered by the Trump administration. NPR's Charles Mainz reports from Moscow.

[Charles Mainz]

The prisoners were freed in exchange for the US Agreeing to lift sanctions on trade in Belarusian potash, a key export for Belarus. And it means long sought freedom for many of the most high profile critics of the regime of Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko, among them Nobel Peace Lord Alas Belyatsky was one time presidential candidate Victor Boborico and Maria Kolesnikova who led a wave of pro democracy protests in 2020 before a violent government crackdown. The release comes amid a wider attempt by the Trump administration to trade sanctions relief for the freedom of political prisoners in Belarus, believed to number around 1200 people, according to human rights groups. Charles Manes, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News. In Washington. President Trump is expected to attend this afternoon's annual Army Navy football game. The game is being played in Baltimore as college football prepares to hand out its most prestigious award. The Heisman Trophy will be awarded tonight during a ceremony in New York City. The Powerball jackpot has grown to a whopping $1 billion for the second time this year. NPR's Matt Bloom reports. A winner in tonight's drawing could take home a record prize.

[Matt Bloom]

The jackpot has an estimated cash value of just over $457 million, which would be Powerball's seventh largest sum in history. It comes just a few months after another billion dollar sum in September that was split by ticket holders in Missouri and Texas. Powerball and Mega Millions, the two largest lottery games in the US have been trying to garner larger jackpots. Higher ticket prices have helped boost the pool, but the odds of winning the jackpot aren't much better. According to the game's organizers at the Multi State Lottery association, they sit at roughly 1 in 292.2 million. Matt Bloom, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

As the Pacific Northwest faces the threat of more flooding, the National Weather Service is warning of near record cold temperatures in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota as snowfall moves into the Ohio Valley today. Forecasters say snow can also fall parts of the Northeast. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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