NPR News: 12-13-2025 5AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: December 13, 2025, 5AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder | Produced by: NPR News

Episode Overview

This five-minute newscast delivers top headlines from the U.S. and around the world. Today’s major stories include a lawsuit against President Trump’s White House ballroom project, congressional rebuttals concerning leaked Epstein photos, U.S. diplomatic pressure on Ukraine over territorial concessions, severe flooding in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, and updates on the weather and college football.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Lawsuit Against President Trump’s White House Ballroom Project

[00:12–01:20]

• Story:

  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation is suing President Trump and his administration over the ongoing White House ballroom project, claiming proper legal approvals have not been obtained.
  • The east wing of the White House was demolished to make room, but oversight bodies have not received project plans.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Carol Quillen (President, National Trust):
    “We need to speak on behalf of the American public, and we need to make the case that these processes are important and that respecting them matters because our history matters.” [00:55]
  • White House Response (Davis Engel):
    “President Trump has full legal authority to beautify the White House just as his predecessors did.” [01:10]

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2. House Oversight and Epstein Photo Release

[01:20–01:50]

• Story:

  • House Democrats deny White House accusations that photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate were selectively released to embarrass President Trump. Congressman Stephen Lynch says the committee is simply reviewing what was provided.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA):
    “The ones that we released obviously were the top of the batch that was sent by the estate that they thought would be helpful to the committee. And so we're going through that process, but we didn't cherry pick anything. We just took the top of the batch.” [01:35]

• Follow-Up:

  • President Trump dismissed the photos, stating “they are not a big deal.” [01:50]

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3. Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks and US/European Pressure

[01:50–03:02]

• Story:

  • Ukrainian and European representatives are meeting in Paris to discuss the war. The U.S. is pressuring Ukraine to consider ceding the Donbas region to Russia, against the backdrop of strong domestic opposition within Ukraine.
  • President Zelensky is contemplating a public referendum on territorial compromise, though wartime elections are currently unconstitutional.
  • European financial support for Ukraine has diminished.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Ivana Klimpushtinsata (Ukrainian Lawmaker):
    “But just to give in to the aggressor, that is not something that we can agree upon after what we have gone through.” [02:44]

• Additional Note:

  • U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will join related peace talks in Berlin. [03:02]

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4. Record Flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada

[03:02–04:22]

• Story:

  • Washington State faces ongoing flooding due to heavy storms, prompting evacuations and rescues.
  • The Nooksack River overflow has impacted British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, cutting off Vancouver’s main connection to Canada and causing extensive evacuations and school closures.
  • Officials criticize a lack of federal flood mitigation support and warn the crisis is ongoing.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Dan Karpenschuk (NPR Correspondent):
    “Flooding has taken over the main route from Vancouver to the rest of Canada, the Trans Canada Highway. Some officials are describing it as chaos. With the highway gone in about half an hour, police have moved thousands of vehicles off the highway.” [03:44]

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5. Other Headlines

[04:22–04:57]

• Further Weather Alerts:

  • The National Weather Service warns of near-record cold in Minnesota and North Dakota as snowfall approaches the Ohio Valley.

• Upcoming Events:

  • President Trump is expected to attend the Army-Navy football game in Baltimore this afternoon.
  • The Heisman Trophy ceremony will be held tonight in New York City.

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• The importance of historic preservation:

  • Carol Quillen, “...our history matters.” [00:55]

• Direct rebuttal to ‘cherry-picking’ accusation:

  • Stephen Lynch, “...we didn't cherry pick anything. We just took the top of the batch.” [01:35]

• Ukrainian Lawmaker on not caving to Russia:

  • Ivana Klimpushtinsata, “...just to give in to the aggressor, that is not something that we can agree upon...” [02:44]

• Flood described as ‘chaos’:

  • Dan Karpenschuk, “Some officials are describing it as chaos. With the highway gone in about half an hour...” [03:44]

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Tone & Style

• Direct, concise, and reportorial.
• Emphasis on balanced reporting, featuring quotes from involved parties.
• Urgent yet measured delivery typical of breaking news segments.

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This episode delivers brisk, essential updates for listeners seeking a well-rounded picture of national and international news in under five minutes.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

Terms apply [e-mail] live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. A nonprofit group is suing President Trump and his administration, arguing his White House ballroom project has not gotten legally required. Approv. NPR's Tamra Keith reports. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is asking for a temporary halt to construction activity.

[Tamra Keith / Carol Quillen]

The east wing of the White House was torn down to make way for President Trump's ballroom, and the work continues even as no plans have been submitted to the relevant oversight bodies. Carol Quillen is president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

[Carol Quillen]

We feel like we have no choice here. We need to fulfill our mission. We need to we need to speak on behalf of the American public, and we need to make the case that these processes are important and that respecting them matters because our history matters.

[Tamra Keith / Carol Quillen]

White House spokesman Davis Engel says President Trump has full legal authority to beautify the White House just as his predecessors did. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

House Democrats are pushing back against White House claims that those photos from the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's estate were cherry picked to embarrass embarrassed President Trump. Massachusetts Congressman Stephen lynch serves on the House Oversight Committee.

[Stephen Lynch]

The ones that we released obviously were the top of the batch that was sent by the estate that they thought would be helpful to the committee. And so we're going through that process, but we didn't cherry pick anything. We just took the top of the batch.

[Giles Snyder]

The photos released Friday are among tens of thousands received from the Epstein estate. When he was asked about them, President Trump said they are not a big deal. Ukrainian and European representatives will be in Paris today for more talks on ending Russia's war on Ukraine. NPR's Joanna Kakis reports from Kyiv that the U.S. is pressing Ukraine to leave the eastern region of Donbas in Russia's hands.

[Joanna Kakissis / Ivana Klimpushtinsata]

Public opinion polls show that Ukrainians strongly oppose giving up territory to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's exploring whether to hold a public referendum on the issue, though holding elections during wartime is against Ukraine's constitutional the Trump administration is favoring Moscow in negotiations. Lawmaker Ivana Klimpushtinsata says facing Russia without US Support would be incredibly difficult.

[Carol Quillen]

But just to give in to the aggressor, that is not something that we can agree upon after what we have gone through.

[Joanna Kakissis / Ivana Klimpushtinsata]

European leaders say they stand with Ukraine, but Europe's financial support to Ukraine has declined this year. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Giles Snyder]

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that U.S. env. Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner, will join this weekend's talks in Berlin. And from Washington, this is NPR News. Authorities in Washington state are warning that high water sparked by a string of atmospheric river storms could remain for days. The flooding has been record setting, leading to evacuations and dramatic rescues from rooftops and vehicles. The overflow from the Nooksack river in Washington state has led to widespread flooding in British Columbia, Columbia's Fraser Valley, and as Dan Carpentuk reports, that's led to evacuations, school closures and flooded farmland.

[Dan Karpenschuk]

Flooding has taken over the main route from Vancouver to the rest of Canada, the Trans Canada Highway. Some officials are describing it as chaos. With the highway gone in about half an hour, police have moved thousands of vehicles off the highway. Wellness checks are also being conducted of residents in flooded properties. As many as 500 properties were under evacuation orders. Meanwhile, the mayor of Abbotsford is critical of the federal government for a lack of support and for rejecting a request for money for a long term flood mitigation plan. Officials say the emergency is not over yet, and forecasters are calling for more rain in the region over the weekend. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenschuk in Toronto.

[Giles Snyder]

As the Pacific Northwest faces the threat of more flooding. The National Weather Service is warning of near record cold temperatures in portions of Minnesota and North Dakota as snowfall moves into the Ohio Valley today. President Trump is expected to attend this afternoon's annual Army Navy Football. 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. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

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