NPR News Now – December 13, 2025, 8PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst

Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode delivers NPR’s latest top stories from the US and around the world—ranging from a tragic campus shooting at Brown University and significant developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict, to American casualties in Syria, major flooding impacting Washington state agriculture, the passing of actor Peter Green, and labor unrest amid a flu outbreak in the UK.

Key News Stories & Timestamps

1. Brown University Shooting [00:14–01:01]

• Incident Details:
  A shooting occurred outside Brown University's Barris and Holly Building—home to the School of Engineering and Physics Department—while final exams were underway.
• Casualties:
  • 2 people killed
  • 8 in critical but stable condition
  • Suspect still at large; described as male, dressed in black
• Current Status:
  • Shelter-in-place order active for university and neighboring areas
• Quote:

  "We're utilizing every resource possible to find this suspect."
  — Deputy Police Chief Timothy O'Hara [00:49]

2. Israel-Hamas Conflict – Senior Hamas Commander Killed [01:01–01:57]

• Event:
  Israeli military claims to have killed Reed Saad, allegedly Hamas’s second-in-command, in an airstrike near Gaza City.
• Evidence & Reactions:
  • Israeli military released a video purporting to show the airstrike
  • Hamas did not confirm Saad’s death but condemned the strike, referring to the target as a “civilian vehicle”
• Significance:
  • Highest profile Hamas leader assassination since the October ceasefire
  • Reed Saad was a close ally to Azzedine al Haddad, who became head of Hamas’s military wing after a previous Israeli operation
• Quote:

  “Saad’s killing would be the highest profile assassination of a Hamas leader by the Israeli military since a ceasefire deal was reached in October.”
  — Hadil Al Shalchi [01:42]

3. Deadly Ambush of Americans in Syria [01:57–02:27]

• Incident:
  • 3 Americans (two service members, one civilian interpreter) killed in a reported ISIS ambush in central Syria
  • 3 others wounded
  • Gunman also killed
• Official Response:
  • President Trump vows retaliation against ISIS but provides no specifics

4. Washington State Floods Impact Agriculture [02:27–03:09]

• Extent of Damage:
  • Floodwaters recede after days of record rainfall; widespread agricultural damage
  • Over 1,000 acres of blueberries and raspberries underwater in Skagit and Whatcom counties
  • Economic Impact:
    • Crops potentially lost or uprooted
    • Drip irrigation systems (drip tape) likely ruined by sediment, expensive to replace
  • Dairies also affected:
    • Dairy cattle moved to higher ground
    • Major feed mill in Whatcom county flooded
• Quote:

  “Most blueberries are irrigated with drip tape or tube. When submerged in floodwaters loaded with sediments, they can get clogged or ruined. That could cost thousands of dollars per acre to replace or fix.”
  — Anna King [02:39]

5. Actor Peter Green Dies at 60 [03:09–04:09]

• Career Highlights:
  • Known for villainous roles in “Pulp Fiction” and “The Mask”
  • Born in New Jersey, 1965; pursued acting in his twenties
• Notable Roles:
  • Nemesis to Jim Carrey in “The Mask” (1994)
  • Security guard in “Pulp Fiction” (1994)
• Future Projects:
  • Was narrating the documentary “From the American People, the Withdrawal of USAID”
• Quote:

  “The tall, angular character actor excelled at playing bad guys, sometimes in comedies.”
  — Chloe Veltman [03:26]

6. UK Doctors’ Strike Amid Early Flu Outbreak [04:09–04:53]

• Context:
  • Over 75,000 doctors set to strike for five days, labeled “reckless” by PM Keir Starmer as severe flu season hits early.
• Current Negotiations:
  • Union considering latest government offer (some concerns addressed, but no pay raise above 20% hike sought after years of freezes)
• Quote:

  "The union says the government's latest offer addresses some concerns about a lack of paid trainees, but contains no money for the more than 20% hike they were looking for this after five years of pay freezes."
  — Jeanine Herbst [04:40]

Notable Quotes

• On Brown University Shooting:

  "We're utilizing every resource possible to find this suspect."
  — Deputy Police Chief Timothy O'Hara [00:49]

• On Israeli Airstrike:

  "Saad’s killing would be the highest profile assassination of a Hamas leader by the Israeli military since a ceasefire deal was reached in October."
  — Hadil Al Shalchi [01:42]

• On WA State Flood Impact:

  "Most blueberries are irrigated with drip tape or tube...they can get clogged or ruined. That could cost thousands of dollars per acre to replace or fix."
  — Anna King [02:39]

• On UK Doctors’ Strike:

  "The union says the government's latest offer addresses some concerns about a lack of paid trainees, but contains no money for the more than 20% hike they were looking for this after five years of pay freezes."
  — Jeanine Herbst [04:40]

Memorable Moments

• Immediate lockdown and manhunt at Brown University due to campus shooting [00:14–01:01]
• Breaking news of a major leadership loss for Hamas [01:13–01:57]
• Announcement of renewed US military casualties and presidential response in Syria [01:57–02:27]
• Vivid description of agricultural devastation in the Pacific Northwest [02:27–03:09]
• Nostalgic tribute to Peter Green’s roles in 1990s classics, including a brief audio clip from “The Mask” [03:26–03:45]

For more detailed coverage, visit npr.org.