NPR News Now - December 14, 2025, 11PM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Date: December 15, 2025
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides brisk updates on major global and U.S. news, with a focus on several tragic mass shootings (in Australia and Rhode Island), a major snowstorm impacting the Northeast, a conservative political victory in Chile, a landmark court decision in Hong Kong, and entertainment news from the U.S. box office. The tone is somber and factual, reflecting the gravity of the news covered.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Sydney Hanukkah Event Shooting

[00:17–01:19]

• Incident Overview:
  A shooting attack occurred at a Hanukkah event on Sydney's Bondi Beach. At least 16 people were killed, including one of the alleged gunmen.
• Victims:
  The youngest victim was 10 years old. Dozens have been hospitalized; among them, a 24-year-old suspect. His alleged accomplice, his 50-year-old father, was killed at the scene.
• Prime Minister's Response:
  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to victims, visited the site with flowers, and forcefully denounced antisemitism and terrorism.
• Investigation:
  Raids were carried out at the suspects’ homes, with state, federal police, and domestic intelligence involved in the investigation.

Notable Quote:

• “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti-Semitism, an act of terrorism.”
  —Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, read by Bruce Konviser [00:43]

2. Brown University Shooting in Rhode Island

[01:19–02:04]

• Incident Details:
  Authorities detained a person of interest after a mass shooting at Brown University during final exams.
• Casualties:
  At least two dead, nine injured.
• Community Impact:
  Mayor Brett Smiley described the shock and the emotional impact on the city and university. The campus shelter-in-place has been lifted; exams canceled.

Notable Quote:

• “I think maybe intellectually we knew it could happen anywhere, including here, but that's not the same as it happening in our community.”
  —Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, relayed by Joe Hernandez [01:34]

3. First Major Winter Storm Hits New York Metropolitan Area

[02:04–02:48]

• Forecast and Impact:
  Up to 6 inches of snow fell across New Jersey with limited travel disruption due to early timing; 80+ flights were canceled in NYC-area airports.
• Weather Outlook:
  The snow will clear, followed by strong winds and “a blast of arctic air”, with temperatures struggling to rise above freezing in coming days.

4. Conservative Shift in Chile’s Government

[02:48–03:29]

• Election Results:
  Jose Antonio Cast, an ultra-conservative presidential candidate, won by more than 15 percentage points.
• Policy Promises:
  Cast vowed to crack down on crime and deport “hundreds of thousands” of undocumented immigrants.
• Political Implications:
  Marks a sharp rightward movement for Chile; the governing left-wing coalition suffered a clear defeat.

5. Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai Found Guilty on Security Charges

[03:29–04:10]

• Trial Outcome:
  Jimmy Lai, prominent activist and media proprietor, found guilty on all national security charges.
• Specific Charges:
  Collusion with foreign forces (punishable by life imprisonment), meeting with U.S. officials critical of China, and publishing seditious material via Apple Daily (which was shuttered in 2021).
• Broader Significance:
  Trial closely watched as a test of Beijing’s crackdown on dissent.

6. Guatemala State of Emergency after Gang Violence

[04:10–04:28]

• Events:
  Criminal gangs attacked a military post and police station, killing at least five.
• Government Response:
  State of emergency declared in two municipalities; president accuses gangs of seeking regional control.

7. Weekend Box Office Results (Entertainment News)

[04:28–04:56]

• Top Films:
  • Zootopia 2 retakes the #1 spot with $26.3 million (over $1 billion worldwide).
  • Five Nights at Freddy’s Part 2 drops to second, down 70% from debut ($15.4 million).
  • Wicked For Good holds third place ($8.6 million).
• Interesting Note:
  Zootopia 2’s international success, especially in China, contributed to its billion-dollar run.

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Content | |-----------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:43 | Bruce Konviser (quoting PM Albanese) | “What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of anti-Semitism, an act of terrorism.” | | 01:34 | Joe Hernandez (quoting Mayor Smiley) | “I think maybe intellectually we knew it could happen anywhere, including here, but that's not the same as it happening in our community.” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Sydney Hanukkah Attack: 00:17–01:19
• Brown University Shooting: 01:19–02:04
• NY Metro Snowstorm: 02:04–02:48
• Chile Election: 02:48–03:29
• Jimmy Lai Guilty Verdict: 03:29–04:10
• Guatemala Gang Violence: 04:10–04:28
• Box Office Results: 04:28–04:56

Summary

This NPR News Now episode delivers fast, impactful coverage of breaking news—two tragic mass shootings (Sydney and Brown University), significant winter weather in the Northeast, a conservative win in Chile with tough-on-immigration rhetoric, a historic conviction in Hong Kong's clampdown on dissent, serious gang violence in Guatemala, and entertainment highlights from the U.S. box office. The reporting is concise, urgent, and respects the seriousness of the events, with occasional moments of empathy and reflection from local leaders.