NPR News: 12-14-2025 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 14, 2025, 5AM EST

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Jael Snyder, NPR
Date: December 14, 2025
Episode Theme:
A concise update of major national and international news, including mass shooting incidents in the US and Australia, a deadly attack on Americans in Syria and the White House’s response, dangerous weather across the US, a historic pregnancy in California, and sports and electoral news.

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1. Tragedy at Brown University: Mass Shooting

• Reported at [00:14] by Jael Snyder:

  • At least 2 dead, 9 injured in a mass shooting at Brown University, Rhode Island.
  • Suspect remains at large.

• Field Report ([00:27] – [01:13]):

  • Ben Burke, Ocean State Media:
    • Rhode Island Hospital locked down Saturday night; access restricted.
    • Shooting occurred in a classroom in the university’s engineering and physics building.
    • Brown University President Christina Paxson:
      • “This is the day that one hopes never happens, and it has.” ([00:51] – [00:56])
    • 10 of the 11 victims are students.
    • Video shows suspect in dark clothing fleeing the area; 400+ law enforcement, FBI, and ATF involved in the search.

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2. Shooting at Bondi Beach, Australia

• Reported at [01:13] by Jael Snyder:

  • Two people in custody after multiple shots reported at Bondi Beach, Sydney.

• Details ([01:22] – [01:37]):

  • Ben Burke:
    • Several injured; Australia’s Prime Minister condemns as “shocking, distressing.”
    • Shooting interrupted a Hanukkah event; video shows crowds fleeing.
    • Police urge public to avoid the area.

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3. Deadly Attack in Syria Kills Americans; White House Reaction

• Reported at [01:37] by Jael Snyder:

  • 2 US service members and an American civilian killed in Syria attack Saturday; 3 others injured.
  • Suspected attacker also killed, per Pentagon.

• White House Coverage ([01:51] – [02:23]):

  • Sage Miller, NPR:
    • Before departing to the Army-Navy football game, President Trump addressed the loss, blaming ISIS.
    • Trump:
      • “We will retaliate.” ([02:11])
    • No details given on potential US response.
    • Trump noted injured are “doing pretty well.”

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4. Weather Disasters: Pacific Northwest Flooding & National Cold Blast

• Flooding ([02:23] – [02:50]):

  • Jael Snyder & Ben Burke:
    • Severe flooding after atmospheric river storms in Pacific Northwest.
    • Over a foot of rain in some regions.
    • National Weather Service meteorologist Reid Walcott:
      • “The bottom line is we’re not done. You know, this event is basically partway through at this point in time.” ([02:38] – [02:43])
    • More flooding, tree damage, power outages expected; thousands evacuated.

• Cold Wave ([02:56] – [03:16]):

  • Ben Burke:
    • Arctic air pushes into the US; extreme cold warnings for Illinois and Indiana.
    • Temperatures as far south as Montgomery, Alabama, could drop into the 20s.

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5. Chile Presidential Runoff Election

• Reported at [03:16] by Jael Snyder:

  • Chileans voting in a presidential runoff.

• Details ([03:19] – [03:43]):

  • Ben Burke:
    • Communist candidate advanced from first round in November.
    • Hard-right former lawmaker Jose Antonio Cast favored to win.
    • Cast is a hardliner advocating mass deportations—leading in polls after two prior losses.
    • Results expected after polls close tonight.

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6. Rare Medical News: Full-Term Abdominal Pregnancy in California

• Reported at [03:43] by Jael Snyder:

  • California woman delivers healthy baby after rare abdominal pregnancy.

• Details ([03:52] – [04:24]):

  • Kevin Tidmarsh, LAS:
    • Suzy Lopez discovered abdominal pregnancy during exam for an ovarian cyst.
    • Delivered baby at Cedars Sinai with no major complications.
    • Lopez:
      • “I just appreciate everything, even if it’s the baby crying because that just means that his lungs work.” ([04:17])
    • Doctors say outcome may be unprecedented.

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7. Sports: Heisman Trophy for Indiana

• Reported at [04:30] by Jael Snyder and Ben Burke:

  • Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy—the school’s first ever.

• Details ([04:33] – [04:40]):

  • Led team to a perfect season, including victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship.
  • Indiana advances to College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl in January.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is the day that one hopes never happens, and it has.”
  — Christina Paxson, Brown University President ([00:51] – [00:56])
• “We will retaliate.”
  — President Donald Trump ([02:11])
• “The bottom line is we’re not done. You know, this event is basically partway through at this point in time.”
  — Reid Walcott, National Weather Service ([02:38] – [02:43])
• “I just appreciate everything, even if it’s the baby crying because that just means that his lungs work.”
  — Suzy Lopez ([04:17])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:14] Mass shooting at Brown University
• [01:13] Bondi Beach shooting in Australia
• [01:37] US deaths in Syria & Trump’s response
• [02:23] Pacific Northwest flooding
• [02:56] Arctic cold warning in US Midwest/South
• [03:16] Chile presidential runoff
• [03:43] Rare full-term abdominal pregnancy
• [04:30] Indiana QB wins Heisman Trophy

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Summary:
This edition delivers breaking updates on violence at home and abroad, US political and military developments, climate and weather emergencies affecting the nation, a remarkable medical story, and major sports and political events, all efficiently packed within a five-minute window, complete with testimony from those at the center of the news.

Transcript

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[Jael Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jael Snyder. At least two people are dead and nine injured after a mass shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island. The suspect remains at large.

[Ben Burke]

Ben Burke with Ocean State Media has more.

Rhode Island Hospital was on lockdown Saturday night, limiting entry to staff, patients and the parents of injured students. Authorities and faculty say the shooting took place in a classroom in an engineering and physics building on campus. In a press conference, Brown University President Christina Paxson said 10 of the 11 people shot were students.

[Christina Paxson]

This is the day that one hopes never happens, and it has.

[Ben Burke]

A video released by the city of Providence shows a suspect wearing dark clothing turning a nearby Corner. More than 400 law enforcement personnel are assisting with the investigation, including the FBI and atf. For NPR News, I'm Ben Burke in Providence.

[Jael Snyder]

Police in Australia say two people are in custody following reports of multiple shots fired at Sydney's famed Bondi Beach.

[Ben Burke]

Multiple people are reported injured, and Australia's prime minister is calling the incident shocking, distressing. The shooting happened during a Hanukkah event on the beach. Videos online show people scattering. Police are still urging people to avoid the area.

[Jael Snyder]

President Trump says the US Will respond after two US Service members and an American civilian were killed in an attack in Syria Saturday.

[Ben Burke]

Three other people were injured, and the.

[Jael Snyder]

Pentagon says the gunman was also killed.

[Ben Burke]

Here's NPR's Sage Miller reporting before departing.

[Sage Miller]

On Marine One to the Army Navy football game in Baltimore. Trump said he is mourning the loss of those killed in the ambush. He also told reporters that he blames ISIS for the attack. He added that it's an attack on Syria and the United States, and Trump doesn't plan to sit idly by.

[Donald Trump]

We will retaliate.

[Sage Miller]

He did not specify how the US Would retaliate, but Trump did say the three injured, quote, seem to be doing pretty well. Sage Miller, NPR News, the White House.

[Jael Snyder]

The Pacific Northwest remains on guard following severe flooding from a string of atmospheric.

[Ben Burke]

River storms that dumped a foot or more of rain over several days. Reid Walcott is a National Weather Service meteorologist in Seattle.

[Reid Walcott]

The bottom line is we're not done. You know, this event is basically partway through at this point in time.

[Jael Snyder]

Walcott says residents should be prepared for additional flooding, tree damage and power outages.

[Ben Burke]

As another round of wind and RA to move into the region. The flooding has forced thousands to flee their homes.

[Jael Snyder]

Also, a blast of arctic air is.

[Ben Burke]

Spreading into the US Extreme cold warnings are up today for portions of Illinois and Indiana, and forecasters say temperatures as far south as Montgomery, Alabama, could dip into the 20s later Sunday night. This is NPR News. Voters in Chile are going to the.

[Jael Snyder]

Polls today in a presidential runoff election.

[Ben Burke]

The communist candidate representing the ruling Center Left coalition won November's first round, but.

[Jael Snyder]

Voters are expected to turn to hard.

[Ben Burke]

Right former lawmaker Jose Antonio Cast as Chile's next leader. Cast is a hardliner who's been calling for mass deportations. He lost the past two presidential elections, but polls show him leading his rival this time around. Results are expected soon after polls close.

[Jael Snyder]

This evening, a California woman is celebrating the successful delivery of an incredibly rare full term abdominal pregnancy.

[Ben Burke]

Kevin Tidmarsh, member station LAS Reports, Suzy.

[Kevin Tidmarsh]

Lopez discovered she was pregnant during a routine checkup for a large ovarian cyst that was slated to be removed. Soon after breaking the news to her husband, Lopez felt abdominal pain. They went to Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, where doctors found the fetus had fully developed far outside of her uterus. After intensive monitoring and surgery, Lopez's baby was born with no major complications.

[Christina Paxson]

I just appreciate everything, even if it's the baby crying because that just means that his lungs work.

[Kevin Tidmarsh]

Lopez's doctors say this outcome may be unprecedented. For NPR News, I'm Kevin Tidmarsh.

[Jael Snyder]

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is this year's.

[Ben Burke]

Heisman Trophy winner, the first Indiana player.

[Jael Snyder]

To ever win college football's most prestigious prize.

[Ben Burke]

He led Indiana to a perfect regular season, beating Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. Indiana will play a college football playoff quarterfinal game in the Rose bowl on January. This is NPR News.

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