NPR News: 12-14-2025 8PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 15, 2025, 8PM EST

Host: Jeanine Hurst
Episode Theme:
A concise overview of the latest world and national events, including a tragic mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, developments in a Rhode Island campus shooting, the election of Chile’s new president, the imminent sentencing of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai, and a note on the Geminid meteor shower’s peak.

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1. Mass Shooting at Australian Hanukkah Celebration

[00:19–01:29]

• Event Overview:
  At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured when a mass shooting took place at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney. The suspects are reportedly a father and son.
• Reactions in Israel:
  Jerome Sokolovsky reports from Tel Aviv on the mood among Australian Jews living in Israel, who are holding vigils and mourning.
• Community Reflections:
  • Ellie Parks reflects on his grandparents’ escape from European anti-Semitism to Australia, suggesting recent events challenge Australia’s image as a safe haven:

    “When we grew up, we thought we were the blessed Jews. We were the ones who didn't have to deal with all that. And unfortunately, the last few years have shown us that that isn't quite true.” — Ellie Parks [01:06]

  • Sokolovsky emphasizes that most Australians are horrified by the attack and still value Australia as a haven.

    “The vast majority of Australians are horrified by the attack and also want the kind of country that was a haven for his grandparents.” — Jerome Sokolovsky [01:16]

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2. Rhode Island Campus Shooting

[01:29–02:07]

• Incident Details:
  Police in Rhode Island confirm a man in his 20s (identified by sources as Benjamin Erickson) is in custody after a shooting at Brown University that left at least two dead and nine injured. The motive is undetermined. The incident occurred during final exams.
• Community Response:
  • Governor Daniel McKee offers state support to those affected:

    "As governor, I'm committing to the city and to Brown and the broader community that has been impacted by this to make sure everyone who needs assistance, mental health assistance, can access them." — Daniel McKee [01:51]

  • Classes and finals at Brown have been cancelled. Flags at state buildings are at half-staff.

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3. Chilean Presidential Election

[02:07–03:14]

• Election Results:
  Jose Antonio Kast, described as a right-wing populist, wins the presidential runoff, defeating his left-wing rival.
• Security and Immigration Platform:
  • Kast's campaign centered on public security and immigration. He promises an “emergency government” and a hardline stance on crime.
• Controversial Legacy:
  • As the son of a Nazi party member and a defender of Pinochet, Kast breaks with post-1990 Chilean presidential tradition by openly supporting the former dictatorship.
  • Notable policy: Illegal migrants must leave Chile by March 11, 2026, or face prosecution and deportation.

    “Kast ran a campaign based almost entirely on public security and immigration... and will become the first president since Democracy returned in 1990 to openly support the dictatorship.” — John Bartlett [02:29]

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4. Jimmy Lai’s Sentencing in Hong Kong

[03:14–04:20]

• Background:
  Democracy activist and media figure Jimmy Lai is facing multiple charges under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, including one with a potential life sentence.
• Key Details:
  • Arrested in 2020 for alleged collusion with foreign forces through contacts with US politicians and journalists.
  • Has endured years in prison on other protest-related charges.
  • His family reports that his health has declined while awaiting the verdict.
• Significance:
  Lai’s activism follows a successful business career after arriving in Hong Kong as a refugee.

  “Lai’s work funding and organizing pro democracy demonstrations came late in life. After arriving in Hong Kong as a refugee, he built a fortune in fast fashion, then started several successful media companies in Hong Kong and Taiwan before pivoting to politics.” — Emily Fang [04:00]

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5. Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks

[04:20–04:58]

• Celestial Event:
  The Geminid meteor shower has peaked, offering the chance to see up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour in dark-sky locations.
• Scientific Note:
  The Geminids are caused by Earth passing through debris left by an asteroid; entering the atmosphere, these particles create bright, colorful streaks.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ellie Parks on Generational Safety:

  “We thought we were the blessed Jews... the last few years have shown us that isn’t quite true.” [01:06]

• Governor McKee on Community Support:

  “...make sure everyone who needs assistance, mental health assistance, can access them.” [01:51]

• John Bartlett on Chile's New President:

  “...first president since Democracy returned in 1990 to openly support the dictatorship.” [02:29]

• Emily Fang on Jimmy Lai’s Journey:

  “…built a fortune in fast fashion, then started several successful media companies…before pivoting to politics.” [04:00]

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End of content – NPR News Now, 8PM EST

Transcript

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[Jeanine Hurst]

NPR News, I'm Jeanine Hurst. Australian Jews living in Israel are mourning the deaths of at least 15 people in today's mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi beach in Sy. Dozens of others were injured. Police say a father and a son are suspected in the attack. Jerome Sokolovsky has more from Tel Aviv.

[Jerome Sokolovsky]

An Australian cantor chants a prayer of mourning at a vigil on a beach in Tel Aviv. Hundreds of people crowd around and light candles in memory of the Bondi beach massacre victims. Ellie Parks said his grandparents and many Australian Jews of their generation were survivors of the Holocaust. They went to Australia to escape the anti Semitism of the old world.

[Ellie Parks]

When we grew up, we thought we were the blessed Jews. We were the ones who didn't have to deal with all that. And unfortunately, the last few years have shown us that that isn't quite true.

[Jerome Sokolovsky]

But he said the vast majority of Australians are horrified by the attack and also want the kind of country that was a haven for his grandparents. Jerome Sokolovsky, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Hurst]

In Rhode island, police say they have a person of interest in custody, a man in his 20s identified by sources as Benjamin Erickson. There's no word on a motive for the shooting that left at least two people dead, nine others injured. It happened yesterday as students were taking final exams. And the State's governor, Daniel McKee, says they are offering help to those who are struggling with what happened.

[Daniel McKee]

As governor, I'm committing to the city and to Brown and the broader community that has been impacted by this to make sure everyone who needs assistance, mental health assistance, can access them.

[Jeanine Hurst]

Brown has cancelled classes and finals. McKee also ordered flags at state buildings be lowered to half staff. Byre politician Jose Antonio Cast will be Chile's next president, having scored a resounding victory over his left wing rival in the presidential runoff. John Bartlett has more from Santiago, Chile.

[John Bartlett]

Kast ran a campaign based almost entirely on public security and immigration, claiming that he would install an emergency government in a country which he describes as being in crisis and which is deeply traumatized by a recent rise in crime. Kast's father, Michael, was a Nazi party member who fought in the German army in the Second World War and emigrated to Chile in 1950. His son, Jose Antonio, the president elect is a staunch supporter of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and will become the first president since Democracy returned in 1990 to openly support the dictatorship. Cast will take office on 11th March, 2026, the deadline he has repeatedly given for illegal migrants to leave the country or face persecution and deportation. For NPR News, I'm Jon Bartlett in Santiago, Chile.

[Jeanine Hurst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Media mogul and democracy activist Jimmy Lai is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow in Hong Kong. He's facing multiple charges for his activism. NPR's Emily Fang reports. One carries a potential life sentence.

[Emily Fang]

Lai was first arrested in 2020 under Beijing's National Security Law in Hong Kong, accused of colluding with foreign forces by contacting American politicians like President Trump and then Vice President Mike Pence, as well as journalists. He had already spent years in prison on protest charges when his national security trial began in 2023. And while awaiting his verdict, his family says the 78 year old's health has declined. Lai's work funding and organizing pro democracy demonstrations came late in life. After arriving in Hong Kong as a refugee, he built a fortune in fast fashion, then started several successful media companies in Hong Kong and Taiwan before pivoting to politics And Emily Fang, NPR News.

[Jeanine Hurst]

The Geminid meteor shower, considered to be the best one in the skies, peaked this weekend, but there is still a chance you can see the show tonight. NASA says people, if they're watching from very dark skies, can see up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. The shower, known for being bright and colorful, happens when the Earth passes through a debris field of tiny particles left behind by an asteroid. And when the debris hits our atmosphere, it produces the those bright streaks of light. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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