NPR News Now: December 15, 2025, 10PM EST

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers concise updates on several major stories in politics, public safety, environmental disasters, international relations, consumer regulation, health, and community initiatives. Key events include a lawsuit involving former President Trump and the BBC, a mass shooting at Brown University, a court battle over California's congressional map, catastrophic flooding in Washington state, US-Ukraine negotiations, Spain’s regulatory action against Airbnb, new melanoma research, and Connecticut's holiday film tourism push.

Key News Highlights & Insights

1. Trump Sues BBC for Defamation

• [00:15] Ryland Barton reports: Former President Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC in Florida. Trump alleges defamation due to editing of a speech in a documentary about the January 6th, 2020 Capitol riot.
• The BBC has issued an apology; both its Director General and new CEO have stepped down amid scrutiny.
• Quote: [00:15] "President Trump is suing the BBC for $10 billion...He argues the British broadcaster defamed him in a documentary by splicing together parts of a speech he made ahead of the 1-6-20 Capitol riot." – Ryland Barton

2. Brown University Shooting Investigation

• [00:52] David Wright on the Providence shooting: Police are seeking public help after a shooting at Brown University killed two and injured nine.
• FBI and local authorities are canvassing the neighborhood and reviewing surveillance footage. Images of a masked person of interest have been released.
• [01:19] Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Nerona draws an analogy between the complexity of investigations and unraveling a garment:
  • Quote: [01:19] “Investigations are like threads that you pull on a garment, and some of them you pull and the garment doesn't open up, and other ones you pull and the garment comes undone.” – Peter Nerona
• The FBI is now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction.

3. California Congressional Map Court Battle

• [01:39] The Justice Department and the state of California have begun a legal dispute over a new congressional map. California voters recently approved the Democrat-favored map; the Trump administration accuses the state of racial gerrymandering.
• The case stands amid broader, politically charged redistricting efforts in states like Texas and Missouri.

4. Washington State Flooding and Levee Failure

• [02:13] Casey Martin reports: A levee on the Green River in western Washington has failed; over 1,000 people are evacuating, adding to nearly 100,000 already displaced by severe flooding and rain.
• Emergency crews are patching the break with nylon sacks.
• [02:30] John Taylor of King County describes the scene:
  • Quote: [02:30] “It looks like a V in the levee. It started at the bottom and kind of caved in, and it looks like a stream running through the levee.” – John Taylor

5. US-Ukraine Peace Deal Security Guarantees

• [02:57] US officials state that Washington has agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine as part of ongoing peace negotiations to end Russia's nearly four-year war against Ukraine.
• Ongoing obstacles include Ukraine's future security and the status of territories occupied by Russia.

6. Spain Fines Airbnb Over Unlicensed Rentals

• [03:14] Spanish authorities have fined Airbnb $75 million for listings without proper license numbers—the latest regulatory measure in Spain’s push to address urban housing affordability.
• Airbnb will contest the fine in court.

7. Study: Tanning Beds & Melanoma Risk

• [03:53] Maria Godoy summarizes findings that tanning bed users are almost three times as likely to develop melanoma as non-users, with risk escalating with more frequent use.
• Particularly striking is the DNA damage among younger female tanners.
• [04:16] Hunter Shane, study co-author, points to premature damage:
  • Quote: [04:16] "Women in their 30s and 40s...had more mutations than people in their 70s and 80s. Basically, they somehow were able to cram in two lifetimes worth of UV damage in 30 years." – Hunter Shane

8. Connecticut’s Holiday Movie Trail

• [04:36] Connecticut is leveraging its presence in Hallmark and Lifetime films by promoting a 'Christmas movie trail' of 22 towns for holiday tourists. Notable locations include Wethersfield, featured in "Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane."

Notable Quotes

• Peter Nerona, Rhode Island Attorney General (on the investigation process):
  • “Investigations are like threads that you pull on a garment, and some of them you pull and the garment doesn't open up, and other ones you pull and the garment comes undone.” [01:19]
• John Taylor, King County Parks Director (on the levee break):
  • “It looks like a V in the levee. It started at the bottom and kind of caved in, and it looks like a stream running through the levee.” [02:30]
• Hunter Shane, UC San Francisco (on tanning bed risk):
  • “They somehow were able to cram in two lifetimes worth of UV damage in 30 years.” [04:16]

Important Timestamps

• [00:15] President Trump’s lawsuit against BBC
• [00:52] Providence, Brown University shooting details
• [01:19] AG Peter Nerona’s comment on investigation
• [01:39] CA congressional map legal battle
• [02:13] Washington state flood and evacuations
• [02:30] John Taylor’s levee description
• [02:57] Ukraine security guarantees
• [03:14] Spain fines Airbnb
• [03:53] Tanning beds–melanoma study
• [04:16] Hunter Shane’s quote on UV damage
• [04:36] Connecticut’s movie tourism initiative

This summary provides a rapid yet comprehensive catch-up on the day’s most urgent news stories, preserving the crisp, clear language of the original broadcast.