NPR News: 12-15-2025 3AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – December 15, 2025, 3AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Overview:
This five-minute news segment covers breaking national and international stories, including the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, a campus shooting at Brown University, a deadly Hanukkah attack in Australia, the conviction of media tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong, the trial of a Wisconsin judge, and notable sports updates.

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Major Stories and Key Insights

1. Deaths of Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer

[00:15]

• Report: Rob Reiner, acclaimed actor ("All in the Family") and director of classics such as When Harry Met Sally, Spinal Tap, and The Princess Bride, and his wife Michelle Singer, were found dead in their Los Angeles home.
• Police: Investigating as "an apparent homicide."
• Significance: Rob Reiner was a beloved figure in television and film, remembered for both his performance and directorial contributions.
• Memorable Note:
  • “Reiner rose to fame for his role in the TV series All in the Family, for which he won two Emmy Awards. He also directed a number of popular movies…” – Dale Willman [00:21]

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2. Brown University Campus Shooting

[00:32]

• Incident: Shooting on Brown University’s campus left two students dead and nine injured.
• Eyewitness (Medical Student Ano Nguyen):
  • “Unfortunately, this is like a second school shooting that I've been to. My last one was my undergrad. And I feel like something this unimaginable is happening way too often. But, you know, praying for everyone out there and then hopefully there will be action in the future.” – Ano Nguyen [00:53]
• Investigation Update:
  • Police released a previously detained person-of-interest, indicating a change in investigative direction.

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3. Hanukkah Celebration Attack in Australia

[01:09]

• Summary: A shooting at Bondi Beach's Hanukkah event in Australia killed at least 15.
• Context: Follows "a sharp rise in anti-Semitic attacks" since the October 7 Hamas attack and Gaza war.
• Reporter (Scott Horsley):
  • Rise in anti-Jewish incidents: over 3,600 since October 2023, including graffiti and synagogue firebombing.
  • Global trend, not limited to Australia.
  • Political action:
    • “Earlier this year, Australia joined other countries in granting recognition to a Palestinian state, a move that Israel's prime minister accused of helping to fuel the anti Semitic fire.” – Scott Horsley [01:56]

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4. Conviction of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong

[02:18]

• Event: Media tycoon Jimmy Lai found guilty of sedition and collusion with foreign forces.
• Details:
  • Judges found “no doubt that Lai harbored his resentment and hatred of the People’s Republic of China for many of his adult years.” – Judges statement, paraphrased by Charisse Pham [02:33]
  • WhatsApp evidence shown of meetings with US officials, including Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, during Hong Kong’s 2019 protests.
  • Lai faces possible life sentence; verdict watched closely by US and UK.

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5. Federal Criminal Trial of Wisconsin Judge

[03:10]

• Subject: County Judge Hannah Dugan on trial for allegedly helping a man evade immigration authorities (ICE).
• Key Legal Point:
  • “A big issue for the jury will be Dugan’s mindset…whether she was trying to impede an obstructive proceeding or…trying to do what she thought was her job, run her courtroom…” – Lori Levinson, law professor [03:45]
• Defense: Expected to argue Dugan followed court protocol amid unprecedented circumstances.

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6. Obituaries and Sports Headlines

[04:16]

• Paul Wiggins: Former Stanford/Cleveland Browns football star and coach, has died at 91.
  • Remembered for his defensive play and for coaching during “The Play” in 1982.
• NFL: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) suffered a season-ending ACL tear; Chiefs eliminated from playoffs.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:15] Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer deaths
• [00:53] Brown University shooting – Ano Nguyen’s remarks
• [01:09] Investigation and Hanukkah attack in Australia
• [01:37] Anti-Semitic incident rise – Scott Horsley report
• [02:18] Jimmy Lai conviction – Charisse Pham report
• [03:10] Wisconsin judge trial – Mayan Silver and Lori Levinson
• [04:16] Paul Wiggins obituary and Patrick Mahomes injury

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Notable Quotes

• Ano Nguyen (Brown University shooting witness, [00:53]):
  “Unfortunately, this is like a second school shooting that I've been to. My last one was my undergrad…something this unimaginable is happening way too often.”
• Charisse Pham (Jimmy Lai verdict, [02:33]):
  “There is, quote, no doubt that Lai harbored his resentment and hatred of the People's Republic of China for many of his adult years.”
• Lori Levinson (Wisconsin judge trial, [03:45]):
  “Whether she was trying to impede an obstructive proceeding or…trying to do what she thought was her job, run her courtroom, deal with her cases and try to keep from having the Department of Homeland Security interfere with that.”

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Overall Tone

The episode is somber and serious, reflecting on tragedies, political tension, legal battles, and notable sports and cultural losses. The reporting is brisk and factual, with space for voices of those directly affected by events.

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Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer, have died. Their bodies were found in their Los Angeles homes Sunday afternoon. The police say they're investigating the deaths as an apparent homicide. Reiner rose to fame for his role in the TV series All in the Family, for which he won two Emmy Awards. He also directed a number of popular movies, including When Harry Met Sally, Spinal Tap and the Princess Bride. Rob Reiner was 78 years old. The campus of Brown University is in mourning following the shooting there Saturday that left two students dead and nine others injured. Medical student Ano Nguyen was in the middle of exams when a lockdown order occurred.

[Ano Nguyen]

Unfortunately, this is like a second school shooting that I've been to. My last one was my undergrad. And I feel like something this unimaginable is happening way too often. But, you know, praying for everyone out there and then hopefully there will be action in the future.

[Dale Willman]

Police, meanwhile, say they're releasing a person of interest who was detained on Sunday. They say the investigation is now moving in a different direction. The deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Australia's Bondi beach on Sunday that Left at least 15 people dead follows a sharp rise anti Semitic attacks in that country. As NPR's Scott Horsley tells us, incidents have risen in the two years since the October 7th attack and the ensuing war in Gaza.

[Scott Horsley]

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry tallied more than 3,600 anti Jewish incidents in the country in the two years since the Hamas attack. The incidents ranged from anti Israel graffiti to the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue. Other countries have seen a similar rise in anti Semitic attacks. Jewish leaders from around the world convened in Sydney this month to highlight the mounting concern. Some observers say it's important to distinguish between anti Jewish incidents and criticism of Israel for its conduct of the war in Gaza. Earlier this year, Australia joined other countries in granting recognition to a Palestinian state, a move that Israel's prime minister accused of helping to fuel the anti Semitic fire. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

Media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of sedition and colluding with foreign forces. The high profile trial has been closely watched by foreign governments, particularly in the US and the UK Reporter Shereen Chris Fem has more.

[Charisse Pham]

This verdict was widely expected, the judges saying that there is, quote, no doubt that Lai harbored his resentment and hatred of the People's Republic of China for many of his adult years. They say he colluded with foreign forces to encourage countries to put sanctions on China and Hong Kong during the anti government protests that crippled the city in 2019. The judges cited WhatsApp messages where Jimmy Lai and an aide, Mark Simon, set up meetings with senior US Officials, including then Vice President Mike Pence and then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Lai now awaits sentencing. The 78 year old faces up to life in prison. For NPR News, I'm Charisse Pham in Hong Kong.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The federal criminal trial begins Monday for a county judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities when they showed up at her courtroom to arrest him. Mayan Silver from member station WWM reports.

[Ayan Silver]

Judge Hannah Dugan has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Former prosecutor and Loyola Law School professor Lori Levinson says a big issue for the jury will be Dugan's mindset on April 18 when ICE agents showed up.

[Lori Levinson]

At her courtroom whether she was trying to impede an obstructive proceeding or or whether she was trying to do what she thought was her job, run her courtroom, deal with her cases and try to keep from having the Department of Homeland Security interfere with that.

[Ayan Silver]

Prosecutors will likely argue Dugan tried to impede ICE agents from making an arrest. While the defense is expected to make the case she was trying to follow court protocol in unchartered waters. For NPR News, I'm Ayan Silver in Milwaukee.

[Dale Willman]

Paul Wiggins has died. The former star for Stanford and the Cleveland Browns was 91 years old. Wiggins was a two time All America selection as a defensive tackle and was selected as Stanford's defensive player of the century. He later served as the coach for Stanford. When the Cardinal lost to California in 1982. Cal scored as the Stanford band took to the field prematurely. It became known as the play. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL in his left knee on Sunday during a game against Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers won in the final seconds, 16 to 13 and eliminated the Chiefs from the postseason play. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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