NPR News Now: December 15, 2025, 5AM EST

Host: Nora Ramm (NPR)
Episode Theme:
A succinct round-up of key national and international headlines, with particular focus on high-profile deaths in Hollywood, violence at Brown University and in Sydney, a high-stakes court case in Hong Kong, a major election in Chile, and Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year.

Main Stories and Key Segments

1. Tragic Loss in Hollywood: The Deaths of Rob and Michelle Singer Reiner

[00:19-00:55]

• Overview:
  Hollywood is in mourning after the reported deaths of acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle Singer Reiner. Although police have not formally confirmed the identities, the family has done so. No suspect has been named at this stage.

• Key Details:

  • Two bodies discovered at the Reiner home in Los Angeles.
  • Police investigation ongoing, with no announced suspects.
  • Deputy Police Chief Ellen Hamilton: “Now, when I tell you that we have not identified a suspect, it doesn't mean that we're not working the case. We will not identify a suspect until that person is identified as a suspect and we're legally seeking them if there is a crime to be reported.” (00:41)
  • Rob Reiner, age 78, was the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner and an icon in American television and film, with major credits including "All in the Family," "When Harry Met Sally," "The Princess Bride," and "This Is Spinal Tap."

• Notable Quote:

  • “Rob Reiner, the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, had a six-decade television and film career.” – Nora Ramm (00:55)

2. Brown University Shooting: Updates and Federal Response

[00:55-01:49]

• Overview:
  Authorities continue to investigate a Saturday shooting on Brown University’s campus in Rhode Island, where a person of interest has been released. The shooting left at least two dead and nine wounded.

• Key Details:

  • Incident led to an extended campus lockdown and semester cancellation.
  • President Trump issued a statement expressing condolences.
  • Investigators are searching for a motive.
  • President Donald Trump: “To the nine injured, get well fast. And to the families of those two that are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respects from the United States of America.” (01:37)

• Notable Moments:

  • Emotional response and federal attention to campus safety.

3. Sydney Hanukkah Shooting: Global Mourning and Jewish Community Response

[02:07-03:01]

• Overview:
  A horrific shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach has left at least 15 dead and dozens injured, with suspects identified as a father and son. Australian Jews in Israel hold vigils, deeply affected by the tragedy.

• Key Details:

  • Memorial held on a Tel Aviv beach.
  • Australian Jewish community reflects on feelings of lost safety.
  • 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.” (02:51)

• Notable Moments:

  • Heartfelt prayer and candlelight vigil symbolizing international solidarity.

4. Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai Convicted Under National Security Law

[03:14-03:34]

• Overview:
  Prominent democracy activist Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of violating Hong Kong's sweeping national security law. Having pleaded not guilty, Lai faces a potential life sentence, ongoing since his 2020 incarceration.

5. Chile’s Presidential Election: A Conservative Tide

[03:34-04:34]

• Overview:
  Voters in Chile elect ultra-conservative Jose Antonio Cast as president, ousting the far-left candidate. The election signals a hard rightward shift amid national concerns over crime and migration.

• Key Details:

  • Cass shifts messaging to emphasize crime and migration.
  • Pledges forcibly deport undocumented migrants after self-deportation grace period.
  • References to past controversial stances, including support for the Pinochet dictatorship.
  • Carrie Kahn: “He says the more than 300,000 migrants estimated to live in Chile without legal status have until his inauguration in March to self deport or he'll send police to find them.” (04:24)

6. Word of the Year: “Slop”

[04:34-04:58]

• Overview:
  Merriam-Webster announces "slop" as the 2025 Word of the Year. Once meaning "soft mud," it's now used for content of low value, especially AI-generated materials.

• Key Quote:

  • “The word is slop for first used in the 1700s to mean soft mud, but has evolved to mean something of little value, including digital content of low quality that’s produced, usually in quantity, by means of artificial intelligence.” – Nora Ramm (04:38)

Notable Quotes

• Deputy Police Chief Ellen Hamilton:
  “We will not identify a suspect until that person is identified as a suspect and we're legally seeking them if there is a crime to be reported.” (00:41)

• President Donald Trump:
  “To the nine injured, get well fast. And to the families of those two that are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respects from the United States of America.” (01:37)

• Ellie Parks, Australian Jew in Israel:
  “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.” (02:51)

• Carrie Kahn, on Chilean Elections:
  “He says the more than 300,000 migrants estimated to live in Chile without legal status have until his inauguration in March to self deport or he'll send police to find them.” (04:24)

• Nora Ramm, on Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year:
  “...meaning something of little value, including digital content of low quality that's produced, usually in quantity, by means of artificial intelligence.” (04:38)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Hollywood Deaths: 00:19–00:55
• Brown University Shooting: 00:55–01:49
• Sydney Hanukkah Attack: 02:07–03:01
• Jimmy Lai Conviction (Hong Kong): 03:14–03:34
• Chile Presidential Election: 03:34–04:34
• Word of the Year: 04:34–04:58

Tone and Style

This edition is somber, direct, and sensitive—befitting stories of tragedy, loss, and societal change. NPR’s signature clarity and global scope is present, moving briskly between breaking news and deeper social commentary, highlighting both facts and personal stories.