NPR News Now — December 16, 2025, 4AM EST

Host: Shea Stevens
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode, anchored by Shea Stevens, delivers the latest developments from around the globe in a concise five-minute news update. Major stories include reactions to the death of Hollywood icon Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle, ongoing severe flooding and evacuations in Washington state, mass shootings in Rhode Island and Sydney, a trial of a Wisconsin judge, an appeal for Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai, and skepticism around the wellness trend methylene blue.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner’s Death: Hollywood Tributes and Political Fallout

[00:17–01:19]

• Hollywood Response: Flood of tributes for the late Rob Reiner (acclaimed director of "When Harry Met Sally" and "The Princess Bride") and his wife Michelle.
• Political Response:
  • President Trump posted on Truth Social, controversially linking the couple’s death to “Trump derangement syndrome,” suggesting their reaction to him led to their demise.
  • He further claimed his administration’s "success" drove Reiner's “paranoia to new heights.”
  • NPR’s Tamara Keith clarifies there is no evidence linking Reiner’s political activism to his passing.
• Arrest: Rob Reiner's son, Nick, has been arrested (details unspecified).

Notable Quote:

• Tamara Keith [00:41]:
  “He and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, were also very involved in Democratic politics. In a truth social post, President Trump blamed their death on, quote, the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as Trump derangement syndrome.”

2. Flooding and Levee Break in Washington State

[01:19–02:19]

• Situation: Weeks of intense rain lead to flooding and a levee breach south of Seattle.
• Evacuations: Over 1,000 people and businesses have been ordered to evacuate; adding to the overall 100,000 evacuated since the flooding began.
• Levee Failure:
  • Officials witnessed pooling water Friday before the levee failed.
  • John Taylor (King County) described the damage:
    • [01:52] “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.”
• Response: Crews are deploying nylon bags to patch the levee.

3. Mass Shootings in Rhode Island and Australia

[02:19–03:11]

Rhode Island:

• Brown University Attack:
  • FBI offers $50,000 reward for information on the suspect.
  • Two killed, nine injured in the weekend mass shooting.

Sydney, Australia:

• Hanukkah Celebration Attack:
  • Declared a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS.
  • At least 15 killed, dozens injured.
  • [02:52] Katie Silber reports:
    • The alleged accomplice (father of one shooter) killed, the son in custody.
    • Details of potential prior radicalization investigations.

Notable Quote:

• Katie Silber [02:59]:
  “He wasn’t known to police, but his 24 year old son Naveen… was investigated in 2019 over fears of radicalisation and we have since seen a video emerge of him pledging allegiance to Isis.”

4. Legal Update: Wisconsin Judge on Trial

[03:11–03:35]

• Case: Judge Hannah Dugan accused of aiding an immigrant in avoiding deportation by using a courthouse back door.
• Charges: Obstruction and concealment after the defendant was eventually apprehended and deported.

5. Hong Kong: Appeal for Jimmy Lai’s Release

[03:35–04:14]

• Background: Jimmy Lai, media mogul and democracy advocate, sentenced for "colluding with foreign officials" and national security offenses.
• Update: His daughter, Claire Lai, publicly appeals for his freedom ahead of sentencing in January.
• Context: Jimmy Lai’s arrest in 2020 followed his involvement in Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests.

6. Wellness Trend: Methylene Blue

[04:14–04:53]

• Popularity: Some wellness circles claim benefits for mood, memory, anti-aging.
• Science: Human trials show no significant benefit for healthy individuals.
• Risks: Potential for serotonin toxicity, particularly dangerous with certain antidepressants.
• Expert Advice:
  • Lauren Hofseth, University of South Carolina:
    • [04:36] "I do not recommend taking methylene blue as a supplement because you’re wasting your money as borne out by the clinical trials. And there’s a risk of side effects."

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Tamara Keith (on Rob Reiner's politics and Trump's post) [00:41]:
  “He and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, were also very involved in Democratic politics. In a truth social post, President Trump blamed their death on, quote, the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as Trump derangement syndrome.”
• John Taylor (King County Natural Resources) describing the levee break [01:52]:
  “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.”
• Lauren Hofseth (on methylene blue) [04:36]:
  “I do not recommend taking methylene blue as a supplement because you’re wasting your money as borne out by the clinical trials. And there’s a risk of side effects.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Rob Reiner & Michelle Reiner’s Death, Reactions: [00:17–01:19]
• Washington State Flooding & Levee Breach: [01:19–02:19]
• Mass Shootings: Brown University, Sydney: [02:19–03:11]
• Wisconsin Judge Trial: [03:11–03:35]
• Jimmy Lai Appeal (Hong Kong): [03:35–04:14]
• Methylene Blue Wellness Trend: [04:14–04:53]

Takeaways

• The loss of Rob and Michelle Reiner has been marked by both mourning and political friction, especially after President Trump’s controversial statements.
• Washington state grapples with severe flooding and mass evacuations following a levee failure.
• Mass shootings in two countries—one investigated as terrorism—underscore global security challenges.
• Legal, political, and health stories (Hong Kong dissidence, wellness trends) round out the newscast, providing an efficient snapshot of key global and national issues.