NPR News Now – December 16, 2025, 4PM EST

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update, delivered by Windsor Johnston and correspondents, covers critical headlines from across the U.S. These include the murder case against Nick Reiner in Los Angeles, developments in the Brown University mass shooting investigation, the slowing U.S. job market, a defamation lawsuit by former President Trump against the BBC, the rise of AI detection software in schools, and the upcoming close pass of a rare interstellar comet.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nick Reiner Double Homicide Case

• Context: Nick Reiner, son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner, is accused of killing his parents.
• The LAPD has handed the case over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, who might formally charge Nick Reiner with murder soon.
• Nick Reiner's background: He has a history of mental health and substance abuse challenges.
• Detainment: Nick Reiner is held without bail.

Notable Quote:

"They worked on this case and were able to take into custody Nick Reiner. He was subsequently booked for murder."
— LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell (00:53)

2. Brown University Mass Shooting

• Incident: A shooter killed 2 students and injured 9 others on campus; the suspect remains at large.
• Firsthand Response: Pre-med student Zoe Weissman, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, discussed her reaction.
• Emotional toll: Weissman's prior trauma at Parkland shaped her response to this new tragedy.

Notable Quote:

"I was honestly... I was surprised at the fact that my brain kind of knew what to do already. And I think that's because this is a situation that kind of plays in my head every single day."
— Zoe Weissman (01:37)

• Rhode Island authorities have released new videos seeking the suspect.

3. U.S. Job Market Slows Further

• November data: Only 64,000 jobs added, unemployment rises to 4.6% (the highest in 4 years).
• Sector breakdown: Health care and construction added jobs; factories and delivery services cut jobs.
• The Federal Reserve dropped its benchmark interest rate for the third time since September, in response to economic weakness.
• Data delays caused by a six-week government shutdown obfuscated job trends.

Notable Quote:

"The pace of hiring has slowed sharply since the beginning of the year. Concern over a weakening job market led the Federal Reserve to lower its benchmark interest rate last week for the third time since September."
— Scott Horsley (02:18)

4. Market Update

• Index Performance:
  • Dow Jones: down 302 points
  • NASDAQ: up 54 points
  • S&P 500: down 16 points

5. President Trump Sues BBC for Defamation

• Allegation: Trump claims BBC edited his January 6th, 2021 speech in a false and misleading way.
• Amount: Trump seeks $10 billion in damages.

6. AI Detection Software in Schools

• Trend: Teachers nationwide are using software to detect AI-generated student work.
• Challenges: Popular AI detectors have accuracy problems, often flagging legitimate work as AI and vice versa.
• Despite limitations, some school districts are heavily investing in these tools.
• Educator perspective: John Grady of Shaker Heights High School values AI detectors as a supplementary tool, not a sole method.

Notable Quote:

"It's something to kind of hang your hat on the way we did with the plagiarism checker, where I can say, like, look, it's been flagged."
— John Grady (04:19)

• Grady also relies on revision history tools to track student work development.

7. Interstellar Comet Approaching Earth

• Event: Scientists say that just the third known interstellar object ever observed is making its closest pass to Earth on Friday.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jim McDonnell (LA Police Chief):
  "They worked on this case and were able to take into custody Nick Reiner. He was subsequently booked for murder." (00:53)

• Zoe Weissman (Brown University student, Parkland survivor):
  "I was surprised at the fact that my brain kind of knew what to do already. And I think that's because this is a situation that kind of plays in my head every single day." (01:37)

• Scott Horsley (NPR News):
  "The pace of hiring has slowed sharply since the beginning of the year. Concern over a weakening job market led the Federal Reserve to lower its benchmark interest rate last week..." (02:18)

• John Grady (English teacher):
  "It's something to kind of hang your hat on the way we did with the plagiarism checker, where I can say, like, look, it's been flagged." (04:19)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Nick Reiner Homicide Case: 00:14 – 01:14
• Brown University Shooting Coverage: 01:14 – 01:56
• U.S. Jobs Market Update: 02:18 – 02:59
• Stock Market Update: 02:59 – 03:10
• Trump vs. BBC Lawsuit Announcement: 03:10 – 03:22
• AI Detection in Schools: 03:54 – 04:37
• Interstellar Comet News: 04:37 – 04:53

Summary

This NPR News Now episode delivers a fast-paced but in-depth look at the top news stories of the day, exploring legal drama in Hollywood, campus tragedy in Rhode Island, national economic anxieties, legal battles involving a former president, the realities of AI in education, and a rare cosmic event. The report uses direct quotes and accounts to capture the emotional and factual weight of each story concisely.