NPR News: 12-17-2025 9PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — Episode Summary

Episode: NPR News: 12-17-2025 9PM EST
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Rylan Barton (NPR News Anchor)
Theme: Top news stories of the hour from the US and around the globe.

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1. Overview

This episode delivers concise updates on the day's most pressing stories, including major changes in FBI leadership, the ongoing investigation into the Brown University shooting, federal threats to climate research, shifting dynamics in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the rising issue of 3D-printed guns, and a landmark change in the Oscars' broadcasting future.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino Resigns

• Reporter: Ryan Lucas
• [00:14–01:10]
  • Dan Bongino announces he will step down as FBI Deputy Director in January.
  • Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and prominent pro-Trump podcaster noted for spreading conspiracy theories (including ones targeting the FBI itself), was an unusual choice for this high-ranking position.
  • His tenure featured significant controversy, including internal clashes over the handling of the Epstein files.
  • Bongino also oversaw the arrest of a suspect in the long-unsolved January 6th pipe bombing case.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Bongino was an unusual pick for the number two job at the FBI. He had previously served as a Secret Service agent, but never at the bureau. He made his name over the past decade as a pro Trump far right podcaster who pushed conspiracy theories, including some involving the FBI." — Ryan Lucas [00:35]

Brown University Shooting: Search Continues

• Host: Rylan Barton
• Soundbite: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley
• [01:10–01:52]
  • Providence is on alert as the search for the shooter who killed two students and wounded nine others enters its fifth day.
  • Officials indicate progress is slow; the suspect remains at large and evidence from security footage is still being reviewed.
  • The public is asked to examine their own footage and help identify a masked suspect.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Certainly, it's frustrating. That investigation continues to take time, and I, along with all of my fellow residents, would, would love to have a suspect in custody and charges pressed." — Mayor Brett Smiley [01:31]

White House Vows to Dismantle NCAR

• Reporter: Sam Brash (Colorado Public Radio)
• Soundbite: Dan Powers, Colabs
• [01:52–03:07]
  • The White House, via budget director Russ Vogt, has declared plans to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), calling it "a major source of climate alarmism."
  • NCAR, a fixture in federal science since 1960, employs over 800 people in Boulder, Colorado.
  • Colorado’s scientific and political leaders, including Colabs, are outraged and promise a fight to preserve NCAR.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Science and research can sometimes be alarming, but closing labs like NCAR doesn't make decades of facts any less true." — Dan Powers [02:46]

Russia-Ukraine: Putin Threatens to Extend Military Gains

• Host: Rylan Barton
• [03:07–03:23]
  • In a major military meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will expand its territorial gains in Ukraine unless peace demands are met.
  • While Putin claims Moscow prefers diplomacy, he is explicit in threatening further military action.

Surge in 3D-Printed Guns at Crime Scenes

• Reporter: Meg Anderson
• Soundbite: Nick Suplina, Everytown for Gun Safety
• [03:51–04:36]
  • A new report from Everytown for Gun Safety finds a dramatic rise in 3D-printed guns at US crime scenes: from only 3 in 2020 to over 300 in 2024 in 20 surveyed cities.
  • Nick Suplina calls this "the beginning of a crisis," advocating for 3D printer manufacturers to restrict firearm production and for laws to prevent the dissemination of blueprints.
  • Notable Quote:

    "We are at the beginning of this crisis of 3D printed firearms, but we... do have, I think, a good sense of how we can address it." — Nick Suplina [04:12–04:20]

Oscars to Move to YouTube

• Host: Rylan Barton
• [04:36–04:51]
  • Starting in 2029, the Academy Awards will stream on YouTube after their longstanding broadcast on ABC ends in 2028.
  • This marks a significant shift in how one of TV’s premier live events reaches viewers.

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3. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Dan Bongino's Unusual Rise and Contentious Tenure [Ryan Lucas, 00:35]
• Mayor Brett Smiley's Frustration and Appeal to the Public [Brett Smiley, 01:31]
• Defense of Science Against Political Attacks [Dan Powers, 02:46]
• Everytown's Warning on 3D-Printed Guns [Nick Suplina, 04:12–04:20]

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4. Important Timestamps

• 00:14: Dan Bongino's resignation from FBI
• 01:10: Status of Brown University shooting investigation
• 01:52: White House targets NCAR
• 03:07: Putin threatens further military action in Ukraine
• 03:51: Report on surge of 3D-printed guns
• 04:36: Oscars to stream on YouTube from 2029

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This summary conveys the full scope of the episode, allowing listeners to grasp essential developments in US government, crime, science policy, international affairs, technology and entertainment without needing to hear the full five-minute update.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to step down from the Bureau in January. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.

[NPR Reporter Ryan Lucas]

In his message, Dan Bongino thanked President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel Hotel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Bongino was an unusual pick for the number two job at the FBI. He had previously served as a Secret Service agent, but never at the bureau. He made his name over the past decade as a pro Trump far right podcaster who pushed conspiracy theories, including some involving the FBI. His tenure at the bureau was at times tumultuous, including a clash with Justice Department leadership over the administration's handling of the Epstein files. But it also involved the arrest of a suspect in the case of the January 6th pipe bomber, which had gone unsolved for nearly five years. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

With the search for the Brown University shooter in its fifth day, the city of Providence is on edge. Investigators are showing no signs that they're close to figuring out who was behind the attack that killed two students and wounded nine others. In an interview with NPR's All Things Considered, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley expressed concerns that the shooter's trail is getting cold.

[Providence Mayor Brett Smiley]

Certainly, it's frustrating. That investigation continues to take time, and I, along with all of my fellow residents, would, would love to have a suspect in custody and charges pressed. But the investigation is progressing. We're communicating that progress to the community. We're showing new video evidence, new photos. As we start to piece together the.

[NPR News Anchor]

Events of Saturday, officials in Rhode island are asking the public to review any security or phone footage from the week before the shooting. A person officials are trying to identify was masked or had their head turn. In videos released by authorities so far, the White House is vowing to dismantle the national center for Atmospheric Research, or ncar, a federally funded research hub headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Sam Brash of Colorado Public Radio has more.

[NPR Reporter Sam Brash]

NCAR was founded in 1960 to improve weather predictions and better understand Earth's atmosphere. It now employs more than 800 people. But in a post on X this week, White House budget Director Russ Vogt promised to break it up, saying the center is now a major source of, quote, climate alarmism. Dan Powers leads colabs, a group supporting federal research in Colorado. He says the news has left scientists frustrated and disillusioned.

[Providence Mayor Brett Smiley]

Science and research can sometimes be alarming, but closing labs like NCAR doesn't make decades of facts any less true.

[NPR Reporter Sam Brash]

Colorado's Democratic congressional leaders blasted the move and promised to use every tool available to save the research center. For NPR News, I'm Sam Brash in Denver.

[NPR News Anchor]

The US Stock market had its worst day in nearly a month today. This is NPR News. Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that Moscow will extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin's demands in peace talks. Speaking at a top military meeting, Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals by diplomatic means. But he added that Russia would achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military, military means if its demands aren't met. The number of 3D printed guns recovered at crime scenes has skyrocketed in recent years, according to a report released today by the gun control advocacy group Everytown for gun safety. NPR's Meg Anderson reports.

[NPR Reporter Meg Anderson]

Everytown identified 20 cities with five years of data on 3D printed guns, which can be made at home and are generally untraceable. In 2020, those cities recovered around three 33D printed guns at crime scenes. In 2024, that number climbed to more than 300. Nick Ciplina is senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown.

[NPR Reporter Sam Brash]

We are at the beginning of this crisis of 3D printed firearms, but we.

[NPR News Anchor]

Do have, I think, a good sense.

[NPR Reporter Sam Brash]

Of how we can address it.

[NPR Reporter Meg Anderson]

Subplina says companies that make 3D printers could develop algorithms to block the printing of firearms, for instance. Or states could make it illegal to publish blueprints for 3D PR a gun. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Starting in 2029, the Oscars will stream on YouTube instead of airing on its longtime broadcaster, ABC. ABC will continue broadcasting the event until 2028. The shift represents a significant move for one of television's marquee events.

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