NPR News: 12-18-2025 12PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: December 18, 2025 – 12PM EST

Host: Jeanine Hurst

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Episode Overview

This concise news update provides the latest developments in U.S. and world affairs, health policy, economics, and notable obituaries, all delivered in under five minutes. The stories highlight growing international tensions, shifts in domestic social and healthcare policy, the state of inflation, and the passing of legendary journalist Peter Arnett. The episode ends with changes within the Catholic leadership in New York and a quick stock market update.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. U.S. Escalates Pressure on Venezuela with Oil Tanker Ban

[00:11–00:58]

• Main Points:

  • President Trump has ordered a ban on all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, signaling an escalation in U.S. efforts to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
  • According to the monitoring group Tanker Trackers, about 30 of the 80 tankers in Venezuelan waters are now targets due to their inclusion on the U.S. sanctions list.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard recently seized a fully loaded sanctioned tanker.

• Notable Quote:

  • “So those 30 could potentially be targets, while the others presumably would not be.”
    — Greg Myre (00:44)

2. Gender-Affirming Care for Youth Targeted by New Policy

[00:58–01:41]

• Main Points:

  • The Trump administration announced measures to effectively end gender-affirming care for minors, with proposed plans to deny federal reimbursement to providers offering this care for those under 18.
  • Health & Human Services (HHS) also terminated seven grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which has criticized recent vaccine policy changes.
  • Terminated grants covered child health areas, including SIDS reduction, autism identification, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
  • The AAP is considering legal options in response.

• Notable Quote:

  • “The sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth and their families in communities across the United States.”
    — Mark Del Monte, AAP CEO, quoted by Maria Godoy (01:51)

3. U.S. Inflation Update — Some Cooling, Caveats Remain

[02:22–03:08]

• Main Points:

  • Inflation in the U.S. slowed slightly; November's consumer prices were up 2.7% year-over-year.
  • October’s reading was incomplete due to a government shutdown affecting data collection, possibly distorting November’s figures.
  • Despite a decrease in costs for some food items (like eggs), electricity and natural gas prices have risen, driving up winter energy bills.
  • Persistent inflation is affecting President Trump’s approval ratings.

• Notable Quote:

  • “Analysts warn that also may have distorted the November reading... electricity and natural gas prices are up sharply from a year ago, adding to winter heating bills.”
    — Scott Horsley (02:45)

4. In Memoriam: Journalist Peter Arnett Dies at 91

[03:08–04:06]

• Main Points:

  • Peter Arnett, renowned war reporter, has died at 91 in Southern California.
  • Gained prominence for coverage of Vietnam War; Pulitzer Prize winner in 1966.
  • Became a household name for reporting live from Baghdad for CNN during the 1991 U.S. attack on Iraq.
  • Notable interviews included Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

• Memorable Moments:

  • Actual quote from Baghdad:
    • “It's an air raid alert. There have been several today. I think the last three were false alarms.”
      — Unidentified Interviewee, during Arnett’s CNN reporting (03:46)

5. Leadership Change in New York’s Catholic Archdiocese

[04:06–04:54]

• Main Points:
  • Pope Leo appoints Illinois Bishop Ronald Hicks as new head of New York's Catholic Archdiocese, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
  • Dolan, a key conservative voice, recently closed a $300 million fund for victims of clerical sexual abuse.
  • Bishop Hicks has a background in missionary work and child welfare in El Salvador.
  • Installation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral set for February 6th.

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Other Key Updates

• Stock Market at a Glance
  [03:08, 04:54]
  • The Dow Jones is up 251 points, NASDAQ up 388, S&P 500 up 73.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Venezuela Oil Tankers:
  “So those 30 could potentially be targets, while the others presumably would not be.”
  — Greg Myre (00:44)

• On Child Health Grant Terminations:
  “The sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth and their families in communities across the United States.”
  — Mark Del Monte, quoted by Maria Godoy (01:51)

• On Baghdad Air Raids:
  “It's an air raid alert. There have been several today. I think the last three were false alarms.”
  — Unidentified Interviewee during Arnett’s reporting (03:46)

• On Inflation Trends:
  “Electricity and natural gas prices are up sharply from a year ago, adding to winter heating bills. Persistent inflation has been a drag on President Trump's approval rating.”
  — Scott Horsley (02:55)

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Additional Details

• Tone:
  Direct, fact-based, with an emphasis on the immediacy and potential impact of policy decisions and historical reflection for obituaries.

• Content Focus:
  Fast-moving updates meant to keep listeners informed on unfolding national and international developments, regulatory changes, economic shifts, and significant passings.

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Transcript

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[Jeanine Hurst]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Hurst. President Trump has ordered a ban on all sanctioned oil tankers going to and from Venezuela, and the threat of a partial blockade marks an escalation in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Madur. NPR's Greg Myre has more now.

[Greg Myre]

A monitoring group, Tanker Trackers, said recently that around 30 of the 80 oil tankers in or near the waters of Venezuela were on this US sanctions list. So those 30 could potentially be targets, while the others presumably would not be. And we saw an example of this just last week when the US Coast Guard seized a fully loaded tanker that was on the list.

[Jeanine Hurst]

NPR's Greg Myre reporting. The Trump administration says it will start taking steps to effectively end gender affirming care for youth. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. And Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, outlined the Trump administration's proposed plans today to deny reimbursement funds for doctors and hospitals that provide the care for transgender young people under the age of 18. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services abruptly terminated seven grants made to the American Academy of Pediatrics. NPR's Maria Godoy reports. The group has been a frequent and vocal critic of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. S changes to federal vaccine policy.

[Maria Godoy]

The canceled grants involved initiatives in multiple areas of child health, including reducing sudden infant death, early identification of autism, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. In a statement to npr, Mark Del Monte, the CEO of aap, said the sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth and their families in communities across the United States. He said the American Academy of Pediatrics is exploring all available options, including legal recourse, to address the grant terminations. HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Jeanine Hurst]

The Labor Department says inflation in the US Cooled a bit last month, and Pierre Scott Horsley has more.

[Scott Horsley]

Consumer prices in November were up 2.7% from a year ago. That's a smaller annual increase than in September, when inflation was clocked at 3%. The inflation reading for October was incomplete because furloughed federal workers were not able to do their usual price checks during the six week government shutdown. Analysts warn that also may have distorted the November reading. While the cost of some food, food items like eggs has come down in the last year. Overall, prices continue to climb. Electricity and natural gas prices are up sharply from a year ago, adding to winter heating bills. Persistent inflation has been a drag on President Trump's approval rating. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Hurst]

And Wall street is trading higher at this hour. You're listening to NPR News. Award winning journalist Peter Arnett, who covered numerous wars and conflicts during his career, has died at the age of 91 in Southern California. Steve Futterman has more.

[Steve Futterman]

Peter Arnett first won acclaim for his coverage of the Vietnam War for the Associated Press. In 1966. He won the Pulitzer Prize as a wire service reporter. Arnett received little public attention. All that changed when he joined CNN in 1991. He reported from Baghdad as the U.S. attacked Iraq.

[Unidentified Interviewee]

It's an air raid alert. There have been several today. I think the last three were false alarms.

[Steve Futterman]

He also covered the 19701979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Among his memorable interviews were encounters with Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Jeanine Hurst]

Pope Leo has named Illinois Bishop Ronald Hicks to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the leader of New York's Catholic Archdiocese. Dolan, a prominent conservative figure, recently finalized a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse who had sued the archdio before becoming a bishop. Hicks was a missionary in El Salvador, where he led an Orphanage. The 58 year old will be installed as Archbishop at St Patrick's Cathedral on February 6th. Both Pope Leo and Hicks grew up in Chicago. On Wall street, the dow is up 251 points. The NASDAQ is up 388 points. The S&P 500 is up 73. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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