NPR News Now – December 18, 2025, 1 AM EST

Host: Shea Stevens
Duration: ~5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise overview of major domestic and international news events, focusing on U.S. economic policy and tariffs, federal workforce legal disputes, updates on the Sydney mass shooting and Australia’s migration law review, developments in the prosecution of former President Trump, and new findings on U.S. sea level rise due to climate change.

1. President Trump on the Economy and Tariffs

• Economic Policy and Public Concern
  • President Trump champions his recent economic policies amid rising public anxiety over food and housing costs.
  • Announces over "$18 trillion in new investments" attributed to increased tariffs.
  • Sets a stark contrast between the current U.S. economy and the previous year.
  • Notable Quote:

    “One year ago, our country was dead. We were absolutely dead. Our country was ready to fail, totally failed. Now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world, and that's said by every single leader that I've spoken to over the last five months.”
    — President Donald Trump (00:38)

  • Former trading partners like China and Brazil are actively forging new business ties to bypass the tariffs.
  • Trump promises that relief measures, including housing reform, are forthcoming for Americans burdened by high living costs.
  • Key Segment: [00:15–01:07]

2. Federal Workforce Layoff Dispute

• Legal Challenges to Layoffs
  • A federal judge in San Francisco halts the Trump administration's efforts to fire more federal workers, citing a lawsuit from employee unions.
  • Judge Susan Ilston orders reversal of recent layoff notices and blocks additional planned layoffs at several agencies and departments.
  • The administration's stance: layoffs originated before the recent shutdown, challenging the court’s ruling.
  • Key Details (Andrea Hsu):
    • Congress’ continuing resolution prohibited new layoffs through January 30th
    • Despite this prohibition, layoff notices were issued at the Small Business Administration, General Services Administration, State Department, Education Department, and State Department.
  • Key Segment: [01:07–02:07]

3. Australia Reviews Migration Laws After Sydney Shooting

• Tragedy Spurs Policy Reform
  • The government initiates a broad review of immigration policies following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Sydney.
  • Notable Official Statement:

    “The minister for home affairs will also have new powers to cancel or reject visas for those who spread hate and division in this country or would do so if they were allowed to come here.”
    — Australian Government Official (02:34)

  • Sajib Akram, the shooter killed by police, entered Australia on a student visa in the late 1990s and was an Indian-born resident; his son, also accused, was Australian-born.
  • Attack reportedly inspired by the Islamic State group.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signals broader legislative changes coming.
  • Key Segment: [02:07–03:07]

4. Updates on U.S. Legal Cases Involving Donald Trump

• Jack Smith Defends Prosecutions
  • Former special prosecutor Jack Smith speaks at a closed House Judiciary Committee session, defending his decisions to prosecute Trump over both 2020 election interference and classified document retention.
  • Smith insists on strong evidence and refutes claims of political motivation.
  • Notably, all cases were dropped after Trump’s re-election.
  • Key Segment: [03:07–03:35]

5. Climate Change: Accelerated U.S. Sea Level Rise

• New Scientific Findings
  • A recent study reports that the rate of sea level rise along U.S. coasts has more than doubled in the last 100 years.
  • The study’s author, Christopher Pykoosh, disputes earlier Department of Energy (DOE) findings (which saw no acceleration), citing a more robust data set from 70 tide gauges.
  • Notable Quote:

    “I did email this morning all five authors of that report. I did get a reply back from Judith Curry saying that she'd read it and she'd consider it in what she called the eventual revised chapter to the DOE report.”
    — Christopher Pykoosh (04:29)

  • DOE did not respond to further requests for comment.
  • Key Segment: [03:35–04:47]

6. Markets & Brief Updates

• U.S. futures remain flat in after-hours trading (04:47).
• Asia-Pacific markets show mixed performance.

Memorable Moments

• President Trump’s sweeping claim about America’s economic rebound and international perception. [00:38]
• The gravity of the Sydney shooting and the Australian government’s swift legal response. [02:34]
• The scientific challenge to U.S. government climate assessments, highlighting tensions between climate scientists and federal agencies. [04:29]

Useful for New Listeners

This episode provides a rapid yet nuanced snapshot of late 2025’s pressing headlines, offering context for U.S. political and economic decisions, global policy shifts, and urgent scientific findings. Each segment brings out both the facts and the controversies, capturing the tone of a nation—and a world—in flux.