NPR News: 12-18-2025 8AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: December 18, 2025, 8AM EST – Episode Summary

Overview
This five-minute update delivers a fast-paced roundup of the latest developments in U.S. politics, economic news, significant legal rulings, and culture. Key stories cover President Trump’s economic messaging amid persistent inflation, a controversial FCC investigation, ongoing searches related to the Brown University mass shooting, defense policy advances in Congress, a historic Oscar broadcast shift, and a major federal appeals court decision on horse racing regulations.

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Main News Stories & Key Points

1. President Trump Addresses the Economy

• Speaker: Korva Coleman (00:17), Deepa Shivaram (00:40)
• President Trump delivered an address from the White House, promising an upcoming economic boom and putting blame for current economic problems on former President Joe Biden.
• Key Point: Despite claims of improvement, inflation rates remain roughly at 3%, the same level as when Biden left office.
• Public Mood: Americans remain pessimistic about the cost of living.
• Quote:
  • Deepa Shivaram: “His message overall is essentially telling people to just hang on and wait. He says costs of goods like gas are going down… but it's not done yet.” (00:40)
• Upcoming Data: A delayed government consumer price report is expected soon.

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2. FCC Chair Investigated Over Media Actions

• Speaker: Korva Coleman (00:58), David Folkenflick (01:19–01:59)
• Senate panel questioned FCC Chair Brendan Carr after he launched investigations into media networks disliked by President Trump, specifically pressuring Disney over Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC program.
• Memorable Exchange:
  • Sen. Amy Klobuchar: “Do you think it is appropriate to use your position to threaten companies that broadcast political satire?” (01:30)
• Carr’s Stance:
  • Brendan Carr: “I think any licensee that operates on the public airwaves has a responsibility to comply with the public interest standard.” (01:38)
• Republican Sen. Ted Cruz emphasized that free speech should be protected, regardless of party affiliation.
• Discussion Point: The FCC’s status as an independent agency was questioned; the agency’s website was updated to align with new leadership’s position.

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3. Brown University Mass Shooting Investigation

• Speaker: Korva Coleman (01:59), Ben Burke (02:30)
• Authorities are searching for a second person in connection to the Brown University mass shooting, following new footage and images released.
• Details: The suspected shooter is described as a heavyset man in a dark medical mask; the second person was in close proximity before the attack.
• Quote:
  • Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez: “How close? Close enough that we feel that we need to speak with them.” (02:55)
• Impact: Two students killed, eight hospitalized; no known motive yet.

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4. Markets & Defense Policy Bill

• Speaker: Korva Coleman (03:08)
• Markets Update: Dow and Nasdaq futures up in pre-market trading.
• Defense News: The Senate passed a $900 billion defense policy bill, with a 4% pay raise for troops and revamped procurement processes. The Pentagon announced a recent strike on a suspected drug boat, resulting in four deaths.

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5. Academy Awards Move to YouTube

• Speaker: Korva Coleman (03:08), Netta Ulaby (03:49)
• Starting in 2029, the Oscars will be broadcast exclusively on YouTube, ending a 70+ year run on network television (ABC since 1976).
• Context:
  • Ratings for the Oscars have declined for decades, though last year saw a 4% increase.
  • Nearly 20 million watched last year’s broadcast.
• Quote:
  • Netta Ulaby: “The news is being reported as a shocker in Hollywood industry publications… Academy leaders in a statement said this new partnership will expand access to the largest worldwide audience possible.” (03:49)

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6. Federal Appeals Court on Horse Racing Regulation

• Speaker: Korva Coleman (04:27)
• A U.S. appeals court upheld a federal law giving a private nonprofit oversight of thoroughbred racing.
• Backdrop: Three states challenged the law as unconstitutional, but the court sided with federal regulation efforts for safety and integrity in horse racing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Deepa Shivaram (00:40):
  “His message overall is essentially telling people to just hang on and wait. He says costs of goods like gas are going down… but it's not done yet.”
• Senator Amy Klobuchar (01:30):
  “Do you think it is appropriate to use your position to threaten companies that broadcast political satire?”
• Brendan Carr, FCC Chair (01:38):
  “I think any licensee that operates on the public airwaves has a responsibility to comply with the public interest standard.”
• Police Chief Oscar Perez (02:55):
  “How close? Close enough that we feel that we need to speak with them.”
• Netta Ulaby (03:49):
  “The news is being reported as a shocker in Hollywood industry publications… Academy leaders... said this new partnership will expand access to the largest worldwide audience possible.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:17 — White House: President Trump’s economic speech
• 00:40 — Deepa Shivaram’s analysis on economic sentiment
• 00:58 — Consumer price report preview
• 01:19 — FCC Chair’s Senate hearing and media network investigations
• 02:30 — Brown University shooting update and suspect search
• 03:08 — Markets, Senate defense bill, and Pentagon action
• 03:49 — The Oscars moving to YouTube (Netta Ulaby report)
• 04:27 — Federal appeals court ruling on horse racing oversight

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This episode swiftly covers the intersection of politics, economy, legal shifts, and culture, giving listeners a concise yet comprehensive understanding of the day’s top headlines and controversies.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump spoke from the White House last night. He insists the US Is headed for an economic boom. He blamed all economic problems on former President Joe Biden, but today's inflation rate is running at about the same pace as it was when Biden left office. NPR's Deepa Shivaram says Trump's speech comes as Americans are deeply gloomy about the cost of living.

[Deepa Shivaram]

His message overall is essentially telling people to just hang on and wait. He says costs of goods like gas are going down. And he said the administration is, quote, making progress on lowering other costs, but it's not done yet. In other words, the policies that he passed this year will have benefits.

[Korva Coleman]

This comes as the government is about to release its delayed report on consumer prices this hour. Some economists say the rate is stuck around 3%. A Senate panel grilled the chair of the Federal Communications Commission yesterday. Brendan Carr has launched investigations of media networks that President Trump doesn't like. NPR's David Folkenflick reports Carr pressured the.

[David Folkenflick]

Walt Disney Company to take action against Jimmy Kimmel's ABC show, famously saying we can do this the easy way or or the hard way. Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar asked him about that.

[Korva Coleman]

Do you think it is appropriate to use your position to threaten companies that broadcast political satire?

[David Folkenflick]

I think any licensee that operates on the public airwaves has a responsibility to comply with the public interest standard. That standard was historically seen to ensure the stations covered local matters and represented a wide range of views. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz says no one should interfere with protected speech Democrats, no matter what party. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Carr also claimed the FCC was not an independent agency, even though that's what the agency's website said yesterday morning. In a statement, the FCC says the website needed updating to reflect the positions of the agency's new leadership. Authorities are still searching for the suspect in the Brown University mass shooting last weekend in Rhode Island. The now they're looking for a second person who was seen near the unidentified man. From Ocean State media, Ben Burke explains.

[Ben Burke]

Investigators are imploring the public to review blurry footage of a heavyset man wearing a dark medical mask walking casually through the east side of Providence. That's their suspected shooter. And now authorities released a photo of a second person. Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez says they were seen in close proximity to the suspect before the shooting. How close close? Close enough that we feel that we.

[Commercial Announcer]

Need to speak with them.

[Ben Burke]

Investigators say they still don't have any leads on a potential motive for the shooting, which killed two students. Another eight students were hospitalized. For NPR News, I'm Ben Burke in Providence.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in pre market trading, Dow futures are higher. So are Nasdaq. You're listening to NPR. The Senate has passed the $900 billion defense policy bill and sent it to President Trump. It revamps how the pent will buy equipment and gives troops a nearly 4% pay raise. This comes as the Pentagon announced a fresh strike on an alleged drug boat yesterday. It says four men aboard were killed. The Academy Awards are moving to YouTube starting in 2029. The ceremony will move to the streaming service instead of being broadcast on television. And Piers Neta Ulaby reports it had been broadcast for more than 70 years.

[Netta Ulibi]

The deal right now between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC expires in 2028. And YouTube has secured exclusive rights to the show. ABC has broadcast the Oscars since 1976, and the news is being reported as a shocker in Hollywood industry publications. Oscar ratings have faltered over the past few decades, but Last year saw a 4% increase from the year before. Almost 20 million people tuned in. Academy leaders in a statement said this new partnership will expand access to the largest worldwide audience possible. Netta Ulibi, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A U.S. appeals court has weighed in on horse racing regulations. The federal judges upheld a law passed by Congress that gave a private non profit entity the authority to regulate thoroughbred racing. Three states had sued. They had argued it was unconstitutional to give the horse racing integrity and safety authority the power to help regulate and enforce horse racing rules and safety. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

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