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In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The government says consumer prices rose in November by 2.7% from a year ago. Consumer costs did not go up as much as some economists expected, but it's still higher than the the 2% inflation rate the Federal Reserve is seeking. The House has passed a package of health care provisions backed by Speaker Mike Johnson, but it does not extend subsidies for people on plans under the Affordable Care Act. Separately, four Republicans joined Democrats yesterday to force a measure to the House floor that would extend subsidies for three years. It's not what Speaker Johnson wanted, but he says there's no ill will about it.
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It's not an act of defiance. I understand what they're doing. I understand that every member has a different district with different dynam and different demographics, and some of them felt like it was a really important thing to have a vote on the floor.
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It's unlikely Congress will pass any health care pricing relief before the end of the year. Many people who use the subsidies will see prices skyrocket on January 1st. Finals week is a stressful time for college students across the country, but it's greater for students facing food insecurity. NPR's Kaden Mills met with students who are stocking up ahead of winter break.
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Two in five college students are food insecure, meaning they don't have consistent access to food. That's according to the nonprofit Swipe Out Hunger. Amy Wheeler oversees the food pantry at Penn State Harrisburg.
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We try to really supply the students with whatever we possibly can, she says.
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As grocery prices have gone up, more students are visiting the pantry, and she expects the number to continue rising in the new year. Junior Miles Perry is one of those.
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Students, so I had to get essentials.
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Like many students, Perry has a job on campus and but visits the pantry when his income isn't enough.
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I mean, hey, gotta eat.
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And at finals time, a full stomach is especially important for students. Kaden Mills, NPR News, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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The Department of Health and Human Services has abruptly terminated seven grants made to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The group is a vocal critic of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr's changes to federal vaccine policy. NPR's Maria Godoy has more.
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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, 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. 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.
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You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The federal government admits the Federal Aviation Administration and the US army were partly to blame in a deadly airline crash last January, since 67 people were killed in Washington, D.C. when a black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet trying to land at Reagan National Airport. But the federal government response to the suit filed by a victim's family suggests the pilots of the passenger jet and the airlines may be responsible, too. China has condemned the U.S. for selling more than $11 billion worth of advanced weapons to Taiwan. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports. The sale is the largest on record to the self governed island which China claims as its territory.
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The deal includes weapons such as tactical ballistic missiles, rocket artillery and drones. The US Says they're not going to change the military balance of power, but will help Taiwan maintain a credible deterrent. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press briefing that the deal harms China's sovereignty and will push the Taiwan Strait closer to war. The US Attempt to aid Taiwan's independence with arms will only backfire, he added, and its attempt to use Taiwan to contain China will absolutely not succeed. President Trump says he plans to visit China next April. It's unclear whether the arms sale could affect that trip. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.
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The private space company Blue Origin is set to launch a crewed rocket into space this morning. One of the crew is German aerospace engineer Michaela Benthaus. She is set to become the first wheelchair user to fly into space. This is NPR News.
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Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: Rapid updates on U.S. and global news focusing on economics, health care, student well-being, government actions, international relations, and space exploration.
The December 18, 2025, 9AM NPR News Now episode delivers the latest reports on inflation, congressional health care debates, college student food insecurity, abrupt grant terminations involving vaccine policy, accountability in a tragic airline accident, U.S.-China diplomatic tensions over arms sales to Taiwan, and an inclusive landmark in human space flight.
House Passes Package:
Bipartisan Move for Subsidies:
Potential Impact:
Notable Quote:
"It's not an act of defiance. I understand what they're doing. I understand that every member has a different district with different dynam and different demographics, and some of them felt like it was a really important thing to have a vote on the floor."
— Speaker Mike Johnson (00:56)
Prevalence:
Campus Response:
Student Perspective:
Notable Quotes:
"We try to really supply the students with whatever we possibly can."
— Amy Wheeler, Penn State Harrisburg Food Pantry (01:45)
"I mean, hey, gotta eat."
— Miles Perry, student (02:06)
Action:
Impact:
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, CEO of AAP (02:33)
Details:
Notable Quote:
"The US attempt to aid Taiwan's independence with arms will only backfire, and its attempt to use Taiwan to contain China will absolutely not succeed."
— Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry (04:01)
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:56 | Mike Johnson | "It's not an act of defiance. I understand what they're doing..." | | 01:45 | Amy Wheeler | "We try to really supply the students with whatever we possibly can." | | 02:06 | Miles Perry, student | "I mean, hey, gotta eat." | | 02:33 | Mark Del Monte, AAP CEO | "...will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children..." | | 04:01 | Guo Jiakun, China | "...will only backfire...will absolutely not succeed." |
| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | U.S. economy, inflation update | 00:19 | | Health care, ACA subsidies debate | 00:19–01:10 | | Student food insecurity | 01:33–02:16 | | HHS terminates child health grants | 02:16–03:13 | | Airline crash accountability | 03:13 | | U.S.–Taiwan arms deal, China reaction | 04:01–04:40 | | Blue Origin crewed spaceflight with disabled astronaut | 04:40 |
The episode maintains NPR's balanced, factual, and concise reporting style. Direct quotations from newsmakers and affected individuals convey the human impact behind the headlines, while correspondents provide clear context for fast-moving developments.
Summary prepared for listeners seeking a brisk, comprehensive briefing on top domestic and international stories of the hour.