NPR News Now – 12-19-2025 10PM EST

Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Ryland Barton
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This fast-paced NPR News Now edition delivers the top national and global stories in five minutes. Reporting covers U.S. foreign policy tensions, evolving drug regulation, the housing market, environmental anomalies, tax debates, wildfire health impacts, and an unexpected development in Rome tourism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Relations with Venezuela (00:15–01:10)

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio declares the Maduro regime in Venezuela "intolerable," accusing it of collusion with drug cartels and terrorists.
  • Rubio highlights a breakdown in negotiations, criticizing Venezuela for breaking deals with the Biden administration.
  • He defends recent U.S. military action targeting alleged drug boats, branding them effective measures.
  • Quote:
    • “You can't do a peace deal with these people any more than you can do a peace deal with a Mafia.” — Marco Rubio (00:50)
  • The U.S. imposes new sanctions on seven relatives of individuals linked to the "illegitimate" Maduro government.
• Reporting by Michelle Kellerman

2. Republican States Challenge Marijuana Reclassification (01:10–02:05)

• Eight Republican attorneys general respond critically to President Trump's executive order directing the reclassification of marijuana to Schedule 3, which acknowledges some medical use but remains federally controlled.
  • The states argue marijuana cannot be used safely, citing insufficient scientific consensus.
  • Ken Mackey, Indiana University neuroscience professor, offers a counterpoint:
    • Marijuana’s risks are lower than drugs like tobacco and it treats chronic pain effectively.
  • Quote:
    • “It's not saying that it's harmless. It's putting a more realistic measure of the risk.” — Ken Mackey (01:52)
  • Trump’s order tells the U.S. attorney general to expedite the rescheduling process, but no actual reschedule occurs immediately.
• Reporting by Ethan Sandweiss

3. U.S. Housing Market Update (02:05–02:56)

• Existing home sales rose by 0.5% in November, now at a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.13 million homes.
  • Sales up in the Northeast and South; unchanged in the West; slightly down in the Midwest.
  • Key Factors:
    • Lower mortgage rates.
    • Fewer listings as homeowners delay sales for winter.
  • Median U.S. home price: Just under $410,000.
• Reporting by Scott Newman

4. Warm Winter Hurting Western Ski Resorts (02:56–03:06)

• States from Oregon to Colorado see above-normal temperatures—a lack of snow turns typical snowfalls into rain, impacting ski tourism.

5. Federal Tax Breaks for Tips and Overtime (03:06–03:41)

• State legislatures are debating whether to implement new federal tax breaks on tips and overtime, as encouraged by the Trump administration.
  • In some states, the tax breaks are automatic unless legislators move to opt out.
  • The change could benefit taxpayers but strain state budgets.

6. Wildfires Linked to Increased Heart Attacks in LA (03:41–04:32)

• New Study:
  • Heart attacks rose 46% in Los Angeles after wildfires in January 2025.
  • Cardiologist Joseph Ebinger: Analyzed Cedars Sinai Hospital emergency room data.
    • Although ER visits for other ailments stayed consistent, heart attacks and abnormal blood tests spiked.
    • Researchers attribute the spike to toxic smoke and ash from burnt materials in the fires.
    • Quote:
      • “…a 46% increase in the rate of people presenting for heart attacks during that time period.” — Joseph Ebinger (04:11)
• Reporting by Alejandra Barunda

7. Rome's Trevi Fountain Introduces New Tourist Fee (04:32–04:54)

• From now on, tourists must pay a two-euro fee to approach the famed Trevi Fountain, though viewing from the nearby piazza remains free.
  • The fee aims to address visitor impact and preserve the site.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You can't do a peace deal with these people any more than you can do a peace deal with a Mafia.”
  — Marco Rubio (00:50) [On Venezuela negotiations]

• “It's not saying that it's harmless. It's putting a more realistic measure of the risk.”
  — Ken Mackey (01:52) [On marijuana rescheduling]

• “…a 46% increase in the rate of people presenting for heart attacks during that time period.”
  — Joseph Ebinger (04:11) [On post-wildfire health impacts]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Venezuela/US foreign policy: 00:15–01:10
• Marijuana legal status debate: 01:10–02:05
• Housing market report: 02:05–02:56
• Western ski resort struggles: 02:56–03:06
• State tax break debates: 03:06–03:41
• Wildfires and heart attacks: 03:41–04:32
• Trevi Fountain tourist fee: 04:32–04:54

NPR News Now’s concise reporting style spotlights the breadth of today’s top stories with context, expert insight, and a pulse on both the nation's and world’s latest concerns.