NPR News Now – December 19, 2025, 2PM EST

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This episode delivers rapid-fire updates on major U.S. and international news stories, spanning the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein case file releases, developments in a multi-state shooting investigation, Russian President Putin’s commentary on Ukraine, housing market trends, a controversial immigration-related conviction of a Milwaukee judge, and a rare comet flyby.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epstein & Maxwell Files Release

[00:13–01:11]

• Deputy Attorney General: Plans to release hundreds of thousands of files on Jeffrey Epstein, following a law signed by President Trump.
• Todd Blanche (Epstein’s lawyer): Not all files will be released immediately, as they require redaction to protect victims’ identities.
• Deadline: The law mandates release by end of day, but there are no penalties for missing it.

Notable Quote:

• "They need time to redact information that could identify victims." – Jeanine Herbst [00:25]

2. Brown University Shooting & MIT Professor Murder

[01:11–01:50]

• Suspect Identified: Claudio Nevesch Valente, found dead by suicide in a New Hampshire storage unit.
• Investigation: A Reddit post and a witness sighting aided police in tracking Valente.
• Series of Crimes: Authorities tie Valente to both the Brown University shooting (2 dead, 9 wounded) and the murder of an MIT professor in Brookline, MA.
• Evidence: Video places Valente at the professor’s apartment.

Notable Quotes:

• "A witness described seeing the suspect near a rental car in the neighborhood next to Brown, which helped authorities identify Valente and track his movements." – Ben Burke [01:19]
• "Officials say they believe Valente acted alone." – Ben Burke [01:44]

3. Putin on Ukraine and Trump’s Peace Efforts

[01:50–02:43]

• Putin’s Stance: Claims he wants peace in Ukraine, but only after Russia achieves its military and political goals.
• Conditions: Russia demands Ukraine cede territory and forswear joining NATO.
• Acknowledgment: Putin thanks President Trump for ongoing peace negotiations.
• Updates: Kremlin awaits further details from Trump’s administration after consultations with Ukraine and European officials.

Notable Quotes:

• "Peace would come once Ukraine had accepted Russian demands that include ceding territory and a formal ban on joining NATO." – Charles Mains [02:21]
• "Putin also thanked President Trump for his efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict." – Charles Mains [02:28]

4. U.S. Housing Market Update

[02:43–03:34]

• Trends: Existing home sales rose 0.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million homes.
• Inventory: Housing supply dropped by 5.9% from October.
• Median Home Price: Up 1.2% year over year to $409,000.

5. Wisconsin Judge Convicted in Immigration Case

[03:34–04:22]

• Conviction: Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan found guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents.
• Incident Details: Dugan diverted agents and allowed an undocumented defendant to exit through a private door, which prosecutors claim constituted obstruction.
• Defense: Dugan’s attorneys argue she acted amid unclear policy and did not conceal the defendant.
• Broader Context: The ruling highlights tensions around Trump-era deportation policies playing out in local courtrooms.

Notable Quotes:

• "Dugan created a, quote, escape route when she sent Flores Ruiz out a private jury door in her courtroom into a restricted hallway." – Mayan Silver [03:55]
• "The case reflects tension over President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts spilling over into courthouses." – Mayan Silver [04:09]

6. Rare Comet Flyby

[04:22–05:00]

• Event: The Three Eye Atlas comet, only the third of its kind detected, will closely pass Earth at roughly 167 miles.
• Significance: Although harmless, the comet presents a research opportunity into cometary dust and gases.

Notable Quotes:

• "NASA says it poses no danger to Earth or any other planet in the solar system, but it will give astronomers the chance to study dust and gases released from the ice center of the comet as it's warmed by the sun." – Jeanine Herbst [04:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "They need time to redact information that could identify victims." – Jeanine Herbst [00:25]
• "A witness described seeing the suspect near a rental car in the neighborhood next to Brown, which helped authorities identify Valente and track his movements." – Ben Burke [01:19]
• "Peace would come once Ukraine had accepted Russian demands that include ceding territory and a formal ban on joining NATO." – Charles Mains [02:21]
• "Dugan created a, quote, escape route when she sent Flores Ruiz out a private jury door in her courtroom into a restricted hallway." – Mayan Silver [03:55]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein Files Update: 00:13–01:11
• Brown University/MIT Professor Case: 01:11–01:50
• Putin on Ukraine: 01:50–02:43
• Housing Market Report: 02:43–03:34
• Judge Dugan Immigration Case: 03:34–04:22
• Comet Flyby: 04:22–05:00

This concise episode offers a spectrum of topical headlines with brief but impactful details, giving listeners both immediate news awareness and direction for deeper investigation into current events.