NPR News Now: December 19, 2025, 5AM EST

Host: Luis Giovanni (Luis Schiavone)
Duration: ~5 minutes

Main Theme

A concise, hourly roundup of top national news stories including the aftermath of a deadly shooting at Brown University, a judge’s conviction for obstructing immigration arrests, new federal proposals to restrict gender-affirming care for minors, Colorado wildfires, an update on the College Football Playoff, and the tragic death of a NASCAR legend.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. Brown University Shooting and Linked Murder (00:17–01:04)

• Anchor Summary:
  • Providence police identify Claudio Neves Valenti, 48, former Brown student from Portugal, as the suspect in a shooting that killed 2 and wounded 9 at Brown University.
  • Valenti found dead from suicide in Salem, New Hampshire.
  • He is also a suspect in the killing of MIT professor Nuno Lauriero in Massachusetts.
• Reporter Details:
  • "Between December 13 and December 14, Neves Valenti returned to Massachusetts. On December 15, he murdered MIT professor Nuno Lauriero at Lauriero's home in Brookline, Massachusetts." (NPR Reporter, 00:50)
  • Authorities connected both crimes via a rental vehicle seen at both crime scenes.

Notable Quote

“Police in Providence, Rhode Island say the man suspected of killing two and wounding nine others during a shooting at Brown University is 48 year old Claudio Neves Valenti...found dead from suicide in a storage facility in Salem, N.H.”
— Luis Giovanni, 00:17

2. Milwaukee Judge Convicted for Obstructing ICE Arrest (01:04–02:16)

• Story Summary:
  • Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan found guilty of obstructing immigration agents trying to arrest undocumented immigrant Eduardo Flores Ruiz outside her courtroom.
  • Prosecutors say Dugan orchestrated an "escape route" for Ruiz.
  • Dugan’s defense: she was following unsettled courthouse policies regarding ICE, never outright concealed Ruiz.
  • Reflects larger tensions about ICE enforcement under former President Trump.

Notable Quote

“Prosecutors then said 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 (WUWM), 01:26

3. Federal Moves to Restrict Gender-Affirming Care for Youth (02:16–03:15)

• Major Development:
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz propose new regulations.
    • One rule bans Medicaid reimbursement for gender-affirming care for minors.
    • Another rule would cut off all federal funding to hospitals providing such care.
  • Rules are not immediate; a 60-day comment period is required, and legal challenges are expected.

Notable Quote

“One rule says doctors and hospitals cannot get reimbursed by Medicaid for gender affirming care for youth. The other is more sweeping...hospitals that provide the care would be cut off from all Medicare or Medicaid funding for everything.”
— Selena Simmons Duffin, 02:34

4. Colorado Wildfires and Power Outages (03:15–03:37)

• News Brief:
  • Hurricane-force winds (up to 100 mph) intensified wildfires along the Colorado Front Range and Great Plains.
  • Utility Xcel Energy cut power preemptively to prevent downed lines from causing additional fires.
  • More than half of the power outages have been restored.

5. College Football Playoff Preview (03:37–04:35)

• Sports Roundup:
  • Alabama Crimson Tide (3 losses) play the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, OK.
  • Winner to face undefeated Indiana Hoosiers.
  • Other key matchups: Texas A&M vs. Miami, Tulane vs. Ole Miss, James Madison vs. Oregon.
  • Indiana is the top seed; Ohio State favored for the title, aiming for back-to-back championships.

Notable Quote

“Indiana is the top overall seed in the playoff, but the favorite to win the championship game in January is actually number two, Ohio State.”
— Becky Sullivan, 04:17

6. Death of NASCAR Legend Greg Biffle (04:35–04:56)

• Breaking News:
  • Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, two children, and crew members died in a small plane crash in North Carolina.
  • Biffle had over 50 NASCAR victories across three circuits.
  • Crash is under investigation.

Notable Quote

“Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle has died in a small plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina. Also dead in the crash, Biffle's wife and two children and crew members on the plane.”
— Luis Giovanni, 04:35

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Brown University Shooting:
  “[Valenti] is also believed to be the killer of MIT professor Nuno Lauriero in Massachusetts.”
  — Luis Giovanni, 00:17

• Judge Aiding ICE Arrest Escape:
  “Dugan created a, quote, escape route… sent Flores Ruiz out a private jury door... into a restricted hallway.”
  — Mayan Silver, 01:26

• Potential Ban on Gender-Affirming Care:
  “...that rule could shut down gender affirming care for youth at hospitals.”
  — Selena Simmons Duffin, 02:55

• Sports Underdog Narrative:
  “For the first time, the playoff includes two teams from outside the sport's biggest conferences... both of them are big underdogs.”
  — Becky Sullivan, 04:07

• Greg Biffle's Death:
  “He won more than 50 NASCAR races across three circuits.”
  — Luis Giovanni, 04:52

Table of Notable Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:17 | Brown U. shooting & connected murder case | | 01:26 | Judge’s obstruction conviction | | 02:34 | Proposed federal regulations on gender care | | 03:15 | Colorado wildfires and power outages | | 03:52 | College Football Playoff preview | | 04:35 | Death of NASCAR driver Greg Biffle |

Tone

Direct, fact-driven, urgent, and attentive to ongoing national developments—typical of NPR’s concise news delivery style.

Listeners receive a brisk, authoritative rundown with a focus on major stories shaping the national dialogue as of December 19, 2025.