NPR News Now – December 19, 2025, 6AM EST

Overview

This episode delivers a concise, five-minute roundup of the latest breaking news, focusing on major national and international events. Coverage includes the resolution of a high-profile mass shooting case, policy responses to gun violence in the U.S. and Australia, an unprecedented federal move to reclassify marijuana, notable White House and cultural institution developments, and labor action at the Louvre Museum.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Resolution of Brown University and MIT Shooting Cases

• Details of the Suspect and Case

  • Authorities in Massachusetts located the body of Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in the recent Brown University mass shooting, in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire.
  • Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national and former Brown student, was linked to the killing of two Brown University students and an MIT physics professor.
  • Police traced Valente through a car connected to him, images from a rental company, and paperwork with his real name.
  • Investigations into his motive continue.
    • Quote:
      • "Police say their case cracked open after a tip led them to a car linked to the suspect that brought them to a car rental company that had images of him and paperwork with the suspect's real name." — Tovia Smith, [00:47]

• Political Fallout

  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted the suspect’s permanent U.S. resident status obtained via the diversity lottery program.
  • President Trump ordered an immediate pause to the diversity lottery program, citing the program’s connection to Valente’s residency.

2. Australia’s Response to Mass Shooting

• National Gun Buyback Announcement
  • In response to a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 and wounded dozens, Australia is launching a national gun buyback program.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describes it as the largest buyback since 1996.
    • Quote:
      • "The government will establish a national gun buyback scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms, the largest buyback since the Howard government initiated one in 1996." — Anthony Albanese, [01:57]
  • Additional proposed measures include restricting gun licenses to Australian citizens and capping gun ownership totals.

3. Marijuana Reclassification in the U.S.

• Executive Order and Impact
  • President Trump signed an order to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 drug, recognizing its lower risk and usefulness.
  • The shift will enable expanded medical research and extend Medicare insurance coverage to some cannabis products starting next year.
    • Quote:
      • "We have people begging for me to do this. People that are in great pain." — President Trump, [02:40]
  • Despite the federal move, Trump emphasized he is not supporting full recreational legalization at this time.
    • "Trump said he's not ready to take that step." — Brian Mann, [02:48]

4. Major White House & Cultural Developments

• Kennedy Center Renaming

  • The board of the Kennedy Center has unanimously voted to rename the institution as the Trump Kennedy Center, following Trump’s self-appointment as board chair and selection of board members.
  • Some Democratic lawmakers insist congressional approval is required for such a change.

• White House Ballroom Project

  • A federal judge denied the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request to halt construction on President Trump's White House ballroom project.
  • The court order states that the design process isn’t finalized and the government must consult appropriate commissions by the month's end.
    • Quote:
      • "Nothing about the ballroom has been finalized, including its size and scale." — Judge Richard J. Leon (via Tamara Keith), [03:58]

5. International Update: Louvre Museum Strike Ends

• The Louvre Museum in Paris fully reopened after workers protesting conditions and security in the wake of a high-profile jewel robbery returned to their jobs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Investigation Breakthrough

  • Tovia Smith, [00:47]:
    "Police say their case cracked open after a tip led them to a car linked to the suspect that brought them to a car rental company that had images of him and paperwork with the suspect's real name."

• Australian Prime Minister on Gun Policy

  • Anthony Albanese, [01:57]:
    "The government will establish a national gun buyback scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms, the largest buyback since the Howard government initiated one in 1996."

• President Trump on Marijuana Reclassification

  • President Trump (as reported by Brian Mann), [02:40]:
    "We have people begging for me to do this. People that are are in great pain."

• Court on White House Project

  • Judge Richard J. Leon (via Tamara Keith), [03:58]:
    "Nothing about the ballroom has been finalized, including its size and scale."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Shooting Suspect Found & Investigation Details – [00:18] to [01:20]
• Australia Gun Buyback Announcement – [01:57] to [02:10]
• U.S. Reclassifies Marijuana – [02:35] to [03:14]
• Kennedy Center Name Change & White House Ballroom – [03:14] to [04:41]
• Louvre Museum Reopens – [04:41] to [04:56]

This morning episode captures swift-moving developments in law enforcement, public policy, and cultural institutions, underscoring rapid responses to gun violence, changing drug policy, and ongoing debates over presidential power and national heritage.