NPR News: 12-23-2025 5AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 12-23-2025 5AM EST

Main Theme:
This NPR News Now episode offers a brisk, five-minute snapshot of major headlines, focusing on congressional tension over Jeffrey Epstein files, an immigration rights case, diplomatic shifts in Canada, Barry Manilow’s health disclosure, tragedy involving a Mexican medical flight, mental health system challenges, and a campus security shakeup.

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Key News Highlights & Insights

1. Congressional Clash Over Epstein Files

• Details:
  • Two U.S. Congress members, Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie, are threatening usage of rarely invoked congressional procedures (such as fines or arrests) targeting Justice Department officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi.
  • The push is due to frustration over the “slow, much redacted release” of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
• Support from Survivors:
  • Epstein survivors are speaking out about their ongoing struggle.
    • Notable Quote:

      "We have been through so much at this point, and we are just tired and tired of asking for just one simple thing."
      — Epstein survivor, Marinda La Sarda [00:47]

• DOJ Response:
  • The Justice Department says they’re reviewing the files for victim protection.

2. Immigration Rights Case: Kilmar Abrego Garcia

• Latest:
  • A Maryland judge extended a restraining order preventing Homeland Security from detaining Kilmar Abrego Garcia while his court cases proceed.
• Background:
  • Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador, is back in the U.S., fighting charges of human smuggling and immigration violations.
• Insight:
  • The judge is pressing the government for clarity on next steps if the order is lifted.
• Reporter Attribution:
  • Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington [01:54]

3. Canada Appoints New Ambassador to Washington

• Appointment News:
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney names Mark Wiseman, a global investment banker and close associate, as ambassador.
  • Wiseman will lead USMCA (North American Free Trade Agreement) negotiations.
• Profile Highlights:
  • 55 years old, experienced in global banking, member of PM's Canada-U.S. relations council, academic credentials from University of Toronto.
• Quote & Attribution:
  • Dan Karpenschuk, Toronto [02:50]

4. Barry Manilow Diagnosed with Lung Cancer

• Announcement:
  • Manilow reveals he has “early stage lung cancer” and is scheduled for surgery.
  • January concerts will be rescheduled due to treatment.
• Health Update:
  • Diagnosis came following a bronchitis case; prognosis is hopeful with surgery.

5. Mexican Medical Flight Crash Near Galveston

• Tragedy:
  • Minimum of five fatalities, including a 2-year-old, when a small plane on a medical mission crashes and burns near Galveston, Texas.
• Details:
  • Plane had eight people on board, all involved in transporting burn victims for treatment.

6. Mental Health System Strain in Ohio

• Issue:
  • Over 90% of patients in Ohio psychiatric hospitals now have a criminal charge, compared to only 50% two decades ago.
• Systemic Impact:
  • Scarcity of treatment options for non-criminal patients.
  • Long stays for criminally charged patients exacerbating bed shortages.
• Expert Insight:
  • Ohio’s retired Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton notes the hardship for families in need of non-criminal mental health care.
    • Notable Quote:

      “It hurts everybody who has someone who needs to get a hospital bed that's not in the criminal justice system.”
      — Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton [03:48]

• Reforms:
  • Efforts underway to expand mental health treatment in jails.
• Reporter Attribution:
  • Sarah Jane Tribble with KFF Health News [04:25]

7. Brown University Police Chief Placed on Leave

• Situation:
  • After a mass shooting on campus left two dead, Brown University’s chief of police is placed on leave.
  • Providence’s former police chief steps in as acting chief during the investigation.

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Notable Quotes

• Marinda La Sarda (Epstein survivor):

  “We have been through so much at this point, and we are just tired and tired of asking for just one simple thing.” [00:47]

• Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton:

  “It hurts everybody who has someone who needs to get a hospital bed that's not in the criminal justice system.” [03:48]

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Key Segments and Timestamps

• Congressional push over Epstein files: [00:14–01:15]
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia immigration case: [01:15–01:54]
• Canadian diplomatic change: [01:54–02:50]
• Barry Manilow health news: [02:50–03:10]
• Mexican medical plane crash: [03:10–03:48]
• Ohio psychiatric hospital strain: [03:48–04:25]
• Brown University police chief investigation: [04:25–04:53]

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This episode delivers swift, comprehensive coverage of significant political, legal, health, and international stories, echoing the urgency and compassion of those affected and those reporting.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. Two members of Congress, a Democrat and a Republican, are threatening to use a rarely used congressional procedure because of what they say is the slow, much redacted release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie said this could include fining and arresting Justice Department officials, including the attorney general, Pam Bondi. Meanwhile, Epstein survivors are speaking out. Marinda La Sarda spoke with ABC News.

[C]

We have been through so much at this point, and we are just tired and tired of asking for just one simple thing.

[B]

The Justice Department says it's reviewing the files to make sure victims are protected. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was deported to El Salvador by mistake, may continue to stay out of detention while his court cases play out. NPR's Himana Bushura has more.

[D]

Judge Polazzini's in Maryland extended a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Homeland Security Department from placing Abrego Garcia in immigration detention. She gave the government attorneys until later this week to explain what they'd do should she lift that order. Zinis issued the protection order earlier this month and also granted Abrego Garcia's petition to be released from custody. Abrego Garcia, who entered the US Illegally, had been living in Maryland but was deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador by mistake. The government eventually brought him back to the US and charged him with human smuggling. Abrego Garcia denies those allegations and is fighting this and his immigration case across several courts. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[B]

Canada's prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed a new ambassador to Washington. Dan Carpentchuk reports. Mark Wiseman takes over the duties in mid February.

[E]

The 55 year old Wiseman Weissman will also lead Ottawa's negotiations with the US on the review of the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as usmca. Weissman is a global investment banker and a pension fund manager and a longtime friend of Carney's. He's a member of the Prime Minister's council on Canada U.S. relations, which was formed to review the current trade agreement. He was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, holds a joint master of Business Administration and Law degree from the University of Toronto, and has worked on mergers and acquisitions in New York City and Paris. Weissman replaces Kirsten Hillman, who announced earlier this month that she would end her Washington posting. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenschuk in Toronto.

[B]

Legendary entertainer Barry Manilow says he has early stage lung cancer and will undergo surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his lung. He will reschedule his January concerts as a result of the surgery. Manilow said he recently had been battling bronchitis and doctors found the cancerous growth. They say it can be treated with surgery. You're listening to NPR News. At least five people reportedly were killed Monday when a small Mexican plane on a medical mission crashed and burned in the water near Galveston, Texas. It was en route to the city's international airport. One of those who died reportedly as a 2 year old child. Mexico's navy said eight people were on board the plane. They were transporting burn victims for treatment. Many state run psychiatric hospitals have largely lost the ability to treat patients unless they're charged with a crime. Sarah Jane Tribble with our partner KFF Health News, has more from Ohio.

[C]

More than 90% of the patients at Ohio state psychiatric hospitals have been charged with a crime. Two decades ago. About half of the patients were criminally charged. Ohio retired Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton has seen people with unmet mental health needs cycle through the courts for years. It hurts everybody who has someone who needs to get a hospital bed that's not in the criminal justice system. Patients charged with crimes tend to stay longer in state hospitals, so fewer patients are being served today than 10 years ago. Ohio's Department of Behavioral Health has tried to address the problem, including by expanding mental health treatment in jails.

[B]

That is Sarah Jane Tribble with our partners at KFF Health News. The chief of police at Brown University in Providence, Rhode island, has now been put on administrative leave. This is Campus officials review security procedures following last week's mass shooting that left two people dead. The former police chief for the city of Providence has been named the acting chief of police while the investigation takes place. From Washington, this is NPR News. I'm Dan Ronan.

[A]

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