NPR News Now: 7AM EST, December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now segment, hosted by Windsor Johnston, delivers the latest top news stories on U.S. defense initiatives, criminal justice controversies, newly released government documents, a massive data scrape targeting Spotify, and the retraction of an AI pricing tool by Instacart. Each story is presented in NPR's characteristic concise, factual tone.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. U.S. to Resume Battleship Production

• [00:13–01:19]
• President Trump announced the U.S. will begin producing battleships for the first time since WWII at his resort in Florida.
• Reporting from WHRO, Steve Walsh describes the new ships as:
  • Larger than current destroyers and cruisers.
  • Armed with advanced weapons, including sea-based nuclear weapons, lasers, and traditional 16-inch guns.
  • Supposed to surpass any previously built battleship in power and capacity.
• Battleships have not seen combat since the Gulf War in 1991; this marks a significant strategic and symbolic shift for U.S. naval power.

Memorable Quote:

• President Trump:
  • “These are the best in the world. They'll be the fastest, the biggest and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built.” (00:52)

2. U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Smuggling Vessel

• [01:19–01:34]
• U.S. Southern Command reports a recent strike in the Eastern Pacific targeting a suspected drug smuggling boat, resulting in one fatality.
• The vessel was traveling well-known trafficking routes and appeared to be involved in narcotics operations.

3. Repercussions for Commuted Death Row Inmates

• [01:34–02:44]
• Follow-up on former President Joe Biden’s commutation of 37 men previously convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
• An NPR investigation by Kierra Eisner uncovers alleged punitive measures by the current administration, possibly violating federal rules:
  • 10 of the 37 prisoners moved to ADX Florence, a supermax prison with extreme isolation.
  • DOJ allegedly altered medical records to justify transfers; isolation typically reserved for “healthier” prisoners with problematic behavior.
  • Mental health consequences reported, including a suicide attempt and further risks.
  • DOJ maintains that transfers are “consistent with the egregiousness of their crimes.”

Key Excerpts:

• Kierra Eisner:
  • “Only healthier men whose behavior indicates they can't be kept elsewhere are supposed to be sent to ADX. But NPR found some... had no disciplinary record and... officials changed some of the prisoners medical records to make their health conditions appear less complex.” (02:09)
• DOJ statement:
  • Quoted as saying sending prisoners to ADX is "consistent with the egregiousness of their crimes." (02:39)

4. DOJ Releases More Epstein Documents

• [02:44–03:15]
• Justice Department releases another installment of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
• Notable figures, including former Presidents Clinton and Trump, have appeared in earlier disclosures.
• DOJ provided no context for the new images; a court deadline required all material be released by the past Friday.

5. Activist Group Scrapes Spotify Music Data

• [03:15–04:16]
• The group Anna’s Archive claims to have extracted metadata for 256 million Spotify tracks, which is now online.
• 86 million actual music files scraped, to be released later.
• The group’s stated goal: create the largest public music archive.
• Spotify responded that accounts involved in scraping were disabled, and anti-piracy safeguards are being strengthened.

Notable Details:

• Isabella Gomez Sarmiento:
  • “Metadata typically includes information like a song's artist title, genre producers and other identifying information.” (03:38)
  • “Spotify says the company has identified and disabled the accounts engaged in unlawful scraping and that it is implementing safeguards to prevent piracy and copyright infringement.” (04:00)

6. Instacart Shuts Down AI Pricing Tool After Backlash

• [04:16–04:49]
• Instacart discontinues its Eversight AI pricing tool after reports of inconsistent, variable pricing for customers.
• Eversight allowed stores to test different prices for the same items, sometimes for the same shopper.
• Consumer Reports found some shoppers paid up to $1,000 more annually due to price swings.
• Instacart admits the approach “missed the mark” in a blog post.

7. Market Update

• [04:49–04:56]
• Asian stock markets closed mixed.
• Dow futures trading higher at the time of broadcast.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump on battleship renewal:
  “These are the best in the world. They'll be the fastest, the biggest and by far 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built.” (00:52)

• Kierra Eisner on prisoner transfers:
  “NPR found some of the 37 prisoners had no disciplinary record and discovered that officials changed some of the prisoners medical records...” (02:12)

• Isabella Gomez Sarmiento on Spotify data breach:
  “The activist group also said it scraped 86 million music audio files with which it plans to release at a future date.” (03:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:13 — Battleship production announcement (President Trump, Steve Walsh)
• 01:19 — U.S. strike on suspected drug smuggling vessel
• 01:56 — Punishments for commuted prisoners; NPR investigation
• 02:44 — DOJ releases new Epstein documents
• 03:32 — Spotify data scraping by Anna’s Archive
• 04:16 — Instacart ends controversial AI pricing tool
• 04:49 — Stock market updates

This update provides a snapshot of shifting military policy, justice system challenges post-commutation, digital privacy and piracy news, and the ongoing impacts of AI-driven technology in consumer markets—all delivered in NPR’s crisp, objective style.