NPR News Now – December 17, 2025, 10AM EST

Host: NPR (Korva Coleman)
Episode Overview:
This fast-paced five-minute bulletin delivers top US and world news stories. This hour covers looming healthcare subsidy expirations, testimony from a high-profile special counsel, new travel restrictions from President Trump, major business and labor developments, a thought-provoking nativity installation, a somber ceremony for fallen soldiers, and rising measles cases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Healthcare Subsidies Near Expiry

• Timestamps: 00:15–00:54
• Summary:
  • Congress faces a tight deadline with just two days left to extend critical healthcare subsidies, risking substantial premium hikes in the new year for many Americans.
  • Senate inaction: The Senate failed to advance any bills last week.
  • House's stance: Speaker Mike Johnson's measure is unlikely to succeed.
  • Bipartisan talks continue among some senators but hopes are low for a resolution before year's end.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Most lawmakers have acknowledged a solution is not going to happen this year, which means premiums for many Americans are going to shoot up on January 1st.”
    — NPR’s Sam Greenglass (00:41)

2. Special Counsel Testifies, Trump Developments

• Timestamps: 00:54–01:35
• Summary:
  • Former special counsel Jack Smith is set to testify privately before the House Judiciary Committee, spotlighting his federal charges against Donald Trump (handling classified documents, attempts to overturn the 2020 election).
  • Trump maintains his denial of wrongdoing.
  • Brief recap: Trump's impeachment over the Capitol riot and subsequent Senate acquittal.

3. New Immigration & Refugee Restrictions

• Timestamps: 01:35–02:15
• Summary:
  • President Trump enacts travel restrictions on twenty more countries, expanding on a previous freeze affecting 19 nations.
  • The backlog impacts some 2.3 million immigrants awaiting hearings.
  • Concerns grow over long asylum wait times and delays in adjudicating refugee cases.
  • DHS will review cases of roughly 200,000 refugees admitted during the Biden administration.
  • Policy shift follows an incident involving an Afghan national accused in a deadly shooting—an asylum recipient under the Trump administration.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Some have been waiting for years. Immigration lawyers say this keeps people who may not qualify for asylum waiting around in limbo, while people who may qualify are not getting their cases adjudicated.”
    — Sergio Martinez Beltran (01:40)

4. Business & Labor Headlines

• Timestamps: 02:15–03:07
• Summary:
  • Stocks: The market opened mixed with the Dow up around 2% (225 points as of reporting).
  • Mergers & Acquisitions: Warner Bros. urges shareholders to reject a hostile Paramount Skydance bid in favor of a competing Netflix offer.
  • Labor Concerns: Railroad unions strongly oppose the proposed $85 billion merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, alleging increased safety risks and shipping costs.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The studio says a merger with Netflix would be better for customers and allow the company’s movies and TV shows to reach a wider audience.”
    — Scott Horsley (02:35)

5. Dignified Transfer at Dover Air Force Base

• Timestamps: 03:07–03:51
• Summary:
  • President Trump will attend the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover for two Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria, as well as a civilian interpreter who was also killed.

6. Modern Nativity Scene Sparks Conversation

• Timestamps: 03:51–04:39
• Summary:
  • Dallas’ Oaklawn United Methodist Church presents a nativity scene using chain link fencing, razor wire, and found objects to reflect current social realities (immigration, homelessness).
  • Reverend Rachel Griffin Allison aims to provoke reflection on vulnerability and perspective regarding the Christmas story.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “For her, the Christmas story is one of God choosing vulnerability over power.”
    — Markita Fornoff (04:06)
  • “[The installation is] not adding politics, it’s removing the filters that maybe made the story feel safe in the first place because it never was.”
    — Rev. Rachel Griffin Allison (04:29)

7. South Carolina Measles Outbreak

• Timestamps: 04:39–04:54
• Summary:
  • 138 measles cases are identified; officials worry about further spread among unvaccinated populations.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Most lawmakers have acknowledged a solution is not going to happen this year, which means premiums for many Americans are going to shoot up on January 1st.”
  — Sam Greenglass (00:41)
• “Some have been waiting for years. Immigration lawyers say this keeps people who may not qualify for asylum waiting around in limbo...”
  — Sergio Martinez Beltran (01:40)
• "[The nativity scene is] not adding politics, it’s removing the filters that maybe made the story feel safe in the first place because it never was."
  — Rev. Rachel Griffin Allison (04:29)

Important Timestamps

• 00:15: Healthcare subsidies deadline/lawmakers’ gridlock
• 00:54: Special Counsel Jack Smith’s testimony, Trump investigation updates
• 01:35: Expanded travel/immigration restrictions, asylum backlog
• 02:15: Warner Bros. takeover bid, labor issues with rail merger
• 03:07: President Trump at Dover, honoring fallen soldiers
• 03:51: Dallas church’s socially-conscious nativity scene
• 04:39: Measles cases surge in South Carolina

This summary captures the top stories and perspectives from NPR News Now’s December 17, 2025, 10AM EST newscast, retaining the factual, brisk, and clear reporting style of the episode.