NPR News: 12-12-2025 7PM EST
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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theschmidt.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.
What recent actions has President Trump taken regarding congressional maps?
President Trump continues to pressure Republicans to redraw congressional maps in states across the country. But in Indiana, Republican lawmakers voted against a plan to do just that. NPR's Tamara Keith explains.
President Trump used the best leverage that he's had throughout his political career, which is to say, if you cross me, if you don't do the thing that I want you to do, that I'm going to primary you. I'm going to support someone else to run against you in the Republican primary. And I'm so all powerful that you will lose your job. And 21 Senate Republicans in the state of Indiana said, all right, you can try.
NPR's Tamara Keith reporting, the Justice Department has filed more lawsuits against states in an attempt to access sensitive data about registered voters. NPR's Hansi Lo Wong reports the lawsuits are against mostly Democratic-led states.
For months, the Justice Department has been demanding certain states turn over complete copies of their voter registration lists, including any driver's license numbers and parts of voters' social security numbers. In court filings, the DOJ says it wants this personal information to check if states are following federal law and keeping accurate voter rolls. But most states have refused, citing privacy restrictions. Now, the Justice Department is suing Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Nevada. They're the latest among a total of 18 states facing lawsuits. The DOJ has also filed a new lawsuit against Georgia's Fulton County. The Trump administration is trying to force local election officials to turn over all ballots and other records from the 2020 election that President Trump lost.
Anzi Luang, NPR News.
The U.S. military has not addressed safety issues with the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports government watchdogs are warning that troops' lives could be at risk.
The V-22 Osprey looks futuristic with massive propellers on the ends of two wings. It lifts off the ground vertically like a helicopter and then jerks in midair as the propellers lurch forward to fly like a plane. That gives the Osprey unique capabilities, but also engineering challenges. Reports this week from the Navy and the Government Accountability Office noted four fatal accidents with the aircraft since 2022 that killed 20 service members. The reports blame a shortage of personnel to do maintenance on the Osprey and found that the Navy, Marines and Air Force have done a poor job sharing relevant safety information. The reports also say it's not clear who is in charge of fixing the potentially fatal issues with the aircraft.
Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
A West Virginia National Guard member who was shot last month in the nation's capital is being transitioned from hospital acute care to inpatient rehabilitation. Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was shot in the head last month three blocks from the White House. Another guard member, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, died during the shooting. A 29-year-old Afghan national has been charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says New York issues commercial driver's licenses to immigrants that may be valid long after the individuals are legally authorized to be in the country. He's threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds unless the system is fixed.
State officials say they are following all federal rules. Duffy has targeted other Democratic-led states for similar reasons. One of the strongest meteor showers of the year will peak tomorrow night, going into early Sunday morning. NPR's Nell Greenfield-Boyce reports You could also try looking tonight.
The annual Geminid meteor shower happens when the Earth passes through a field of tiny particles left behind by an asteroid.
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