NPR News: 12-14-2025 2AM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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, I'm Dale Willman.
What happened during the mass shooting at Brown University?
The search continues in Providence, Rhode Island tonight for the man responsible for a mass shooting Saturday at Brown University that left two people dead and nine others injured. Now university officials are dealing with the aftermath. Ian Donis from Ocean State Media has more.
Nearby residents were urged to shelter in place as the authorities continued the manhunt. Brown President Christina Paxson called it the day that one hopes never happens.
Our focus right now is on supporting the families who have been affected by this.
The shooting took place in a classroom in an engineering and physics building.
What are the details of the ceasefire talks in Germany?
A video released by the city of Providence shows a man wearing dark clothing turning a nearby corner. More than 400 law enforcement personnel are responding, including the FBI and ATF. For NPR News, I'm Ian Donis in Providence, Rhode Island.
Germany is hosting ceasefire talks with Ukrainian and U.S. delegations this weekend. The talks come ahead of a summit with European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin on Monday. Esme Nicholson has more on that report.
President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner are meeting delegations from Ukraine, Germany, France and the United Kingdom in Berlin, according to media reports. It is seen as a strong signal that the US is eager to iron out differences in its peace deal for Ukraine and Russia. Trump had said that he would only send officials to Berlin if he felt enough progress would be made.
How is the Department of Veterans Affairs restructuring its workforce?
German Chancellor Friedrich Maaz is keen to keep Trump on side by showing him Europe is serious about defence, but there is still disagreement over ceasefire terms, particularly when it comes to Kiev ceding territory. For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin.
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to eliminate thousands of staff positions, but as NPR's Quill Lawrence reports, the Trump administration says this will not affect veteran care or their benefits.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said on social media the department will remove positions he called unnecessary, most of which have been unfilled for a year. He said VA hospitals will continue to fill vacancies as needed. A VA spokesman said that'll be about 25,000 jobs. About 30,000 positions have already been eliminated through attrition, early retirement, and deferred resignation since the Trump administration announced plans to downsize the VA. The lead Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Richard Blumenthal, said continued cuts to VA's workforce are incomprehensible and inexcusable, and that unfilled doesn't mean unnecessary. An inspector general report in August found VA faces severe staffing shortages for medical officers and nurses.
Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
What happened in the recent drone attack on U.N. peacekeepers in Sudan?
At least six peacekeepers are dead following a drone attack Saturday on a U.N. facility in Sudan. Six other peacekeepers were wounded. Officials say the attack hit a U.N. logistics base in the southern city of Khagadouli. This is NPR News. President Trump says there will be a serious retaliation after two U.S. service members and one American civilian were killed in an attack in Syria Saturday. The U.S. is blaming the attack on the Islamic State militant group.
What is the current sentiment of young voters towards political parties?
The two service members were attached to the Iowa National Guard. The U.S. Central Command says three other service members were wounded in the ambush and the gunman was killed. A new survey shows lawmakers from both parties are losing ground with young voters ahead of next year's midterm elections. The University of Chicago surveyed more than 5,000 young Americans between the ages of 18 and 42. And as NPR's Elena Moore reports, these voters are feeling increasingly unhappy with politics as they struggle with the high cost of living.
This latest poll finds that roughly 6 in 10 young Americans have unfavorable impressions of both parties.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:18
2
What happened during the mass shooting at Brown University?
0:18–0:54
3
What are the details of the ceasefire talks in Germany?
0:54–1:46
4
How is the Department of Veterans Affairs restructuring its workforce?
1:46–2:58
5
What happened in the recent drone attack on U.N. peacekeepers in Sudan?
2:58–3:27
6
What is the current sentiment of young voters towards political parties?
3:27–4:19
7
How did the Navy perform against Army in their recent game?
4:19–4:54