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NPR News Now

NPR News: 12-18-2025 3AM EST

18 Dec 2025

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.031 - 17.314 Unknown

Support for NPR and the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, whose bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help NPR produce programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression.

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19.589 - 23.057 Shae Stephens

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stephens.

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Chapter 2: What economic policies is President Trump defending?

23.718 - 41.771 Shae Stephens

President Trump is defending his economic policies amid polls showing that many Americans are suffering. Trump insists the nation is strong and that inflation is easing. He blamed Democrats for the impending increases in health insurance premiums when pandemic-errant subsidies expire in 13 days.

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42.131 - 52.992 Unknown

And you see that now in the steep increase in premiums being demanded by the Democrats, and they are demanding those increases, and it's their fault. It is not the Republicans' fault.

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Chapter 3: What recent actions are being taken regarding health insurance subsidies?

53.012 - 58.715 Unknown

It's the Democrats' fault. It's the Unaffordable Care Act, and everybody knew it.

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58.936 - 60.298 Shae Stephens

Four Republicans in the U.S.

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Chapter 4: How is the U.S. addressing military support for Taiwan?

60.318 - 68.511 Shae Stephens

House are joining Democrats to force a vote on extending Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. NPR's Sam Greenglass has details.

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68.751 - 80.089 Sam Greenglass

The four Republicans signed onto a petition that would allow 218 members to circumvent House Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson is pushing his own health bill that would not extend the subsidies.

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Chapter 5: What controversy surrounds the Coast Guard's policy on hate symbols?

80.069 - 98.474 Sam Greenglass

The four represent competitive districts and said this was a last resort after the speaker refused to allow a vote on the subsidies. Even though there's now enough support to force a vote on a three-year extension, that vote is not expected until January. And a three-year extension failed in the Senate last week.

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98.835 - 110.37 Sam Greenglass

So the long-term fate of the subsidies is still unclear, even though they are all but certain to lapse, spiking premiums for millions of Americans come January 1st. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

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110.911 - 130.156 Shae Stephens

President Trump steered clear of foreign policy issues in his late-night speech, although the State Department announced more than $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. The package includes military software, tactical missiles, dozens of rocket systems, and drones, similar to the U.S. aid provided to Ukraine during the Biden administration.

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Chapter 6: What legal case is a Tennessee man pursuing after his arrest?

130.757 - 150.632 Shae Stephens

The move comes amid China's increasing aggression towards Taiwan, which considerers which Beijing considers a renegade part of the mainland. At least two Democratic senators have put a hold on the nominee for commander of the Coast Guard because of a new policy on hate symbols. NPR's Quill Lawrence explains.

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151.533 - 169.25 Quill Lawrence

Senators Jackie Rosen of Nevada and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois both said they had spoken with acting commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin Lunday, after reports in the Washington Post that a Coast Guard manual would describe symbols like swastikas and nooses as just potentially divisive and not as symbols of hate.

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169.791 - 191.503 Quill Lawrence

Lunday released a statement in November that Coast Guard policy prohibits such hate symbols. But this week, the manual came out with the ambiguous language. The Coast Guard sent a response from the Department of Homeland Security to NPR that the new language actually strengthens the ability to report, investigate, and prosecute those who violate longstanding policy. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

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191.904 - 211.551 Shae Stephens

U.S. futures are flat in after-hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR. Nick Reiner appeared in court Wednesday for the first time Since he was accused of killing his parents, actor-director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were found in their home in Los Angeles on Sunday.

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212.131 - 230.935 Shae Stephens

In a statement, Nick Reiner's siblings say they are feeling unimaginable pain over the loss of their parents, who they called their best friends. A Tennessee man who was fired and jailed for posting memes about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk is suing for damages. NPR's Ho Chi Ngan has the story.

231.117 - 246.527 Huo Jingnan

Larry Bushhart, a retired police officer in Perry County, Tennessee, posted a meme to a Facebook group that was organizing a vigil. The meme quoted President Trump saying, We have to get over it, a remark the president made after a school shooting in Iowa that killed two people.

246.507 - 267.738 Huo Jingnan

Officers showed up at Bushard's home with a warrant near midnight and arrested him for, quote, threatening mass violence. Unable to afford the $2 million bond, Bushard sat in jail for 37 days until prosecutors dropped the case. Now Bushard is suing the government and officers for violation of his First and Fourth Amendment rights.

268.459 - 276.21 Huo Jingnan

He says he was arrested for, quote, nothing more than refusing to be bullied into censorship. Huo Jingnan, NPR News.

276.258 - 297.49 Shae Stephens

Britain is giving Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich a last chance to turn over roughly $3 billion he promised for Ukrainian war victims. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his government is prepared to take the matter to court. Abramovich was forced to sell his London-based soccer club under sanctions over his ties to Vladimir Putin. This is NPR News.

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