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NPR News Now

NPR News: 12-18-2025 9AM EST

18 Dec 2025

Transcription

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

0.031 - 17.348 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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18.121 - 20.944 Corva Coleman

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman.

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Chapter 2: What are the latest consumer price trends reported by the government?

20.964 - 34.639 Corva Coleman

The government says consumer prices rose in November by 2.7 percent from a year ago. Consumer costs did not go up as much as some economists expected, but it's still higher than the 2 percent inflation rate the Federal Reserve is seeking.

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35.3 - 43.909 Corva Coleman

The House has passed a package of health care provisions backed by Speaker Mike Johnson, but it does not extend subsidies for people on plans under the Affordable Care Act.

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Chapter 3: How are healthcare provisions impacting Affordable Care Act subsidies?

43.889 - 56.389 Corva Coleman

Separately, four Republicans joined Democrats yesterday to force a measure to the House floor. That would extend subsidies for three years. It's not what Speaker Johnson wanted, but he says there's no ill will about it.

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It's not an act of defiance. I understand what they're doing.

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Chapter 4: What challenges do college students face during finals week?

59.354 - 69.711 Unknown

I understand that every member has a different district with different dynamics and different demographics. And some of them felt like it was a really important thing to have a vote on the floor.

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69.691 - 92.885 Corva Coleman

It's unlikely Congress will pass any health care pricing relief before the end of the year. Many people who use the subsidies will see prices skyrocket on January 1st. Finals week is a stressful time for college students across the country. But it's greater for students facing food insecurity. NPR's Kayden Mills met with students who are stocking up ahead of winter break.

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92.905 - 104.683 Kayden Mills

Two in five college students are food insecure, meaning they don't have consistent access to food. That's according to the nonprofit Swipe Out Hunger. Amy Wheeler oversees the food pantry at Penn State Harrisburg.

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Chapter 5: How is food insecurity affecting college students this winter?

104.803 - 126.625 Kayden Mills

We try to really supply the students with whatever we possibly can. She says as grocery prices have gone up, more students are visiting the pantry, and she expects the number to continue rising in the new year. Junior Miles Perry is one of those students. So I had to get essentials. Like many students, Perry has a job on campus, but visits the pantry when his income isn't enough.

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126.645 - 136.013 Kayden Mills

I mean, hey, gotta eat. And at finals time, a full stomach is especially important for students. Caden Mills, NPR News, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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135.993 - 150.515 Corva Coleman

The Department of Health and Human Services has abruptly terminated seven grants made to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The group is a vocal critic of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's changes. to federal vaccine policy.

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151.116 - 175.433 Maria Godoy

NPR's Maria Godoy has more. The canceled grants involved initiatives in multiple areas of child health, including reducing sudden infant death, early identification of autism, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. In a statement to NPR, Mark Del Monte, the CEO of AAP, said, quote, the sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth,

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Chapter 6: What recent changes have occurred in federal grants for child health?

175.413 - 193.203 Maria Godoy

and their families in communities across the United States. He said the American Academy of Pediatrics is exploring all available options, including legal recourse to address the grant terminations. HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

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193.684 - 216.54 Corva Coleman

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The federal government, amidst the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Army, were partly to blame in a deadly airline crash last January. Sixty-seven people were killed in Washington, D.C., when a Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet trying to land at Reagan National Airport.

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216.52 - 228.16 Corva Coleman

But the federal government response to the suit filed by a victim's family suggests the pilots of the passenger jet and the airlines may be responsible too. China has condemned the U.S.

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Chapter 7: How is the U.S. arms sale to Taiwan affecting international relations?

228.22 - 241.262 Corva Coleman

for selling more than $11 billion worth of advanced weapons to Taiwan. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports the sale is the largest on record to the self-governed island, which China claims as its territory.

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241.377 - 260.567 Anthony Kuhn

The deal includes weapons such as tactical ballistic missiles, rocket artillery, and drones. The U.S. says they're not going to change the military balance of power, but will help Taiwan maintain a credible deterrent. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press briefing that the deal harms China's sovereignty and will push the Taiwan Strait closer to war.

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260.75 - 262.272 Unknown

The U.S.

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262.852 - 280.17 Anthony Kuhn

attempt to aid Taiwan's independence with arms will only backfire, he added, and its attempt to use Taiwan to contain China will absolutely not succeed. President Trump says he plans to visit China next April. It's unclear whether the arms sale could affect that trip. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

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280.19 - 297.473 Corva Coleman

The private space company Blue Origin is set to launch a crewed rocket into space this morning. One of the crew is German aerospace engineer Michaela Benthaus. She is set to become the first wheelchair user to fly into space. This is NPR News.

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