NPR News: 12-19-2025 10PM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.
What is the current state of Venezuela's regime according to Secretary Marco Rubio?
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the current state of Venezuela's regime is intolerable. He accuses Nicolas Maduro's government of working with drug cartels and terrorists, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.
At an end-of-year news conference, Secretary Rubio was asked repeatedly about the U.S. military buildup near Venezuela. He says President Trump promised to take on the cartels and is doing that. Rubio would not describe a recent call between Trump and Maduro, but said that the Venezuelans broke deals with the Biden administration.
How are Republican attorneys general reacting to Trump's marijuana reclassification?
You can't do a peace deal with these people any more than you can do a peace deal with a mafia. Rubio defended the strikes on alleged drug boats, saying they've been effective. The Trump administration is also imposing sanctions on seven family members of individuals tied to what it calls the illegitimate Maduro regime. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.
What trends are emerging in existing home sales as reported by the National Association of Realtors?
Eight Republican attorneys general have issued a rebuke of President Trump's executive order to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. From member station WFIU, Ethan Sandweiss reports.
As a Schedule III drug, marijuana would still be a controlled substance, but with recognized medical use. Attorneys General of Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Wyoming wrote in a statement that the science surrounding marijuana shows it cannot be used safely. Ken Mackey is a professor of neuroscience at Indiana University. He says marijuana is an effective treatment for chronic pain,
What impact is the lack of snow having on ski resorts in the western U.S.?
and its potential for abuse is lower than other drugs, such as tobacco.
It's not saying that it's harmless. It's putting a more realistic measure of the risk.
Trump's order does not immediately reschedule marijuana, but directs the U.S.
How have heart attacks in Los Angeles been affected by recent wildfires?
Attorney General to expedite that process. For NPR News, I'm Ethan Sandweiss.
Existing home sales rose slightly last month from October as fewer homes hit the market. NPR's Scott Newman has more.
In its monthly report on existing home sales, the National Association of Realtors said in November home sales increased 0.5 percent for a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.13 million homes. Sales increased in the Northeast and South, but showed no change in the West and actually fell a bit in the Midwest.
What new fees are being introduced for tourists at the Trevi Fountain in Rome?
NAR chief economist Lawrence Yoon said the increase in sales could be explained by lower mortgage rates, while a decrease in the number of unsold units was likely due to homeowners holding off listing their homes for sale during the winter. The NAR says the median home price in the U.S. is at just under $410,000. Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington.
A lack of snow is causing problems for ski resorts in the western U.S. States from Oregon to Colorado are recording temperatures far above normal. As a result, mountainous areas that would normally get snow have been getting rain instead. This is NPR News from Washington. State lawmakers across the U.S. are debating whether to adopt new federal tax breaks for tips and overtime. The Trump administration is urging them to. States embracing the cuts could give savings to taxpayers, but their budgets may be strained. In some states, the tax breaks automatically apply unless legislatures opt out. Heart attacks rose in Los Angeles after the wildfires last January, according to a new study. NPR's Alejandra Barunda reports.
Over the three months following the fires, the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles saw lots of patients from the city's most affected areas. Now, researchers like cardiologist Joseph Ebinger have dug into that data to understand the fire's impact on Angelino's health. They didn't see any change in the total number of visits, but they saw big shifts in the health problems people showed up with.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:22
2
What is the current state of Venezuela's regime according to Secretary Marco Rubio?
0:22–0:54
3
How are Republican attorneys general reacting to Trump's marijuana reclassification?
0:54–1:14
4
What trends are emerging in existing home sales as reported by the National Association of Realtors?
1:14–1:52
5
What impact is the lack of snow having on ski resorts in the western U.S.?
1:52–2:04
6
How have heart attacks in Los Angeles been affected by recent wildfires?
2:04–2:36
7
What new fees are being introduced for tourists at the Trevi Fountain in Rome?
2:36–4:57