NPR News: 12-19-2025 11PM 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, I'm Dale Willman.
What recent developments occurred in the Jeffrey Epstein case?
The Justice Department began its release of files related to the life and death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein today. NPR's Stephen Fowler reports.
On the Justice Department website, justice.gov slash Epstein, federal officials have launched a library with some of the files related to the Epstein case. NPR is reviewing the documents, which include court records, Freedom of Information Act records, and files released under a law signed by President Trump last month. Many of the documents were already public. And while the law states all files the government possesses should be released by today, the DOJ says it expects more disclosures in the coming weeks.
How has a federal court impacted homelessness funding policies?
Stephen Fowler, NPR News.
A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's controversial overhaul of homelessness funding. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, the judge also accused the federal housing agency HUD of intentionally causing chaos.
In an oral ruling from the bench, Judge Mary McIlroy in Rhode Island says it's likely HUD's overhaul is unlawful and agreed with critics that it could push many people back into homelessness in the middle of winter, causing irreparable harm.
What is the significance of the Department of Defense's housing assistance funds?
HUD has sought major cuts to permanent housing and instead wants to beef up transitional housing that requires people to work and get treatment. But the overhaul was announced so late in the year, many places are set to run out of money before new funds flow. If HUD really wants to change policies so dramatically, the judge said, it needs to do the work and go through Congress. Instead, she said, the chaos seems to be the point.
What was the outcome of the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder trial?
Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.
The Department of Defense is spending $2.6 billion meant for housing assistance on a bonus to troops. Steve Walsh of member station WHRO in Norfolk has our story.
How does high-fat cheese consumption relate to dementia risk?
The White House is calling it the warrior dividend. 1.28 million active duty troops and 174,000 members of the reserves are in the process of receiving a one-time payment of $1,776. President Trump says that the money is in honor of the country's 250th anniversary next year. The funds are actually from $2.9 billion set aside by Congress to supplement the money given troops to pay their rent or mortgage, according to a Defense Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The Defense Department says the $1,776 will arrive over the next few days. For NPR News, I'm Steve Walsh.
What happened to the Black Hawk Bridge over the Mississippi River?
A jury in Minnesota awarded $65.5 million today to a woman who claimed talcum products made by Johnson & Johnson exposed her to asbestos and contributed to her developing cancer. The company says it will appeal the verdict. It's the latest development in a longstanding legal battle over such claims. Stocks finished up on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrials were up 183 points. The Nasdaq ended up today 301 points. This is NPR News. A new study finds people who regularly consume high-fat cheeses may have a lower risk of dementia. But as NPR's Allison Aubrey reports, nutrition experts say there's a catch.
The study included nearly 28,000 people who were in their late 50s when the study began. They were surveyed about their eating habits, and after about 25 years of follow-up, it turned out higher intake of high-fat cheese was associated with a slightly lower risk of dementia. However, scientists who reviewed the data say this association does not prove that high-fat cheese protects the brain. Those who consumed about an ounce and a half of cheese or more per day indicated had about a 13% lower risk, which could be explained by chance. Also, researchers only captured a snapshot of participants' dietary habits. Given the risk of dementia is determined by many factors, from genes to lifestyle habits, scientists warn against reading too much into the findings.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:21
2
What recent developments occurred in the Jeffrey Epstein case?
0:21–0:58
3
How has a federal court impacted homelessness funding policies?
0:58–1:28
4
What is the significance of the Department of Defense's housing assistance funds?
1:28–1:53
5
What was the outcome of the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder trial?
1:53–2:06
6
How does high-fat cheese consumption relate to dementia risk?
2:06–2:48
7
What happened to the Black Hawk Bridge over the Mississippi River?
2:48–4:56