NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-15-2025 3AM EST

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer, have died. Their bodies were found in their Los Angeles homes Sunday afternoon. The police say they're investigating the deaths as an apparent homicide. Reiner rose to fame for his role in the TV series All in the Family, for which he won two Emmy Awards. He also directed a number of popular movies, including when Harry met Sally, spinal tap, and the Princess Bride.

Rob Reiner was 78 years old. The campus of Brown University is in morning following the shooting there Saturday that left two students dead and nine others injured. Medical student, Ano Nguyen, was in the middle of exams when a lockdown order occurred. Unfortunately, this is like a second school shooting that I've been to. My last one was my undergrad, and I feel like something this unimaginable is happening way too often. But, you know, praying for everyone out there and then hopefully there will be action in the future. Police, meanwhile, say they're releasing a person of interest who was detained on Sunday. They say the investigation is now moving in a different direction.

The deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Australia's Bondi Beach on Sunday that left at least 15 people dead follows a sharp rise in anti-Semitic attacks in that country. As NPR's Scott Horsley tells us, incidents have risen in the two years since the October 7th attack and the ensuing war in Gaza. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry tallied more than 3,600 anti-Jewish incidents in the country in the two years since the Hamas attack. The incidents ranged from anti-Israel graffiti to the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue. Other countries have seen a similar rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Jewish leaders from around the world convened in Sydney this month to highlight the mounting concern.

Some observers say it's important to distinguish between anti-Jewish incidents and criticism of Israel for its conduct of the war in Gaza. Earlier this year, Australia joined other countries and granting recognition to a Palestinian state, a move that Israel's prime minister accused of helping to fuel the anti-Semitic fire. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of sedition and colluding with foreign forces. The high-profile trial has been closely watched by foreign governments, particularly in the U.S. and the U.K. Reporter Sheree's Fem has more. This verdict was widely expected.

The judge is saying that there is, quote, no judgment. doubt that Lai harbored his resentment and hatred of the People's Republic of China for many of his adult years. They say he colluded with foreign forces to encourage countries to put sanctions on China and Hong Kong during the anti-government protests that crippled the city in 2019. The judges cited WhatsApp messages where Jimmy Lai and an aide, Mark Simon, set up meetings with senior U.S. officials, including then Vice President Mike Pence and then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Lai now awaits sentencing. The 78-year-old face. is up to life in prison. For NPR News, I'm Sheree Fam in Hong Kong.

And you're listening to NPR News. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the federal criminal trial begins Monday for a county judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities when they showed up at her courtroom to arrest him. My On Silver from member station WUWM reports. Judge Hannah Dugan is pleaded not guilty to federal charges of obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Former prosecutor in Loyola Law School professor Lori Levinson says, a big issue for the jury will be Dugan's mindset on April 18th when ICE agents showed up at her courtroom.

Whether she was trying to impede an obstructive proceeding or whether she was trying to do what she thought was her job, run her courtroom, deal with her cases, and try to keep from having the Department of Homeland Security interfere with that. Prosecutors will likely argue Dugan tried to impede ICE agents from making an arrest. While the defense is expected to make the case, she was trying to follow court protocol in uncharted waters. For NPR news, I'm Ayon Silver in Milwaukee. Paul Wiggins has died. The former star for Stanford and the Cleveland Browns was 91 years old. Wiggins was a two-time All-America selection as a defensive tackle and was selected as Stanford's defensive player of the century. He later served as the coach for Stanford when the Cardinal lost to California in 1982.

Cal scored as the Stanford band took to the field prematurely. became known as the play. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL and his left knee on Sunday during a game against Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers won in the final seconds, 16 to 13, and eliminated the Chiefs from the postseason play.

I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.