NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. A new poll from NPR, PBS News, Maris, finds that Americans are struggling financially. NPR's Domenico Montanaro says, while the U.S. is not technically in a recession, that is not how voters feel. 70% of people say that the area where they live is no longer affordable for average families. That's up from 45% in Amaris poll in June. That's a huge increase. 61% say the economy is not working well for them personally. more people say their financial situation has gotten worse than better in the past year,

and a majority of people think the country is already in a recession. NPR's Domenico Montanaro reporting. The poll also finds that only 36% of respondents approve of President Trump's handling of the U.S. economy. The full House is expected to vote today on a Republican-backed proposal to address health care costs. The plan, by Speaker Mike Johnson, does not extend the subsidies that millions of Americans use to help offset the cost of insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. Without any change, costs will soar on January 1st. A small group of House Republicans has now signed on to a petition with the Democrats.

It will force a vote on extending the subsidies, but it won't affect a vote on the Speaker's proposal. The U.S. is trying to push to the next stage of the ceasefire in Gaza, but as NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv, many of the plans for Gaza could take much, to implement. The U.S. is aiming to have an international stabilization force in Gaza by early next year, but countries have not yet publicly committed troops, and there are still disagreements on where they'd patrol and what they do. U.S. State Department documents obtained by NPR

show that the Trump administration wants international troops to support the disarmament of Hamas, but many countries that are considering sending troops don't want them to confront Hamas over its weapons. The U.S. wants the international stabilization. force to incorporate new Palestinian police officers as they're trained. The European Union plans to train them. A European official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told NPR, most Palestinian police would likely begin training by April at the earliest. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

The son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, is charged with killing his parents. Nick Reiner is being held without bail pending his first formal court appearance. Steve Fartiman reports from Los Angeles. Nick Reiner, now an accused killer, is scheduled to be arraigned. Yesterday, the appearance was delayed because Reiner had not received a medical clearance. The arraignment is likely to be brief. Reiner will be formally told of the charges. It's not entirely clear if he will enter a plea.

The murder charges carry a maximum sentence of death. The district attorney says he has not decided if he will seek that. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. You're listening to NPR. Entertainment company Warner Brothers is telling its shareholders do not take that bid offer from rival Paramount Skydance. Paramount launched a hostile takeover bit for the company last week. It's trying to win Warner Brothers away from an offer that's been made by Netflix. American Theater magazine has released a list of the 50 most influential plays and musicals performed in the U.S.

so far this century. The results are based on responses from more than 350 theatre workers, leaders and observers nationwide. And B.R's Chloe Veltman has this report. At the top of the list, no surprise, is Hamilton. Lynn Manuel Miranda's hip-hop-infused take on the founding fathers from 2015 earned many awards, including a Pulitzer and 11 Tonys. August Osage County by Tracy Letts and Susan Laurie Parks' top dog underdog came in second and third on the list. There are 37 plays and 13 musicals on the list. The magazine says it asked members of the theatre community to share the titles of 10 works that premiered in the US since the year 2000.

Respondents did not rank their results and no distinction was made between plays and musicals or between work that originated in this country or from abroad. Chloe Valtman, NPR News. FIFA says it will sell a very few. World Cup tournament tickets for $60, but fewer than 2% of the available soccer match tickets will be priced that low. Soccer fans have been outraged at prices for next year's tournament in North America. You're listening to NPR.