NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2025 5PM EST

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Nick Reiner, accused of killing his parents, director Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner, made his first court appearance in Los Angeles today. Steve Futterman reports. The hearing was brief, lasting only a few minutes. The scheduled arraignment never took place. Nick Reiner's attorney immediately asked for a delay until January 7th. Reiner, who was shackled to a chair and wearing a suicide prevention smock,

was asked if he was willing to waive his right, to a speedy arraignment, he said yes. After the hearing, Reiner's attorney, Alan Jackson, spoke to reporters. There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case. There's need to be thoroughly, but very carefully dealt with. Reiner remains in jail at the moment this is a no-bail case. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the county courthouse in Los Angeles. Democrats in Colorado are vowing to fight the Trump administration's plans to dismantle a longstanding federal climate research lab that they say is vital for public safety.

NPR's at Kirk Siegler reports Trump's budget director announced the plan in a tweet. At issue is the National Center for Atmospheric Research, or N-Car, a sprawling climate and weather research campus that sits prominently on a bluff above Boulder, Colorado. Established in 1960, today the center employs hundreds of federal scientists. and its research on climate change has recently been instrumental for communities planning how to respond to flooding, wildfires, and other calamities. But White House budget director Russ Vought says NKAR is, quote, one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country, and a review is underway on its future. His announcement comes at a time when much of the West has little or no snow and is under advisories for extreme winds. Kirk Sigler, NPR News. Finals Week is a stressful time for college students across the country, but for students facing food insecurity, it's even more so.

NPR's Caden Mills met with students who are stocking up at their campus food pantry ahead of winter break. Two and 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. 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. I mean, hey, got to eat. And at finals time, a full stomach is especially important for students. Kaden Mills, NPR News, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. AI stocks dragged the U.S. stock market to its worst day in nearly a month. The S&P 500 fell one in a 10th percent. This is NPR. Nebraska plans to be the first state to implement new work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

President Trump's new tax and domestic policy law requires states to start enforcing the requirements for the Medicaid expansion population by the start of 2027. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillon says it will take effect there in May. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office expects the number of people without insurance to grow as a result of the policy. The Academy Awards will be live streamed on YouTube rather than broadcast on television starting in 2029. As NPR's Netta Ullaby reports, the biggest night in movies, was a television staple for more than 70 years. The deal right now between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC expires in 28, and YouTube has secured exclusive rights to the show. ABC has broadcast the Oscars since 1976, and the news is being reported as a shocker in Hollywood industry publications. Oscar ratings have faltered over the past few decades, but last year saw a 4% increase from the year before.

Almost 20 million people tuned in. Academy leaders in a statement said this new partnership will expand access to the largest worldwide audience possible. Netta Ulippi, NPR News. Heating costs are expected to increase more than 9% this winter, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. The expected increase is driven by higher electricity and natural gas prices and colder than usual winter weather. The average U.S. household is expected to spend nearly $1,000 on heat. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.