NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

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This message comes from Bayer. Science is a rigorous process that requires questions, testing, transparency, and results that can be proven. This approach is integral to every breakthrough Bayer brings forward. Innovations that save lives and feed the world. Science Delivers.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Four Republicans have broken with their leadership and signed on to a Democratic-led petition, forcing a House vote to extend subsidies for for Affordable Care Act insurance plans. The move comes as monthly premiums for the plans are set to soar after the subsidies expire at the end of the month. As NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin explains, many people with the Obamacare plans are in Republican-led states,

but Republicans largely don't want to shore up the system. Partly Republicans don't like the Affordable Care Act, and they don't want to vote to shore it up. They say the enhanced subsidies are just papering over the high cost of health insurance. Also, they say that it's a really small portion of the population that relies. on these plans. Only about 7% of Americans. Most people get their insurance through their jobs or through Medicaid or Medicare. So Republicans seem to be making the calculation that even if some of their voters are on the hook for these higher premiums, it might not be enough to hurt the party politically. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reporting, wealthy private astronaut Jared Isaacman has been confirmed

by the Senate to be the new head of NASA. NPR's Nell Greenfield-Boase reports that he's taking charge of the agency at a critical time. Jared Isaacman is a businessman who flew to space twice in SpaceX capsules. On one of those flights, he and a crewmate opened up a hatch and performed the first private spacewalk. President Trump nominated him to lead NASA, but then abruptly withdrew that nomination in the spring, only to renominate him in November. Isaacman is becoming administrator as NASA prepares to send astronauts on a trip around the moon next year, making it the first time people have gone there in more than a half century. The hardware needed for landing on the moon, however, is still in development. And Isaacman has said that it's vital for a U.S.

landing to happen before arrival, China, gets astronauts to the lunar surface. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News. There are new plaques at the White House hanging underneath the portraits of past American presidents that President Trump had installed earlier this year. As NPR's Tamara Keith reports, the descriptions are unconventional. The plaques mounted along the presidential walk of fame are packed with insults, including lines like, quote, sleepy Joe Biden was by far the worst president in American history. And quote, in 2016, President Clinton's wife, Hillary, lost the presidency to Donald J. Trump. And the bio for former President Reagan asserts that he was a fan of President Trump long before his historic run for the White House.

In a statement, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says, quote, the plaques are eloquently written descriptions of each president and the legacy they left behind. As a student of history, many were written directly by President Trump himself, end quote. Tamara Keith, NPR News. U.S. stocks dropped today. This is NPR News from Washington. French authorities are investigating a suspected cyber attack targeting an international passenger ferry. The tool could have allowed remote control of the ferry's computers. A Latvian crew member is in custody facing charges of acting for a foreign power.

Officials hinted that Russia might be involved, noting, quote, foreign interference often comes from the same country. 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 for more than 350 theatre workers, leaders and observers nationwide, NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. At the top of the list, no surprise, is Hamilton. Lynne Manuel Miranda's hip-hop-infused take on the founding fathers from 2015 and 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. Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood. Angel Studios animated biblical film David has already exceeded $14 million in pre-sale tickets. The Chosen, a drama about Jesus, has grossed over $116 million since Fathom Entertainment,

released it in 2023. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. Tease and Cs apply.