NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-20-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: December 20, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. can't impose a peace deal on Ukraine or on Russia. President Trump's envoy is holding talks with the two sides in Miami today. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Secretary Rubio says the U.S. is trying to negotiate a deal that both sides can live with, but he wouldn't get into details or make any predictions about how long it will take to end what he calls a bloody, nasty conflict. He says it's costly for both sides.

The entire infrastructure of Ukraine is being destroyed almost as fast as it's being rebuilt. Every week that goes by, the cost of rebuilding that country gets exponentially higher. It is now becoming generational reconstruction. Rubio says Trump wants to end the war because it is, quote, a waste of money, time, and talent. Michelle Kellerman and PR News, the State Department. The Justice Department says it expects to end the war. to release more files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It began the release yesterday, as required by law. Only a small fraction is information that had not been made public

before, and many names and pages are heavily redacted. Lawmakers want to know more about the powerful men close to Epstein. Divisions within President Trump's coalition are once again on display at Turning Point USA's annual conference in Phoenix this weekend. NPR Sarah McCammon has more Since Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk's murder in September, the conservative movement has been plagued by infighting over how to respond to anti-Semitism within the movement. At Turning Point's America Fest conference, commentator Ben Shapiro called out fellow conservatives, including Tucker Carlson, who recently hosted white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his online show. Shapiro said Charlie Kirk had, quote, despised Fuentes.

He knew that Nick Fuentes is an evil troll, and that building him up is an act of moral imbecility. and that is precisely what Tucker Carlson did. He built Nick Fuentes up, and he ought to take responsibility for that. Carlson later hit back, insisting he's not an anti-Semite. Sarah McCammon, NPR News. A federal environmental review concludes the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline can continue operating. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. Building the Dakota Access Pipeline attracted thousands of protesters in 2016

to the construction site south of Bismarck, North Dakota. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe opposed the Missouri River section near its reservation. Leaders said an oil spill would pollute drinking water. The pipeline has operated since 2017. In 2021, a federal appeals court told the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a more thorough environmental impact statement about the project. Now, the agency says it's done that and still decided the pipeline section should be approved. After a 30-day waiting period, the Corps is expected to issue a final decision. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

This is NPR News in Washington. Washington lawmakers left town for the holiday without passing legislation to extend subsidies for Americans who obtain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. They expire December 31st. Some 22 million people are expected to see higher premiums. The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Mary Ann Carter as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.

NPR's Chloe Veltman reports this will be Carter's second time leading the agency having run it during President Trump's first term. Carter assumes the NAA leadership role having served as acting chair since Trump took office in January. In a statement, Carter says that she is, quote, committed to advancing the vision that the arts belong to all Americans, no matter who they are or where they live.

Carter returns to the job at a challenging time for the nation's main cultural agency. The Trump administration has pushed to cancel the NEA's budget, eliminated hundreds of grants and significantly cut staff. The NEA published part of a statement from Americans for the Arts CEO, Erin Harkie, congratulating Carter. The Arts Advocacy Group shared Harky's full statement with NPR, in which she also mentions the, quote, partisan political pressure, lack of transparency and constant threats of funding cuts facing the NEA, and hopes Carter will usher in a period of greater stability.

Chloe Veltman, NPR News. A high-speed train struck an elephant herd in India early this morning. Seven elephants were killed. Officials say the driver applied the emergency brakes but was unable to stop. India has one of the highest concentrations of wild elephants in the world. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.