Overview of NPR News: 12-06-2025 6PM EST
A 6 p.m. NPR newscast covering major domestic and international headlines: a large Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure; ongoing litigation and controversy over the U.S. use of Guantánamo Bay to hold migrants targeted for deportation; an autonomous‑vehicle software recall by Waymo after school‑bus incidents; a deadly wild‑mushroom poisoning outbreak in California; policing and mental‑health support highlighted through a deputy turned comedian; and a short market wrap. The show also plugs Pop Culture Happy Hour’s year‑end recommendations.
Top headlines (quick bullet)
- Russia launched a mass missile and drone attack that heavily damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, prompting more blackouts in Kyiv.
- Litigation continues over the Trump administration’s use of Guantánamo Bay for migrants; ACLU seeks further court action.
- Waymo will file a voluntary software recall after multiple driverless cars illegally passed stopped school buses; a federal probe is under way.
- California reports an amatoxin (death cap) mushroom poisoning outbreak: 21 cases, at least one death.
- Police departments are rethinking officer mental‑health support; a Boulder County deputy, Vinnie Montez, speaks publicly about depression in a new documentary.
- Wall Street closed higher; Dow rose about 104 points.
Russia attack on Ukraine: energy infrastructure targeted
- What happened: Overnight missile and drone strikes hit substations and power generation facilities in Ukraine, more than targeting civilians.
- Impact: Rolling blackouts and public reliance on generators in Kyiv; civilians altering daily routines to cope with intermittent power.
- On the ground: Kyiv residents report adapting — a quoted city market shopper, Victoria Muskaluk, described getting used to the disruptions and trying to keep a “normal” mental state.
- Significance: The strikes appear aimed at degrading Ukraine’s energy capacity ahead of another winter of war.
Guantánamo Bay and migrant detentions
- Case status: A federal judge issued a ruling in an ACLU lawsuit over the administration’s use of Guantánamo Bay to hold migrants slated for deportation. The decision did not fully resolve the practice’s legality; the ACLU plans to press the court to shut down the detention use.
- Numbers & costs: About 700 migrants have been sent to Guantánamo since February, usually for short stays. The ruling referenced a dramatic cost discrepancy cited by the court — roughly $100,000 per detainee per day at Guantánamo versus about $165 per detainee per day if held in the U.S.
- Legal/administrative questions: The court raised questions about whether the government may use offshore military bases for deportation‑bound detainees; further litigation is expected.
- Next steps: ACLU will continue legal efforts; the administration had no immediate public comment in the report.
Waymo to recall software after school‑bus incidents
- Incidents: Video in Atlanta showed a Waymo driverless taxi legally passing a stopped school bus with red lights and the stop arm extended. An Austin school district documented 19 similar incidents, including one occurring immediately after a child crossed in front of a Waymo vehicle.
- Safety outcome: No injuries reported.
- Response: Waymo attributes the behavior to a software issue that it says has been fixed and plans a voluntary software recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA has opened an investigation.
- Note: Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, a financial supporter of NPR (conflict-of-interest disclosure in report).
California mushroom poisoning outbreak (amatoxin / death cap)
- Scope: California poison control identified 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning likely linked to death cap mushrooms; one adult has died and several others, including children, suffered severe liver damage.
- Risk factors: Wet weather increases toxic mushroom growth; death caps are often mistaken for edible species.
- Symptoms & timeline: Early symptoms (nausea, vomiting) can appear within 24 hours; severe liver complications may develop later.
- Practical advice implied: Avoid foraging wild mushrooms unless identified by a trained expert; seek immediate medical attention for suspected ingestion.
Policing, trauma, and an unexpected lifeline: Vinnie Montez story
- Focus: Many police officers are at higher risk of mental‑health problems from on‑the‑job trauma. Departments are rethinking officer support.
- Human angle: Boulder County deputy Vinnie Montez, a 27‑year veteran who has served as deputy, commander, and public information officer, now performs stand‑up comedy and speaks openly about depression and loss in law enforcement. In the documentary Vinnyisms, he recalls multiple former colleagues who died by suicide and reflects on surviving those pressures.
- Takeaway: Personal storytelling and alternative support routes (like public speaking/therapy/community) can be important elements of officer mental‑health strategies.
Markets
- Wall Street closed higher on Friday; the Dow finished up about 104 points.
Notable quotes
- Victoria Muskaluk (Kyiv resident): “You are getting used to it and you need to handle somehow… to have your mental state on the normal level.”
- Vinnie Montez (Boulder County deputy): “I could name over half a dozen deputies that I used to ride with as a young man who later took their life… that is a very sobering fact for me, and I’m glad I never got to that point.”
Action items & practical takeaways
- If you live in or plan to visit areas with winter power‑grid risk (e.g., Ukraine context): be prepared for rolling blackouts and plan for backup power/communications.
- Do not forage wild mushrooms unless you have expert verification; if ingestion is suspected, seek urgent medical care.
- Parents and school districts: be aware of autonomous‑vehicle interactions with school buses; follow updates from NHTSA and Waymo and report unsafe incidents.
- Legal watchers: expect continued litigation and court developments regarding the use of offshore military bases for migrant detention.
Where to find more
- Pop Culture Happy Hour recommendations and year‑end best‑of coverage are available in the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts.