NPR News: 12-20-2025 11PM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now: December 20, 2025, 11PM EST

Main Theme

This five-minute NPR News Now episode, anchored by Dale Willman, brings listeners the latest national and international headlines, including developments in the Jeffrey Epstein files, the ongoing war in Ukraine, a rising U.S. flu season, a massive power outage in San Francisco, a significant appointment in the Catholic Church, and college football results.

---

Key Discussion Points

1. Release of Jeffrey Epstein Files

• Summary: The Justice Department released thousands of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Journalists and the public have begun reviewing the documents.
• Details:
  • Many pages have heavy redactions; the total number of files remains unclear ([00:29], Casey Morell).
  • Named individuals include former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Bill Gates.
  • At least 16 files appear to be missing, including one photo with President Trump ([01:03], Dale Willman).
• Notable Quote:

  "There are pages and pages released that are just completely blacked out... What’s in the docs that we do know? President Trump’s name is there, but it’s not often. There are photographs of and references to a number of other notable individuals."
  — Casey Morell ([00:29])

---

2. Russian Strikes on Odessa, Ukraine

• Summary: President Zelenskyy demands stronger air defense after Russian missile attacks kill at least 8 and severely impact Odessa.
• Details:
  • Russian strikes left parts of Odessa without electricity or water.
  • Zelenskyy accuses Russia of targeting infrastructure to sow chaos.
  • He stresses holding air defense officials accountable, with continued calls on the U.S. for pressure on Russia ([01:30], Joanna Kakisis Pazar).
• Notable Quote:

  "No matter how difficult it is for us to react to these attacks, we must find a way to protect people as much as possible."
  — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (via Joanna Kakisis Pazar, [01:30])

---

3. Rising U.S. Flu Cases and Pediatric Deaths

• Summary: Flu cases surge nationwide; three pediatric deaths confirmed, including one in Colorado.
• Details:
  • Colorado: child from metro Denver passes away; over 300 flu hospitalizations, tripling last year's number ([02:27], John Daly).
  • CDC notes most flu-related pediatric deaths occur in unvaccinated children.
  • Dr. Suchitra Rao calls this "an unprecedented season" ([02:57]).
• Notable Quote:

  "This year has been this unprecedented season where we’re seeing a lot of influenza activity."
  — Dr. Suchitra Rao ([02:57])

---

4. San Francisco Power Outage

• Summary: Over 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco are affected by a power outage.
• Details:
  • Possible cause: fire inside a substation, but no official cause confirmed ([03:09], Dale Willman).

---

5. Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach Appointment

• Summary: Pope Leo appoints Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez, a pro-immigrant priest, to lead the Palm Beach diocese.
• Details:
  • Rodriguez currently serves a mostly Latino congregation in Queens, New York; originally from the Dominican Republic ([03:37], Jason DeRose).
  • This appointment is seen as the Vatican’s challenge to the Trump administration's immigration policies.
  • More than 4 in 10 U.S. Catholics are immigrants or children of immigrants (Pew Research).
• Notable Quote:

  "Pope Leo is willing to go toe to toe with the administration’s crackdown on immigration."
  — Jason DeRose ([03:37])

---

6. College Football Highlights

• Summary: College football results from around the country.
• Details:
  • Ole Miss defeats Tulane 41-10; QB Chablis passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns ([04:18], Dale Willman).
  • Miami narrowly beats Texas A&M 10-3.
  • Oregon leads James Madison 48-26 in an ongoing game.

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Epstein Files Release:
  • "What’s in the docs that we do know? President Trump’s name is there, but it’s not often." — Casey Morell ([00:29])
• Ukraine Crisis:
  • "No matter how difficult it is for us to react to these attacks, we must find a way to protect people as much as possible." — President Zelenskyy ([01:30])
• Flu Surge:
  • "This year has been this unprecedented season where we're seeing a lot of influenza activity." — Dr. Suchitra Rao ([02:57])
• Vatican Immigration Stance:
  • "Pope Leo is willing to go toe to toe with the administration's crackdown on immigration." — Jason DeRose ([03:37])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein Files Update: [00:14]–[01:17]
• Ukraine / Odessa Attacks: [01:17]–[02:17]
• U.S. Flu Season & Pediatric Deaths: [02:17]–[03:09]
• San Francisco Blackout: [03:09]
• Catholic Church Appointment: [03:37]
• College Football Roundup: [04:18]–[04:53]

---

This NPR News Now episode delivers a tightly packed update on major global and national stories with clear, concise reporting and attribution, offering listeners a sharp overview of the day’s events.

Transcript

[Capital One Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Quicksilver card. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capital1.com for details.

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The Justice Department began its release Friday of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Journalists and the public have now had more than 24 hours to go through the thousands of files. Among them is NPR's Casey Morell.

[Casey Morell]

Now, when it comes to the files available, a lot of them have been heav. There are pages and pages released that are just completely blacked out. But I should note we just don't know how many files there are. What we do know is that there are many thousands of documents to go through so far. Others are still being added, and some are really long dozens and dozens of pages of testimony. What's in the docs that we do know? President Trump's name is there, but it's not often. There are photographs of and references to a number of other notable individuals, people like former President Bill Clinton. The late pop star Michael Jackson is there, Microsoft co founder Bill Gates as well.

[Dale Willman]

At least 16 of the released files, meanwhile, now appear to be missing. Justice Department officials have not yet answered questions about those files, which includes at least one photograph of a credenza with numerous photos on it, including one of President Trump. Ukraine's president is pressing for stronger air defense in cities outside Kyiv after Russian ballistic missiles struck that country's main port city on Saturday. At least eight people were killed. NPR's Joanna Kakisis Pazar reports.

[Joanna Kakisis Pazar]

Russian strikes on Odessa in Ukraine's south have also left south several parts of the city without electricity or water. Speaking to reporters via voice message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is targeting Ukraine's power grid to sow chaos and put pressure on people. He said no matter how difficult it is for us to react to these attacks, we must find a way to protect people as much as possible. Zelenskyy said he will hold those in charge of the region's air defense accountable and ensure Odessa and other regions are better. Def Russia still aims to destroy Ukraine and that if the Kremlin cannot compromise to end the war, the US Must pressure it to do so. Joanna Kakis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Dale Willman]

Flu cases are picking up across the U.S. so far, officials have confirmed three pediatric flu deaths, including one in Colorado. From Colorado Public Radio, John Daly reports.

[John Daly]

The Colorado Health Department says the child who died was in elementary school. And from metro Denver last year, A record breaking 288 children died from the flu in the U.S. the CDC says most flu related pediatric deaths happen in kids who are not fully vaccinated. In Colorado, more than 300 people are now hospitalized with flu, more than triple the number recorded the same week last year. Here's infectious disease physician Suchitra Rao of Children's Hospital, Colorado.

[Suchitra Rao]

This year has been this unprecedented season where we're seeing a lot of influenza activity.

[John Daly]

Flu season can last until. For NPR News, I'm John Daly in Denver, Colorado.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. A massive power outage has left some 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco dark tonight. No official cause has been given for the outage, but fire officials say there was a fire inside a substation. Pope Leo is naming a pro immigrant priest as the new head of the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach. That's where President Trump's Mar a Lago Resort is located. NPR's Jason Deros has more is appointing.

[Jason DeRose]

Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez to lead the church in Southeast Florida. He's currently a priest in Queens, New York, serving a mostly Latino congregation there. Rodriguez is himself originally from the Dominican Republic. His appointment to the diocese in which President Trump's home is located is the latest indication that Pope Leo is willing to go toe to toe with the administration's crackdown on immigration. Earlier this year, the U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement calling out the Trump administration for mass deportations and creating a climate of fear in migrant Commun throughout the U.S. according to Pew Research, more than 4 in 10 U.S. catholics are immigrants or the children of immigrants. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Trinidad.

[Dale Willman]

Chablis passed for 282 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores as Ole Miss rolled over two lane today, 41:10. It was the first game as head coach for Pete Golding, who was promoted from defensive coordinator. Mississippi will now face number three Georgia in a CFP quarterfinal game. Miami and Texas A and M seem to leave their offenses at home for much of that game. The Hurricanes won 10 to 3, and in the night's final game, which is still underway, Oregon is beating James Madison 48 to 26. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[Suchitra Rao]

This message is from Give Directly, a nonprofit that sends cash directly to the world's poorest people. PODS Fight Poverty is supporting 700 families in Rwanda with donations matched through December 31st. Visit GiveDirectly.org podcast.