NPR News Now – December 20, 2025, 6PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This fast-paced NPR News Now episode delivers top national and international headlines, focusing on U.S.-Ukraine peace talks, immigration data privacy disputes, disturbing reports from an upstate New York school, a high-profile SNL departure, and a landmark space flight. Providing concise, in-depth snapshots, NPR’s reporters explore pressing legal, social, and cultural developments.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. U.S.-Led Talks on the Ukraine Conflict

Reporters: Jeanine Herbst, Michelle Kellerman (00:14–01:08)

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintains the U.S. cannot "impose a peace deal on Ukraine or on Russia," signaling the administration’s stance on ongoing peace efforts (00:14).
• President Trump’s envoy is hosting negotiations in Miami with both sides, seeking a mutually acceptable resolution.
• Secretary Rubio declines to predict the timeline, stating:

  "We’re trying to negotiate a deal that both sides can live with... It’s costly for both sides." (Michelle Kellerman, 00:32)

• The devastation in Ukraine is rapidly escalating:

  "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." (NPR Reporter, 00:48)

• President Trump’s position, as noted by Rubio:

  "Trump wants to end the war because it is, quote, a waste of money, time and talent." (Michelle Kellerman, 01:00)

2. Federal Lawsuits About Immigrant Data Sharing

Reporters: Jeanine Herbst, Jude Joffe Block (01:08–02:12)

• Advocacy groups are challenging the sharing of immigrants’ sensitive tax data with ICE, as orchestrated by the IRS and Social Security Administration.
• Last month, a Washington, D.C. judge found it likely unlawful for the IRS to turn over addresses of 47,000 noncitizens to ICE.
• A new lawsuit in Boston aims to halt both the usage of already-shared data and future collection.
• Plaintiffs claim "it violates taxpayer confidentiality," citing records that "the Social Security Administration intended to share 50,000 people’s records with ICE every month" (Jude Joffe Block, 01:32).
• The government defends the practice as lawful.

3. Disturbing Reports at Upstate NY School for Native Children

Reporters: Jeanine Herbst, Brian Mann (02:12–03:09)

• Governor Kathy Hochul calls for a state investigation into Salmon River Central School District, servicing predominantly Akwesasne Mohawk children, after chilling student testimonies of being "restrained and forced into wooden boxes" (02:12).
• These enclosures are described as "large crate like boxes described as calming stations" (NPR Reporter, 02:29).
• The district has placed four administrators on leave and issued a formal apology:

  "We are truly sorry for the harm and trauma this has resulted for our community." (NPR Reporter, 02:54)

4. Bowen Yang Departs ‘Saturday Night Live’

Reporters: Jeanine Herbst, Chloe Veltman (03:09–03:52)

• Comic Bowen Yang unexpectedly leaves SNL mid-season; tonight's episode (co-hosted with Ariana Grande) is his last.
• Yang shares gratitude in a social media post and the promo for his final episode is gaining significant attention online (Chloe Veltman, 03:27).
• Humorous banter highlights his pop culture impact:

  "You better be watching Olivia. You hear me?... The most common name in the US—if we capture the Olivia demographic we'll be guaranteed ratings gold." (NPR Reporter & Jeanine Herbst, 03:44–03:52)

• Yang’s journey is detailed: staff writer in 2018, promoted to on-air talent in 2019, and one of few to leave mid-season (Chloe Veltman, 03:52).

5. Historic Blue Origin Flight – First Wheelchair User in Space

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst (04:12–end)

• Blue Origin launches six passengers, including Misha Bethenhaus, a German paraplegic engineer, who becomes the first wheelchair user in space.
• Bethenhaus was paralyzed in a biking accident; her participation marks a milestone for space accessibility.
• She shares the flight with five others, one a retired SpaceX executive who helped arrange the trip.
• Blue Origin emphasizes commitment to inclusive spaceflight:

  "The company says it wants to make space flight more accessible for a wider range of people." (Jeanine Herbst, 04:12)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "It is now becoming generational reconstruction." (NPR Reporter, 00:48)
• "It violates taxpayer confidentiality." (Jude Joffe Block, 01:44)
• "We are truly sorry for the harm and trauma this has resulted for our community." (NPR Reporter, 02:54)
• "You better be watching Olivia. You hear me?... if we capture the Olivia demographic we'll be guaranteed ratings gold." (NPR Reporter, 03:44–03:52)

Notable Timestamps

• 00:14–01:08 – Ukraine peace talks update
• 01:08–02:12 – Immigration data lawsuits
• 02:12–03:09 – School investigation in upstate NY
• 03:09–03:52 – Bowen Yang’s SNL departure
• 04:12–end – Blue Origin’s historic spaceflight

This rapid-fire newscast delivers essential headlines while spotlighting human stories—whether at the negotiating table, the classroom, or orbiting the Earth—ensuring listeners keep pace with the biggest developments of the day.