NPR News Now – 12-21-2025 2AM EST

Date: December 21, 2025
Host: Dale Willman
Episode Theme:
A concise report of major U.S. and international news including the ongoing Epstein documents saga, developments at a major conservative conference, the latest in the Ukraine war, a large San Francisco power outage, Bowen Yang’s mid-season exit from SNL, and U.S. military actions against Venezuelan oil tankers.

Key News Segments & Insights

[00:14] Epstein Case Files Disappear from DOJ Online Repository

• Story:
  Documents from the Department of Justice related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, including sensitive material involving prominent individuals, have been removed from an online DOJ library shortly after release.
• Details:
  • The files were publicly accessible on Friday but disappeared by Saturday.
  • Among the missing documents: a photograph showing President Trump.
  • The DOJ has not commented on the reasons, whether due to technical issues or official removal.

Notable Quote:

"It's unclear if this is due to a technical error, a formal removal from the DOJ or other officials or something else."
— Casey Murrell, [00:44]

[01:07] Turning Point USA: Largest Event since Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

• Event:
  Turning Point USA concludes its annual America Fest conference in Phoenix, reporting record attendance following the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk.
• Key Points:
  • Over 30,000 attendees, up 10,000 from last year.
  • The late Charlie Kirk’s legacy remains a significant motivator for attendees.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance scheduled to close the event.

Notable Quote:

"It makes me really emotional because I viewed him as like, he's my hero and I always saw him as like an older brother that I never had."
— Angie Perez, conference attendee, [01:43]

[02:07] Ukrainian President Demands More Air Defense After Odesa Attack

• Incident:
  Russian missile strikes kill at least eight in Odesa and leave large parts of the city without basic utilities.
• Zelensky’s Response:
  • Accuses Russia of trying to destabilize daily life by attacking the power grid.
  • Promises to hold air defense officials accountable and increase protection for Odesa and other cities.
  • Calls for increased U.S. pressure on Russia if diplomacy fails.

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."
— President Volodymyr Zelensky (via Joanna Kakissis), [02:39]

[03:09] Major Power Outage in San Francisco

• Event:
  Citywide blackout affects 130,000 customers after a fire at a PGE power station.
• Authorities:
  • Residents urged to stay home.
  • Fire believed to be at least partly responsible for the outage.

[03:22] Bowen Yang Abruptly Leaves "Saturday Night Live"

• Development:
  Bowen Yang departs SNL mid-season after co-hosting with Ariana Grande.
• Details:
  • No public reason given for departure.
  • Yang thanks SNL team and fans on social media.
  • His final promo garners significant attention online.
  • Notes that mid-season departures, while rare, have precedent.

Notable Quote:

"The comedian thanked the team and expressed gratitude for every minute on his time with the show."
— Chloe Veltman, [03:49]

"Though uncommon, there have been a few other mid season departures in the past, including Cecily Strong, Dana Carvey and Eddie Murphy."
— Chloe Veltman, [04:20]

[04:27] U.S. Military Seizes Another Venezuelan Oil Tanker

• Story:
  Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces a second U.S. military seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker in December.
• Context:
  • Follows President Trump’s announcement of a blockade targeting sanctioned tankers involving Venezuela.
  • Seen as an escalation in U.S. measures to enforce oil sanctions.

Notable Moments

• Dale Willman anchors succinctly with an emphasis on rapid transitions between brief but significant stories.
• Multiple field correspondents (Casey Murrell, Elena Moore, Joanna Kakissis, Chloe Veltman) provide on-the-ground perspectives.
• Audience emotion highlighted in the Turning Point segment, underlining the ongoing impact of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein Case Files Update: 00:14–01:07
• Turning Point USA Conference: 01:07–02:07
• Ukraine Odesa Missile Attack: 02:07–03:09
• San Francisco Power Outage & SNL Bowen Yang: 03:09–04:27
• Venezuelan Oil Tanker Seizure: 04:27–04:53

Quick Reference Quotes

• On Epstein Files: "It's unclear if this is due to a technical error, a formal removal from the DOJ or other officials or something else." — Casey Murrell, [00:44]
• On Charlie Kirk’s Influence: "It makes me really emotional... he's my hero and I always saw him as like an older brother that I never had." — Angie Perez, [01:43]
• On Odesa Attacks: "We must find a way to protect people as much as possible." — President Zelensky (via Joanna Kakissis), [02:39]
• On SNL Exit: "The comedian thanked the team and expressed gratitude for every minute on his time with the show." — Chloe Veltman, [03:49]

For listeners: This newscast delivers rapid, diverse updates with direct attributions and primary-source quotes, offering a punchy but reliable briefing on major global and domestic stories as of December 21, 2025.