NPR News Now: December 22, 2025 – 12PM EST

Host: Duaalisa Koutel
Podcast: NPR News Now
Date: December 22, 2025

Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise, five-minute roundup of the latest top stories from across the globe. Key themes include rising immigration court absences and deportation orders in the US, escalating tensions over US interception of Venezuelan oil tankers, the first Christmas address of Pope Leo after succeeding Pope Francis, Israel’s approval of new West Bank settlements, the effectiveness and limitations of weight loss drugs, and a deadly bus crash in Indonesia.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. US Immigration Courts See Spike in Deportation Orders

[00:17 – 01:00]

• Insight: Across the US, a significant increase in deportation orders is observed for immigrants not attending scheduled court appearances.
• Details:
  • More than 50,000 deportation orders filed between January and November—nearly triple the previous fiscal year.
  • The jump started in June, aligning with increased fear of arrest among immigrants.
  • The finding is based on early NPR analysis of national court data.
• Memorable Quote:
  • "We found that in nearly every immigration court in the country, more people are getting these orders saying they basically didn't show."
    – Piers Jimena Bastia ([00:33])

2. Venezuela–US Tensions Over Oil Tankers

[01:00 – 02:05]

• Insight: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro blasts the US for intercepting oil tankers, escalating rhetoric and involving international allies.
• Details:
  • The US has pursued or intercepted three oil tankers alleged to violate US sanctions.
  • Maduro labels US actions “high seas piracy and profiteering.”
  • Venezuela calls for UN and governmental intervention; Iran voices support for Venezuela.
  • Maduro uses media and rallies to frame Venezuela as a peace-seeking nation, distributing “peace, not war” slogans on red hats.
• Memorable Quote:
  • "Venezuela just wants peace, not war."
    – Repeated by Nicolás Maduro in English-language media ([01:54]).

3. Pope Leo’s First Christmas Address

[02:05 – 03:05]

• Insight: Newly appointed Pope Leo pledges continuation of Pope Francis’s inclusive agenda, but adopts a milder tone with Vatican officials.
• Details:
  • Pope Leo highlights Pope Francis’s “prophetic voice” and emphasis on mercy.
  • Encourages the Church to remain welcoming to all, especially the poor.
  • Unlike his predecessor, Pope Leo delivers cautions on rigidity and ideology without scathing critique.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "His prophetic voice, his pastoral style and his rich teachings have defined the path of the church in these years,"
    – Ruth Sherlock quoting Pope Leo ([02:19])
  • "[He] warned officials only not to allow rigidity or ideology to slow progress for the church."
    – Ruth Sherlock ([02:45])

4. Israel Approves New West Bank Settlements Amid Peace Talks

[03:05 – 04:03]

• Insight: Israel’s government pushes forward with 19 new West Bank settlements during sensitive peace negotiations with Hamas.
• Details:
  • Far-right ministers frame the move as a measure to block a Palestinian state.
  • The expansions violate international law per the UN Secretary General and are condemned by Saudi Arabia and the UK.
  • Concern persists that expansion threatens the viability of a sovereign Palestine.

5. GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: Not Effective for Everyone

[04:03 – 04:45]

• Insight: Despite transforming obesity care, injectable GLP-1 drugs don't yield significant results for roughly one in six patients.
• Details:
  • About 50% of users lose 15%+ body weight; 1 in 6 lose little.
  • Multiple physiological factors may reduce effectiveness.
  • Harvard specialist Dr. Jennifer Manigouler stresses the need for a personalized approach and anticipates advancements via future genetic testing.
• Memorable Quote:
  • "One tool often is not enough over the lifetime of a person to control or to mitigate the health impact of that condition."
    – Dr. Jennifer Manigouler ([04:29])

6. Deadly Bus Crash in Indonesia

[04:45 – 04:54]

• Insight: A bus traveling from Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, to south-central Java crashes, resulting in at least 15 deaths.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "We found that in nearly every immigration court in the country, more people are getting these orders saying they basically didn't show."
  – Piers Jimena Bastia ([00:33])

• "Venezuela just wants peace, not war."
  – Nicolás Maduro, as cited by Carrie Kahn ([01:54])

• "His prophetic voice, his pastoral style and his rich teachings have defined the path of the church in these years."
  – Pope Leo, as quoted by Ruth Sherlock ([02:19])

• "One tool often is not enough over the lifetime of a person to control or to mitigate the health impact of that condition."
  – Dr. Jennifer Manigouler ([04:29])

Segment Timestamps

• [00:17] Immigration court absences and deportation orders
• [01:00] US–Venezuela oil tanker dispute
• [02:05] Pope Leo’s first Christmas address
• [03:05] Israel approves new West Bank settlements
• [04:03] GLP-1 drug effectiveness in obesity care
• [04:45] Fatal Indonesian bus crash

This summary offers a comprehensive snapshot of NPR’s midday news briefing, succinctly presenting the day's most urgent and globally relevant topics.