NPR News Now — 12-23-2025 10AM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston (NPR)
Date: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This concise five-minute news update delivers key developments in U.S. economic performance, immigration policy, the Ukraine conflict, a significant legal victory for Elon Musk, and the FDA approval of a new oral weight loss drug. Listeners gain a rapid but nuanced understanding of top stories impacting domestic and global affairs.

Key News Segments & Insights

1. U.S. Economy Grows Rapidly Despite Prior Decline

[00:20–01:19]

• Summary:
  The U.S. Commerce Department reports faster-than-expected economic growth in Q3, with a 4.3% annual rate—figures delayed nearly two months due to a government shutdown in late summer.

• Discussion Points:

  • Economic growth accelerated compared to the previous quarter, rebounding from earlier contraction.
  • Growth drivers:
    • Consumer spending remains strong, particularly in health care (hospital, nursing home services, prescription drugs).
    • Increased spending on "information processing equipment," likely spurred by the AI boom.
  • Business and residential investment fell, but state/local government spending rose.

• Quote:

  "Consumers remain the key engine driving the growth, with higher spending, especially on health care." — Alina Selyukh [00:57]

2. Mass Revocation of Immigrant Legal Statuses Under Trump

[01:19–02:14]

• Summary:
  Over 1.6 million immigrants have lost legal status since President Trump took office—a record effort targeting even those who used previously authorized pathways.

• Discussion Points:

  • Figure includes those who entered with humanitarian parole, Temporary Protected Status, and various visas.
  • Rights advocates believe the number is an undercount.
  • The administration is described as preemptively revoking legal status, with plans for continued crackdowns in 2026.

• Notable Quote:

  "These were like legal pathways. People like did the thing the government asked them to do, and this government went and is kind of preemptively trying to revoke that status." — Todd Schulte (Forward U.S.) [01:50]

3. Russia Targets Ukraine’s Energy Grid — International Safety Concerns

[02:14–03:11]

• Summary:
  Russian missile and drone attacks kill at least three in Ukraine, focusing again on energy infrastructure and causing widespread power outages.

• Discussion Points:

  • The ninth major attack on Ukraine’s energy sector.
  • All Ukrainian nuclear power plants reduced output, violating international nuclear safety norms.
  • Emergency outages now in effect across much of the country.
  • Ukraine's acting energy minister calls for global action against what he labels “energy terrorism.”

• Quote:

  "Russia's policy of energy terrorism must be stopped." — Artem Nekrasov, Ukraine’s Acting Minister of Energy (via Hanna Polomarenko) [02:55]

4. Elon Musk Wins Appeal on Pay Package

[03:11–04:17]

• Summary:
  The Delaware Supreme Court reinstates Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar Tesla pay package, overturning a lower court’s effort to void it entirely.

• Discussion Points:

  • While the court did not dispute Musk’s influence over the board, it decided voiding the full pay package was unfair since Musk couldn’t return years of prior work.
  • The plaintiff in the case received $1 plus attorney’s fees.
  • Musk responded to the decision on X, including the word “vindicated.”

• Memorable Moment:

  "I try not to start fights, but I do finish them." — Elon Musk, in response to the ruling, posted on X [04:04]

  • Forbes now estimates Musk’s net worth at a record $749 billion.

5. Federal Approval for Pill Version of Wegovy Weight Loss Drug

[04:17–04:58]

• Summary:
  Federal regulators approved an oral (pill) version of Wegovy, a major weight-loss drug previously only available via injection.

• Discussion Points:

  • The new form is expected to improve accessibility and may be more affordable for patients.
  • Clinical trials showed nearly 17% average weight loss for participants.
  • Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer, faces increasing competition from Eli Lilly and others.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S. Economic Growth Report: 00:20–01:19
• Immigration Status Revocations: 01:19–02:14
• Russian Strikes on Ukraine: 02:14–03:11
• Elon Musk’s Pay Package Ruling: 03:11–04:17
• Oral Wegovy Drug Approval: 04:17–04:58

Notable Quotes

• "Consumers remain the key engine driving the growth, with higher spending, especially on health care."
  — Alina Selyukh [00:57]

• "These were like legal pathways. People like did the thing the government asked them to do, and this government went and is kind of preemptively trying to revoke that status."
  — Todd Schulte, Forward U.S. [01:50]

• "Russia's policy of energy terrorism must be stopped."
  — Artem Nekrasov, via Hanna Polomarenko [02:55]

• "I try not to start fights, but I do finish them."
  — Elon Musk [04:04]

This concise summary provides the top developments and direct voices from the field, reflecting both global and domestic impacts as 2025 draws to a close.