NPR News: 12-23-2025 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — December 23, 2025, 2AM EST

Host: NPR
Episode Theme: A concise update on major international and U.S. news stories, from media controversies and geopolitical tensions to human rights concerns and notable figures in entertainment and politics.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. CBS News Scrutiny Over Pulled Deportation Story

[00:13–01:10]

• Overview: CBS News and “60 Minutes” come under fire after abruptly pulling a story regarding the Trump administration's deportation policy and alleged abuse of deported Venezuelan migrants in a Salvadoran prison.

• Details:

  • Reported by NPR’s David Folkenfrich, the “60 Minutes” piece involved on-camera allegations of torture and sexual assault by detainees, supposedly sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison under the Trump administration’s policy.
  • Correspondent Sharon Alfonsi described the decision to pull the story as an editorial, not political, in an email to staff.
  • CBS’s new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, defended that the story was pulled because it "was not ready to air."

  Notable Quotes:

  • “They were going to allege on camera that they had been badly abused, in some cases tortured, sexually assaulted by their captors there.” — David Folkenfrich, NPR Correspondent [00:46]
  • “Insisting, she says the story was not ready to air.” — NPR News Anchor, paraphrasing Bari Weiss [01:10]

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2. Trump’s Appointment Sparks Outrage Over Greenland

[01:10–02:16]

• Overview: President Trump appoints Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy for Greenland, reigniting controversy over U.S. ambitions to annex the Danish territory.

• Details:

  • Danish and Greenlandic leaders issue a joint rebuke, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and international law.
  • European Union (EU) officials echo the sentiment, stressing the inviolability of Denmark’s borders.
  • U.S. Ambassador Ken Howry is formally summoned by Denmark's Foreign Minister.
  • Nordic neighbors openly support Denmark.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Emphasizing national borders and sovereignty are matters of international law, that other countries can't simply be annexed, as President Trump has suggested of Greenland in the past.” — Terry Schultz, NPR Correspondent [01:33]
  • “The sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union.” — Anouar Alannuni, EU Commission Spokesman [01:54]

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3. Structure Demolitions in East Jerusalem

[02:16–03:06]

• Overview: Reports surface of intensified demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem by Israeli authorities, with over 460 structures destroyed in 2025.

• Details:

  • A recent demolition leaves about 100 Palestinians homeless.
  • The Palestinian Authority calls the demolitions forced displacement aimed at changing the city's demographic makeup to favor Jewish settlement expansion.
  • Israeli authorities state the buildings are illegal, citing missing permits. Rights groups argue the permit system discriminates against Palestinians.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “There’s been a sharp uptick in these demolitions, calling them forced displacement... part of a policy to change Jerusalem's demographic to support Jewish settlement expansion.” — Hadil Al Shashi, NPR Correspondent [02:28]

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4. Mexican Navy Plane Crash in Texas

[03:06–03:17]

• Overview: A small Mexican Navy aircraft crashes near Galveston, Texas, killing at least five people.

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5. Music and Entertainment Updates

[03:17–03:48]

• Chris Rea Passes Away

  • Singer of “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)” dies at 74 after a brief illness. The 1978 hit peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard charts.

• Barry Manilow Diagnosed With Lung Cancer

  • Legendary performer announces early stage lung cancer diagnosis and upcoming surgery, resulting in postponed January concerts.
  • Manilow had just been treating persistent bronchitis when the cancerous growth was discovered during an MRI.
  • Known for a multi-decade career and multiple Grammy awards.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “His biggest American hit, ‘Fool if You Think It’s Over,’ peaked at number 12 on the Billboard charts back in 1978.” — NPR News Anchor [03:22]
  • “Doctors found a cancerous growth that can be quite treated with surgery.” — NPR News Anchor [03:37]

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6. Arizona Fake Elector Charges Dropped

[03:48–04:53]

• Overview: Arizona drops charges against Jim Lehman, one of 11 state Republicans who signed a false elector certificate claiming Trump won Arizona in 2020.

• Details:

  • No plea deal or commitment to testify from Lehman, but he has agreed not to object to subpoenas for text messages.
  • The broader fake electors case remains unresolved pending a state Supreme Court decision on grand jury proceedings.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Jim Lehman was one of 11 Arizona Republicans who signed a document falsely claiming President Trump won the state in 2020.” — Wayne Schutzke, NPR Reporter [04:16]
  • “Lehman’s attorney says his client did not sign a plea deal or agree to testify, though he will not object to certain subpoenas for text messages sought by prosecutors.” — Wayne Schutzke, NPR Reporter [04:35]

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7. Powerball Update

[04:53–04:56]

• Overview: There is no winner in Monday's Powerball drawing.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “They were going to allege on camera that they had been badly abused, in some cases tortured, sexually assaulted by their captors there.” — David Folkenfrich [00:46]
• “The sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union.” — Anouar Alannuni [01:54]
• “Doctors found a cancerous growth that can be quite treated with surgery.” — NPR News Anchor [03:37]

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Timestamps for Main Segments

• CBS News controversy: 00:13–01:10
• Greenland envoy appointment backlash: 01:10–02:16
• East Jerusalem demolitions: 02:16–03:06
• Mexican Navy plane crash: 03:06–03:17
• Chris Rea obituary: 03:17–03:29
• Barry Manilow health update: 03:29–03:48
• Arizona fake electors update: 03:48–04:53
• Powerball result: 04:53–04:56

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This summary captures the rapid pace and serious tone of NPR’s hourly news update, providing context for ongoing political, international, and cultural events.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. CBS News in 60 Minutes are facing scrutiny after the network's management abruptly pulled a piece Sunday night that was reporting on the Trump administration's deportation, polic and conditions at a notorious prison in El Salvador. The correspondent on the piece, Sharon Alfonsi, in an email to colleagues, called the decision an editorial decision rather than a political one. NPR's David Folkenfrich reports.

[NPR Correspondent David Folkenfrich]

The correspondent, Sharon Alfonsi and her team interviewed Venezuelan migrants who'd been sent by Trump administration to a notorious prison in El Salvador, and they were going to allege on camera that they had been badly abused, in some cases tortured, sexually assaulted by their captors there. This, of course, a prison that the administration had chosen for these detainees to be sent to.

[NPR News Anchor]

CBS's new editor in chief, Bari Weiss is defending the decision, insisting she says the story was not ready to air. Danish and European officials are outraged that President Trump has appointed Louisiana's Governor Jeff Landry to be the special envoy for Greenland. Landry supports making the semi autonomous Danish territory part of the U.S. terry Schultz reports.

[NPR Correspondent Terry Schultz]

The Danish and Greenlandic prime ministers put out a joint statement aimed at Washington, emphasizing national borders and sovereignty are matters of international law, that other countries can't simply be annexed, as President Trump has suggested of Greenland in the past. European Commission spokesman Anouar Alannuni issued a similar response from preserving the territorial integrity.

[European Commission Spokesman Anouar Alannuni]

Of the Kingdom of Denmark. Its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union.

[NPR Correspondent Terry Schultz]

Danish Foreign Minister Larslig Rasmussen summoned U.S. ambassador Ken Howry to issue a formal complaint. The foreign ministers of Finland, Norway and Sweden all expressed strong support for their Nordic neighbor. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[NPR News Anchor]

The Palestinian Authority says more than 460 Palestinian structures and buildings have been demolished by Israel in the Jerusalem governorate this year. NPR's Hadil Al Shashi reports.

[NPR Correspondent Hadil Al Shashi]

The most recent demolition of a residential building in East Jerusalem has left about 100 Palestinians homeless, according to the Palestinian. The authority's Ministry of Jerusalem says there's been a sharp uptick in these demolitions, calling them forced displacement. It says they are part of a policy to change Jerusalem's demographic to support Jewish settlement expansion. Israeli authorities say that the homes are, quote, illegal due to a lack of Israeli issued permits rights groups say the Israeli planning and permit system is discriminatory because they limit where and how Palestinians can build in East Jerusalem. Hadil Alshalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[NPR News Anchor]

At least five people were killed Monday when a small Mexican Navy plane crashed near Galveston, Texas. This is NPR News from Washington.

[Music News Reporter]

Fool IF you THINK it's over singer.

[NPR News Anchor]

Chris Rhea died Monday after a brief illness. His biggest American hit, fool if youf Think Is over, peaked at number 12 on the Billboard charts back in 1978. Chris Rio was age 74. Legendary entertainer Barry Manilow says he has early stage lung cancer and will undergo surgery to remove a cancerous spot, he says on his lung he will reschedule his January concerts. As a result of that surgery, Manilow said he had been recently battling a persistent case of bronchitis. And during an mri, doctors found a cancerous growth that can be quite treated with surgery. Manilow, who's been performing since the late 1960s, is a multiple or Grammy award winning, winning singer. Arizona's attorney General Chris Mays office is dropping charges against one of the state's fake electors. Reporter Wayne Shutske from station WJZ has more.

[NPR Reporter Wayne Schutzke]

Former U.S. senate candidate Jim Lehman was one of 11 Arizona Republicans who signed a document falsely claiming President Trump won the state in 2020. A grand jury indicted these fake electors and several allies, including attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, on fraud and other felony charges. A spokesman confirms the state attorney general will drop the charges against Lehman. Lehman's attorney says his client did not sign a plea deal or agree to testify, though he will not object to certain subpoenas for text messages sought by prosecutors. The Arizona case is now in limbo as the state Supreme Court considers an appeal over whether it should be sent back to the grand jury. For NPR News, I'm Wayne Schutzke in Phoenix.

[NPR News Anchor]

There is no winner in Monday's powerball. This is NPR.

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