NPR News: 12-24-2025 11AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – December 24, 2025, 11AM EST

Episode Overview

This concise five-minute NPR News Now update, anchored by Windsor Johnston, covers the latest global headlines, focusing on emerging peace negotiations in Ukraine, Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem amid the Gaza conflict, a significant drop in U.S. crime rates, record-setting December warmth, and controversy over a new hepatitis B vaccine study.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Ukraine Peace Efforts & U.S. Mediation

[00:17–01:25]

• Volodymyr Zelensky’s Position:
  Ukrainian President Zelensky is open to potentially withdrawing troops from a part of eastern Ukraine—specifically Donbas—pending ongoing peace negotiations.
  • “Zelensky says he expects the White House to present the latest draft of its peace proposal to the Kremlin later today.” (Windsor Johnston, 00:17)
• US Role & Key Issues:
  • The U.S. is pushing for demilitarization of Donbas, envisioning it as a “free economic zone.”
  • Zelensky is only open to this if Russia reciprocates with a troop withdrawal.
• Security Guarantees:
  • The peace proposal includes “NATO style security guarantees for Ukraine and stationing international forces on the front line.” (Joanna Kakissis, 00:42)
• Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant:
  • Disagreement remains over control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia plant.
  • “The U.S. and Ukraine have not agreed on who should control Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces.” (Joanna Kakissis, 01:16)

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2. Christmas Returns to Bethlehem Amid Gaza War

[01:25–02:20]

• Resumption of Festivities:
  • After a two-year hiatus, Bethlehem’s traditional Christmas parade re-emerged, symbolizing resilience and hope during the ongoing war in Gaza.
  • “Young men and women playing the bagpipes and drums marched through the city. Hundreds of people... crammed into Manger Square to watch the massive Bethlehem Christmas tree towering over them.” (Hadil Al Shaouqi, 01:40)
• Emotional Context:
  • Community members described feeling the need to “release some of the pressure they felt...from worry over what's happening to Palestinians during the war in Gaza.” (Paraphrased from Aseed al Jahjah via Hadil Al Shaouqi, 02:00)
  • Despite the conflict, “those in Bethlehem today said they will dare to allow themselves some hope this Christmas.” (Hadil Al Shaouqi, 02:15)

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3. U.S. Crime Rates at Historic Lows

[02:20–03:09]

• Significant National Decline:
  • New data shows crime rates—across murders, violent and property crimes—have fallen “by a lot in pretty much every category.”
  • “Murders are down by around 20% this year. Violent crime in general... also down, and property crimes are down, too, including burglaries and motor vehicle theft.” (Meg Anderson, 02:32)
• Geographic Breadth:
  • The declines are evident “pretty much everywhere, right the Midwest, the South, the Northeast, the West.” (Meg Anderson, 02:50)
• Expert Analysis:
  • "One analyst told me it's the most promising drop he's seen in nearly 30 years." (Meg Anderson, 03:00)

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4. Record-Breaking December Heat Wave

[03:09–03:59]

• Temperature Extremes:
  • Forecasters expect temperatures to soar into the 70s across the southern U.S. and up to the 80s in Texas on Christmas Day—significantly above seasonal averages.
  • The pattern is driven by a high-pressure system pulling warm Gulf air northward.
  • “Dozens of temperature records could be broken during a late December heat wave.” (Windsor Johnston, 03:09)

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5. CDC-Funded Hepatitis B Vaccine Study Sparks Ethics Debate

[03:59–04:46]

• Controversial Study Design:
  • Despite “more than 400 studies” demonstrating safety and efficacy of newborn hepatitis B vaccination, the CDC is funding a Danish research group to conduct a new study in Guinea Bissau, where some newborns will not be vaccinated at birth.
  • “The study isn't designed to test whether the vaccine works. Instead, it will look for potential side effects... The researchers will vaccinate some newborns and withhold the newborn dose for others, then follow both groups...” (Jonathan Lambert, 04:12)
• Criticism:
  • Many scientists argue it is unethical to withhold “a well studied life saving vaccine in a country where nearly one in five people are infected with hep B.” (Jonathan Lambert, 04:40)
• Noteworthy Support:
  • The study has been praised by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

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6. Financial Markets Update

[04:46–04:57]

• Market Movement:
  • Stocks are up at midday:
    • “The Dow was up 193 points, the NASDAQ up seven.” (Windsor Johnston, 04:46)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zelensky’s Calculated Flexibility:
  • “Ukraine was against withdrawing troops from the eastern Ukrainian area known as Donbas, but US negotiators are pushing for demilitarization so it can become a free economic zone.” (Joanna Kakissis, 00:42)
• Mood in Bethlehem:
  • “Those in Bethlehem today said they will dare to allow themselves some hope this Christmas.” (Hadil Al Shaouqi, 02:15)
• Historic Drop in Crime:
  • “It's the most promising drop [in crime rates] he's seen in nearly 30 years.” (Meg Anderson, 03:00)
• Ethical Tension Over Vaccines:
  • “Some experts criticize the withholding of a well studied life saving vaccine in a country where nearly one in five people are infected with hep B.” (Jonathan Lambert, 04:40)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ukraine Peace Efforts: 00:17–01:25
• Christmas in Bethlehem: 01:25–02:20
• Crime Statistics: 02:20–03:09
• December Heat Wave: 03:09–03:59
• Controversial Hepatitis B Study: 03:59–04:46
• Markets Update: 04:46–04:57

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This episode delivers a brisk, informative roundup of the day's most significant global and domestic news, highlighting the interplay of conflict, resilience, progress, and ongoing debate in society.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's open to pulling back troops from a part of eastern Ukraine still under Ukrainian control as part of a potential peace. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports. Zelensky says he expects the White House to present the latest draft of its peace proposal to the Kremlin later today.

[Joanna Kakissis]

Zelenskyy revealed the details of the latest peace plan to reporters in Kyiv during a briefing. He said Ukraine was against withdrawing troops from the eastern Ukrainian area known as Donbas, but that US Negotiators are pushing for demilitarization so it can become a free economic zone. Zelenskyy says he might agree if Russia also pulls back its troops in the region. The latest peace plan includes NATO style security guarantees for Ukraine and stationing international forces on the front line. Zelensky said the U.S. and Ukraine have not agreed on who should control Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kiev.

[Windsor Johnston]

Crowds are gathering in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas for the first time since the war in Gaza began. NPR's Hadil Al Shaouqi reports. The mood there today is hopeful and bittersweet.

[Hadil Al Shaouqi]

It's been two years since the city where Christians believe Jesus was born held its traditional Christmas Scouts parade. Young men and women playing the bagpipes and drums marched through the city. Hundreds of people summoned their Sunday best, crammed into Manger Square to watch the massive Bethlehem Christmas tree towering over them. Aseed al Jahjah said that the celebrations came at a necessary time. People need to release some of the pressure they felt, she said that pressure was from worry over what's happening to Palestinians during the war in Gaza. Those in Bethlehem today said they will dare to allow themselves some hope this Christmas. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Bethlehem crime rates appear to have fallen nationwide this year based on early data from 2025. NPR's Meg Anderson has more on what the numbers show.

[Meg Anderson]

I looked primarily at this database called the Real Time Crime Index. It's from this firm, Ah, Datalytics. They use data from nearly 600 jurisdictions around the country. Crime is down by a lot in pretty much every category according to them. So murders are down by around 20% this year. Violent crime in general. Things like rape, robbery, aggravated assault are also down, and property crimes are down, too, including burglaries and motor vehicle theft. And these crime declines happen pretty much everywhere, right the Midwest, the South, the Northeast, the West. One analyst told me it's the most promising drop he's seen in nearly 30 years.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's NPR's Meg Anderson reporting. This is NPR News in Washington. Dozens of temperature records could be broken during a late December heat wave. Forecasters say temperatures on Christmas Day are expected to reach the 70s across parts of the south and Southeast, with highs climbing into the 80s in parts of Texas. Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to stay closer to average across the Northeast. Weather officials say the unusual warmth is being driven by a high pressure system pushing warm air from the Gulf into the southern U.S. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is paying for new research on the hepatitis B vaccination. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports. Many scientists are calling the proposed study unethical.

[Jonathan Lambert]

More than 400 studies suggest that vaccinating newborns against hepatitis B is safe and effective. But the CDC is funding a controversial team of Danish scientists to do more. The group's been praised for the vaccine research by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. But many scientists have questioned their research practices. The study isn't designed to test whether the vaccine works. Instead, it will look for potential side effects in babies born in Guinea Bissau, a country that doesn't currently vaccinate at birth. The researchers will vaccinate some newborns and withhold the newborn dose for others, then follow both groups for several years. Some experts criticize the withholding of a well studied life saving vaccine in a country where nearly one in five people are infected with hep B. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks are trading higher on Wall street at the sour the dow was up 193 points, the NASDAQ up seven. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News.

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