NPR News Now: December 24, 2025, 1PM EST

Host: Douahlisa Kowtel
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: The latest top U.S. and world news updates

Overview

This episode delivers a concise wrap-up of major news stories across politics, justice, education, the environment, weather, and international affairs. Presented in NPR’s signature brisk, neutral tone, the broadcast covers the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents by the DOJ, upcoming student loan debt collection, National Guard deployments and Supreme Court rulings, a severe Southern California storm, and President Zelensky’s message ahead of Christmas.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Justice Department Releases Epstein Documents

• Summary: The DOJ continued releasing paperwork tied to Jeffrey Epstein after missing their deadline. Many documents are poorly redacted, unintentionally exposing information.
• Insights:
  • Redactions were so hastily done that some “could be easily read by simply copying and pasting.”
  • The releases have raised more questions about transparency rather than answering existing ones.
  • DOJ claims to have established a protocol for legal compliance and transparency.
• Quote:

  “This new information has not shed any significant new light... but it has raised more questions about the process and decision making behind how the DOJ decided to redact and release information.”
  — Ashley Lopez (00:35)

• Notable Moment: DOJ expresses its commitment to “full transparency” amid criticism.

2. Student Loan Wage Garnishment to Resume

• Summary: The Department of Education will restart wage garnishment for borrowers in default in January, ending a pandemic-era pause.
• Insights:
  • First notices to about 1,000 defaulted borrowers go out the week of January 7, with numbers increasing monthly.
  • Experts warn that timing, coupled with rising healthcare costs, increases strain on low and middle-income Americans.
  • A previous plan to resume garnishing tax refunds and Social Security benefits was abandoned last year.
• Quote:

  “The timing of the move, colliding with rising health care costs, will put added strain on low and middle income borrowers.”
  — Sequoia Carrillo (01:25)

3. Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s Chicago Troop Deployment

• Summary: The Supreme Court halts President Trump’s attempt to federalize National Guard troops for law enforcement duties in Illinois.
• Insights:
  • The ruling was 6-3 against the President, a rare occurrence from a conservative-majority court.
  • Decision cited a lack of legal justification for the federal use of the Guard.
  • The ruling is limited to Illinois, and could return to the court in the future.
• Quote:

  “The court said the president failed to cite any law that would justify using the Guard under federal control for law enforcement.”
  — Kat Lonsdorf (02:22)

4. Louisiana to Deploy National Guard in New Orleans

• Summary: Governor Jeff Landry announces plans to send troops to New Orleans, following the Supreme Court ruling regarding Illinois.
• Insight:
  • The deployment is unrelated to the federal action blocked in Chicago, and responds to local needs.

5. National Audubon Society Annual Bird Count

• Summary: The country’s longest-running community science project is underway, promoting conservation through bird counting instead of hunting; runs until January 5th.
• Insight:
  • Early winter bird census is vital for tracking populations and advocating for habitat protection.

6. Severe Storm Hits Southern California

• Summary: A powerful “atmospheric river” storm is battering Greater Los Angeles.
• Insights:
  • Officials urge people to avoid travel; significant rainfall, flooding, mudslides, and rockslides expected.
  • Extra concern for areas recently burned by January wildfires.
• Quotes & Moments:

  “This is the type of storm system that affects the area approximately every five to ten years or so.”
  — National Weather Service, via Steve Fadham (03:30)

  “I ask all Angelenos to take this one seriously... In the mountains and foothills, more than 10 inches could fall.”
  — LA Mayor Karen Bass (03:49)

• Reporter: “For NPR News, I’m Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.” (04:00)

7. Ukraine's President Zelensky Offers Christmas Wish for Peace

• Summary: On Christmas Eve, Zelensky expresses hope for “goodness and truth,” peace, and a secure Ukraine.
• Insights:
  • For the first time, Zelensky is open to pulling back troops from the Donetsk region if security guarantees from the US, NATO, and EU are provided.
• Quote:

  “He says he hopes goodness and truth will prevail, that there may be a victory of peace, that there may be us and that there may be a Ukraine.”
  — Douahlisa Kowtel (04:11)

  “For the first time, he told reporters in Kyiv... that he would be willing to consider pulling troops back from the heavily bombed areas of the Donetsk region… but only with security guarantees from the U.S. nATO and European allies.”
  — (04:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein DOJ documents: 00:15 – 01:12
• Student loan wage garnishment resumes: 01:12 – 02:04
• Supreme Court troop deployment decision; Louisiana Guard: 02:04 – 02:55
• Audubon Society Bird Count: 02:55 – 03:27
• Southern California storm coverage: 03:27 – 04:11
• Ukraine/President Zelensky Christmas message: 04:11 – 04:53

Notable Quotes

• “Parts of the Epstein documents... could be easily read by simply copying and pasting some of the redacted sections.”
  — Ashley Lopez (00:35)

• “The first notices will be sent out the week of January 7th...”
  — Sequoia Carrillo (01:25)

• “The court said the president failed to cite any law that would justify using the Guard under federal control for law enforcement.”
  — Kat Lonsdorf (02:22)

• “I ask all Angelenos to take this one seriously. During this holiday week... more than 10 inches could fall.”
  — Mayor Karen Bass (03:49)

• “He says he hopes goodness and truth will prevail, that there may be a victory of peace... and that there may be a Ukraine.”
  — Douahlisa Kowtel (04:11)

Tone & Style

Consistent with NPR’s concise, factual, and neutral reporting style. Direct quotes reflect the urgency and gravity of each topic, providing context for ongoing stories in U.S. and international politics, public policy, natural events, and global affairs.

For listeners seeking a punchy yet comprehensive update, this episode efficiently summarizes the day’s most significant stories with clarity and context.