NPR News Now – December 24, 2025, 6AM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Theme: The latest national news highlights, including developments related to high-profile legal cases, changes in science funding, ethical debates, energy policy, and weather warnings for the holiday season.

1. Main Theme & Purpose

This five-minute news update delivers concise coverage of the morning’s top stories, focusing on:

• Clarification of a controversial letter linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Policy shifts at the National Institutes of Health during the second Trump administration.
• Catholic Church response to Illinois' newly approved medically assisted suicide law.
• President Trump’s move to pause Atlantic offshore wind power developments.
• Severe winter weather warnings for California during the holiday travel window.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Jeffrey Epstein Letter Controversy

• [00:11–01:21]
  • A letter alleged to be from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar gained attention due to its explosive content.
  • Epstein supposedly wrote to Nassar stating, “our president shares our love of young nubile girls.”
  • The Department of Justice (DOJ) swiftly investigated and declared the letter fake, citing inconsistencies:
    • The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein’s death and from Virginia, while Epstein was incarcerated in New York.

Sarah McCammon (01:06): “The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is fake...the DOJ also pointed out several apparent inconsistencies in this letter, including the fact that it was postmarked three days after Epstein's death in Virginia, even though he'd been jailed in New York.”

B. NIH Policy Shifts Under Trump

• [01:21–02:18]
  • The director of the NIH, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, addressed concerns about political interference following President Trump’s return and the appointment of RFK Jr. as health secretary.
  • Bhattacharya insisted on scientific independence, despite criticism over terminated DEI-related research grants, asserting alignment with administration directives without political meddling.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (01:55):
“Secretary Kennedy has not asked me to put my thumb on the scales of any scientific project... That would be a red line.”

C. Catholic Church and Illinois’ Assisted Suicide Law

• [02:18–02:50]
  • Pope Leo, originally from Chicago, expressed strong disappointment at Illinois’ passage of a law allowing medically assisted suicide.
  • He emphasized the Church’s stance on respecting life, from conception to natural death, prohibiting both abortion and euthanasia.

Pope Leo (02:34):
“We were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life from the very beginning to the very end. And unfortunately, for different reasons, he decided to sign that bill. I'm very disappointed about that.”

D. Atlantic Offshore Wind Power Blockade

• [03:31–04:15]
  • President Trump paused five offshore wind energy projects for further review on “national security” grounds.
  • Atlantic coast governors called the move unfounded and warned of job losses and higher electricity bills.
  • A recent federal court ruling found a prior Trump wind ban unlawful.

Brian Mann (03:47):
“In a joint statement, governors from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode island called this pause baseless and reckless. They said further delays for completed and nearly completed wind projects will cost jobs and drive up electricity costs for consumers.”

E. California Holiday Weather Advisory

• [04:15–04:54]
  • State officials urged travelers to avoid roads on Christmas Eve and Day as powerful winter storms are forecast.
  • Alerts in place for flooding, mudslides, and dangerous snow conditions across much of California, especially Sacramento Valley, the Bay Area, and Sierra Nevada.
  • Southern California may see its wettest Christmas in years.

3. Notable Quotes by Segment

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06 | Sarah McCammon | “The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is fake...” | | 01:55 | Dr. Bhattacharya | “Secretary Kennedy has not asked me to put my thumb on the scales of any scientific project...” | | 02:34 | Pope Leo | “We were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life from the very beginning to the very end...” | | 03:47 | Brian Mann | “...this pause baseless and reckless. They said further delays... will cost jobs and drive up electricity costs...” |

4. Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:11–01:21]: Epstein-Nassar letter and DOJ’s response
• [01:21–02:18]: NIH director on scientific independence and research policy changes
• [02:18–02:50]: Pope Leo’s reaction to Illinois assisted suicide legislation
• [03:31–04:15]: Wind power development pause and regional impact
• [04:15–04:54]: California severe weather warnings and travel advisories

5. Tone & Language

• The report maintains NPR’s hallmark of calm, objective journalism, focusing on facts, direct reporting, and official statements.
• Direct quotes convey each source’s perspective authentically, whether governmental, scientific, or religious.

In summary:
This NPR News Now episode provides a brisk tour of the day's most essential developments, highlighting new turns in long-standing controversies, executive actions shaping science and energy policy, and critical holiday weather alerts, all wrapped in clear, factual reporting.