NPR News: 12-24-2025 6PM EST

Summary

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

Episode Overview
This brief NPR News Now episode covers major headlines from across the U.S. and around the globe in just under five minutes. Top stories include a powerful winter storm threatening Southern California, updates on the Justice Department’s release of Epstein documents, a multi-state food poisoning outbreak linked to raw oysters, contentious Honduras election results, the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, and a record Powerball lottery jackpot.

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1. Major Winter Storm Threatens Southern California

Timestamps: 00:17–01:06
Key Points:

• The National Weather Service warns Southern California to expect its wettest Christmas in years, with heavy rains and risk of flash flooding.
• Warnings issued for Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles counties; high winds further north in the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area.
• The storm could cause disruptions for holiday travelers both on roads and in the air, with heavy snow expected in the Sierra Nevada.

Notable Segment:

“Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years, warning drivers to stay off the roads in the coming days.”
— Joel Rose (00:32)

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2. Epstein Files: DOJ Delays and Redaction Issues

Timestamps: 01:06–02:17
Key Points:

• The Justice Department says the release of Epstein-related files will take several more weeks, citing discovery of over a million additional documents.
• Many released documents are heavily or improperly redacted, with some redactions easily bypassed by copying and pasting.
• So far, no significant new details have emerged, but the process has raised transparency concerns and questions about DOJ procedures.
• DOJ claims commitment to full transparency and says it is working under a protocol for review.

Notable Segment:

“Parts of the Epstein document released from the Justice Department include hastily redacted information that could be easily read by simply copying and pasting…”
— Ashley Lopez (01:39)

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3. Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters

Timestamps: 02:17–03:14
Key Points:

• CDC investigates a Salmonella outbreak spanning 22 states, with over 60 cases—many requiring hospitalization.
• Illness associated with raw oysters; the strain of Salmonella involved is rarely seen in previous outbreaks.
• Cases have increased since November; health officials stress that only proper heat kills Salmonella, not hot sauce or lemon.
• Those with severe or persistent symptoms should seek medical attention.

Notable Segment:

“Hot sauce and lemon juice do not kill salmonella, and they recommend that people with symptoms such as high fever or diarrhea over several days seek healthcare immediately.”
— Ping Huang (02:31)

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4. Honduras Election Declared for Nasseri Amid Controversy

Timestamps: 03:14–03:50
Key Points:

• Nasseri, a candidate supported by President Trump, declared the winner of Honduras’s November 30 election, following delays and fraud allegations.
• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urges respect for the outcome and calls for peace during the transition.

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5. Humanitarian Crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo

Timestamps: 03:50–04:31
Key Points:

• UNHCR reports dire conditions for those fleeing renewed conflict in eastern DRC; food, water, shelter, and healthcare are all in dangerously short supply.
• Fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese forces leads to more than 84,000 people fleeing to Burundi in two weeks, overwhelming aid sites.

Notable Segment:

“The agency warns that there is not enough food and water to cater for those who have fled, citing that they are also facing inadequate shelter and healthcare provision.”
— Michael Kaloki (03:50)

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6. $1.7 Billion Powerball Jackpot Up for Grabs

Timestamps: 04:31–04:56
Key Points:

• The Christmas Eve Powerball jackpot has reached $1.7 billion—the fourth largest in U.S. history.
• Odds of winning are about one in 292 million.

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Notable Quotes & Highlights

• On the winter storm:

  “Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years, warning drivers to stay off the roads…”
  — Joel Rose (00:32)

• On document transparency:

  “Parts of the Epstein document released from the Justice Department include hastily redacted information that could be easily read by simply copying and pasting…”
  — Ashley Lopez (01:39)

• Food safety advice:

  “Hot sauce and lemon juice do not kill salmonella, and they recommend that people with symptoms… seek healthcare immediately.”
  — Ping Huang (02:31)

• Congo’s humanitarian emergency:

  “…not enough food and water to cater for those who have fled… facing inadequate shelter and healthcare provision.”
  — Michael Kaloki (03:50)

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Episode At-a-Glance

• Extreme weather threatens California travel and safety.
• Epstein file release slowed by massive document trove and transparency missteps.
• Raw oyster-linked Salmonella outbreak hits 22 states—public health alert.
• Honduras election declared for Trump-backed Nasseri; calls for peace.
• Congo crisis: Tens of thousands displaced, UN appeal for aid.
• Powerball fever: $1.7B jackpot draws nationwide attention.

This episode delivers concise yet critical updates on ongoing issues, packed with public health warnings, international headlines, and a note of holiday excitement about an historic lottery drawing.

Transcript

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This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's IN YOUR wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail].

[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. A powerful winter storm is bringing heavy rains and possible flash flooding to Southern California for forecasters urging holiday travelers to avoid the roads. As NPR's Joel Rose reports, forecasters say.

[Joel Rose]

Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years, warning drivers to stay off the roads in the coming days. The National Weather Service says flash flooding is possible in parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Further north, much of the Sacramento Valley and parts of the San Francisco Bay Area are under a high wind warning. Forecasters are also predicting heavy rain and a chance of flooding along the Northern California coast and heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Severe weather conditions could also disrupt air travel from California to the Pacific Northwest. Joel Rose, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The Justice Department says it may take a few more weeks to finish releasing the Epstein files. DOJ said today that more than a million more documents that could be relevant have been found by the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan. A Justice Department statement says lawyers are working around the clock to review those documents and make the necessary redactions under the law passed by Congress December 19 deadline. NPR's Ashley Lopez reports that many of the documents that have been released so far are heavily redacted, and some weren't done properly.

[Ashley Lopez]

Parts of the Epstein document released from the Justice Department include hastily redacted information that could be easily read by simply copying and pasting some of the redacted sections. So far, this new information has not shed any significant new light on the case of the disgraced financier, but it has raised more questions about the process and decision making behind how the DOJ decided to redact and release information. In a letter to Congress earlier this week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch said the agency created a protocol to properly and legally work through the thousands of documents related to Epstein. He also said the agency is committed to full transparency. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Raw oysters have been linked to an ongoing food poisoning outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating more than 60 cases of Salmonella, including many requiring hospitalization. NPR's Ping Huang reports.

[Ping Huang]

The Salmonella outbreak spans 22 states, from California to Florida and Texas to Maine. People are getting serious cases of the bacterial illness after eating raw oysters and getting hospitalized at higher rates than usual in these types of outbreaks According to the cdc, investigators are trying to see if there's a common source for these cases, which have been linked to a type of salmonella that's not frequently reported. The cases stretch back for months, but picked up in November. Health officials advise cooking oysters with heat before eating them. Hot sauce and lemon juice do not kill salmonella, and they recommend that people with symptoms such as high fever or diarrhea over several days seek healthcare immediately. Those can be signs of a serious salmonella infection. Ping Huang, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

This is npr. The Honduran presidential candidate backed by President Trump has been declared the winner of the country's November 30 election. The country's electoral authority says Nasseri as won a tight election marked by weeks of delays, technical problems and allegations of fraud. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a statement urging all parties to respect the results and calling for a peaceful transition. The United nations has issued an appeal to assist those fleeing the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Reporter Michael Koloki has more.

[Michael Kaloki]

In a statement posted on social media, the UN Refugee agency, UNHCR has described the conditions faced by those who have fled the fighting in eastern Congo as terrible. The agency warns that there is not enough food and water to cater for those who have fled, citing that they are also facing inadequate shelter and healthcare provision. Fighting in eastern Congo between The Rwandan backed M23 rebels and Congolese forces has been going on for decades now. In mid December, the UN warned that within a period of two weeks, over 84,000 people had fled to neighboring Burundi, overwhelming reception sites that had been set up to provide assistance. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.

[NPR News Anchor]

One of the biggest lottery prizes in American history is on the line this Christmas Eve. The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $1.7 billion for tonight's drawing, the jackpot swelled to the fourth largest in U.S. history after Monday's drawing produced no winners. The odds of hitting the jackpot are one in more than 292 million. I'm Jael Snyder, NPR News.

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This message is from GiveDirectly, a nonprofit that sends cash directly to the world's poorest people. Pods Fight Poverty is supporting 700 families in Rwanda, with donations matched through December 31st. Visit GiveDirectly.org podcast.