NPR News: 12-25-2025 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 25, 2025, 1PM EST

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now provides a rapid-fire update on global and national events, blending significant international developments, national emergencies, medical progress, holiday traditions, and papal messages in a concise five-minute news segment. The episode channels a tone of resilience and reflection during the holiday season, covering stories from war-torn Kyiv to rainy California, advances in cancer treatment, revived Christmas traditions, and messages of responsibility from the Pope.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christmas in War-Torn Ukraine

• [00:19–01:21]

• Ukraine celebrates its fourth Christmas under the shadow of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

• Insight: The resilient spirit of Ukrainians shines during traditional festivities in Kyiv, as locals and visitors gather for songs and carols despite ongoing conflict.

  "I feel immense joy being here, and I'm very proud to be Ukrainian."
  — Taisija Pukli, student participant in Kyiv, as reported by Hanna Polomarenko (00:52)

2. California Declares State of Emergency

• [01:21–02:14]

• Governor Gavin Newsom responds to severe storms, proclaiming a state of emergency in six counties after record rainfall—over 11 inches in parts of Los Angeles county.

• Insight: Authorities issue evacuation orders for high-risk, burn-scarred areas. Caution is urged for holiday travelers.

  "It's really geographically diverse, so rain accumulates differently and it affects people differently."
  — Kavish Harjai, NPR member station LAist (01:46)

3. AI in Cancer Treatment

• [02:14–03:15]

• AI tools at Massachusetts General Brigham and Dana Farber Cancer Institute help doctors better target cancer therapies, especially for throat cancer patients.

• Medical Advance: The AI can distinguish patients at higher risk for cancer spread, reducing unnecessary treatments and improving outcomes.

  "The technology has also allowed patients with low probability of spread to avoid unnecessary, punishing treatments. Previously, such assessments were only possible by surgically removing the lymph nodes."
  — Yuki Noguchi, NPR News (03:00)

4. Reviving a Nashville Holiday Tradition

• [03:15–04:15]

• Nashville banks in the 1970s once competed with employee Christmas choirs. A recently rediscovered vinyl album has brought the tradition to light for a new generation.

• Cultural Note: Bank choirs, made up of tellers and executives, brought music and cheer to their communities.

  "That's what you would hear in the lobby of a bank in Nashville in the 1970s. Tellers, loan officers and bank executives of two of Music City's biggest banks."
  — Jim Norton, former TV cameraman (03:37)

5. Papal Christmas Day Message

• [04:15–04:58]

• Pope Leo XIV delivers his first Christmas Day blessing as the American Pontiff, urging over 1.4 billion Catholics to act with humility and solidarity.

• Contrast: Unlike his predecessor Pope Francis, Leo offers greetings in multiple languages, including English and Spanish.

  "If you would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and oppress, then the world would change."
  — Pope Leo XIV (04:31)

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Notable Quotes

• Ukrainian Student in Kyiv:
  "I feel immense joy being here, and I'm very proud to be Ukrainian." — Taisija Pukli (00:52)
• On Weather Vulnerability:
  "It's really geographically diverse, so rain accumulates differently and it affects people differently." — Kavish Harjai (01:46)
• On AI in Medicine:
  "The technology has also allowed patients with low probability of spread to avoid unnecessary, punishing treatments." — Yuki Noguchi (03:00)
• On Nashville Choirs:
  "That's what you would hear in the lobby of a bank in Nashville in the 1970s." — Jim Norton (03:37)
• Papal Message:
  "If you would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and oppress, then the world would change." — Pope Leo XIV (04:31)

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Important Timestamps

• Ukraine’s Christmas under war: 00:19–01:21
• California weather emergency: 01:21–02:14
• AI revolutionizing cancer care: 02:14–03:15
• Nashville's bank Christmas choirs: 03:15–04:15
• Pope Leo XIV's Christmas message: 04:15–04:58

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Tone & Language

The news is delivered in a brisk, factual, and empathetic NPR style, combining urgency (California flooding), inspiration (Ukrainian festivities, AI advances), nostalgia (Nashville choirs), and a call to conscience (Papal message).

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This summary captures the essential news and memorable moments of the December 25th, 2025, 1PM NPR News Now episode, providing both context and direct voices from the broadcast for listeners who want a quick yet thorough overview.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm Douahlisai Kowtel. Ukraine marks its fourth Christmas during Russia's full scale invasion. NPR's Hanna Palmerenko visited tradition traditional celebrations in central Kyiv.

[NPR Reporter Hanna Polomarenko]

Christ is born. Let's glorify him echoes across the square near the capital's main cathedral. Hundreds of locals and visitors join the Christmas procession with songs and carols. Student Taisija Pukli is participating in such an event for the first time. Part of her family remains in the occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast of the country. I feel immense joy being here, and I'm very proud to be Ukrainian, she says. Pukli joins the festively dressed crowd to carry on ancient holiday traditions and celebrate life despite the war. Hanna Polomarenko, NPR News, Kyiv.

[NPR News Anchor]

Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency yesterday in six California counties after record rainfall. Some mountainous areas in Los Angeles county got more than 11 inches of rain two days and the forecast calls for more wet weather. Kavish Harjai with NPR member station LAS reports there are a number of vulnerable communities.

[NPR Reporter Kavish Harjai]

It's really geographically diverse, so rain accumulates differently and it affects people differently. And in at least in LA county, the evacuation orders that were issued Tuesday morning, it was for several hundred properties that were determined to be more at risk and near burn scar areas. There are some evacuation warnings that are more broadly around burns gar areas in LA County. Some evacuation orders in Orange county were lifted after things were determined to be safer.

[NPR News Anchor]

Kavish Harjai with NPR member station Laist. Holiday travels should triple check for road closures. AI tools are helping doctors better target cancer treatments, allowing patients to live longer. Mass. General, Brigham and Dana Farber Cancer Institute are using such a tool successfully with throat cancer. As NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports, artificial intelligence.

[NPR Reporter Yuki Noguchi / Justin Barney]

Can identify which patients are at risk of spread of cancer that develops in the throat. Based on a database of imaging scans, the tool can identify when cancer cells have spread beyond the lymph nodes, requiring more aggressive treatment. The technology has also allowed patients with low probability of spread to avoid unnecessary punishing treatments. Previously, such assessments were only possible by surgically removing the lymph nodes. The research appears in the Journal of Clinical oncology Technologies like this are improving survival and quality of life after a diagnosis. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

This is NPR in Nashville. There is new interest in an old Christmas tradition. From member station WPLN in Nashville, Justin Barney tells us that banks once had competing Christmas choirs made up entirely of employees.

[NPR Reporter Yuki Noguchi / Justin Barney]

We wish you a merry Christmas.

[Jim Norton]

We wish you a merry Christmas. That's what you would hear in the lobby of a bank in Nashville in the 1970s. Tellers, loan officers and bank executives of two of Music City's biggest banks.

[NPR News Anchor]

It said it's Christmas.

[Jim Norton]

That's Jim Norton, a cameraman for the popular TV specials that the choirs taped. The tradition may have been lost, but they pressed the carols to vinyl. One of those albums was recently rediscovered, and it's uncovered this once beloved tradition for a new generation. For NPR News, I'm Justin Barney.

[NPR News Anchor]

The first American Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, used his Christmas Day blessing to urge more than 1.4 billion Catholic followers to act with humility and responsibility. After Christmas Mass, he told his faithful if he would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and oppress, then the world would change. Unlike Pope Francis, Leo offered his Christmas greetings in multiple languages, including English and Spanish. This is NPR News from New York City.

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