NPR News: 12-25-2025 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 25, 2025, 2PM EST

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a concise roundup of major international and domestic news stories on Christmas Day 2025. The report features coverage of Christmas celebrations returning to Gaza amidst a fragile ceasefire, a shooting involving ICE agents in Maryland, President Trump's continuation of aggressive foreign policy measures—particularly a blockade on Venezuelan oil—and a look at both anti-terror arrests in Turkey and the vibrant tradition of tamale-making among Latino families in Texas.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Christmas Returns to Gaza ([00:18]–[01:23])

• Event: For the first time in over two years of war, Gaza’s Christian community celebrates Christmas.
• Details:
  • The only remaining church in Gaza city hosts hymns and bell ringing.
  • The community of about 500 gathers at Holy Family Church, many wearing new clothes.
  • The celebration is somber due to lives lost: over 20 Christians were killed in attacks, including one church destroyed.
  • The fragile ceasefire allows this small community to publicly mark the holiday.
• Memorable Quote:
  • "Today, though, this community of just 500 or so Christians in Gaza is singing again." — Anas Baba, NPR ([01:07])

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2. ICE Shooting in Maryland ([01:23]–[02:21])

• Incident: ICE officers fire on a vehicle during confrontation with undocumented immigrants in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
• Details:
  • Officers approached a van driven by an undocumented immigrant from Portugal.
  • Driver allegedly tried to flee and attempted to run over officers.
  • ICE agents fired "defensively," injuring the driver; both the driver and a passenger are hospitalized.
  • Noted as part of a pattern of shootings tied to mass deportation plans under President Trump.
• Memorable Quote:
  • "It's one of multiple recent shootings involving immigration authorities who are working to carry out President Trump's mass deportation plan." — Joel Rose, NPR ([02:15])

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3. Trump’s Aggressive Foreign Policy: Venezuelan Blockade ([02:21]–[03:08])

• Update: President Trump orders a blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela.
• Context:
  • The move is an example of expanded executive power in foreign affairs.
  • Trump boasts that he’s "settled eight wars in 10 months."
• White House Correspondent Insight:
  • Trump sees the world as spheres of influence, reviving the Monroe Doctrine to reinforce U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
  • His approach marks a sharp shift from prior administrations, focusing less on Russia/China confrontation and more on regional power.
  • Has sought favor with Russia as a strategy in attempts to end the war in Ukraine.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "Trump's even cited the Monroe Doctrine and saying that he wants to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere." — Franco Ordonez, NPR ([02:48])
  • "Trump instead sought to curry favor with Russia, as we've reported, in a bid to try to end the war in Ukraine." — Franco Ordonez, NPR ([03:00])

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4. Terror Arrests in Turkey ([03:08]–[04:06])

• Event: Over 100 suspected ISIS members arrested during holiday counterterrorism operations.
• Details:
  • 137 arrest warrants issued; 115 detentions so far, with operations expected to continue.
  • Suspects accused of planning attacks for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
  • Appears part of a broader crackdown during heightened holiday security concerns.

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5. Texas Tamaladas: Holiday Food Traditions ([04:06]–[04:47])

• Focus: The Christmas tamalada—a communal, labor-intensive tradition among Latino families in Texas.
• Details:
  • Tamaladas involve family members gathering to make dozens of tamales together.
  • The event, exemplified by the Riojas family in San Antonio, is as much about sharing memories as making food.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "That's what the tamalada means to me. Yes, we're making tamales, but we're also making new memories." — Anna Fossum ([04:28])
  • "The whole process takes hours, especially if you're making 20 dozen or so. Oh, and if you're going, be sure to bring a bottle and a few really good stories to share." — Joey Palacios ([04:34])

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6. Royal Holiday: King Charles III ([04:47]–[04:56])

• Brief Note: King Charles III attends Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

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Notable Quotes with Attribution & Timestamps

• "Today, though, this community of just 500 or so Christians in Gaza is singing again."
  — Anas Baba, NPR ([01:07])

• "It's one of multiple recent shootings involving immigration authorities who are working to carry out President Trump's mass deportation plan."
  — Joel Rose, NPR ([02:15])

• "Trump's even cited the Monroe Doctrine and saying that he wants to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere."
  — Franco Ordonez, NPR ([02:48])

• "That's what the tamalada means to me. Yes, we're making tamales, but we're also making new memories."
  — Anna Fossum ([04:28])

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | | ------------------------------------ | ----------- | | Christmas celebrations in Gaza | 00:18–01:23 | | Maryland ICE shooting | 01:23–02:21 | | Trump’s Venezuela blockade & FP | 02:21–03:08 | | ISIS arrests in Turkey | 03:08–04:06 | | Tamale-making in Texas | 04:06–04:47 | | King Charles III Christmas Service | 04:47–04:56 |

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Tone & Context

True to NPR News Now’s signature tone, the episode conveys urgency, journalistic clarity, and succinct reporting. The narrative moves quickly between international conflict, domestic policy, and cultural celebration, keeping listeners informed across a range of high-impact topics on Christmas Day.

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This summary covers the full news content of the episode (excluding advertisements and non-news segments), providing context, main points, and memorable quotes relevant to each major report.

Transcript

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[NPR Host/Douahli Sai Kao]

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Douahli Sai Kao. To Christmas celebrations have returned to Gaza for the first time in more than two years of war. NPR's Anas Baba in Gaza City reports. The tiny Palestinian Christian community marked the day with hymns and bells tolling.

[NPR Reporter/Anas Baba]

For the past two years, Christians here in Gaza hunkered down behind the walls of this church, the only one left standing in Gaza. They lived here, prayed here and survived the Israeli military's bombardments of Gaza city. More than 20 Christians were killed in the Israeli attacks at this church and another that was destroyed. Today, though, this community of just 500 or so Christians in Gaza is singing again. And with the fragile seas firing place now, the Palestinian children at the Holy Family Church in Gaza marked Christmas this year with new clothes as the community gathered to both celebrate the birth of Jesus and mourn the many Palestinians killed in the war. Anas Baba and Pyra News, Gaza City.

[NPR Host/Douahli Sai Kao]

In Maryland, US Immigration agents fired at a vehicle after the driver allegedly tried to run them over. This is according to homeland security officials. NPR's Joel Rose reports. The incident left one man with bullet wounds and another injured.

[NPR Reporter/Joel Rose]

The incident occurred in Glen Burnie, Maryland, south of Baltimore. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers approached a van driven by a man they identified as an undocumented immigrant from Portugal, according to according to the Department of Homeland Security, the man tried to flee before driving the van directly at the ICE officers, attempting to run them over. The ICE officers then fired defensively, according to dhs, striking the driver who lost control of the van. Both the driver and a passenger, also identified by DHS as an undocumented immigrant, were hospitalized after the crash. It's one of multiple recent shootings involving immigration authorities who are working to carry out President Trump's mass deportation plan. Joel Rose, NPR News.

[NPR Host/Douahli Sai Kao]

President Trump recently ordered a blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers into and out of Venezuela. It's one of the latest examples of Trump's aggressive use of power in the region and around the world. Critics say the president, in his own words, says he's settled eight wars in 10 months. NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordonez explains what America first looks like today.

[NPR Correspondent/Franco Ordonez]

He really does see the world through spheres of influence. I mean, Trump's even cited the Monroe Doctrine and saying that he wants to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere. And that's a big break from past administrations that's prioritized other regions while also confronting the big powers like Russia and China. Trump's instead sought to curry favor with Russia, as we've reported, in a bid to try to end the war in Ukraine.

[NPR Host/Douahli Sai Kao]

That war is now approaching four years, a war that Trump said he would end in a day. This is NPR News. Police in Turkey's counterterrorism department have arrested more than 100 suspected members of the Islamic State. The Istanbul chief Prosecutor's office said 137 warrants were issued. And so far on this holiday, at least 115 people have been detained. The prosecutor's office said the suspects were allegedly planning attacks on Christmas and New Year's Day. The counter terrorism operation is still active and more arrests are expected. Families are getting ready to sit down for Christmas and holiday meals. Many tables, especially those of Latino families, will be filled with tamales. Texas Public Radio's Joey Palacios reports making them is often part of a labor intensive party. Veiled tamalada.

[Texas Public Radio Reporter/Joey Palacios]

If it's your first time at a tamalada during the holidays, get ready to be put to work. You'll be handed a spoon, a few dozen corn husks, the masa to spread on them, and probably some pork to stuff it with. It's an annual tradition for Hispanic families like the Riojas in San Antonio. Family member Anna Fossum says gatherings like tamaladas are about connecting with every branch of the family.

[Anna Fossum]

That's what the tamalada means to me. Yes, we're making tamales, but we're also making new memories.

[Texas Public Radio Reporter/Joey Palacios]

The whole process takes hours, especially if you're making 20 dozen or so. Oh, and if you're going, be sure to bring a bottle and a few really good stories to share. I'm Joey Palacios in San Antonio.

[NPR Host/Douahli Sai Kao]

King Charles III attended Christmas day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church. This is NPR News from New City.

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