NPR News Now: December 25, 2025, 6PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst, Joel Rose, Jimena Bustillo, Se Woon Kang
Length: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode delivers NPR’s top stories from Christmas Day 2025, covering global events, domestic issues, and cultural milestones. Highlights include Pope Leo’s first Christmas Mass and message, severe weather battering California, a rise in immigration court absences, funding cuts to pediatric public health, North Korea’s nuclear submarine advances, and the popularity of “Home Alone” as the holiday’s favorite movie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pope Leo’s First Christmas Mass and Global Message

• [00:14–00:33]

  • Pope Leo greets crowds in multiple languages from the Vatican, wishing “Merry Christmas.”
  • Emphasizes peace for victims of wars, injustice, political instability, religious persecution, and terrorism.
  • Specific calls for:
    • Peace in Ukraine
    • Dialogues in Latin America amidst US naval escalation against Venezuela's Maduro.

  “May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts and in your families.”
  — Pope Leo (via Jeanine Herbst & Se Woon Kang at 00:30)

2. Powerful Winter Storm in California

• [00:33–01:47]

  • Record rainfalls in Southern California: over 3 inches in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles County.
  • Flash floods, mudslides, road closures, and evacuations in LA and San Bernardino.
  • Power outages: 120,000+ customers affected in Santa Barbara and Northern California.
  • High winds: Flights into San Francisco delayed an average of 2 hours.
  • Several feet of snow fall in the Sierra Nevada, with more forecasted.

  “Bursts of intense rain caused scattered mudslides, flooded freeways and prompted evacuation orders... The storm knocked out power to more than 120,000 customers”
  — Joel Rose (01:07)

3. Spike in "Removal Orders in Absentia" in Immigration Courts

• [01:47–02:40]

  • NPR analysis: more people are being ordered deported for missing immigration court dates.
  • Factors contributing to absences:
    • Increased ICE arrests in court.
    • Notices sent to wrong addresses, mail delays.
    • Some individuals may have left the country.
  • Lawyers: most immigrants still attend, eager to present their case.

  “If someone is told to go to immigration court, they have to show up. Otherwise, the government may have the right to order them removed.”
  — Jimena Bustillo (02:03)

4. American Academy of Pediatrics Sues Over Funding Cuts

• [02:40–03:34]
  • The AAP sues the Trump administration over $12 million cut by HHS.
  • Defunded programs include:
    • SUID (Sudden Unexplained Infant Death) prevention,
    • Rural pediatric care.
  • AAP claims cuts are retaliation for advocacy on vaccines and staffing criticisms.

5. North Korea Reveals Progress on Nuclear Submarines

• [03:34–04:20]

  • North Korea unveils photos of its first 8,700-ton nuclear submarine hull.
  • Kim Jong Un tours the shipyard; milestone for DPRK’s nuclear sub program launched in 2021.
  • Tensions with South Korea:
    • Seoul, with US approval, is advancing its own nuclear sub project.
    • Working-level US-ROK talks set for next year.
    • Kim labels South Korea’s program “an offensive act.”

  “North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has visited a shipyard at an undisclosed location to inspect the submarine under construction... The submarine is 8,700-ton class.”
  — Se Woon Kang (03:34)

6. "Home Alone" Tops Holiday Movie Rankings

• [04:20–04:54]
  • “Home Alone” is 2025’s most popular movie on broadcast and streaming, per Nielsen.
  • It has held the top spot for three of the past four Decembers.
  • Recent holiday favorites also include “Elf,” “Home Alone 2,” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

Notable Quotes

• Pope Leo:

  “May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts and in your families.” (via Jeanine Herbst, 00:30)

• Joel Rose (Storm coverage):

  “The storm knocked out power to more than 120,000 customers in Santa Barbara and Northern California.” (01:29)

• Jimena Bustillo (Immigration courts):

  “It’s possible that notices were sent to the wrong address. There could be mail delays, or the person may have even left the country.” (02:15)

• Se Woon Kang (North Korea):

  “Kim Jong Un criticized Seoul's move as an offensive act that must be countered.” (04:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:14] – Pope Leo's Christmas Mass and message
• [00:33] – Storm wreaks havoc across California
• [01:47] – Immigration court no-shows and deportations
• [02:40] – Pediatrics Academy sues over HHS funding cuts
• [03:34] – North Korea makes strides with nuclear submarine
• [04:20] – “Home Alone” tops holiday movie charts

This concise yet comprehensive newscast encapsulates both the holiday’s peaceful hopes and ongoing global and local challenges, all delivered in NPR’s trusted, factual tone.