NPR News: 12-25-2025 6PM EST

Summary

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

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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.

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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)

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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.”

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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)

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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

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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.

Transcript

[Joel Rose]

This message comes from Capital One with the Quicksilver card. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase every day. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capital1.com for details.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Pope Leo celebrated his first Christmas Mass as pope today, greeting crowds from around the world in several languages, including his own Merry Christmas. May the peace of Christ reign in.

[Se Woon Kang]

Your hearts and in your families.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In his Christmas message, he called for peace and consolation for the victims of current wars in the world, as well as for those who suffer from injustice, political instability, religious persecution and terrorism. Leo also pushed for peace in Ukraine and called for talks in Latin America. As the Trump administration escalates its naval campaign there against the government of President Maduro. A powerful winter storm is lashing much of California. NPR's Joel Rose reports. The storm caused flash flooding, power outages and road closures across the state today.

[Joel Rose]

Southern California has seen record setting rainfall totals with more than 3 inches of rain in Santa Barbara and parts of Los Angeles County. Bursts of intense rain caused scattered mudslides, flooded freeways and prompted evacuation orders in parts of LA and San Bernardino counties further north. The storm knocked out power to more than 120,000 customers in Santa Barbara and Northern California, according to Poweroutage U.S. while high winds delayed inbound flights to San Francisco International Airport by an average of two hours, according to the faa. The storm also dumped several feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and forecasters say more could be on the way. Joel Rose, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

An NPR analysis of immigration court records shows an increase in people being ordered deported because they didn't show up for their appointments. But as NPR's Jimena Bustillo reports, fear of arrests and logistical challenges caused the no shows.

[Jimena Bustillo]

Earlier this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers began making arrests in immigration court. That coincided with an increase in what is called a removal order in absentia. 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. Immigration lawyers, though, say that there are several reasons why someone may not show up. It's possible that the notices were sent to the wrong address. There could be mail delays, or the person may have even left the country already. Still, advocates say most immigrants are showing up to court and hope to get their chance to argue why they should stay. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The American Academy of Pediatrics is suing the Trump administration to block around $12 million in cuts to the group. Earlier this month, the health and Human Services Department stopped the funding, which supported several public health programs, including efforts to prevent SUD infant death syndrome and efforts to strengthen rural pediatric care. The group alleges HHS made the cuts in retaliation for doctors speaking out about vaccines and some HHS appointments. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. North Korea is making progress toward having a nuclear powered submarine. The country showed a picture of a completed hull for the first time, saying the vessel is capable of launching nuclear missiles. NPR's Se Woon Kang reports. This comes as Seoul works to advance its nuclear sub development.

[Se Woon Kang]

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has visited a shipyard at an undisclosed location to inspect the submarine under construction, the country's state media reported. The Korean Central News Agency revealed also for the first time that the submarine is 8,700ton class. North Korea first publicized its plan for building nuclear subs in 2021 as part of a five year military. South Korea won President Trump's approval for acquiring nuclear subs in October. It plans to hold working level talks with the US Starting early next year. Kim Jong Un criticized Seoul's move as an offensive act that must be countered. Se Eun Kong, NPR News, Seoul.

[Jeanine Herbst]

There's a new most popular movie on broadcast and streaming tv. It's Home Alone. The 1990 movie about a little boy left behind when his family goes on vacation has been the top ranked film by Nielsen for three of the past four Decembers. Other recent top ranked Christmas movies include elf, Home Alone 2 and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I'm Jeanine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message is from Give Directly, 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.