NPR News: 12-25-2025 7AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 25, 2025, 7AM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme:
This brief NPR News Now episode provides an early Christmas Day snapshot of global and national headlines: resilient holiday celebrations in Bethlehem post-Gaza conflict, record warmth across the U.S., the Trump administration’s halt on a Virginia wind project, uplifting scenes from an Illinois reindeer ranch, Asian market gains, and a major cyberattack on France’s postal system.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christmas Returns to Bethlehem After Years of War

[00:16 – 01:20]

• Host Windsor Johnston introduces the scene: After two years of subdued Christmases due to the ongoing Gaza war, celebrations return to Bethlehem, bringing life and joy back to the city’s core.
• NPR's Hadil Al Shalgi reports from Bethlehem:
  • After immense hardship, residents cherish the festive atmosphere.
  • Hadil Al Shalgi:
    “People were just like really happy. It's been more than two years of a devastating war in Gaza. And then also since the war started, it's been really restrictive to live as a Palestinian in the west bank, which is where Bethlehem is.” [00:45]
  • Israeli checkpoints and military presence are at an all-time high in cities like Bethlehem.
  • Local voice - Asil Jahja (22 years old):
    She shares that “the festivities were just what Bethlehem needed… people needed to let off some of the pressure they've felt since the war started.” [01:13]

2. Unseasonably Warm Christmas Weather Across the U.S.

[01:20 – 02:08]

• Lauren Sommer (NPR):
  • Reports “record breaking temperatures” for Christmas Day, especially in the Midwest, Northeast, and South.
  • Oklahoma may see temperatures soar into the 80s—about 30 degrees above average.
  • South Carolina temperatures in the 70s prompt a memorable weather service quote:
    “As the weather service forecaster wrote, ‘Twas the day before Christmas. And all through the house. The AC is needed because we live in the South.’” [01:54]
  • Notes climate change: “As the climate gets hotter, winters are the fastest warming season across much of the country.” [02:02]

3. Dominion Energy Sues Over Trump Administration Wind Project Halt

[02:08 – 03:04]

• Michael Copley (NPR):
  • Dominion Energy files a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s stop-work order on their offshore wind project off Virginia's coast.
  • The halt is part of a broader move targeting five wind projects, citing national security worries from a “recent classified report.” [02:31]
  • Dominion counters that extensive reviews have already taken place and that the pause costs $5 million daily.
  • Project expectation: To provide enough energy for around 660,000 homes next year.

4. Uplifting: Reindeer Ranching in Illinois

[03:04 – 04:20]

• Adalynn Moy (Illinois Public Media):
  • Spotlights Hardee’s Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul, where reindeer are a year-round presence.
  • Mark & Julie Hardy: Have 20 reindeer spanning three generations.
  • Mark Hardy: “Her name's Holly. She has a baby named Jolly, and then Jolly has Dolly.” [03:48]
  • On reindeer life:
    “They're more fun than a cow, I'll—” [03:55]
    Julie Hardy (interjects): “Put it that way.” [03:57]
  • Adaptation details: Fans and shade in summer, “their winter coat is good to 50 below.” [04:07]
  • The ranch sees thousands of visitors during the holidays, but, as Mark notes, “the work continues year round.”

5. France’s Postal System Crippled by Pro-Russian Cyberattack

[04:20 – 04:55]

• French authorities blame a pro-Russian hacking collective for a cyberattack that disabled the national postal service (La Poste) just before Christmas.
• The attack halted package scanning and online payment processing; the group has a record of cyberattacks across Europe.
• French officials accuse Moscow of using “hybrid warfare to sow chaos and undermine support for Ukraine.” [04:44]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hadil Al Shalgi (on Christmas in Bethlehem):
  “People were just like really happy. It's been more than two years of a devastating war in Gaza.” [00:45]
• South Carolina Weather Service (via Lauren Sommer):
  “’Twas the day before Christmas. And all through the house. The AC is needed because we live in the South.” [01:54]
• Mark Hardy (on generational reindeer):
  “Her name's Holly. She has a baby named Jolly, and then Jolly has Dolly.” [03:48]
• French officials (via Windsor Johnston):
  “[Moscow is] using so-called hybrid warfare to sow chaos and undermine support for Ukraine.” [04:44]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Christmas in Bethlehem: 00:16 – 01:20
• Record Temperatures Across U.S.: 01:20 – 02:08
• Dominion Wind Project Lawsuit: 02:08 – 03:04
• Reindeer Ranch in Illinois: 03:33 – 04:20
• France Postal Cyberattack: 04:20 – 04:55

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Episode Tone

The episode maintains NPR’s hallmark: concise, factual, and warm reporting at holiday time. Even as it details serious news (war, climate, cybersecurity), the inclusion of local joys—Bethlehem’s celebration, a family-run reindeer ranch—brings a hopeful note fitting for Christmas morning.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Christmas celebrations have returned in full to Bethlehem for the first time in two years. But after the war in Gaza brought two seasons of near silence and scaled back ceremonies, crowds are once again filling major Square with music, marching bands and joy. NPR's Hadil Al Shalgi was in Bethlehem for Christmas Eve festivities.

[Hadil Al Shalgi]

People were just like really happy. It's been more than two years of a devastating war in Gaza. And then also since the war started, it's been really restrictive to live as a Palestinian in the west bank, which is where Bethlehem is. The Israeli military has set up so many new checkpoints and military have increased in cities where it says it's rooting out militants. I talked to 22 year old Asil Jahja who said that the festivities were just what Bethlehem needed. She says people needed to let off some of the pressure they've felt since the war started.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's NPR's Hadil Al Shouji reporting from Bethlehem. It's shaping up to be an unusually warm Christmas across much of the country. NPR's Lauren Sommer reports. Record breaking temperatures are expected in parts of the Midwest, Northeast and South.

[Lauren Sommer]

The toasty temperatures are being caused by a mass of warm air from a high pressure system, especially across the central U.S. the National Weather Service in Oklahoma says Christmas Day temperatures could reach into the 80s, about 30 degrees above average. South Carolina temperatures could be in the 70s, where, as a weather service forecaster wrote was the day before Christmas. And all through the House. The AC is needed because we live in the South. As the climate gets hotter, winters are the fastest warming season across much of the country. Lauren Sommer, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Dominion Energy has filed a lawsuit challenging an order by the Trump administration directing the company to stop work on an offshore wind project along the coast of Virginia. NPR's Michael Copley reports. The stop work order cited national security concerns.

[Michael Copley]

Dominion's offshore wind facility was one of five projects targeted by the Interior Department's latest stop work order as the Trump administration escalates its attacks on the offshore wind industry. The Interior Department said the construction pause would give the government time to work with project developers to address national security concerns raised in a recent classified report. Dominion said in a federal lawsuit that its project has already undergone an extensive national security review and that the pause is costing the company more than $5 million a day. The project is expected online next year, generating enough electricity to power around 660,000 homes. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks closed higher across Asia today. Markets in Japan, China and Hong Kong all posted gains. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Around the holidays, reindeer show up in a lot of movies and greeting cards, but in central Illinois, they're not seasonal symbols. They live on a ranch year round. Adalynn Moy with member station Illinois Public Media takes us there.

[Adalynn Moy]

Hardee's Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul, Illinois, draws in visitors eager to see the animals that pull Santa's sleigh. Mark Hardy and his wife Julie have been raising reindeer for 30 years. Today their herd of 20 spans three generations.

[Mark Hardy]

Her name's Holly. She has a baby named Jolly, and then Jolly has Dolly.

[Adalynn Moy]

Hardee says raising them is simply a way of life.

[Mark Hardy]

They're more fun than a cow, I'll.

[Julie Hardy]

Put it that way.

[Adalynn Moy]

Caring for reindeer in Illinois means adjusting with the seasons. In summer, Hardee says fans and shaded barns keep them cool, but in winter, they're right at home.

[Mark Hardy]

I say their winter coat is good to 50 below.

[Adalynn Moy]

The ranch draws thousands of visitors during the holiday season, but Hardee says the work continues year round. For NPR News, I'm Adeline Moy in Rantoul, Illinois.

[Windsor Johnston]

Authorities in France say a pro Russian hacking group has claimed responsibility for a cyber attack that crippled the national postal system just before Christmas. The group has ties to previous attacks across Europe. The disruption knocked out La Poste's computer systems, leaving postal workers unable to scan packages or process online payments. French officials accused Moscow of using so called hybrid warfare to sow chaos and undermine support for Ukraine. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

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