NPR News Now – 12-25-2025, 8AM EST
Host: Windsor Johnston
Date: December 25, 2025
Runtime: ~5 minutes
Episode Overview
This concise news update provides listeners with the most important headlines for Christmas morning 2025, spotlighting global and national events. Major stories include Pope Leo’s first Christmas Mass, storm emergencies in California, changes to U.S. immigration and visa rules, developments in the Jeffrey Epstein files, holiday entertainment trends, and a record-breaking Powerball win.
Key News Highlights & Insights
1. Pope Leo’s First Christmas Day Mass
[00:11 – 01:25]
- Event: Pope Leo delivered his inaugural Christmas Mass as pontiff at the Vatican.
- Message: The Pope urged unity and peace, referencing Christ’s birth as a path "out of division and hostility".
- Quote:
“Indeed, he is our peace. He has conquered hatred and enmity through God's merciful love. For this reason, the Lord's birth is the birth of peace.” – Windsor Johnston, translating Pope Leo [00:43]
- Atmosphere: Massive crowds gathered in Bethlehem and Nazareth for the largest Christmas celebrations in years, following two subdued seasons due to the war in Gaza.
2. California Slammed by Severe Storms
[01:25 – 02:11]
- Emergency Declarations:
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency after a day of severe weather: floods, mudslides, power outages.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom had previously issued a statewide emergency.
- Weather Outlook:
- A series of powerful storms continue to threaten the region.
- Specific hazards noted: reinforced flood waters, landslides, rock slides, with more than 10 inches of rain in some mountain areas on Wednesday.
- Continued Risk: Storms are expected to persist through Friday.
- Quote:
“We're going to see the flood waters be reinforced. Landslides, rock slides and mudslides all being reinforced across the area.” – Ariel Cohn, National Weather Service [01:52]
3. Rule Changes for H1B Visas
[02:11 – 03:08]
- Policy Update: The Department of Homeland Security will overhaul the H1B visa allocation process, effective for the 2027 fiscal year.
- Major Changes:
- The traditional lottery system is being replaced by a "weighted selection process" prioritizing applicants with higher skills and salaries.
- Aim: “To prevent employers from using the program to import low wage foreign labor and to protect wages and job opportunities for US workers.” – John Ruich [02:34]
- Caps: The limits remain the same—65,000 visas, with 20,000 extra for those with advanced U.S. degrees.
- Impact: The change, together with a recently announced $100,000 fee per visa, could disrupt the tech industry’s labor market.
4. Jeffrey Epstein Files Release Delayed
[03:08 – 03:54]
- Justice Department Update: DOJ reports needing more time to release files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
- Reason: Discovery of “more than a million additional records” that require legal review and redaction.
- Congressional Deadline Missed: Attorneys are reportedly “working around the clock” to comply with legal requirements.
5. Christmas Movie Rankings
[03:54 – 04:40]
- Most Popular:
- Home Alone (1990) is the top Christmas movie on both broadcast and streaming TV for three out of the past four years.
- Exception: Last year, the Prime Video original Red One (starring Dwayne Johnson) claimed the spot.
- Other Top Movies:
- Elf, Home Alone 2, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- A Christmas Story gains popularity due to a 24-hour cable marathon.
- Notably, Die Hard made the holiday list at #11 last year.
- Quote:
“The action movie stars Dwayne Johnson as head of Santa's security detail.” – Neta Ulaby [04:03]
6. Powerball Jackpot Winner in Arkansas
[04:40 – 04:53]
- Record Win: A single ticket sold in Arkansas matched all six numbers, securing a $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot.
- Significance: This is the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
Notable Quotes
-
On Papal Message for Peace:
“Indeed, he is our peace. He has conquered hatred and enmity through God's merciful love. For this reason, the Lord's birth is the birth of peace.”
– Windsor Johnston paraphrasing Pope Leo [00:43] -
On California Storm Risks:
“We're going to see the flood waters be reinforced. Landslides, rock slides and mudslides all being reinforced across the area.”
– Ariel Cohn, NWS [01:52] -
On H1B Changes:
“The idea is to prevent employers from using the program to import low wage foreign labor and to protect wages and job opportunities for US workers.”
– John Ruich [02:34] -
On Christmas Movie Trends:
“December's Home Alone takes place over Christmas. It's about a little boy left behind when his family goes on vacation.”
– Neta Ulaby [03:54]
Useful Timestamps
- [00:11] Pope’s Christmas Mass & message
- [01:25] California storm emergency
- [02:11] H1B visa announcement
- [03:08] Epstein files update
- [03:54] Christmas movie ranking
- [04:40] Powerball jackpot winner
Tone & Style
Consistent with NPR’s concise, informative style, the episode balances urgent news with cultural touchstones, all delivered in a calm and accessible tone. The reporting is factual, with moments of human interest, especially in coverage of Christmas celebrations and pop culture.
Summary
This edition of NPR News Now weaves together major international, national, and cultural headlines to keep listeners informed during the holiday season. It covers spiritual messages of unity from the Vatican, weather crises in California, significant shifts in U.S. immigration policy, continued legal transparency efforts, Christmas movie favorites, and the life-changing fortune of one Arkansas resident.