NPR News: 12-25-2025 8PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — 12-25-2025 8PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst, NPR
Date: December 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

This tightly-packed five-minute news segment covers the most pressing global and national stories of December 25, 2025. Key topics include U.S. military action against ISIS in Nigeria, the ongoing Israeli-Hamas hostage situation and ceasefire developments, Pope Leo’s historic Christmas Mass, weather emergencies in Southern California, and America’s enduring love for holiday movies.

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Key News Stories and Discussion Points

1. U.S. Military Action in Nigeria & ISIS Violence

[00:15–01:10]

• President Trump announced on social media that he ordered multiple U.S. military strikes against ISIS in northwest Nigeria, alleging that militants were “targeting and killing Christ.”
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly stated the "killing of Christians has to end" and expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s cooperation.
• The Nigerian government previously criticized Trump’s depiction, insisting that all religious groups, not just Christians, have suffered from ISIS and other violent groups.
• Recent Violence: At least five killed in a blast at a mosque in northeast Nigeria (night prior).

Notable Quote:

“The militants have been targeting and killing Christ.”
— President Trump via social media (00:20)

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2. Israeli Hostages in Gaza & Ceasefire Uncertainty

[01:11–02:00]
Field report by Zyaire Batrawi, with additional commentary by Ariel Botrai.

• The body of one last Israeli hostage (Ran Gavili) in Gaza remains missing, jeopardizing progression to the next phase of the Trump-brokered ceasefire deal.
• Mother of Ran Gavili will accompany Prime Minister Netanyahu to the U.S., vowing to block the ceasefire’s advancement until her son’s body is returned.
• Hamas sources claim no information on the body's whereabouts amid extensive destruction and numerous unretrieved Palestinian casualties.
• Israeli and Egyptian officials met in Cairo to coordinate search efforts.
• Israel’s defense minister insists on keeping troops in north Gaza as a precursor to Jewish settlements—directly contradicting the ceasefire’s terms.

Notable Quote:

“He [the Defense Minister] said for the second time this week that Israeli troops will remain in north Gaza as a precursor to Jewish settlements there, in contradiction to Trump’s ceasefire plan signed by Israel.”
— Ariel Botrai, NPR (01:53)

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3. Pope Leo’s Historic Christmas Mass & Plea for Peace

[02:00–03:03]
Filed by Ruth Sherlock.

• Pope Leo became the first pontiff in over 30 years to celebrate Christmas Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
• He called on the world to care for the suffering—specifically citing victims of war (notably in Gaza), refugees, and young people conscripted into militaries.
• Moving Rhetoric: Highlighted the banality of military orders and the deceitfulness of political justifications, urging an empathetic response as a pathway to peace.

Notable Quotes:

“He [Pope Leo] spoke of young people conscripted into militaries who, quote, on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.” (02:34)

“When the fragility of others penetrates our hearts, when their pain shatters our rigid certainties, then peace has already begun.”
— Pope Leo, as reported by Ruth Sherlock (02:53)

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4. U.S. Market Closure & California Weather Crisis

[03:03–04:03]

• Wall Street was closed in observance of Christmas; futures traded slightly higher overnight (Dow futures up 0.1%).
• Southern California Storm:
  • A powerful new system threatens serious flooding and mudslides, especially in wildfire-burned areas.
  • Last January’s evacuations in Orange County (airport fire burn scar) have been lifted.
  • At least two deaths attributed to current heavy rains and winds.

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5. Holiday Movie Rankings: “Home Alone” Dominates

[04:03–04:49]
Report by Netta Ulaby.

• Home Alone (1990) remains the most-watched Christmas movie for three of the last four Decembers, as per Nielsen ratings.
• 2024’s Redone (Prime Video, starring Dwayne Johnson as Santa’s security chief) interrupted the streak.
• Other household Christmas classics in the holiday top five: Elf, Home Alone 2, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
• A Christmas Story benefits from a 24-hour TV marathon; perennial Die Hard “Christmas Movie?” debate persists—last year hitting #11.

Notable Quote:

“And although there’s debate about whether Die Hard is really a Christmas movie, Nielsen says last year it landed on the holiday list at number 11.”
— Netta Ulaby, NPR (04:38)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Presidential Framing: “The militants have been targeting and killing Christ.” — President Trump (00:20)
• Papal Empathy:
  “When the fragility of others penetrates our hearts ... then peace has already begun.” — Pope Leo, as reported by Ruth Sherlock (02:53)
• Pop Culture with a Smile:
  “Die Hard is really a Christmas movie … landed on the holiday list at number 11.” — Netta Ulaby (04:38)

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:15–01:10 — U.S. strikes on ISIS in Nigeria; debate over religious targeting
• 01:11–02:00 — Israeli hostages, Gaza ceasefire, and ongoing search
• 02:00–03:03 — Pope Leo’s Christmas Mass & plea for compassion and peace
• 03:03–04:03 — Markets closed for Christmas; SoCal storm and flood threats
• 04:03–04:49 — Home Alone dominates Christmas viewing; pop culture roundup

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This concise update delivers the latest world events and cultural tidbits, blending political turmoil, humanitarian pleas, and holiday traditions in NPR’s signature clear and balanced tone.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says he ordered numerous military strikes on ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria today, saying on social media the militants have been targeting and killing Christ. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says on social media that killing of Christians has to end and says he's grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation. But in the past, Nigeria's government has said Trump's portrayal of the security situation is misleading and that all religions have suffered at the hands of ISIS and other groups. Last night, a blast at a mosque in northeast Nigeria left at least five people dead. The body of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza hasn't yet been found, raising questions on whether Israel will be able to move to the second phase of the ceasefire deal that President Trump is pushing. For npr, Zyaire Batrawi has more.

[B]

The mother of slain Israeli police officer Ran Gavili says she will travel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the US Next week for his meeting with President Trump to ensure that there will be no advancement to the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza until her son's body is returned. A Hamas official who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing search says the group has no leads on where the body might be, despite continuing to search among mounds of rubble from Israeli airstrikes, where thousands of Palestinian bodies also remain trapped and unretrieved. A delegation of Israeli security officials met with Egyptian mediators in Cairo this week to discuss the search. Meanwhile, Israel's defense minister said for the second time this week that Israeli troops will remain in north Gaza as a precursor to Jewish settlements there, in contradiction to Trump's ceasefire plan signed by Israel. Ariel Botrai, NPR News.

[A]

Pope Leo celebrated a Christmas day Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican today. He's the first pontiff to do so in more than 30 years. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports. Leo urged the faithful to care for those in the world who are suffering.

[C]

During the Mass. Pope Leo blessed the faithful.

[D]

In this.

[C]

First Christmas Day Mass passage. He highlighted the plight of those caught in war in Gaza and of refugees and the displaced. He spoke of young people conscripted into militaries who, quote, on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths. He said peace is possible and urged people not to remain cold to people's suffering because, he said, when the fragility of others penetrates our hearts, when their pain shatters our rigid certainties, then peace has already begun. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News.

[A]

Wall street was closed today in observance of the Christmas holiday. US Futures contracts are trading slightly higher at this hour. Dow futures are up nearly one tenth of a percent. You're listening to NPR News. In Southern California, there's another powerful storm system that could cause more flooding and mudslides moving across that part the state. The National Weather Service says the region could have its wettest Christmas in years, increasing the risk of debris flows in denuded areas scorched by wildfires. Last January, people living around the burn scar zones from the airport fire in Orange county were under evacuation orders, although they have now been lifted. And heavy rains and winds are blamed for at least two deaths last night. The most popular Christmas movie on broadcast and streaming TV is Home Alone. NPR's Netta Uluby reports. The movie from 1990 has been the top ranked film by Nielsen for three out of the past four Decembers.

[D]

Home Alone takes place over Christmas. It's about a little boy left behind when his family goes on vacation. It's been the most watched holiday movie every December since 2021, except for last year when the prime video movie Redone took the top spot. The action movie stars Dwayne Johnson as head of Santa's security detail. Someone took Nick other red. Recent top ranked Christmas movies include elf, Home Alone 2 and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The movie A Christmas Story benefits from a 24 hour marathon that runs on TBS and TNT. And although there's debate about whether Die Hard is really a Christmas movie, Nielsen says last year it landed on the holiday list at number 11. Netta Ulaby, NPR News.

[A]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message is from GiveDirectly, 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.