NPR News: 12-25-2025 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 25, 2025, 9PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: December 26, 2025

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Episode Overview

This brisk five-minute NPR News Now bulletin, hosted by Jeanine Herbst, delivers key headlines from national security and severe weather, to politics, medical innovation, and food safety. Each segment offers listener essential updates, expertly summarized by NPR’s correspondents.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Military Strike on ISIS in Nigeria

[00:17 - 01:23]

• President Trump announced a U.S. strike against ISIS fighters in northwest Nigeria via social media.
• Scott Newman reports:
  • Trump characterized the mission as a response to ISIS's "targeting and viciously killing of Christians" in the region.
  • The Pentagon confirmed the operation in Sokoto State, stating it was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities.
  • Trump has recently been vocal about Nigeria’s inability to curb Christian persecution and hinted last month at possible military action.
  • Nigeria, with its Christian-Muslim population balance, often cites local militancy as being less about religion than geography, according to the government.
• Notable quote:
  • “In his post, Trump wished a, quote, merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists.” — Scott Newman [01:14]

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2. Winter Storm Warning for New York City & Tri-State

[01:23 - 02:04]

• Bruce Konviser reports:
  • A winter storm will hit the New York City area, stretching across northeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Long Island, and into eastern Connecticut.
  • Forecasted: up to 8 inches of snow from Friday afternoon through midday Saturday.
  • This marks the second major snowfall in two weeks; New Jersey saw up to 6 inches earlier this month.

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3. Congressional Gerrymandering Legal Battles

[02:04 - 02:57]

• Hansi Lo Wang reports:
  • Legal disputes over redrawn congressional maps continue in several states.
  • California: Federal judges are nearing a decision over a Democratic-friendly map, countering Texas’s recent Republican-favored redistricting.
  • New York: A Democratic law firm is suing to force a new map; a state judge’s ruling is pending.
  • Missouri: Lawsuits and a referendum threaten a GOP-friendly map.
  • Louisiana: Supreme Court’s anticipated decision may weaken the Voting Rights Act’s protections against racial gerrymandering.
• Notable insight:
  • “Many legal experts are expecting the court's decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination and redistricting.” — Hansi Lo Wang [02:48]

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4. Powerball Lottery Jackpot Winner in Arkansas

[02:57 - 03:33]

• A single ticket for the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot was sold in Arkansas, marking the second-largest Powerball prize ever.
• It’s also the second time Arkansas has sold a jackpot-winning ticket.

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5. AI in Cancer Treatment: Throat Cancer Advances

[03:33 - 04:12]

• Yuki Noguchi reports:
  • AI tools at Mass. General Brigham and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, identify throat cancer’s spread via imaging scans more accurately.
  • Enables aggressive treatments only when necessary; spares low-risk patients from intensive interventions.
  • Historically, assessment required surgical lymph node removal.
  • Research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
• Notable quote:
  • “Technologies like this are improving survival and quality of life after a diagnosis.” — Yuki Noguchi [04:08]

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6. FDA Recalls Radioactively Exposed Shrimp

[04:12 - 04:56]

• The FDA recalls over 83,000 bags of Indonesian-origin frozen raw shrimp for possible exposure to radioactive cesium 137.
• Affected brands: Market 32 & Waterfront Bistro, sold in Oregon, Utah, New York, Massachusetts.
• Crucially: No U.S. samples tested positive; no illnesses reported.

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Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Trump’s blunt Christmas message after military strike:
  “Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists.” — Scott Newman quoting Trump [01:14]

• Legal stakes of Supreme Court action:
  “Many legal experts are expecting the court's decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination and redistricting.” — Hansi Lo Wang [02:48]

• Promise of AI in oncology:
  “Technologies like this are improving survival and quality of life after a diagnosis.” — Yuki Noguchi [04:08]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• U.S. strike on ISIS in Nigeria: 00:17–01:23
• NYC Winter Storm Warning: 01:23–02:04
• Gerrymandering Legal Fights: 02:04–02:57
• Powerball Jackpot Winner: 02:57–03:33
• AI for Throat Cancer Treatment: 03:33–04:12
• FDA Shrimp Recall: 04:12–04:56

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This episode delivers concise, essential updates on pressing national and international issues, maintaining NPR’s sober and factual tone throughout.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. U.S. forces have launched a strike against ISIS fighters in northwest Nigeria, according to President Trump, who made the announcement in a social media post late this evening. NPR SC Scott Newman has more.

[Scott Newman]

Writing on Truth Social. Trump suggested that the attack on ISIS militants was in response to, quote, targeting and viciously killing of Christians in the country's northwest. The Pentagon confirmed the strike, which it said was carried out in Sokoto State at the request of Nigerian authorities. Trump has accused Nigeria of failing to stop the persecution of Christians in the country. And last month he said he ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans to for possible military action against ISIS there. Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The country's government says attacks by militant groups are less about religion and more about where the groups operate. In his post, Trump wished a, quote, merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists. Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for New York City and the tri state area. Bruce Konviser has more.

[Bruce Konviser]

It's expected to be a fast moving storm. Snow is forecast to spread across the region late Friday afternoon. It should intensify overnight before heading out to sea. By midday Saturday, up to 8 inches of snow could blanket the region stretching from northeastern Pennsylvania across northern New Jersey, New York, Long island and into eastern Connecticut. It would be the second significant snow to hit the region in the past two weeks. As much as 6 inches of snow coated a large swath of New Jersey earlier this month. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Konfeiser in New York.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The congressional gerrymandering fight for next year's midterm election is continuing to play out in a number of states. As NPR's Hansi Loang reports, much of that fight is now in the courts.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

In California, a panel of federal judges is set to rule soon on whether to block a congressional map that could help Democrats pick up five more U.S. house seats. California voters approved that map to counter the new Texas map that President Trump pushed forward to help Republicans. A New York lawsuit filed by a Democratic law firm is trying to force that state's congressional map to be redrawn. A state judge is set to decide soon whether to throw out that case. Missouri's Republican friendly map is still facing lawsuits and a referendum effort. Plus Another wave of congressional gerrymandering may be coming, depending on what and when the Supreme Court decides in a Louisiana case, many legal experts are expecting the court's decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination and redistricting. On Zi La Wang, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

There was one lucky winning jackpot ticket in last night's $1.8 billion Powerball lottery drawing. The ticket was sold in Arkansas. It's the second biggest lottery jackpot ever. Powerball says it's the second time a winning Powerball jackpot has been won in the state. You're listening to NPR News. AI tools are helping doctors better target cancer treatments, allowing patients to live longer. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports. Mass. General, Brigham and Dana Farber Cancer Institute are now using such an AI tool successfully with throat cancer.

[Yuki Noguchi]

Artificial intelligence can identify which patients are at risk of spread of cancer that develops in the throat. Based on a database of imaging scans, the tool can identify when cancer cells have spread beyond the lymph nodes, requiring more aggressive treatment. The technology has also allowed patients with low probability of spread to avoid unnecessary punishing treatments. Previously, such assessments were only possible by surgically removing the lymph nodes. The research appears in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Technologies like this are improving survival and quality of life after a diagnosis. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Food and Drug Administration is recalling more than 83,000 bags of frozen raw shrimp from Indonesia and that might have been exposed to radioactive isotype cesium 137. The FDA says the recall affects shrimp distributed by direct source seafood and sold under the Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brands. It was sold at supermarkets in several states, including Oregon, Utah, New York and Massachusetts. The FDA says so far, none of the shrimp in the US has tested positive or alerted for cesium 137 and that no illnesses have been reported. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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