NPR News: 12-26-2025 4AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 26, 2025, 4AM EST

Host: Dan Ronan (NPR)
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: The episode delivers the latest global and national news, focusing on pressing international conflicts, significant diplomatic efforts, and cultural highlights for the holiday season.

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Main Topics Covered

• US Strikes Against ISIS in Nigeria
• Ukraine Peace Efforts and Vatican Involvement
• Gaza Hostage Crisis and Israeli Policy Developments
• Holiday TV Viewing Trends
• Cyber Attack on the French Postal Service

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Detailed Breakdown

1. US Launches Strikes Against ISIS in Nigeria

[00:11 – 01:22]

• The US, in coordination with Nigerian forces, carried out deadly airstrikes against ISIS targets in Sokoto state on Christmas Day.

• US Africa Command confirms multiple ISIS terrorists killed.

• President Trump described ISIS as “terrorist scum” and emphasized the targeting of innocent Christians.

• Nigerian officials clarified that both Muslims and Christians are victimized by such attacks, not one group exclusively.

• Previously, Trump warned Nigeria about US intervention if violence against Christians persisted.

  “ISIS, which he described as terrorist scum, was targeting and killing innocent Christians…Nigeria said the Islamics attack all those who reject their ideology, Muslims and Christians alike.”
  —Dan Ronan (00:32)

• Analysis from BBC’s David Waddell (London Correspondent):

  “The Trump administration has been quite concerned about the impact on Nigeria's Christian community, but as the government there has pointed out, Christians not being explicitly targeted…there is widespread banditry…it's a major internal security crisis for the Nigerian government.”
  —David Waddell (01:00)

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2. Ukraine Peace Talks and Vatican Involvement

[01:22 – 02:10]

• Ukrainian President Zelensky had a phone call with US envoys; reportedly, there are “new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and timing” to advance a peace deal.

• Pope Leo at the Vatican called for Ukraine and Russia to find the courage to end the war.

• Maria Dudak, a Ukrainian citizen, expressed gratitude for the Pope's solidarity:

  “For Ukrainians, it's a sign of spiritual solidarity and it's very important to have lesson for our freedom. It's very pleasure that he still remembers. He's still talking about Ukraine. As in our country, war still continues.”
  —Maria Dudak (01:50)

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3. Gaza Hostage Crisis and Israeli Security Policy

[02:10 – 03:11]

• The remains of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza have yet to be found, casting doubt on further peace progress.

• Ran Gavili’s mother will accompany Prime Minister Netanyahu to the US to insist on no new ceasefire phase until her son’s body is returned.

• Hamas, speaking anonymously, states they have no concrete leads on the location of the body amid war rubble.

• Israeli security officials met with Egyptian mediators in Cairo this week.

• Israel’s defense minister reiterates troops will remain in northern Gaza, hinting at future settlement plans—contradicting Trump’s ceasefire agreement.

  “Israeli troops will remain in north Gaza as a precursor to Jewish settlements there in contradiction to Trump's ceasefire plan signed by Israel.”
  —Ava Bhatrani (03:03)

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4. Holiday TV Rankings: “Home Alone” Reigns

[03:11 – 04:14]

• “Home Alone” (1990) ranked as the most-watched holiday movie three out of the last four Decembers.

• Only in 2024 did another film, Prime Video’s “Red One” starring Dwayne Johnson, claim the top spot.

  “Someone took Nick.”
  —Clip from “Red One” (03:49)

• Other holiday favorites: “Elf,” “Home Alone 2,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

• “A Christmas Story” maintains a TV presence through TBS/TNT marathons.

• “Die Hard” fueled the perennial debate: Is it a Christmas movie? Per Nielsen, it ranked #11 for the holidays in 2024.

  “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 (04:07)

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5. Cyberattack Cripples French Postal Service

[04:14 – 04:53]

• Pro-Russian hackers claim responsibility for taking down France’s National Postal Service computers, halting package tracking and online payments just before Christmas.

• France and European allies accuse Moscow of cyberwarfare tactics, linking this to their pro-Ukraine stance in Russia’s nearly four-year war.

  “France and other European allies are accusing Moscow of waging what they say is cyber warfare against them because of their support for Ukraine in the nearly four year old war with Russia.”
  —Dan Ronan (04:38)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the complex violence in Nigeria:

  “There is, however, widespread banditry, including mass abductions, theft of livestock, village raids. It's a major internal security crisis for the Nigerian government, a big headache which it wants to put a lid on…”
  —David Waddell (01:07)

• On the persistence of the Ukraine conflict:

  “It's very pleasure that he still remembers. He's still talking about Ukraine. As in our country, war still continues.”
  —Maria Dudak (01:57)

• On the Israeli-Palestinian crisis:

  “A Hamas official…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.”
  —Ava Bhatrani (02:39)

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Useful Timestamps

• US Strikes in Nigeria: 00:11 – 01:22
• Ukraine-Vatican Diplomatic Moves: 01:22 – 02:10
• Israeli Hostage & Gaza Ceasefire: 02:10 – 03:11
• Holiday TV Movie Rankings: 03:11 – 04:14
• French Postal Service Hacked: 04:14 – 04:53

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Overall Tone:
Urgent and factual, with concise reporting touching on humanitarian crises, diplomacy, cultural highlights, and cybersecurity threats—all presented with the balanced, rapid-fire delivery characteristic of NPR News Now.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One. What's in your wallet? Terms apply.

[B]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The United States has launched deadly strikes against the Islamic State group in northwest Nigeria. The US Africa Command said the Christmas Day strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities in killed multiple ISIS terrorists in the Sokoto state. President Trump said isis, which he described as terrorist scum, was targeting and killing innocent Christians. Nigeria said the Islamics attack all those who reject their ideology, Muslims and Christians alike. In October, Trump threatened to intervene in Nigeria if it failed to stop the violence against Christians. The BBC's David Waddell explains from London.

[C]

The Trump administration has been quite concerned about the impact on Nigeria's Christian community, but as the government there has pointed out, Christians not being explicitly targeted. There is, however, widespread banditry, including mass abductions, theft of livestock, village raids. It's a major internal security crisis for the Nigerian government, a big headache which it wants to put a lid on this ongoing crisis.

[B]

The BBC's David Waddell. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says after a phone call Thursday with US Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared found, quote, new ideas in terms of formats, meetings and timing how to bring a peace deal closer. Meanwhile, at the Vatican, Pope Leo said Ukraine and Russia need to find the courage to end the war. After hearing the pope's message, Maria Dudak from Ukraine said she was encouraged.

[D]

For Ukrainians, it's a sign of spiritual solidarity and it's very important to have lesson for our freedom. It's very pleasure that he still remembers. He's still talking about Ukraine. As in our country, war still continues.

[B]

Unfortunately, the body of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza has not been found, raising questions about whether Israel will move forward to a second phase of a peace deal with Hamas. NPR's Ava Bhatrani has more.

[E]

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.

[B]

It's NPR the most popular Christmas movie on broadcast in streaming TV, Home Alone. As NPR's Netta Ulaby reports, the movie from 1990 has been top ranked. The film by Nies Nielsen three out of the past four Decembers, Home Alone.

[F]

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 Red One took the top spot. The action movie stars Dwayne Johnson as head of Santa's security detail.

[G]

Someone took Nick.

[F]

Other 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. Neda Ulaby, NPR News.

[B]

Prosecutors in Paris say a pro Russian hacking group is claiming responsibility for a recent cyber attack on the French National Postal Service. Package deliveries came to a halt just days before Christmas as central computers were knocked offline Monday and postal workers could not track packages. And online payments were also disrupted. France and other European allies are accusing Moscow of waging what they say is cyber warfare against them because of their support for Ukraine in the nearly four year old war with Russia. I'm Dan Ronan, NPR News, in Washington.

[H]

Support this message comes from GiveWell, a nonprofit that provides rigorous, transparent research to help donors make informed decisions about high impact giving. Join over 150,000 donors who've already trusted GiveWell to drive real impact. [e-mail].