NPR News Now — December 26, 2025, 5AM EST

Host: Louise Schiavone
Episode Theme:
A rapid-fire recap of key national and international news, covering the US-Nigeria anti-ISIS operation, US immigration enforcement updates, holiday gasoline prices, innovative approaches to boosting math learning post-pandemic, and California weather alerts.

1. US-Nigeria Joint Strike Against Islamic State (00:17–01:06)

• Summary:
  The US conducted a deadly airstrike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, responding to ongoing persecution of Christians. The operation took place on Christmas Day, with active cooperation between US and Nigerian authorities.
• Key Points:
  • President Trump announced the strike via social media.
  • Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yousef Maitama Tugar confirmed Nigerian intelligence was vital to the operation.
  • The operation was presented as a joint, cooperative effort.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "This is coming from intelligence, Intelligence also from the Nigerian side. Because it's our country we monitor, we're in a better position to monitor movements. And it's shared intelligence. And it's, like I said, a joint operation between Nigeria and the U.S."
    — Yousef Maitama Tugar (00:42)
• Context:
  The US is taking additional steps such as restricting visas for Nigerians implicated in attacks on Christians.

2. Islamic State Arrests in Istanbul (01:06–01:23)

• Summary:
  Turkish authorities detained over 100 suspected ISIS members alleged to be planning holiday attacks in Istanbul.
• Key Points:
  • Planned attacks were aimed at Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
• Context:
  This arrest is part of broader concerns over holiday-season terrorism in global hotspots.

3. US Immigration Enforcement & Family Safeguards (01:23–02:23)

• Summary:
  The Trump administration’s stringent immigration enforcement led to the deportation of over 500,000 undocumented immigrants in 2025.
• Key Points:
  • Immigration lawyers now advise undocumented parents to legally designate emergency guardians for their US citizen children.
  • The emotional and practical impact on families is profound, as volunteers step up to care for children if parents are detained.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "Immigration lawyers are advising that undocumented parents set up emergency guardianship for their US Citizen children."
    — Jasmine Garsd (01:49)
  • Personal story shared by Jasmine Garsd about a mom volunteering as an emergency guardian (01:49–02:23).

4. Holiday Gas Prices & Travel Cost Trends (02:23–03:17)

• Summary:
  Gasoline prices in the US have dropped to an average of $2.85 per gallon, providing relief to holiday travelers.
• Key Points:
  • Gas prices are down $0.19 from last year, with little seasonal volatility.
  • OPEC’s increased oil output has helped keep prices low.
  • Nearly 110 million Americans expected to drive for the holidays.
  • Lower prices could save Americans approximately $400 million weekly.
  • Public EV charging costs remain steady at an average of $0.38 per kilowatt hour.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "This year, the price of gasoline has been relatively low and remarkably stable...the national average was basically a straight line."
    — Camilla Dominoski (02:39)

5. Using Candy Crush and Skittles to Teach Math in Maine (03:17–04:35)

• Summary:
  Maine educators are integrating popular games and candies (Candy Crush, Skittles) to help students relate statistics to real life and recover learning lost during the pandemic.
• Key Points:
  • Students in Brewer, Maine, use Skittles to study statistical concepts like mean, median, and mode.
  • Real-world applications, such as crime rates, polling, and sampling, are emphasized.
  • Senior Andre Lutz finds this teaching approach relevant for career ambitions in criminal justice.
  • The randomness of Skittles colors becomes a metaphor for real-world unpredictability.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "We're gonna do the Candy Crush Data..."
    — Maddie Smith (03:46)
  • "When we did our first project, we had to relate something in the real world to some of the stuff that we were learning in math. So I just did based off of, like, the crime rates."
    — Andre Lutz (04:13)
  • "As for the color distribution of Skittles, turns out it's pretty random, a lesson that also applies to the real world."
    — Sean Donovan (04:23)

6. California Weather Warnings (04:35–04:56)

• Summary:
  The National Weather Service reports ongoing heavy rain in Southern California, posing risks of flash flooding, especially in the Los Angeles basin. Prolonged snowfall and strong winds threaten travel in the Sierra Nevada.
• Context:
  Drivers are urged to use caution amid hazardous weather conditions.

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