NPR News Now – December 26, 2025, 7PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Length: 5 minutes
Date: December 26, 2025
Format: Rapid-fire update on top news stories

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers major global and national headlines, highlighting overnight military action in Nigeria, international diplomatic developments concerning Somaliland, U.S. healthcare enrollment challenges, legal battles over Virginia wind projects, and a tribute to a late member of The Cure.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. U.S. Strikes on ISIS in Nigeria

[00:20]

• President Trump's Announcement: The President characterized last night’s U.S. strikes in northwest Nigeria as a "powerful and deadly response" to recent ISIS attacks, which targeted Christians.
  • Quote: President Trump says the strikes were "a powerful and deadly response to militants there attacking and killing Christians." (Jeanine Herbst, 00:22)
• Nigeria’s Perspective: Nigerian authorities emphasized that militants target "all religious groups," not just Christians, framing the insurgency as a broader crisis.
• Reporting from Nigeria:
  • Quote: "Really, the most dominant factor for insecurity is geography and not religion... that's not to say that Christians don't face specific threats." (Emmanuel Akinwotu, 00:49)
  • Ongoing violence for over a decade, with thousands of victims from multiple religious communities.
  • The extent to which Christians are specially targeted is "heavily disputed."

2. Israel Recognizes Somaliland

[01:14]

• Historic Move: Israel becomes the first nation to recognize Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia.
  • Quote: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited the leader of Somaliland to visit Israel and says he'll seek immediate cooperation on agriculture, health and technology." (Michelle Kellerman, 01:31)
• Regional Backlash: Somalia, Egypt, and Turkey denounced the recognition, calling it a "threat to international peace and security."
• Diplomatic Ramifications: Somaliland pledges to join the Abraham Accords, aligning with Israel’s regional normalization agreements initiated under Trump's prior term.

3. U.S. Health Insurance Enrollment and Rising Premiums

[02:10]

• Open Enrollment Deadline: Still weeks to enroll for 2025 individual health insurance plans via healthcare.gov.
• Record Enrollment, Political Disputes:
  • 2025 saw a record 24 million enrollments, but "enhanced federal subsidies are expiring at the end of December."
  • Quote: "Enrollment on healthcare.gov stands at 15.6 million, a small drop compared to last December." (Selena Simmons Duffin, 02:28)
  • Dr. Mehmet Oz, a federal health official, contributed to the discussion but omitted mention of the expiring subsidies, emphasizing antifraud measures instead.
• Financial Strain Ahead: Experts predict drop-offs in January as many discover unaffordable premiums without subsidies.

4. Dominion Energy Sues Over Offshore Wind Project Halt

[03:12]

• Legal Challenge: Dominion Energy seeks a temporary restraining order against a Trump administration mandate halting offshore wind construction, citing national security.
  • Dominion contends the order is "arbitrary and capricious and unconstitutional."
• Project Impact: The wind project is key for meeting energy demands, especially for new data centers in Virginia.
  • A court hearing is scheduled for Monday with U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker.

5. Perry Bamonte of The Cure Passes Away

[04:07]

• Legacy: Perry Bamonte, multi-instrumentalist for The Cure, died after decades of integral contributions.
  • Quote: "He played keyboard and six string bass on several albums, including the 1992 commercial hit Wish." (Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, 04:07)
• Band Tribute: The Cure called Bamonte "quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative."
  • He left in 2005, reunited for tours in recent years, and performed his last concert in fall 2024.

6. Closing Financial Markets

[04:47]

• Market Update: Dow closes down 20 points.
  • Quote: “Lower by the closing bell, the Dow down 20 points.” (Jeanine Herbst, 04:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Really, the most dominant factor for insecurity is geography and not religion... that's not to say that Christians don't face specific threats."
  — Emmanuel Akinwotu, [00:49]

• "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited the leader of Somaliland to visit Israel and says he'll seek immediate cooperation on agriculture, health and technology."
  — Michelle Kellerman, [01:31]

• "He played keyboard and six string bass on several albums, including the 1992 commercial hit Wish."
  — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, [04:07]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:20 — U.S. strikes ISIS in Nigeria, motives debated
• 01:14 — Israel's recognition of Somaliland sparks regional controversy
• 02:10 — Healthcare.gov enrollment update and looming subsidy expiration
• 03:12 — Dominion Energy lawsuit over wind project halt
• 04:07 — Perry Bamonte (The Cure) obituary
• 04:47 — Closing bell market wrap-up

This NPR News Now episode provided a rapid yet nuanced look at urgent world events, political dilemmas, and pop culture losses, maintaining the network’s calm and factual tone.