NPR News Now: December 27, 2025, 12AM EST

Host: Dale Willman, NPR
Duration: ~5 minutes
Theme: Major U.S. weather events, housing market trends, global political updates, international reports, and an obituary.

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers quick, essential updates from around the world in five minutes. The top stories focus on severe weather affecting both coasts of the United States, continued struggles in the housing market, a scheduled high-level meeting between U.S. President Trump and Ukraine's President, the passing of a controversial Chinese government official, violence in Syria, and a notable obituary in music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Severe Weather Across the U.S.

• California Flooding

  • Despite a slowdown in rainfall, rising waters persist in California.
  • Personal account: Michelle Myers from Los Angeles recounts her father's rescue due to flooding.
    • Quote:

      "I woke up at 8am with a phone call from my dad saying that the firefighters had just rescued him. And I said, from what? And he said, from 2ft of water in my apartment."
      — Michelle Myers, Los Angeles [00:27]

  • Follow-up: Her family's cats also required rescue.

• Northeast Snowstorm

  • Major snowstorm with states of emergency declared in New York and New Jersey.
  • Upstate New York has already seen up to 8 inches of snow.
  • Reporter Insight: Bruce Konweiser explains the intensity and official response.
    • Quote:

      "Even if just 5 inches falls, it would be the biggest snowstorm to fall on Central park since 2022...the Clipper storm, which has gained strength from the atmospheric river pounding the Pacific coast, is expected to clear out of the region by Saturday morning."
      — Bruce Konweiser, New York City [01:01]

  • States capable of emergency measures like speed limit reductions.

2. U.S. Housing Market Struggles

• President Trump promises measures to lower housing costs in 2026, but economists are skeptical.
• Market Data:
  • Seller-to-buyer gap has doubled.
  • Prices up over 50% since 2020.
  • Fewer buyers and sellers than a year ago, driven by affordability issues.
  • Unemployment and foreclosures rising.
  • Systemic Issue: Severe housing shortage keeping prices high; solution seen as long-term.
• Expert Analysis:
  • Quote:

    "Redfin also finds the number of both buyers and sell down from a year ago due to high cost and economic uncertainty. Unemployment has been ticking up, and so have foreclosures. Economists say a severe housing shortage is a key factor keeping prices high and fixing that would take years."
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR [01:56]

3. International Updates

• Ukraine-U.S. Meeting Planned

  • President Zelenskyy to meet President Trump in Florida on Sunday, focusing on security guarantees for Ukraine.
  • 90% completion of a 20-point peace plan.
  • Amid news, Russia launched another major attack on Kyiv.
  • No additional details given.

• China: Death of Peng Pei Yun

  • Former head of China's State Family Planning Commission, responsible for enforcing the one child policy, cremated in Beijing.
  • Historical Context: Peng's leadership linked to forced sterilizations and abortions, mostly targeting rural women.
  • Complex Legacy: She privately questioned harsh methods and later advocated ending birth limits.
  • China ended the one child policy in 2015, now allows up to three children for most families.
  • Quote:

    "Privately, however, one official said Peng wondered whether such brute methods were needed. And later, in retirement, she wrote letters to top Chinese policymakers arguing that demographically, China should remove all birth limits."
    — Emily Fang, NPR [03:29]

• Syria: Mosque Bombing

  • Attack in Homs mosque: At least 8 killed, 18 wounded.
  • Devices planted inside, responsibility claimed by Soraya Ansar Alsuna.
  • Occurred in an area dominated by Syria's largest minority group, the Alawites.

4. Notable Obituary

• Paul Arcangelo Bamonte (The Cure)
  • Longtime guitarist and keyboardist for The Cure died at age 65.
  • Joined as a roadie in 1984, became a full member in 1990.

5. Quick Market Update

• Stocks:
  • Dow Jones down by 20 points.
  • S&P 500 down 2 points.
  • Light post-holiday trading.

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Climate & Weather:

  "Firefighters had just rescued him...from 2ft of water in my apartment."
  — Michelle Myers [00:27]

• Snowstorm Impact:

  "It would be the biggest snowstorm to fall on Central park since 2022."
  — Bruce Konweiser [01:01]

• Housing Crisis:

  "A severe housing shortage is a key factor keeping prices high and fixing that would take years."
  — Jennifer Ludden [01:56]

• Historical Reflection on Chinese Policy:

  "Peng wondered whether such brute methods were needed...arguing that demographically, China should remove all birth limits."
  — Emily Fang [03:29]

Important Timestamps

• [00:17] — News begins: Bad weather across the U.S.
• [00:27] — Personal flood account, Michelle Myers
• [01:01] — Northeast snowstorm, Bruce Konweiser
• [01:45] — Trump housing policy statement and analysis
• [02:41] — Ukraine news: Zelenskyy-Trump meeting
• [03:29] — Report on Peng Pei Yun's death and legacy, Emily Fang
• [04:16] — Syria bombing, The Cure’s Paul Bamonte obituary

This summary covers the central news stories and valuable insights from NPR News Now on December 27, 2025, providing critical context for those who missed this rapid but information-packed edition.