NPR News: 12-27-2025 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 27, 2025, 3AM EST Episode Summary

Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise five-minute update on urgent weather situations across the U.S., notable economic developments, international diplomacy, and the passing of a significant musician. The tone is factual and fast-paced, prioritizing clarity and reliability.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Severe Weather Across the U.S.

[00:14–01:39]

• California Flooding:

  • Heavy rains have briefly slowed, but dangerous flooding continues, especially in Los Angeles.

  • Personal Account:

    “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 [00:24]

  • Rescue operations included saving both people and pets.

• Northeastern Winter Storm:

  • Warnings are up for freezing rain, cold air, and significant snowfall (up to 8 inches in upstate New York).
  • The governor of New York has declared a state of emergency.

• Surfers Enjoy the Weather:

  • Despite warnings, surfers in New England celebrate the arrival of ideal waves resulting from winter storms.
  • At Cinnamon Rainbow Surf Co. in New Hampshire, Kai describes the conditions as a "Christmas miracle":

    “The storm was looking a little funky, but lined up okay. And yeah, the wind's cooperating like it's clean right now. Should be for the next couple days, too.”
    — Kai [01:22]

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2. California High-Speed Rail Legal Dispute

[01:39–02:11]

• California has dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding $4 billion in withdrawn federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project.
• Washington claims the project authority has no viable completion plan; California counters by stating the federal government is not a reliable partner.

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3. Economic Updates

[02:11–02:47]

• Robust Economic Growth:

  • The U.S. economy grew at 4.3% (annual rate) in July–September, boosted by strong consumer demand.

    “The delay means that the data is actually quite old, but at least it showed the economy was a lot better than many economists had predicted. Stocks rose as a result, with all three indexes posting gains of over 1% for the week.”
    — Rafael Nam [02:11]

  • Concerns linger over a slowing labor market.

• Stock Market and Commodities Update:

  • Despite earlier optimism, stocks closed slightly lower Friday (Dow down 20 points, S&P 500 down 2, Nasdaq down 20).
  • Gold and silver prices rise, with silver up nearly 8% due to supply constraints.
  • U.S. crude oil falls 2.8%; Treasury yields steady.

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4. International Affairs and Diplomacy

[02:47–04:29]

• Ukraine–U.S. Diplomacy:

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet President Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss efforts to end Russia’s war on Ukraine.
  • Zelenskyy signals readiness to withdraw from the Donbas, a significant concession, but Russia remains unyielding.

• Israel Recognizes Somaliland:

  • Israel becomes the first nation to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.
  • Prime Minister Netanyahu invites Somaliland’s leader for talks and promises cooperation in agriculture, health, and technology.
  • Neighboring states (Somalia, Egypt, Turkey) condemn the move, calling it a threat to international security.
  • Somaliland intends to join the Abraham Accords, aligning further with Israel:

    “Somaliland’s leader says he will join the Abraham Accords, the normalization deals with Israel that started in the first Trump administration.”
    — Michelle Kellerman [04:13]

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5. Obituary: Musician Perry Bamonte

[04:29–04:54]

• Perry Bamonte, long-time guitarist and keyboardist with The Cure, has died at 65.
• Joined the band officially in 1990 after years as a roadie and tech; contributed to hits such as "Friday I’m In Love."
• Left the band in 2005.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I woke up at 8am with a phone call from my dad saying that the firefighters had just rescued him. … from 2ft of water in my apartment.”
  — Michelle Myers, Los Angeles Resident [00:24]

• “This Christmas weekend, it’s like a Christmas miracle. We have waves.”
  — Kai, Cinnamon Rainbow Surf Co. [01:09]

• “The delay means that the data is actually quite old, but at least it showed the economy was a lot better than many economists had predicted.”
  — Rafael Nam, NPR [02:11]

• “Somaliland’s leader says he will join the Abraham Accords, the normalization deals with Israel that started in the first Trump administration.”
  — Michelle Kellerman, NPR [04:13]

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Segment Timestamps

• [00:14] – Weather update: California flooding & Northeast snowstorm
• [00:58] – New England surfers relish winter waves
• [01:39] – California drops federal rail funding lawsuit
• [02:11] – U.S. economic growth, stock market, and commodity prices
• [02:47] – Ukraine–U.S. talks, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
• [04:29] – Perry Bamonte of The Cure dies

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Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. It's a bad weather weekend for much of the US In California, the rains have slowed down, but the rising waters haven't.

[Michelle Myers]

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.

[Dale Willman]

That's Michelle Myers in Los Angeles, who says they had to go back later to rescue her dad's cats. Winter weather warnings, meanwhile, are up in the northeastern U.S. at this hour, where freezing rain, cold air and heavy snowfall are hitting the region. New York's governor has declared an emergency in upstate counties getting as much as 8 inches of snow, but not everyone is staying inside. For member station gbh, Connor Ruhalter reports.

[Connor Ruhalter]

Surfers along the New England coast say the recent winter weather has finally, finally delivered some decent waves. At Cinnamon Rainbow Surf Co. In New Hampshire, worker Kai says the storms are a real treat.

[Kai]

A little over a week ago, we had a nice little swell. We were able to get out one of the storms that came through. And then this, this Christmas weekend, it's like a Christmas miracle. We have waves.

[Connor Ruhalter]

Kai says they weren't sure this current forecast would hold.

[Kai]

The storm was looking a little funky, but lined up okay. And yeah, the wind's cooperating like it's clean right now. Should be for the next couple days, too.

[Connor Ruhalter]

Surfers say winter storms can create some of the best conditions of the year. They just have to bundle up. For NPR News, I'm Connor Ruhalter in Boston.

[Dale Willman]

The state of California has now dropped its suit against the Trump administration over the withdrawal of $4 billion in federal funding for that state's high speed rail project. Washington says the authority running the project doesn't have a viable plan to complete it, but the authority says the federal government has shown it's not a trustworthy partner. Stock markets gained over this holiday week, with the S&P 500 hitting a record high. As NPR's Rafael Nam reports, hopes about the economy drove those gains.

[Rafael Nam]

The economy grew at a robust annual rate of 4.3% in July, August and September thanks to strong consumer demand. That was according to a delayed report by the Commerce Department. The delay means that the data is actually quite old, but at least it showed the economy was a lot better than many economists had predicted stocks rose as a result, with all three indexes posting gains of over 1% for the week. There are still areas of concern. A slowing labor market is at the top of the list, but for now, investors were relieved. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Stocks, meanwhile, closed slightly lower Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 20 points, the S&P 500 fell 2 points, and the Nasdaq was down 20 points. Gold and silver prices, though, continued to rise, with Silver up almost 8% because of supply constraints. US crude oil, meanwhile, fell 2.8% while treasury yields held steady. You're listening to NPR News. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he'll meet with President Trump at his Mar a Lago resort in Florida on Sunday. The two will discuss the ongoing talks aimed at ending Russia's war on Ukraine. Zelenskyy says he's ready to withdraw troops from Ukraine's Donbas region, which is a compromise on a key demand of Russian President Vladimir Put. But the Kremlin has so far shown no sign of willingness to accept that proposal. Israel has become the first country to recognize Somaliland. That's a breakaway region of Somalia. But as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, other countries in the region are denouncing that move.

[Michelle Kellerman]

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. The two have also agreed to exchange. Ambassadors. Somalia, Egypt and Turkey condemn the move, arguing that recognizing a breakaway region is a threat to international peace and security. Somaliland broke away in 1991 as Somalia descended into civil war. Somaliland's leader says he will join the Abraham Accords, the normalization deals with Israel that started in the first Trump administration. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Dale Willman]

Musician Perry Bamante has died at the age of 65. His band announced his death on its website on Friday. Bamonte began as a roadie and guitar tech for the influential goth band Cure in 1984 before he joined as a guitarist and keyboardist in 1990. He played on many of the group's hits, including hi and Friday I'm in Love. He left the band in 2005. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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