NPR News Now: December 27, 2025, 4AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: 5 minutes

Main Theme

This rapid-fire episode delivers key global and national news updates, highlighting the severe winter weather in the northeastern U.S., China’s sanctions on U.S. defense companies, record holiday retail sales, violence in Israel and Syria, the ongoing storms in California, and eroding trust in U.S. health agencies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Northeast Snowstorm Slams New England

• [00:17] Dale Willman introduces the main domestic story: heavy snowfall in the Northeast.
• [00:26] Matt Dwyer (Hartford): Reports significant wet snow in southern New England and New York, with ice in Pennsylvania.
  • Cities enforce overnight parking bans to help plows clear streets.
  • Many Kwanzaa gatherings rescheduled due to weather.
  • Quote (Josh Morgan, CT Dept. of Transportation, [00:38]):
    "We're asking the public if they can stay off the roads, if they can stay home and stay safe. That's going to be the best bet for everybody. It's going to give our crews and those local municipal drivers the space that they need to do their job safely and effectively."
• [01:04] Dale Willman: NY Governor Hochul declares state of emergency; up to 8 inches of snow in areas; thousands of flights delayed/canceled (FlightAware).

China Sanctions U.S. Defense Firms Over Taiwan Arms Sale

• [01:14] Dale Willman: China imposes sanctions due to recent U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
• [01:25] Ashish Valentine:
  • Sanctions target Northrop Grumman, Boeing (St. Louis branch), others.
  • Retaliation for $11B U.S. arms sale including advanced missile systems and drones.
  • The defense package must clear Congress and includes weaponry previously sent to Ukraine.
  • Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense thanks U.S. for boosting deterrence power.

Record Retail Sales, But with Uneven Gains

• [02:02] Dale Willman: Another record-breaking holiday retail season reported.
• [02:06] Alina Selyuk interviews Alfred Mai (ASM Games):
  • Demand so high he ran out of inventory days before Christmas.
  • Quote (Alfred Mai, [02:21]):
    "It honestly blew my mind because we just sold out of inventory like a few days ago. The sales just exceeded all my expectations."
  • Selyuk wonders whether booming sales come from low expectations or lavish consumer spending; Mai believes it's both.
• [02:39] Dale Willman: Notes spending gains were concentrated among wealthier Americans; lower-income groups spent less amid economic worries.

International News Highlights

• Violence in Israel

  • [02:52] Dale Willman: A Palestinian man killed two and injured two others in northern Israel—vehicle ramming, then stabbing. The suspect is hospitalized.

• California Storms

  • [03:13] Willman reports ongoing storms, threats of flooding and mudslides, especially in towns like Wrightwood where rain turned roads into rivers and half-buried cars.

• Diminished Trust in Health Agencies

  • [03:29] Dale Willman: Trust in federal health agencies fell this year, especially under RFK Jr.’s controversial leadership.
  • [03:47] Ping Huang spotlights the “Why Should I Trust You?” podcast, where scientists and traditional public health leaders engage with critics from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
  • Quote (Podcast Guest, [04:06]):
    "I think it happens between people who trust each other, people who really love each other. Usually their values tend to be aligned in some way."
  • Brenda Adhikari (host): Podcast builds slow, fragile bridges between polarized groups.

• Deadly Attack in Syria

  • [04:29] Willman: Explosions at a mosque in Homs, Syria, killed at least 8 people and injured 18; Soraya Ansar Alsuna claims responsibility. The attack reflects persistent sectarian strife.

Memorable Quotes

• Josh Morgan (CT Dept. of Transportation, [00:38]):
  "We're asking the public if they can stay off the roads, if they can stay home and stay safe. … It's going to give our crews... the space... to do their job safely and effectively."

• Alfred Mai (ASM Games, [02:21]):
  "It honestly blew my mind because we just sold out of inventory like a few days ago. The sales just exceeded all my expectations."

• Podcast Guest, ‘Why Should I Trust You?’ ([04:06]):
  "I think it happens between people who trust each other, people who really love each other. Usually their values tend to be aligned in some way."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:17] – Northeast U.S. Winter Storm Coverage
• [01:14] – China’s Sanctions on U.S. Defense Firms
• [02:02] – Record Holiday Retail Sales
• [02:52] – Deadly Attack in Northern Israel
• [03:13] – California Flood/Mudslide Threat
• [03:29] – Plummeting Trust in Health Agencies
• [04:29] – Mosque Attack in Homs, Syria