NPR News: 12-27-2025 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — December 27, 2025, 5PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst

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Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode provides a concise update on key global and U.S. news events. Main topics include Ukraine’s ongoing conflict and international diplomacy, controversy at the Kennedy Center over its name change, winter weather travel disruptions in the Northeast, movie box office trends emphasizing female audiences, and an ongoing ancient Egyptian restoration project.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ukraine War: Russian Attacks and Diplomacy

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and prepared for upcoming talks with U.S. President Trump in Florida.
• Despite ongoing peace negotiations, Russia launched a major attack on Kyiv with missiles and drones, causing at least two deaths and many injuries.
  • Zelenskyy highlighted Russia’s disregard for peace efforts, noting, "They responded with a massive attack on Ukraine."
    — Volodymyr Zelenskyy via Joanna Kakissis (00:36)
• Security guarantees remain a key requirement for holding a referendum on the latest peace proposal.
  • "If the American side wants to hold a wartime referendum or elections, we cannot do it under conditions like these."
    — Volodymyr Zelenskyy via Joanna Kakissis (00:53)
• Focus of the talks with the Trump administration is primarily on ensuring safety for Ukrainian voters.

2. Kennedy Center Lawsuit Over Trump Name Change

• The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts faces a legal dispute after its board, appointed by former President Trump, voted to rename the institution to include Trump’s name (December 18).
  • Longtime jazz musician Chuck Red canceled his annual Christmas Eve concert in protest and now faces a $1M lawsuit for what the center president called a "political stunt".
    — Richard Grinnell via Chloe Veltman (01:34)
• Legal experts suggest the name change may be unlawful.
• "Red has hosted the center’s Christmas jazz jam since 2006."
  — Chloe Veltman (01:54)
• The Kennedy Center, created in 1964, holds deep historical significance.

3. Holiday Travel Complicated by Winter Storms

• Northeast U.S. travel is heavily disrupted:
  • Over 1,300 flights canceled, 24,000+ delayed.
  • NYC expected 5–9 inches of snow, but sleet/snow mix lowered totals; Central Park still saw 4+ inches—one of the most significant snowstorms in recent years.
    • "Warm air from the Atlantic Ocean... caused a mix of sleet and snow that depressed snow totals here on the ground."
      — Bruce Konvierzer (02:39)
  • Heavier snowfall recorded upstate New York.

4. Female Audiences Drive U.S. Movie Box Office

• Recent box office successes are attributed to female ticket buyers:
  • Hits include "The Housemaid," "Wicked for Good," and films for children like "Zootopia 2."
  • Films targeted at a mostly male audience have flopped.
    • "A lot of movies targeting men this season were bombs like the Smashing Machine, the Running Man and Him. What did much better, Wicked for Good."
      — Netta Uluby (03:31)
  • Some movies ("Wicked for Good") drew 70% female audiences, mirroring the trend.
  • Romantic dramas and music documentaries, notably the Taylor Swift film, saw similar success.

5. Ancient Egyptian Boat Restoration

• Grand Egyptian Museum is in the process of restoring a cedar vessel belonging to Pharaoh Khufu, dating back over 4,500 years.
  • The vessel, thought to be used for funeral or afterlife journeys, will take four years to reassemble.
    • "The king ruled more than 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza."
      — Jeanine Herbst (04:13)
  • The museum near Cairo houses about 50,000 artifacts.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Zelenskyy on Ukrainian Referendum Amid War:
  "If the American side wants to hold a wartime referendum or elections, we cannot do it under conditions like these."
  — Volodymyr Zelenskyy (00:53)

• Kennedy Center President on Lawsuit:
  "[Seeking] $1 million in damages from Chuck Red for his, quote, political stunt."
  — Richard Grinnell via Chloe Veltman (01:34)

• On Unexpected Winter Weather in NYC:
  "Warm air from the Atlantic Ocean... caused a mix of sleet and snow that depressed snow totals here on the ground."
  — Bruce Konvierzer (02:39)

• Female Audience Impact on Movies:
  "With an audience that's been about 70% female."
  — Netta Uluby, referring to ‘Wicked for Good’ (03:54)

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Timestamps Breakdown for Key Segments

• Ukraine War Update/Diplomacy: 00:11–01:21
• Kennedy Center Lawsuit: 01:21–02:24
• Holiday Travel Disruption: 02:24–03:08
• Box Office Trends: 03:08–04:13
• Egyptian Boat Restoration: 04:13–End

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Tone & Style

The reporting is factual, concise, and measured, adhering to NPR's authoritative yet accessible tone. Direct quotes from leaders and experts infuse urgency and credibility, while lighter cultural notes (movie trends, museum activities) offer engaging variety within the news roundup.

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This summary captures the key news developments and insights from the NPR News Now episode at 5PM EST on December 27, 2025.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney today ahead of his expected meeting tomorrow with President Trump in Florida. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports. Despite the peace negotiations, Russia attack Ukraine's capital overnight, killing at least two people and injuring dozens.

[Joanna Kakissis]

Russia attacked Kyiv and surrounding areas with hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles as well as hundreds of strike drones. Speaking to reporters via voice message, Zelensky said Russia showed what it thinks of intensive efforts to end this war. They responded with a massive attack on Ukraine. He said if the American side wants to hold a wartime referendum or elections, we cannot do it under conditions like these. Zelensky has said several times that he is ready to hold a referendum on the latest peace proposal if security is guaranteed for voters. Zelensky said that security guarantees are a main focus of talks with the Trump administration. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kiev.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Kennedy center is threatening to sue jazz musician Chuck Red over Trump's President Trump's name being added to the Kennedy Center. Red abruptly canceled his long standing Christmas Eve concert. NPR's Chloe Veltman has more.

[Capital One Advertiser]

The center's president, Richard Grinnell, hit back with a letter on Friday saying he is seeking $1 million in damages from Chuck Red for his, quote, political stunt. The centre's press team shared the letter with NPR and said in an email Grinnell intends to file the lawsuit after the holidays. Red did not respond to NPR's request for comment, but the vibraphonist and drummer told the Associated Press earlier in the week that he backed out of the engagement in protest against the name change. Red has hosted the center's Christma jazz jam since 2006. The John F. Kennedy center for the Performing Arts was established through legislation in 1964. Trump's hand picked board of trustees voted in favour of the name change on December 18th. Legal experts say the move was unlawful. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year between Christmas and New Year's. But a winter storm has complicated travel in the Northeast with more than 1300 flights cancelled and more than 24,000 delayed, according to FlightAware. Bruce Konvierzer has more from New York.

[Bruce Konvierzer]

The forecast called for 5 to 9 inches of snow here in the city and across a large swath of New Jersey. But warm air from the Atlantic Ocean pushed into the upper atmosphere, causing a mix of sleet and snow that depressed snow totals here on the ground. Still more than 4 inches was recorded in Central park, making it one of the most significant snowstorms to hit the city in recent years. The storm pushed out to sea early Saturday. Heavier snow amounts in line with forecasters predictions, did fall upstate. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Kahnfiser in New York.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Many of the most successful movies over the past few months have been driven by female ticket buyers. Movies like the Housemaid and Wicked for Good have performed better than a number of films aimed more toward a male demographic. NPR's Netta Uluby has more.

[Netta Uluby]

Many of the biggest movies over the past few months brought in men and women in roughly equal numbers, for example, fire and Ash, or they were movies for kids like Zootopia 2. But a lot of movies targeting men this season were bombs like the Smashing Machine, the Running man and Him. What did much better, wicked for Good.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Haven't you heard? I'm the Wicked Witch of the west.

[Netta Uluby]

With an audience that's been about 70% female. Other successful films over the past few months with a largely female audience include the last Downton Abbey movie, the romantic drama Regretting youg, and the Taylor Swift film promoting her album, the Life of a Showgirl. NDA Ulupi, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In Egypt, a boat belonging to Pharaoh Khufu is being reassembled at the Grand Egyptian Museum's exhibition hall. This cedar wood vessel, one of two found with the king, started coming together this week as visitors watched. The project is expected to take around four years. That's according to restoration officials. The king ruled more than 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza. Experts think the boats were used for his funeral or his afterlife journey. The museum, located near Cairo, houses nearly 50,000 artifacts. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from Carvana. The Carvana Value Tracker shows you your car's worth. Check it anytime, track changes and sell when the timing feels right. Use Carvana Value Tracker to track your car's value today.