NPR News: 12-27-2025 6AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: December 27, 2025, 6AM EST

Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a crisp roundup of the morning's top stories, from widespread winter storms in the US to global conflicts and cultural shifts. With reports from various correspondents and brief statements from officials, the five-minute bulletin covers weather emergencies, international updates, domestic security measures, and a unique look at the NBA’s push to engage more female fans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Winter Storms and Emergency Response

Major Snowstorm in New York and New Jersey

• Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announced that utility crews are prepositioned and ready for rapid response as a severe snowstorm impacts the region.
• Both New York and New Jersey governors have declared states of emergency due to treacherous road conditions.
• The National Weather Service has issued ice and winter storm warnings, with Long Island and Hudson Valley expecting the heaviest snowfall.

Kathy Hochul (00:27):
"We are very aggressive about deploying utility crews. Storm hits, so they're pre positioned and if they need to activate, they can make sure that we get the power on as soon as humanly possible."

• Air travel has been heavily disrupted, with more than 800 flights canceled and hundreds delayed, especially across the United States and in weather-drenched Southern California.

Flooding in Southern California

• Despite a lessening of storm intensity, saturated ground is leading to floods, mudslides, and rockslides.
• Some areas remain without power; however, conditions are expected to improve soon.

Steve Futterman, NPR Correspondent (01:17):
"Along with more mudslides and rock slides, some intersections again filled with water and became hard to drive through."

• Dave Gomberg, National Weather Service (01:35):

"We'll start to see the shower activity start to decrease in coverage and intensity."

• The Christmas week was one of the wettest on record in some regions, with over 15 inches of rain in some locations. Several deaths have been reported, and the mountain town of Wrightwood was especially hard hit.

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2. International News & Security

Ukraine Attacked Amid High-level Talks

• Kyiv, Ukraine, endured another round of Russian missile and drone attacks overnight.
• The strikes occurred ahead of a U.S. meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled in Florida.

Security in New Orleans for Major Events

• The Department of Defense confirmed the mobilization of 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans for extra security during major events from New Year’s through Mardi Gras.
  • Troops will begin deploying around December 30th.
  • Move prompted by recent terror attacks and foiled plots, as well as prior requests from Governor Jeff Landry for increased federal support.

Mel Bridges, WWNO Reporter (02:42):
"This comes after New Orleans safety officials requested more federal presence in the city during those events, citing the terror attacks on New Year's Day and an alleged terrorist plot that authorities say was recently thwarted."

Southeast Asia: Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia

• After a Trump-brokered ceasefire collapsed, hostilities resumed earlier in the month. A second ceasefire is now in effect, pausing military actions and airspace infringements, and arranging for the repatriation of 18 Cambodian soldiers after 72 hours of peace.

Deadly Pileup in Japan

• A major pileup on a snow-covered expressway northwest of Tokyo left two dead and over two dozen injured, involving 50+ vehicles.

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3. Culture & Sports: The NBA Woos Female Fans

• Noting the NBA's younger, more diverse audience compared to other major sports, the league is working with online creators, especially those with female followings, to broaden its appeal.
  • Collaborations include nail artists, rug makers, and a food artist using fried rice as her medium.

Vivian Zhu Rahee, Nail Artist (04:23):
"I grew up in LA and now live in the Bay Area. The Lakers and the warriors are simply my team, but I will say I am just a basketball fan in general."

• The league’s efforts were likened to the "Taylor Swift effect" seen in professional football, illustrating the growing impact of pop-culture crossovers in sports marketing.

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Notable Quotes by Time

• Kathy Hochul, on storm prep (00:27):

  • "We are very aggressive about deploying utility crews. Storm hits, so they're pre positioned and if they need to activate, they can make sure that we get the power on as soon as humanly possible."

• Steve Futterman, on LA flooding (01:17):

  • "Along with more mudslides and rock slides, some intersections again filled with water and became hard to drive through..."

• Dave Gomberg, National Weather Service (01:40):

  • "We'll start to see the shower activity start to decrease in coverage and intensity."

• Mel Bridges, on New Orleans security (02:42):

  • "...this comes after New Orleans safety officials requested more federal presence ... citing the terror attacks on New Year's Day and an alleged terrorist plot that authorities say was recently thwarted."

• Vivian Zhu Rahee, NBA collaboration (04:23):

  • "I grew up in LA and now live in the Bay Area. The Lakers and the warriors are simply my team, but I will say I am just a basketball fan in general."

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Important Timestamps

• 00:16: Snowstorm coverage in New York and New Jersey
• 01:17: Floods and mudslides in Southern California
• 02:03: Russian attacks on Kyiv; upcoming US-Ukraine presidential meeting
• 02:24: National Guard deployment to New Orleans
• 03:12: Southeast Asia ceasefire; Japanese traffic accident
• 04:11: NBA’s marketing to women through online creators

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Memorable Moments

• The real-time acknowledgment of ongoing severe weather impacts across both U.S. coasts sets a tone of urgency and public service.
• Cultural reporting on the NBA’s embrace of non-traditional influencers offers a nuanced look at evolving fan demographics and marketing strategies in American sports.

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This NPR News Now episode efficiently encapsulates the critical developments of the day, blending urgent weather and security alerts with a touch of cultural insight at the close.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says utility crews are on standby because of that major snowstorm slamming the region.

[C]

We are very aggressive about deploying utility crews. Storm hits, so they're pre positioned and if they need to activate, they can make sure that we get the power on as soon as humanly possible.

[B]

Hochul and the governor of New Jersey have declared states of emergency warning of treacherous road conditions. The National Weather Service has posted ice and winter storm warning saying some of the heaviest snow will fall in Long island and the Hudson Valley. Flight cancellations and delays are mounting. The flight tracking website, Flight Aware says more than 800 flights have been canceled so far today in the US and there are hundreds of delays in rain drenched Southern California. There were more downpours on the day after Christmas, but the intensity of the storms is diminishing. Steve Futterman reports the storms may be.

[D]

Less intense, but with the ground and hillsides already waterlogged, it didn't take much to cause new flooding. Along with more mudslides and rock slides, some intersections again filled with water and became hard to drive through. In a few areas, there are still power outages. The next few days should bring some relief.

[C]

Yeah, we're definitely improving.

[D]

Dave Gomberg is with the National Weather Service.

[C]

We'll start to see the shower activity start to decrease in coverage and intensity.

[D]

This has been one of the wettest Christmas weeks ever. Some areas have received more than 15 inches of rain. There have been several deaths. One of the hardest hit areas has been the small mountain town of Wrightwood, where many homes suffered extensive damage. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[B]

Ukraine's capital came under another Russian missile and drone attack overnight. Explosions are reported to have rock Kyiv for hours ahead of tomorrow's meeting in Florida between President Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 350 National Guard troops will be mobilized to New Orleans through the end of February to provide extra security during major events. In a statement, the Defense Department has confirmed that the federally funded troops, including some NOW station in Washington, D.C. will deploy to support law enforcement efforts for New Year's, the Sugar bowl and Mardi Gras. Mel Bridges with member station WWNO reports.

[E]

A spokesperson for the Louisiana National Guard confirmed deployment should start around the 30th. This comes after New Orleans safety officials requested more federal presence in the city during those events, citing the terror attacks on New Year's Day and an alleged terrorist plot that authorities say was recently thwarted. Governor Jeff Landry had also previously requested 1,000 federally funded troops to New Orleans in September. This is separate from the federal immigration sweep currently happening in southeastern Louisiana. For NPR News, I'm Mel Bridges.

[B]

And you're listening to NPR News. A second ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia is now in effect. Clashes in a long running border dispute reignited earlier this month after a ceasefire that President Trump helped to negotiate broke down. This latest cease fire halts military movements and airspace violations and includes the repatriation of 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand if the ceasefire is not broken for 72 hours. In Japan, a massive pile up in snowy weather has killed two people and injured more than two dozen others. Police say the pileup on an expressway northwest of Tokyo involved more than 50 vehicles. Authorities say it started with a collision between two trucks. Basketball fans tend to skew younger, more diverse in the of other major league sports. And now the NBA hopes to attract more women by working with online creators with predominantly a female following, as NPR's Neta Ulaby reports.

[F]

The nail artist Vivian Zhu Rahee promotes the National Basketball Association. On her social media feed, she shows off hand painted portraits of players that are literally thumbnail sized.

[A]

I grew up in LA and now live in the Bay Area. The Lakers and the warriors are simply my team, but I will say I am just a basketball fan in general.

[F]

And major league school sports have noticed what's been called the Taylor Swift effect in bringing female fans to football. Now the NBA is courting female fans with other online collaborations, including with a popular rug maker and a food artist who uses fried rice as her medium. Neta Ulibi, NPR News.

[B]

And I'm Jael Snyder. This is NPR News.

[G]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Viori, featuring the chorus short receive 20% off your first purchase on any US orders over $75 and free [e-mail] NPR exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.