NPR News: 12-27-2025 8AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: December 27, 2025, 8AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Duration: 5 minutes

Overview

This edition of NPR News Now covers the major events and breaking news for December 27, 2025. Key topics include severe winter weather in the Northeast, escalating deaths in ICE custody, continued Russian attacks on Ukraine, weather-related hazards in California, upcoming controversial elections in Myanmar, and an unexpected holiday hit at the movie box office.

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Major News Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Severe Winter Storm Hits Northeastern US

[00:18–01:10]

• Impact: Heavy snow overnight in the Northeast, with nearly a foot in some areas of Connecticut and New York; ice impacts Pennsylvania.
• Transportation: Officials urge residents to avoid road travel.
  • Quote:

    "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."
    — Josh Morgan, Connecticut Dept. of Transportation [00:44]

• Local Response:
  • Overnight parking bans instituted in cities and towns.
  • Some Kwanzaa gatherings rescheduled due to travel and storm hazards.
• Flight Delays/Cancellations:
  • Over 800 cancellations nationwide, most notably at New York City airports.
  • Hundreds of delays ripple across the country.
• Reporter Attribution: Matt Dwyer (Hartford), Giles Snyder

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2. Spike in Deaths in ICE Custody

[01:10–02:19]

• Numbers:
  • A record number of people (approx. 66,000) held in ICE detention—up 70% since Trump took office.
  • Deaths in custody rise to ~30 for 2025, nearly triple the 2024 figure (11 deaths).
• Expert Analysis:
  • Concerns Raised: Rapid population increases at certain detention centers are linked to higher incidences of medical emergencies and deaths.
    • Quote:

      "I'm concerned that the rapid increase in the detained population at specific detention centers is creating the preconditions for more immigrants to have medical emergencies and ultimately to die while they're in ICE custody."
      — Austin Coker, Syracuse University [01:54]

• ICE Statement:
  • ICE claims that the death rate "averages less than 1%," but does not clarify methodology.
• Reporter Attribution: Martin Kosti

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3. Russian Drone and Missile Attacks on Ukraine

[02:19–03:15]

• Current Situation:
  • Drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and the region kill at least one and injure dozens.
  • Ukrainian officials report 500 drones and 20+ missiles launched.
  • Infrastructure and residential building damage reported in Kyiv.
• Diplomatic Context:
  • Attacks occur a day before President Zelensky’s scheduled meeting with President Trump in Florida to discuss ending the war.
• Ukrainian Stance:
  • Zelensky asserts Russia’s continued bombardment signals lack of interest in peace.
• Notable Quote:
  • "In fact, the air raid sirens have been sounding off. There are still drones that are coming into Ukrainian airspace."
    — Samira Hussein, BBC [02:43]
• Reporter Attribution: Samira Hussein (BBC)

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4. Los Angeles Flooding & Mudslides

[03:15–03:30]

• Update:
  • Heavy rains have subsided, but flash flood risk remains.
  • Wrightwood, a mountain town, suffered the worst damage from flooding and mudslides.
• Reporter Attribution: Giles Snyder

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5. Myanmar’s Controversial Election

[03:30–04:01]

• Election News:
  • Myanmar is set for its first general election phase since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi four years ago.
  • Opposition and observers doubt the election's fairness amid ongoing civil war.
• Context:
  • Civil war instigated by the coup continues to devastate the country.
• Reporter Attribution: Giles Snyder

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6. Holiday Surprise at the Box Office

[04:01–04:51]

• Unexpected Hit:
  • "Marty Supreme," a ping pong movie starring Timothee Chalamet, leads the “also-rans” due to a viral publicity stunt.
  • Stunt: Chalamet climbed the Las Vegas Sphere to yell "Marty," turning the structure into a giant illuminated orange ping pong ball and going viral.
• Box Office Expectations:
  • "Avatar: Fire and Ash" was expected to lead; "Marty Supreme" exceeded modest projections.
• Quote:

  "It's only a matter of time before I'm staring at you from the cover of a Wheaties box."
  — Timothee Chalamet (in-film quote) [04:19]

• Reporter Attribution: Bob Mondello

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Josh Morgan on public safety during the storm:
  "We're New Englanders. We're prepared for the storm." [00:38]
• Austin Coker voices concern about ICE deaths:
  "I'm concerned that the rapid increase in the detained population at specific detention centers is creating the preconditions for more immigrants to have medical emergencies and ultimately to die while they're in ICE custody." [01:54]
• Samira Hussein highlights ongoing attacks in Ukraine:
  "In fact, the air raid sirens have been sounding off. There are still drones that are coming into Ukrainian airspace." [02:43]
• Timothee Chalamet’s lighthearted meta-reference (film quote):
  "It's only a matter of time before I'm staring at you from the cover of a Wheaties box." [04:19]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|------------| | Winter storm in Northeast | 00:18–01:10| | ICE deaths spike | 01:10–02:19| | Ukraine under attack | 02:19–03:15| | Los Angeles flash flood risk | 03:15–03:30| | Myanmar election update | 03:30–04:01| | Holiday movie box office surprise | 04:01–04:51|

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For more details, visit NPR News.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Heavy snow has been falling in the northeastern US Overnight with almost a foot of snow on the ground in some places. Connecticut Public Radio's Matt Dwyer has more from Hart.

[Matt Dwyer]

A winter storm is bringing wet snow to southern New England and New York and ice to part of Pennsylvania.

[Josh Morgan]

We're New Englanders. We're prepared for the storm.

[Matt Dwyer]

Josh Morgan is a spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

[Josh Morgan]

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.

[Matt Dwyer]

Cities and towns put overnight parking bans in place. The storm also prompted the last min rescheduling of a number of Kwanzaa gatherings. For NPR News, I'm Matt Dwyer in Hartford, Connecticut.

[Giles Snyder]

Flight cancellations and delays are mounting at the nation's airports, especially at the three serving the New York City area. The flight tracking website FlightAware says more than 800 flights have been canceled so far today, and there are hundreds of delays. More people have died in ICE custody this year than in any year since 2005. NPR's Martin Costi reports. The cause of the increase is not clear.

[Martin Kosti]

The number of people held by ICE at any one time has ballooned. Right now it's about 66,000. That's 70% higher than when President Trump took office. But deaths have gone up more to about 30 for the year compared to 11 in 2024. At Syracuse University, Austin Coker studies the immigration enforcement system, and he's troubled by some clusters of deaths.

[Austin Coker]

I'm concerned that the rapid increase in the detained population at specific detention centers is creating the preconditions for more immigrants to have medical emergencies and ultimately to die while they're in ICE custody.

[Martin Kosti]

ICE says in custody deaths this year, quote, average less than 1%. This is the lowest in history, but it does not explain how that figure was calculated. Martin Kosti, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Ukrainian officials say Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region have killed at least one person and injured dozens. The attacks came a day before President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet with President Trump in Florida to discuss efforts to end Russia's invasion. The BBC Samira Hussein reports that the Zelensky says some bombardment shows that Russia does not want to end the war into this morning.

[Samira Hussein]

In fact, the air raid sirens have been sounding off. There are still drones that are coming into Ukrainian airspace. And according to Ukrainian officials, there were some 500 drones that were launched from Russia over Ukraine and some 20 odd missiles as well. The main target has been the capital here, Kyiv, and there has been some infrastructure damage. And according to the Ukrainian military, there has been damage to some residential buildings here as well.

[Giles Snyder]

This is npr. The rain may have eased in Los Angeles, but officials say there is still a risk of flash flooding. Three days of heavy rain led to flooding and mudslides in Southern California. The mountain town of Wrightwood seems to have borne the brunt of the damage. Voters in Myanmar are preparing to go to the polls. The country is to hold the first phase of a general election tomorrow that opponents to the military government say will be neither free nor fair. The military ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San SUU Kyi four years ago. That coup led to a civil war that has devastated parts of the country. Hollywood got a present that it was not expecting for Christmas. NPR's Bob Mondello explains.

[Bob Mondello]

Film industry observers are pretty good at estimating how movies will do at the box office. They crunch advertising, exit polls, social media, reach. But how do you crunch a publicity stunt? Avatar Fire and Ash was always expected to lead Christmas week and Timothee Chalamet's ping pong movie. Marty Supreme.

[Timothee Chalamet]

It's only a matter of time before I'm staring at you from the COVID of a Wheaties box was expected to.

[Bob Mondello]

Fall in the middle of the also rans. Instead, it's leading the also rans, at least partly because earlier this week, looking terrified, Chalamet climbed atop the 366 foot high Las Vegas sphere to yell, Marty.

[Giles Snyder]

Supreme is an American film that comes out on Christmas.

[Bob Mondello]

The sphere then lit up like a giant orange ping pong ball. The stunt went viral online and about a million people have already seen Marty Supreme. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.

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