NPR News: 12-28-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 28, 2025, 12PM EST

Theme:
A concise roundup of major global and U.S. news headlines, focused on developments in international diplomacy, weather events, significant obituaries, elections in Myanmar and Guinea, and upcoming changes to public domain laws.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ukraine War Diplomacy and U.S. Involvement

• Segment begins: [00:19]
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a new peace proposal to end Russia's war in Ukraine, which has lasted nearly four years.
• Zelenskyy, en route, stopped in Halifax for talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Russia recently escalated tensions with a new drone and missile attack on Kyiv.

Notable Quotes:

• “This attack is again Russia's answer on our peace efforts and it's really show that Putin doesn't want peace.”
  — Volodymyr Zelenskyy [00:44]
• Nora O'Donnell summarizes: Zelenskyy insists pressure on Russia and continued robust support for Ukraine are essential for peace. Mark Carney pledges $1.8 billion in Canadian economic aid.

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2. Southeast Asia: Thailand-Cambodia Border Ceasefire

• Segment: [01:14]
• Diplomats from Thailand and Cambodia convene in China to discuss a border dispute. A ceasefire, signed after weeks of conflict, has displaced half a million people.

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3. Remembering Brigitte Bardot

• Segment begins: [01:19]
• Brigitte Bardot, French cinema icon of the 1950s and 60s, has died at 91 in southern France. Her animal rights group announced her passing without disclosing the cause.

Profile Highlights (Elizabeth Blair):

• Bardot was a cultural phenomenon: “In the buttoned up 1950s, Brigitte Bardot was a revelation. Blond mane, lush lips, gorgeous figure and sexually liberated.” [01:36]
• Worked with renowned directors like Jean-Luc Godard, had a high-profile personal life including a relationship with Serge Gainsbourg.
• Became known as an animal rights activist; later controversies included criminal charges for inciting racial hatred due to comments about Islam.

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4. U.S. Winter Storm Impact

• Segment begins: [02:13]
• Another major winter storm threatens the Midwest and Northeast with freezing temperatures and snow, further complicating holiday travel.

Travel & Weather Details (Matt Bloom):

• Over 1,000 flight delays or cancellations already this weekend.
  “The next winter system is set to bring strong winds and snow to the Great Lakes region and Upper Midwest starting tonight.” [02:30]
• Severe weather expected southward to the Mississippi and Ohio valleys; ice and snow forecast for the Northeast into Monday.
• Arctic air mass to lower temperatures across the eastern and southern U.S. ahead of New Year’s.

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5. Myanmar’s First Military-Era Election

• Segment begins: [03:10]
• Myanmar holds its first election since the 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi. Military-backed party expected to win; results pending further rounds.

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6. Guinea’s Post-Coup Election

• Segment begins: [03:47]
• Guinea holds elections for the first time since a 2021 coup.
• Candidate field includes coup leader Mamadi Doumbuya and former education minister Yairo Balde, with two key opposition leaders disqualified.

Notable Quotes (Michael Kaloki):

• “The vote takes place amid concerns about economic challenges facing the country. With the UN saying more than half of Guinea's population face record levels of poverty. Critics ... have accused it of clamping down on political opposition and suppressing civil rights.” [04:17]

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7. New Works Enter Public Domain in 2026

• Segment begins: [04:26]
• On January 1, 2026, thousands of U.S. copyrights from 1930 will expire.
• Notable additions: Marx Brothers’ "Animal Crackers," first four Nancy Drew books, "The Little Engine That Could".
• New adaptations, such as a Betty Boop horror movie, are already in production.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Zelenskyy on peace efforts:
  “This attack is again Russia's answer on our peace efforts and it's really show that Putin doesn't want peace.” [00:44]

• Elizabeth Blair on Bardot:
  “In the buttoned up 1950s, Brigitte Bardot was a revelation ... sexually liberated.” [01:36]

• Matt Bloom on travel woes:
  “Airlines have delayed or canceled more than a thousand flights due to weather this weekend in the busy post Christmas travel rush and more could be in store.” [02:30]

• Michael Kaloki on Guinea:
  “The UN saying more than half of Guinea's population face record levels of poverty.” [04:13]

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Timeline of Key Segments

• Ukraine/Trump/Zelenskyy news: [00:19] – [01:14]
• Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire: [01:14] – [01:19]
• Brigitte Bardot obituary: [01:19] – [02:13]
• Winter storm/flight impacts: [02:13] – [03:10]
• Myanmar election: [03:10] – [03:47]
• Guinea election: [03:47] – [04:26]
• Public domain updates: [04:26] – [04:56]

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Overall Tone and Style

The episode maintains its hallmark of crisp, factual, and neutral reporting, prioritizing clarity and brevity—suitable for listeners needing a quick but thorough news update.

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Transcript

[Capital One Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Nora O'Donnell]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to meet this afternoon with President Trump at Mar a Lago, Trump's Florida resort. The two men are to discuss the latest peace proposal to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Now nearly four years old on his way to Florida, Zelensky met in Halifax with Prime Minister Mark Carney. He noted that Russia had launched a drone and missile attack on Kiev yesterday.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]

This attack is again Russia's answer on our peace efforts and it's really show that Putin doesn't want peace.

[Nora O'Donnell]

Zelensky said the key to peace is pressure on Russia and sufficient strong support for Ukraine. Carney pledged that Canada will provide $1.8 billion in economic aid. Diplomats from Thailand and Cambodia are meeting in China today to discuss their border dispute. They signed a new ceasefire yesterday after weeks of fighting. About half a million people have been displaced. British Brigitte Bardot, the French cinema sex symbol in the 1950s and 60s, has died. The animal rights group she founded says she died at her home in southern France but did not provide a cause. She was 91. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has more.

[Elizabeth Blair]

In the buttoned up 1950s, Brigitte Bardot was a revelation. Blond mane, lush lips, gorgeous figure and sexually liberated. Bardot grew up in Paris and studied ballet. She worked with France's most famous directors, including Jean Luc Godard. She married four times and had several lovers, including singer, songwriter Serge Gasbourg, Bernie and Clyde. Bardot became an outspoken animal rights activist. She was also accused of inciting racial hatred for her comments about Islam. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Nora O'Donnell]

Another winter storm is forecast to bring more freezing temperatures and snow and to parts of the Midwest and Northeast. It may cause more travel headaches for travelers trying to return from the Christmas holiday. NPR's Matt Bloom has more on the story.

[Matt Bloom]

Airlines have delayed or canceled more than a thousand flights due to weather this weekend in the busy post Christmas travel rush and more could be in store. The next winter system is set to bring strong winds and snow to the Great Lakes region and Upper Midwest starting tonight. Impacts could stretch farther south and bring severe thunderstorms to the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys. The weather is expected to bring more ice and snow to parts of the Upper Northeast into Monday following the storm. A massive cold air is expected to send temperatures falling in much of the eastern and southern US Ahead of the New Year's holiday. Matt Bloom, NPR News.

[Nora O'Donnell]

And you're listening to NPR News in Washington. Myanmar is holding its first election since the military seized power in 2021 and ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San SUU Kyi. The voting is taking place under military rule and a military backed party is expected to win. Final results won't be known until after two more rounds of voting next month. Voters in the West African nation of guinea are also casting ballots for the first time since a coup four years ago. Michael Koloki has more.

[Michael Kaloki]

Nine candidates are on the ballot, including Mamadi Doumbuya, head of the country's military junta that seized power in a 2021 coup. His main challenger, Yairo Balde, served as education minister in the country's previous government. Two prominent opposition leaders were disqualified from the elections. The the vote takes place amid concerns about economic challenges facing the country. With the UN Saying more than half of Guinea's population face record levels of poverty. Critics of the country's military government have accused it of clamping down on political opposition and suppressing civil rights. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.

[Nora O'Donnell]

With the new year, more books, movies and classic characters will enter the public domain under U.S. law. Thousands of copyrights for creations from 1930 will expire. This year's class includes Animal Crackers, the Marx Brothers movie, the first four books starring girl detective Nancy Drew and the Little Engine that could. On January 1, anyone can adapt these works without paying royalties. There's already a Betty Boop horror movie in the works. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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