NPR News Now – 12-29-2025, 11AM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Date: December 29, 2025
Duration: 5 Minutes

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers the latest updates on key international and domestic events as of late December 2025. Main themes include evolving geopolitical negotiations in Israel/Gaza and Ukraine/Russia, severe winter weather affecting large portions of the US, trends in public library lending, and a major change to a New York City transit staple.

Key News Segments & Insights

1. Gaza Ceasefire and US-Israel Relations

[00:17–01:27]

• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s US Visit: Netanyahu is meeting with President Trump in Florida to discuss the ceasefire’s next phase in Gaza.
• Hostage Negotiations: He is accompanied by Tali Gvili, the mother of Staff Sergeant Ran Gvili, the last missing Israeli hostage.
• Internal Pressures: Netanyahu faces strong opposition from far-right elements of his coalition, who reject Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
• Hamas claims unawareness of the hostage's remains' location, citing ongoing searches "amid mounds of rubble."
• Conditional Ceasefire: Tali Gvili and Netanyahu both insist there should be no move to the next ceasefire stage until the return of her son's body.

Quote:
"Gvili says she wants the two leaders not to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement until her son's body is returned. It's a position Netanyahu has also insisted on."
— Itay Stern [01:18]

2. Russia–Ukraine War: Peace Framework Talks

[01:27–02:11]

• President Trump and President Zelenskyy Meeting: They reportedly agreed on 90% of a new 20-part US peace framework proposal.
• Russian Position: Evelyn Farkas from the McCain Institute expresses deep skepticism that Russia—specifically President Putin—is ready for peace.

Quote:
"I do not believe that Russia wants peace right now. And when I say Russia, I mean the Kremlin. I mean President Putin."
— Evelyn Farkas [01:53]

• Plan Highlights:
  • US security guarantees for Ukraine
  • Special provision for Ukraine’s eventual EU membership

3. Major Winter Storm Strikes the US

[02:11–03:10]

• Affected Regions: Storm stretches from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast.
• Hazards: Heavy snow, ice, severe thunderstorms, wind gusts up to 60 mph.
• Potential Impact: Whiteout conditions, up to 2 ft of snow, hazardous travel, and significant temperature drops as the storm moves northeast toward New Year's.

Quote:
"Cities from Houston to Atlanta are expected to see highs 10 to 15 degrees below average."
— Matt Bloom [02:56]

4. Culture: 2025’s Most Checked-Out Library Books

[03:10–04:13]

• Top Book: "The Women" by Kristin Hannah—story of a US Army nurse in Vietnam—was the most checked out on the Libby app and in multiple libraries nationwide.
• Other Popular Titles:
  • Romantasy series by Rebecca Yarros ("about elite soldiers and their dragons")
  • All of Libby's top ten were by women authors.
  • Top nonfiction: "The Let Them Theory" by Mel Robbins (self-help about not caring what others think)

Quote:
"I shouldn't be surprised, but I kind of was that The Women was number one yet again."
— Harold Escalante, Charlotte public library [03:46]

5. NYC Transit: Farewell to MetroCard

[04:13–04:56]

• MetroCard Phase-Out: After more than 30 years, NYC is ending MetroCard sales and refills after December 31, 2025.
• Transition to Tap-to-Pay: Riders must switch to contactless payments, a system introduced in 2019.
• Nostalgic Note: The MetroCard replaced subway tokens in 1994—a major tech shift for NYC commuters.

6. Financial Update

[03:10, 04:35]

• Stock Market:
  • Dow Jones down 216–230 points
  • Nasdaq down 157
  • S&P 500 down 29

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Itay Stern [01:18]:
  "Gvili says she wants the two leaders not to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement until her son's body is returned. It's a position Netanyahu has also insisted on."

• Evelyn Farkas [01:53]:
  "I do not believe that Russia wants peace right now. And when I say Russia, I mean the Kremlin. I mean President Putin."

• Matt Bloom [02:56]:
  "Cities from Houston to Atlanta are expected to see highs 10 to 15 degrees below average."

• Harold Escalante [03:46]:
  "I shouldn't be surprised, but I kind of was that The Women was number one yet again."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:17] Israel/Gaza Ceasefire Talks
• [01:27] Ukraine–Russia Peace Framework
• [02:28] Winter Storm Coverage
• [03:10] Library Book Trends
• [04:13] NYC MetroCard News
• [03:10, 04:35] Stock Market Update

This episode delivers a brisk yet comprehensive look at top stories shaping the global landscape as 2025 draws to a close, blending international negotiations, severe weather impacts, cultural trends, and urban transitions in under five minutes.