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NPR News Now – December 31, 2025, 10AM EST

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now segment delivers concise updates on major national and international developments as of December 31, 2025. Hosted by Windsor Johnston, the broadcast covers significant stories including the first known U.S. military action in Venezuela, a marked rise in flu cases, year-end economic indicators, ongoing security concerns in New Orleans after last year’s terrorist attack, and severe winter weather affecting the Great Lakes and Northeast.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. CIA Strike in Venezuela & U.S. Foreign Policy Escalation

The U.S. conducted its first known military strike inside Venezuela, allegedly targeting drug trafficking operations.
President Trump disclosed further details, highlighting that the operation targeted a dock being used for loading narcotics.
Former counterterrorism official Philip Mudd comments on the CIA’s strategic considerations:
- Duration and frequency of future strikes
- Whether targets will expand beyond narcotics operations
- The importance of coordination with international allies
“The thing from, from the CIA perspective, the questions I would have would be duration, are you going to continue to do this frequency, Are you going to do this every day, every week, variety of targets. If you want to signal to the government, are you going to go beyond this narrow range of narcotics targets? … are you going to signal by your contacts with like minded countries … that the US is not the only game in town? In other words, that there’s a broad coalition of people.”
— Philip Mudd [00:45]
The reporting signals a potential escalation in U.S. intervention against the Maduro government.

2. Major Surge in U.S. Flu Cases

The CDC reports a sharp increase in flu infections: 7.5 million cases this season (up from 4.6 million just the week prior) and over 3,000 deaths.
CDC officials strongly encourage vaccination, emphasizing it is not too late in the season:

“Probably the most important thing is that if you haven't gotten a vaccine is to get one. It is by no means too late now.”
— CDC Medical Officer [01:47]
However, another CDC spokesperson notes the importance of making personal choices and consulting healthcare providers about vaccination.
U.S. adult flu vaccination rates remain just above 40%.

3. Markets & Economic Indicators on Year’s Last Trading Day

Wall Street opened lower, with the Dow down about 90–105 points and the NASDAQ down over 40 points.
Year-end summary:
- S&P 500 is up 17% for the year.
- New claims for unemployment benefits have dipped (199,000), indicating layoffs are still relatively rare.
- The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates three times since September due to job market concerns and hopes to cut further should inflation moderate.
- Investors expect the Fed to hold rates steady at its next meeting in four weeks.
“The numbers suggest that layoffs remain uncommon even as hiring has slowed. Concern about a weakening job market led the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this month for the third time since September.”
— Scott Horsley [02:23]

4. One Year After New Orleans New Year’s Terror Attack

Marking the anniversary of last year’s truck attack on Bourbon Street, which killed 14 people.
Temporary security measures remain: mix of removable bollards, barricades, and police vehicles.
Police officials acknowledge these are temporary solutions, as the city seeks approval for a $1.5 million plan to install permanent swing gates.

“The New Year's terror attack raised about pedestrian safety in New Orleans, popular French Quarter. At the time, the city was in the process of replacing malfunctioning bollards … what one police official calls a temporary solution to a permanent problem.”
— Debbie Elliott [03:34]

5. Severe Winter Weather Hits the Northeast

Arctic air and a bomb cyclone have brought heavy snow, strong winds, and extreme cold to the Great Lakes and Northeast.
- Tens of thousands in Michigan lost power.
- High waves closed Lake Superior shipping.
National Weather Service warns of snow squalls and whiteout conditions in the eastern U.S., including upstate New York.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Philip Mudd on U.S. operations in Venezuela: “Are you going to signal by your contacts with like minded countries … that the US is not the only game in town?” [00:45]
CDC Official’s direct advice: “It is by no means too late [to get a flu vaccine] now.” [01:47]
Scott Horsley on the job market: “Layoffs remain uncommon even as hiring has slowed.” [02:23]
On New Orleans security: “Temporary solution to a permanent problem.” [03:34]

Timestamps for Important Segments

[00:13] – Venezuela CIA Strike & Philip Mudd analysis
[01:32] – Flu surge, CDC updates & vaccination rates
[02:12] – Markets, economic indicators, Fed policy
[03:05] – Year-end trading day stock update
[03:34] – New Orleans terror attack anniversary & security response
[04:19] – Winter storm impact on the Great Lakes and Northeast

This segment offers a rapid, facts-first snapshot of urgent national and international stories as 2025 draws to a close, maintaining NPR News Now’s trademark clarity and brevity.

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Transcript13 lines

[00:01]
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[00:14]
Windsor Johnston
Details@capitalone.com Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Critics say a recent CIA strike in Venezuela is dragging the US Deeper into conflict. President Trump revealed new details this week, saying the OPER targeted a dock where drugs were allegedly being loaded on boats. Philip Mudd served as deputy director of both the CIA's Counterterrorism center and the FBI's National Security Branch.
[00:46]
Philip Mudd
The thing from, from the CIA perspective, the questions I would have would be duration, are you going to continue to do this frequency, Are you going to do this every day, every week, variety of targets. If you want to signal to the government, are you going to go beyond this narrow range of narcotics targets? And then are you going to signal by your contacts with like minded countries, countries that agree the United States that you're going to up the pressure and that the US Is not the only game in town? In other words, that there's a broad coalition of people.
[01:15]
Windsor Johnston
The strike is the first known US Military action inside Venezuela, marking an escalation in Trump's campaign against the Maduro government. Flu cases are surging across the nation. NPR's Gabriela Emanuel reports. The CDC has released new numbers on the spread.
[01:33]
Lisa Grosskopf
The CDC estimates there have been 7.5 million cases so far this season, up from 4.6 million just the week before and already more than 3,000 deaths. Lisa Grosskopf is a medical officer at the CDC.
[01:48]
CDC Medical Officer
Probably the most important thing is that if you haven't gotten a vaccine is to get one. It is by no means too late now.
[01:55]
Lisa Grosskopf
NPR did get a follow up email from a different CDC spokesperson saying vaccines are a personal choice and that people should speak with their healthcare providers about the risks and benefits. Benefits? Adult flu vaccination rates in the U.S. are just above 40%. Gabriela Emanuel, NPR News.
[02:13]
Windsor Johnston
Stocks on Wall street opened lower on this final trading day of 2025. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow slipped about 90 points in early trading.
[02:23]
Scott Horsley
Trading is expected to be light on this New Year's Eve as investors count their annual gains. The S&P 500 index is up about 17% this year. New applications for unemployment benefits dipped as 199,000 people applied for jobless aid. The numbers suggest that layoffs remain uncommon even as hiring has slowed. Concern about a weakening job market led the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates this month for the third time since September. Minutes of the Fed's most recent meeting show most policymakers think rates can fall further so long as inflation moderates. Markets are betting the central bank will hold rates steady at its next policy meeting in four weeks. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
[03:06]
Windsor Johnston
Stocks continue to trade lower on Wall Street. The dow was down 105 points, the NASDAQ down 42. This is NPR News in Washington. January 1st marks one year since a deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans when a truck plowed into New Year's revelers on bourbon street, killing 14 people. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports. The city is still using temporary security measures to protect the busy tourist thoroughfare.
[03:35]
Debbie Elliott
The New Year's terror attack raised about pedestrian safety in New Orleans, popular French Quarter. At the time, the city was in the process of replacing malfunctioning bollards, steel columns intended to block vehicles from entering Bourbon Street. A year later, the street remains protected by a mix of removable barriers, including bollards, barricades and police vehicles, what one police official calls a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Now New Orleans police are asking the to approve a $1.5 million plan to install permanent metal swing gates along Bourbon Street. Debbie Elliott, NPR News.
[04:19]
Windsor Johnston
A blast of arctic air is sweeping through the Great Lakes and Northeast, bringing strong winds, heavy snow and bitter cold. It follows a bomb cyclone that hit the northern US earlier this week. Tens of thousands of people lost power on Tuesday, with Michigan among the hardest hit there. Snow piled up fast while high waves on Lake Superior force cargo sh into harbor. The National Weather Service is warning of snow squalls and whiteout conditions across parts of the eastern U.S. including parts of New York. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
[04:57]
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