NPR News: 12-31-2025 2PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 12-31-2025, 2PM EST

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers an essential round-up of key news events happening at the close of 2025. Major stories include the surge in U.S. flu cases, new privacy laws in California, a historic election in Iowa, a controversial presidential election in Guinea, and a hopeful ceasefire with the release of Cambodian prisoners of war. The episode offers quick, factual reporting with input from multiple correspondents.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Surging U.S. Flu Season

Timestamp: 00:11–01:14

• Rising Cases and Deaths:
  • CDC estimates for this flu season: 7.5 million cases (up from 4.6 million last week), with more than 3,000 deaths reported so far.
  • Quote [00:34] – Lisa Grosskopf (CDC):
    “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."
• Prevention Message:
  • Gabriella Emanuel (NPR): Emphasizes the CDC's advice that it is “by no means too late” to get a vaccine.
  • Caution on Vaccine Choice: CDC later notes via email that vaccination remains a personal choice and encourages consulting with healthcare providers.
  • U.S. adult flu vaccination rates are just above 40%.

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2. California’s New Consumer Data Privacy Law

Timestamp: 01:14–02:14

• The Delete Act:
  • Goes into effect January 1, allowing Californians to request deletion of personal information held by over 500 data brokers.
  • Quote [01:31] – Rachel Myro (KQED):
    “The ad surveillance economy serves up everything to untold numbers of customers, your retail habits, health concerns, even citizenship status.”
• National Implications & Concerns:
  • State Senator Josh Becker (author):
    “And if it’s possible for 40 million Californians to delete their information, then it should be possible for 300 million other people in the rest of this country to do it.” [01:58]
  • Worry that Congress may override the new law with weaker federal standards.

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3. Historic Iowa Senate Election

Timestamp: 02:14–03:11

• Renee Hardman’s Victory:
  • Becomes the first Black woman elected to the Iowa State Senate, winning by over 40 percentage points.
  • Hardman’s election denies Republicans a supermajority, requiring bipartisan approval for gubernatorial appointees.
  • Noted for her leadership on the West Des Moines City Council and her role in Lutheran Services in Iowa.
  • Quote [02:51] – Renee Hardman:
    “We just decided as a collective that we're going to get this job done and we are going to prevent the supermajority, and that is what helped drive our motivation to get this job done.”
• Background:
  • The seat became vacant following the death of Democrat Claire Salsy in October.

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4. Guinea’s Presidential Election

Timestamp: 03:11–04:04

• Junta Leader Elected:
  • Mamadi Dumbuya, head of Guinea’s military junta, wins with over 86% of the vote.
  • Main challenger Yero Balde received just over 6%.
  • Election Context:
    • Dumbuya’s regime took power via a 2021 coup.
    • Widespread poverty: UN states more than half of Guinea’s population faces record poverty.
    • Criticism: Government accused of stifling opposition and suppressing civil rights.

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5. Ceasefire and Prisoner Release in Cambodia-Thai Conflict

Timestamp: 04:04–04:48

• Prisoners Freed as Ceasefire Begins:
  • 18 Cambodian soldiers freed by Thailand after nearly six months of captivity following a July border clash.
  • The conflict displaced several hundred thousand people and saw intense violence.
  • Quote [04:25] – Michael Sullivan (Thailand):
    “This prisoner release is the most hopeful sign yet that the conflict may be over.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lisa Grosskopf (CDC):
  "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." [00:34]
• Gabriella Emanuel (NPR):
  “If you haven’t gotten a vaccine is to get one. It is by no means too late.” [00:51]
• Sen. Josh Becker (CA):
  “And if it’s possible for 40 million Californians to delete their information, then it should be possible for 300 million other people in the rest of this country to do it.” [01:58]
• Renee Hardman (IA):
  “We just decided as a collective that we're going to get this job done and we are going to prevent the supermajority, and that is what helped drive our motivation to get this job done.” [02:51]
• Michael Sullivan (Thailand):
  “This prisoner release is the most hopeful sign yet that the conflict may be over.” [04:25]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S. Flu Surge & Vaccine Messaging: 00:11–01:14
• California Consumer Data Law: 01:14–02:14
• Iowa Senate Special Election: 02:14–03:11
• Guinea Presidential Election: 03:11–04:04
• Cambodia-Thai Prisoner Release/Ceasefire: 04:04–04:48

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For a quick, insightful catch-up on late-breaking headlines and worldwide developments, this episode of NPR News Now offers succinct coverage with relevant quotes and updates from authoritative sources.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

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[Gabriella Emanuel]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Get the car you love, the easy way with Carvana. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. It's turning out to be an especially rough flu season in the United States. Cases across the country are surging. NPR's Gabriella Emanuel reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is out with new numbers.

[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.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Probably the most important thing is that.

[Gabriella Emanuel]

If you haven't gotten a vaccine is to get one. It is by no means too late.

[Lisa Grosskopf]

Now 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. Adult flu vaccination rates in the U.S. are just above 40%. Gabriela Emanuel, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In this part of the world, 2025 is winding down and new laws are set to take effect in the new year in California. Consumers will soon have more power to fight companies that track and sell personal information. Rachel Myro of member station KQED has detail.

[Rachel Myro]

The ad surveillance economy serves up everything to untold numbers of customers, your retail habits, health concerns, even citizenship status. But January 1, Californians can go to a state run website and demand 500 plus data brokers registered there. Delete most of the personal information they have on you later this year. The Delete Act's author, State Senator Josh Becker, says this won't end ad surveillance, but it's a start.

[Michael Kaloki]

And if it's possible for 40 million Californians to delete their information, then it should be possible for 300 million other people in the rest of this country to do it.

[Rachel Myro]

His next concern, that Congress might try to override the new law with weaker federal standards. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Mayro.

[Lakshmi Singh]

A Democratic candidate in Iowa became the first black woman elected to the state Senate last night. Iowa Public Radio's Isabella Liu reports. A candidate won in a special election.

[Gabriella Emanuel]

Democrat Renee Hardman beat her Republican opponent by more than 40 percentage points. Hardman's win also means Republicans are one seat short of a super majority and will need Democratic support to approve the governor's appointees. Hardman will represent part of West Des Moines where she serves on the city Council. She also leads a nonprofit, Lutheran Services in Iowa. Hardman says running a successful campaign in the winter was a group effort.

[Lakshmi Singh]

We just decided as a collective that we're going to get this job done and we are going to prevent the supermajority, and that is what helped drive our motivation to get this job done.

[Gabriella Emanuel]

The seat was formally held by Democrat Claire Salsy, who died in October. For NPR News, I'm Isabella Liu in Des Moines.

[Lakshmi Singh]

From Washington, it's NPR News. Guinea has formally elected the head of its military junta for president. Michael Kaloki reports.

[Michael Kaloki]

According to Guinea's election commission, Mamadi Dumbuya garnered over 86% of the votes, with his main challenger, former government Minister Yero Balde, obtaining just over 6% of the votes counted. Dumbuya is head of the country's military junta that seized power in a coup in 2021. Last weekend's polls took place amid concerns about economic challenges facing the West African nation, with the UN saying more than half of Guinea's population are facing 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.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Celebrations in Cambodia as heard via the Associated Press, not to usher in the new year, but to welcome home 18 Cambodian soldiers who'd been freed by Thailand. They were captured during a border clash that began in July. The release is part of a new ceasefire agreement with agreed to buy the two sides over the weekend. Michael Sullivan has the latest from Thailand.

[Michael Sullivan]

It's been nearly six months since the Cambodian soldiers were captured, a period marked by heavy artillery exchanges, Cambodian rocket attacks on Thai border villages, and Thai fighters bombing Cambodian targets. Several hundred thousand people on both sides were displaced by the fighting, and this prisoner release is the most hopeful sign yet that the conflict may be over.

[Lakshmi Singh]

For now, Michael Sullivan reporting. The dow is down 66 points. It's NPR News.

[Michael Kaloki]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR news [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.