NPR News: 12-31-2025 3PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 31, 2025, 3PM EST

Host: NPR News Anchor Amalakshmi Sang
Length: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This brisk five-minute NPR News Now episode covers late-breaking news and updates from around the world. Major headlines include child care funding turmoil in Minnesota, the anniversary aftermath of a New Orleans terror attack, historic drops in U.S. mortgage rates, a deadly train collision near Machu Picchu, and New Year celebrations in Asia—all delivered in concise, factual segments.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. Minnesota Child Care Funding Suspended Due to Fraud Allegations

[00:14–01:18]

• The Trump administration suspends child care funding in Minnesota after viral allegations (disputed) of daycare fraud in Minneapolis's Somali communities.

• Escalating political standoff between Democratic Governor Tim Walz and state Republicans, who allege mismanagement of pandemic-era funds.

  Notable Quote:

  • "The governor says that he's trying to take some steps, as many steps as he's allowed by law. But Republicans are not satisfied with what he's done." — Minnesota Political Analyst ([00:54])

• Issue expected to become central in next year’s gubernatorial campaign.

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2. New Orleans Terror Attack Anniversary: Security Remains Temporary

[01:18–02:19]

• January 1 marks one year since a vehicle attack on Bourbon Street killed 14.

• New Orleans still relies on temporary barriers (bollards, barricades, police) to secure the French Quarter.

• Permanent security upgrades, including $1.5 million for metal swing gates, are pending city council approval.

  Notable Quote:

  • "One police official calls a temporary solution to a permanent problem." — Debbie Elliott ([01:35])

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3. U.S. Mortgage Rates Drop to 2025 Lows

[02:19–03:10]

• Freddie Mac’s final 2025 survey:

  • 30-year fixed mortgage: 6.15% (down from 6.85% last year, and nearly 7.9% in Oct. 2023)
  • 15-year fixed mortgage: 5.44%

• Although rates are falling, they remain above pandemic-era lows under 3%.

  Notable Quote:

  • "While current rates are comparatively low, that's likely little comfort to potential home buyers who recall the average lows of less than 3% seen during the pandemic." — Scott Newman ([02:26])

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4. Train Collision Near Machu Picchu: 1 Dead, Many Injured

[03:10–04:13]

• Head-on collision between trains on route between Machu Picchu and Cusco, Peru.

• Single fatality (train driver); at least 30 injured, including American tourists.

• Rescue hampered by difficult Andean terrain; cause undetermined.

  Notable Quote:

  • "Peruvian media broadcast images of smashed train cars with broken windows and said that evacuation of the injured was hampered by the mountainous terrain." — John Otis ([03:27])

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5. New Year’s Celebrations Begin Worldwide

[04:13–04:53]

• 2026 has arrived in UAE, Armenia, China, and elsewhere.

• In Beijing, celebrants ring in the Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse (starting February 17th) with drumming and horse imagery.

  Notable Moments:

  • "Happy New Year." — Celebrators in Beijing ([04:21–04:24])
  • "Drums boomed on a stage in Beijing as towering im of horses were displayed at the celebrations." — NPR News Anchor ([04:26])

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Quick Financial Update

• "The Dow is down now more than 200 points." — NPR News Anchor ([04:53])

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Memorable Quotes Recap

• Minnesota Political Analyst ([00:54]):
  "The governor says that he's trying to take some steps, as many steps as he's allowed by law. But Republicans are not satisfied with what he's done."

• Debbie Elliott ([01:35]):
  "One police official calls a temporary solution to a permanent problem."

• Scott Newman ([02:26]):
  "While current rates are comparatively low, that's likely little comfort to potential home buyers who recall the average lows of less than 3% seen during the pandemic."

• John Otis ([03:27]):
  "Peruvian media broadcast images of smashed train cars with broken windows and said that evacuation of the injured was hampered by the mountainous terrain."

• Beijing Celebrators ([04:21–04:24]):
  "Happy New Year."

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Segment Timestamps

• [00:14] Minnesota child care funding crisis
• [01:18] New Orleans terror anniversary and security
• [02:19] U.S. mortgage rates drop
• [03:10] Deadly train collision at Machu Picchu
• [04:13] Global New Year celebrations
• [04:53] Quick financial update

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This episode delivers succinct reporting on political controversy, public safety, economic shifts, international tragedy, and festive milestones, reflecting NPR’s balance of American and global priorities—all in a compact, headline-driven format.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News, Amalakshmi Sang. Day care facilities and many parents in Minnesota are scrambling after the Trump administration suspended child care funding pending an investigation into alleged fraud. Officials acted days after conservative influencer posted a video online that's gone viral promoting disputed claims of daycares in Minneapolis's Somali communities that he alleges were not actually open. Democratic Governor Tim Walz, meanwhile, is in a standoff with state Republicans who accuse him of failing to ensure millions, if not billions in pandemic era taxpayer money is accounted for. Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bax on NPR's Here and Now.

[Minnesota Political Analyst]

Minnesota has been going through this reckoning. The governor says that he's trying to take some steps, as many steps as he's allowed by law. But but Republicans are not satisfied with what he's done. They note that he hasn't really fired many people within his administration that maybe allowed or didn't catch some of these things. So it's going to be a prominent issue in the next year when the governor is seeking a third term.

[NPR News Anchor]

Brian Baxter reporting. January 1st marks one year since a deadly terrorist attack in New Orleans when a truck plowed into 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.

[Debbie Elliott]

The New year's terror attack raised questions 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. One police official calls a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Now New Orleans police are asking the city Council to approve a one and a half million dollar plan to install permanent metal swing gates along Bourbon Street. Debbie Elliott, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level all year to just over 6% for a 30 year fixed mortgage. Here's NPR's Scott Newman.

[Scott Newman]

The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, better known as Freddie Mac, former released its final primary mortgage market survey of the year. It shows that at the close of 2025, the average rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage was at 6.15%. That's down from 6.85% a year ago and well off the nearly 7.9% seen in October 2023. Since then, rates have largely reversed an upward trend. While current rates are comparatively low, that's likely little comfort to potential home buyers who recall the average lows of less than 3% seen during the pandemic. The current average rate on a 15 year fixed mortgage is 5.44%.

[NPR News Anchor]

That's Scott Newman. It's NPR News. A train driver was killed and at least 30 passengers were injured in a head on rail collision near Peru's famed archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Reporter John Otis has details.

[John Otis]

The accident occurred along a single track rail line connecting the Incan sanctuary of Machu Pic with the nearby city of Cusco in the Andes Mountains. Authorities said a train coming from Machu Picchu collided head on with a train car from a rival rail company on its way there. Peruvian media broadcast images of smashed train cars with broken windows and said that evacuation of the injured was hampered by the mountainous terrain. The U.S. embassy told Reuters that American tourists were among the injured. Machu Picchu receives about 1.5 million visitors annually, with most arriving by trains and buses. The cause of the collision has yet to be determined. For NPR News, I'm John Otis.

[NPR News Anchor]

Depending on where you live, 2026 is already here. The UAE in Armenia just rang in the New Year. China is already there.

[New Year Celebrator 1]

Happy New Year.

[New Year Celebrator 2]

Happy New Year.

[NPR News Anchor]

Celebrations in Beijing at a ceremony heard here through the Associated Press, drums boomed on a stage in Beijing as towering im of horses were displayed at the celebrations. They mark the upcoming year of the fire Horse. The Lunar new year starts February 17th. The Dow is down now more than 200 points. It's NPR News.

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