NPR News Now – December 31, 2025 | 4PM EST

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode summarizes the top national and international news stories as 2025 comes to a close. Key topics include the ongoing review and release of Jeffrey Epstein files, a dismissed racketeering case in Georgia related to police training center protests, the detainment of a Russian vessel suspected of cable sabotage in Finland, global New Year's celebrations, the continuing closure of nightclubs in the U.S., and a snapshot of the day's stock market close.

Key News Highlights

1. Justice Department Reviewing Epstein Files

(00:30–01:30)

• Summary: The Department of Justice faces criticism for its handling of the release of Jeffrey Epstein files, as required by Congress’s recently passed Epstein Files Transparency Act.
• Key Points:
  • Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch says DOJ lawyers are working "around the clock" through the holidays to review the files before public release.
  • Delays are attributed to legal redactions needed to protect Epstein’s victims.
  • Two batches of files have been released, but a significant portion is still pending.
  • The DOJ missed the act’s December 19th deadline and has faced backlash for both the delay and the extent of redactions.
• Quote:

  “Blanch says redactions required by law to protect Epstein's victims take time.” – Ryan Lucas (00:54)

2. Georgia Racketeering Case Against Police Center Protesters Dismissed

(01:30–02:28)

• Summary: A Georgia judge has dismissed racketeering charges against 61 protesters of a new Atlanta police training center, citing improper authority by the Attorney General in securing indictments.
• Key Points:
  • Defendants were alleged to have committed offenses from property damage to violent confrontation.
  • The protest movement intensified after a protester was shot and killed in 2023—an event that fueled further clashes.
  • The training facility, a focal point of community controversy, eventually opened in 2025.
  • The Georgia Attorney General plans to appeal the dismissal.
• Quote:

  “Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ruled Attorney General Chris Carr did not have the authority to secure the 2023 indictments.” – Alex Helmick (01:45)

3. Finnish Authorities Detain Russian Vessel in Undersea Cable Damage Probe

(02:28–03:25)

• Summary: Finnish police have detained a ship and its 14-person crew, suspecting the vessel of damaging undersea cables that link Finland and Estonia.
• Key Points:
  • The vessel, Fitberg, sailed under a St. Vincent and Grenadines flag from Russia to Israel; its anchor was found down, implicating crew in cable damage.
  • Disruption of telecommunications alerted authorities, and the incident is being treated seriously due to prior similar sabotage incidents.
  • Police Chief Yari Liuku outlines the suspicions of “aggravated disruption of telecommunication, aggravated sabotage, and attempted aggravated sabotage.”
• Quote:

  “We are at the moment suspecting aggravated disruption of the telecommunication and also aggravated sabotage and attempted aggravated sabotage.” – Chief Yari Liuku (03:10)

4. Global New Year’s Celebrations & U.S. Nightlife Closures

(03:25–05:01)

• Summary: 2026 New Year celebrations sweep across the world, featuring major fireworks in Dubai and parties in the Pacific and Australia. Meanwhile, the U.S. nightclub scene faces a challenging year.
• Key Points:
  • New Year’s celebrations highlighted in Kiribati, Auckland, Sydney, and especially Dubai at the Burj Khalifa with a grand fireworks display.
  • In the U.S., 2025 saw several well-known nightclubs shutter: closures reported from Brooklyn and San Francisco (notably YOLO), Los Angeles’ Mayan Theater, Cleveland, Chicago, Austin, and Jersey Shore.
  • Industry challenges include thin margins, declining patronage, less alcohol consumption, gentrification, and corporate competition from Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
  • DOJ has an antitrust trial scheduled against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for March 2026.
• Quotes:
  • “It was a hard year.” – Lakshmi Singh (04:35)
  • “Margins are tight, people are going out less and they do not drink as much. Plus, he says gentrification is an issue, and so is pressure from big corporations like Live Nation and Ticketmaster.” – Stephen Parker, International Venue Association (04:36)
  • “Their practice has spurred an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Justice Department with a trial scheduled for March.” – Nada Ulaby (04:50)

5. Market Close

(05:01)

• Key Point: The Dow Jones closed down more than 300 points.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Blanch says redactions required by law to protect Epstein's victims take time.” – Ryan Lucas, 00:54
• “Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ruled Attorney General Chris Carr did not have the authority to secure the 2023 indictments.” – Alex Helmick, 01:45
• “We are at the moment suspecting aggravated disruption of the telecommunication and also aggravated sabotage and attempted aggravated sabotage.” – Chief Yari Liuku, 03:10
• “Margins are tight, people are going out less and they do not drink as much. Plus... pressure from big corporations like Live Nation and Ticketmaster.” – Stephen Parker, 04:36

Noteworthy Timestamps

• Epstein Files Update: 00:30–01:30
• Georgia Protest Racketeering Case Dismissed: 01:30–02:28
• Finnish Undersea Cable Investigation: 02:28–03:25
• New Year’s Celebrations & Nightclub Closures: 03:25–05:01
• Stock Market Close: 05:01

This concise episode provides a snapshot of legal, political, and cultural happenings as the world moves into 2026, with an NPR commitment to factual coverage and relevant context for listeners on the go.