NPR News: 12-31-2025 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — December 31, 2025, 5PM EST

Host: Dale Willman | Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise coverage of top national headlines on the last day of 2025, including updates on National Guard deployments, justice department proceedings, healthcare subsidy changes, New Year's Eve security, stock market performance, renewable energy milestones, and the leadership transition at Berkshire Hathaway.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National Guard Withdrawals and Supreme Court Ruling

[00:19]

• President Trump announced the removal of National Guard forces from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, with a warning they could return if crime spikes.

• The Supreme Court upheld a federal ruling barring the deployment of Guard troops in Illinois, requiring their removal from Chicago.

  • Dale Willman: "President Trump says he's removing National Guard forces from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland... the Supreme Court yesterday left in place a ruling... that bars the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois."

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2. Justice Department & Jeffrey Epstein Files

[00:57]

• DOJ missed a legal deadline (December 19) to release all files on Jeffrey Epstein, as required by a new law signed by President Trump in November.

• Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch stated DOJ lawyers are working "around the clock" to review remaining files.

• About 40,000 new pages have been published, but neither the release nor the minimal redactions requirement has been fully met.

  • Stephen Fowler [00:57]: "We don't know how many Epstein files are yet to be released... DOJ lawyers are working, quote, around the clock to review them."

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3. Healthcare Premium Increases and State Responses

[01:32]

• ACA subsidies are expiring, leading to premium hikes for millions as Congress failed to extend support.

• New Mexico will temporarily cover the increased costs, but most other states, including Georgia, are uncertain on their responses.

• Georgia Rep. Sam Park urges state action, while acknowledging the fiscal challenge.

  • Sam Park [01:53]: "At least for one year, it'll cost about $900 million. I don't think the state could permanently fill this gap, but... mitigate harm and hopefully create a transition to ensuring more folks could get covered."

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4. New Year’s Eve Security in Times Square

[02:07]

• NYC is implementing heightened security for New Year's Eve, with thousands of officers, canine teams, officers on horseback, subways, helicopters, and boats.

• Mayor Eric Adams assures no known threats, emphasizing vigilance.

  • Eric Adams [02:31]: "We will have plainclothes K9 teams, officers on horsebacks on our trains subway stations and in helicopters and on boats... Security is everyone's responsibility. Again, see something, say something, do something."

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5. Stock Market Closes Down on Final 2025 Trading Day

[03:01]

• Dow Jones down 303 points

• NASDAQ down 177 points

• S&P 500 down 50 points

  • Dale Willman [03:01]: "On the final day of trading in 2025, stocks were down on Wall Street."

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6. Renewable Energy Named Breakthrough of the Year

[03:27]

• Science magazine honors the rapid growth of renewables, driven by cheap Chinese exports and surpassing coal as the top electricity source globally.

• China's emissions flat or falling due to renewables’ rise; global climate implications are "huge."

  • Julia Simon [03:27]: "2025 was the first year that renewable energy surpassed coal as a source of electricity. The implications for the climate are huge..."

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7. Warren Buffett Steps Down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO

[04:17]

• Buffet ends six decades as CEO; Greg Abel succeeds him. Buffett remains Chairman.

• Buffett’s investment wisdom highlighted:

  • Warren Buffett (paraphrased) [04:17]: "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful."

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8. College Football Quarterfinals Update

[04:40]

• Ohio State vs. Miami quarterfinal happening tonight.
• Iowa beats Vanderbilt (34-27) by "relying on its ground game."
• Halftime: Michigan and Texas tied at 17; two other games underway.

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• "President Trump says he's removing National Guard forces from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland."
  — Dale Willman [00:19]
• "DOJ lawyers are working, quote, around the clock to review them."
  — Stephen Fowler [00:57]
• "I don't think the state could permanently fill this gap, but at the very least, it could mitigate harm and hopefully create a transition to ensuring that more folks could get covered."
  — Rep. Sam Park [01:53]
• "Security is everyone's responsibility. Again, see something, say something, do something."
  — Mayor Eric Adams [02:31]
• "2025 was the first year that renewable energy surpassed coal as a source of electricity. The implications for the climate are huge..."
  — Julia Simon [03:27]
• "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful."
  — Warren Buffett [04:17]

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Additional Notes

• Episode focuses tightly on headline updates without editorial commentary.
• Each story is concise, with clarity and immediacy, fitting the quick 'news-in-brief' NPR News Now format.

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Transcript

[Pop Culture Happy Hour Host]

What's in store for the music, TV and film industries for 2026? We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold predictions for the new year, plus setting some personal pop culture resolutions. Listen to Pop Culture Happy Hour in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump says he's removing National Guard forces from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland. In a social media post an hour ago, he said they will return if crime increases in cities. But the Supreme Court yesterday left in place a ruling by a federal judge in Chicago that bars the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois. That decision would require the troops to be removed from Chicago. The Department of Justice says it's still working to review files related to Jeffrey Epstein before they released. That's after missing a December 19 deadline set by law. NPR's Stephen Fowler has this update.

[Stephen Fowler]

We don't know how many Epstein files are yet to be released, and we don't know when they will be. But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch says in a social media post that DOJ lawyers are working, quote, around the clock to review them. A law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in November directed the Justice Department to release all files related to Epstein by December 19, and with minimal redactions. Neither of those requirements has been met so far, despite about 40,000 new pages published under the law in the last two weeks. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Health care premiums are going up starting tomorrow for millions of Americans after Congress has failed to further extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. In New Mexico, state officials say they'll temporarily cover those additional costs. But in other states, it's not certain how lawmakers will respond. Georgia Democratic State Representative Sam park is calling for his state to follow New Mexico's lead.

[Sam Park]

It's estimated that at least for one year, it'll cost about $900 million. I don't think the state could permanently fill this gap, but at the very least, it could mitigate harm and hopefully create a transition to ensuring that more folks could get covered.

[Dale Willman]

Police in New York City are increasing security ahead of tonight's New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. As NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, thousands of officers and surveillance teams will be in place for the festivities.

[Windsor Johnston]

New York City is rolling out heightened security for tonight's New Year's Eve celebration. Mayor Eric Adams says there are no known threats, but police say they're prepared.

[Eric Adams]

We will have plainclothes K9 teams, officers on horsebacks on our trains subway stations and in helicopters and on boats. Pedestrians and vehicle closures will be in effect leading up to and during the event. Security is everyone's responsibility Again, see something, say something, do something.

[Windsor Johnston]

More than a million people are expected to pack into Times Square to watch the ball drop at midnight. Windsor Johnston, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

On the final day of trading in 2025, stocks were down on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 303 points, the NASDAQ was down 177 points, and the S&P 500 closed down 50 points. You're listening to NPR News. Science magazine says the unstoppable growth of renewable energy is its breakthrough of the year for 2025. NPR's Julia Simon reports.

[Julia Simon]

Across the world, from Pakistan to Nigeria, everyday citizens are no longer turning exclusively to polluting fossil fuels to get reliable electricity. They're turning to solar panels and batteries. Much of the renewable technology comes from cheap exports from China. According to energy think tank ember, 2025 was the first year that renewable energy surpassed coal as a source of electricity. The implications for the climate are huge, particularly for China, the world's biggest polluter. Because of the growth of renewable energy. China's planet heating emissions have been flat or falling for the last 18 months. And Chinese exports of solar, wind and battery technologies mean other countries are reducing their emissions, too. Julia Simon, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

It's the end of an era. Investor Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO for Berkshire Hathaway today. He'll remain chairman, but Greg Abel is now running the show there. Buffett was at the helm of the investment firm for six decades. Speaking to employees, he summed up his investing approach over the years Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful. Today's a big college football day with one college football playoff quarterfinal tonight, when the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Hurricanes of Miami. Iowa, meanwhile, beat Vanderbilt 34 to 27 by relying on its ground game. And at the half, Michigan and Texas are tied at 17. There are two other games currently underway. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.

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