Up First from NPR — Episode Summary

Date: December 25, 2025
Episode Title: Christmas In Bethlehem, Honduras Election Result, Immigration Crackdown
Host: Layla Fadel

Overview

This Christmas Day episode of NPR’s Up First brings focused reporting on three pressing stories: the return of Christmas festivities in Bethlehem amid the ongoing war in Gaza, the contentious presidential election in Honduras, and the social and economic fallout from a year of record U.S. immigration enforcement.

1. Christmas in Bethlehem: Resilience Amid Conflict

Segment Start: 03:15

Scene Setting

• After two years of suspension due to the war in Gaza, Christmas celebrations returned to Bethlehem, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
• Hadil El Shalchi describes a vibrant, hopeful atmosphere: “First of all, it felt like summer. The sun was shining... Manger Square was packed with hundreds of people... kids holding balloons... people wearing Santa Claus hats. And of course, the huge Bethlehem Christmas tree...” (03:45)

Local and Global Gathering

• The city saw fewer tourists than before the war, but those present included not only locals but also international visitors, such as a couple from Malawi in festive attire.
• Pastor Matiota explained: “This is the birthplace of Jesus Christ. So we came here to see where he was born.” (05:36)

The Experience Under Occupation

• Despite the festive scene, the shadow of conflict persisted. Many locals described heightened restrictions:
  • Bes Al Awad (coffee kiosk owner): “He says that it’s suffocating to live in the West Bank today, that a simple trip to a neighboring city feels like an ordeal...” (05:46)
  • Hanan Harish spent three and a half hours traveling a journey normally thirty minutes due to checkpoints, emphasizing that despite these obstacles, she was determined to celebrate.
• Hadil El Shalchi: “People were defiant, daring to allow themselves a moment of hope in what has been a very dark time.” (06:43)

Notable Quote

• Layla Fadel: “A moment of hope in what has been a very dark time. A powerful message on this Christmas morning.” (06:43)

2. Honduras Election: A Narrow, Controversial Result

Segment Start: 07:02

Election Background

• Election officials declared conservative, Trump-backed construction entrepreneur Nasri Asfura the next president by less than a 1% margin, after over three weeks of vote counting.
  • The process was marred by software failures, intermittent vote counting, fraud allegations, the resignation of an electoral commissioner, and no clear consensus.
  • The loser, Salvador Nasrala (a centrist and former TV host), has refused to concede, claiming the election was rigged.

U.S. Connections and Geopolitics

• Eder Peralta: “The US doesn’t tend to endorse candidates, but here President Trump not only endorsed Asfura, he said if anyone else won, Honduras would face consequences. … Honduras is important to the U.S. The U.S. has a big military base in the country…” (08:46)
  • Trump also pardoned controversial former president Juan Orlando Hernandez, aligning himself with Asfura and the National Party.

Electoral Integrity Concerns

• Eder Peralta: “When it takes more than three weeks to count some 4 million votes, it doesn’t exactly create a whole lot of confidence.” (10:01)
  • While Nasrala demanded a vote-by-vote recount, it never occurred. The outcome raises concerns about possible unrest in a country with historic electoral violence.

Notable Exchange

• Layla Fadel: “Oh, wow. I’m sure that was an unexpected Christmas present.” (08:40)

3. Immigration Crackdown: Families on the Brink

Segment Start: 10:44

Record Enforcement and Human Impact

• The Trump administration deported over half a million undocumented immigrants this year, with 65,000 held in detention—more than ever before.
• Jasmine Gar recounts the story of Pastor Marilio Ambrosio, a Guatemalan church leader with no criminal record, deported after 30 years in the U.S. His daughter, Ashley (20), is now the breadwinner for six family members.
• Ashley Ambrosio: “I just feel stressed because of everything and then I just start crying.” (12:16)

Children Bearing Adult Burdens

• Many U.S.-born children or young adults now shoulder financial responsibility due to family separations.
• Immigration lawyers urge undocumented parents to set up emergency guardianship for their U.S.-citizen children.
  • Anonymous American mom (who became guardian for friends’ children): “My husband and I just looked at each other and we were like, yes, of course. Right. Like, not a question, not a moment’s hesitation.” (13:07)

Economic Impact

• Despite claims that deportations would benefit the U.S. job market, the labor report shows rising unemployment, the highest in four years, and declining job growth.
• Jasmine Gar: “This year we are expected to have lost about 1.2 million workers from the labor force between January and July... Economists say it could be a combination of tariffs and immigration policy.” (13:29)

Notable Quotes

• Layla Fadel: “So all these teens having to go to work, carrying some or if not all of the burden of the financial strains of a household.” (12:18)
• Jasmine Gar: “I think that the economic impact of these policies is going to be one of the biggest stories of next year.” (13:29)

Notable Moments & Tone

• The episode maintained a tone of empathy, with Layla Fadel anchoring reflection alongside breaking news: “A moment of hope in what has been a very dark time.” (06:43)
• Reporting from correspondents emphasized lived experience—whether in occupied Bethlehem or among families separated by U.S. immigration policy.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:15 — Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem resume; scene-setting by Hadil El Shalchi
• 05:46 — Daily life and restrictions in the West Bank
• 07:02 — Honduras election outcome and controversy, interview with Eder Peralta
• 08:46 — Trump’s involvement, geopolitical context
• 10:44 — Immigration crackdown and family separation, Jasmine Gar’s reporting
• 12:16 — Emotional impact on children of deported parents
• 13:29 — Labor market effects of deportations

Conclusion

This episode delivers a thoughtful, nuanced look at major international and domestic events on Christmas Day. From the firmer hopes flickering in Bethlehem to electoral tensions in Honduras and the day-to-day fallout of U.S. immigration policy, NPR’s correspondents provide firsthand voices and essential context for listeners seeking to understand the world’s headlines.