NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-20-2025 10AM EST

Episode Date: December 20, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Giles Snyder. The Justice Department's partial release of documents from the Epstein files is drawing criticism from members of Congress, including California House Democrat Rokana, who co-sponsored the legislation that required the release. He says what the Justice Department has provided is incomplete at best. So far, based on what we've seen, there are just excessive redactions. I mean, there's one document from the New York grand jury, which a federal judge. judge ordered, released, totally redacted, 119 pages all redacted, and there are not the types of documents so far that we were looking for now. We haven't done the whole review. The Justice Department faced a Friday deadline to release the files. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged the release was incomplete, but that he expects a complete release by the end of the month. Justice Department says it's suing another four states for not handing over sensitive voter data to the Trump administration. There have now been 22 lawsuits filed in largely Democratic-led

states, as NPR's Ashley Lopez reports. These latest lawsuits have been filed against the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, and Wisconsin. So far, all the states being sued by the Trump administration are states the president lost in the 2020 election. Justice Department officials are demanding states turn over complete, unredacted copies of their voter registration list, which includes sensitive personal information, such as driver's license numbers and parts of voter social security numbers. Officials say this is an effort to, quote, protect American citizens from vote dilution. So far, only 10 states have complied or started the process of complying. Most states have refused citing privacy concerns. Ashley Lopez and PR News.

Conservative leader Charlie Kirk's widow has announced her support for Vice President J.D. Vance for president in 2028. Erica Kirk now leads the influential conservative group. Her husband founded. She made her Vance announcement during the kickoff for Turning Points Conference in Phoenix. And Pierre Sarah McCammon reports. Vice President J.D. Vance has not declared his intention to run for president in 28, though he is widely expected to seek the Republican nomination. At Turning Points America Fest conference in Phoenix, Erica Kirk pledged her support for Vance. We are going to get my husband's friend, J.D. Vance. elected for 48 and the most resounding way possible.

After Charlie Kirk's murder on September 10th in Utah, Erica Kirk took over leadership of Turning Point USA, which her husband founded. Sarah McCammon, NPR News. A Russian delegation will be in Florida today for the latest talks on ending the war in Ukraine. The talks hosted by Steve Whitcoth and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner,

will be held in Miami. The meeting comes after a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Odessa, officials say eight people were killed and more than two dozen others were wounded. You're listening to NPR News. Speaking last night in North Carolina, President Trump called Friday's U.S. military attack in Syria a massive blow against the Islamic state group. The military says it hit dozens of targets across central Syria. Trump had pledged to retaliate following a suspected ISIS attack that killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter. Trump is now in Florida where he is spending the holidays. The Federal Environmental

Review concludes the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline can continue operating. NPR's Jeff Brady reports the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had challenged the government's decision to permit the pipeline under a section of the Missouri River. Building the Dakota Access Pipeline attracted thousands of protesters in 2016 to the construction site south of Bismarck, North Dakota. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe opposed the Missouri River section. near its reservation, leaders said an oil spill would pollute drinking water. The pipeline has operated since 2017. In 2021, a federal appeals court told the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a more thorough environmental impact statement about the project. Now the agency says it's done that

and still decided the pipeline section should be approved. After a 30-day waiting period, the Corps is expected to issue a final decision. Jeff Brady, NPR News. The college football playoffs opened a weekend of games last night with a come from behind victory. Alabama beat Oklahoma after trailing by 17 points. Alabama will next take on top-ranked Indiana on the Rose Bowl quarterfinal on January 1st. The championship will be decided on January 19th. I'm Jail Snyder, NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus. plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.