NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-21-2025 1PM EST

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are calling foul after the Department of Justice released only some of its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Top Democrats claim this violates the Epstein Transparency Act, but they doubt Congress will sue the DOJ. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin is the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. He tells CNN he can't launch a suit against the DOJ. It's not clear that we've got standing to do that. Speaker Johnson would clearly,

it's standing to do that on behalf of the whole House of Representatives. But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tells ABC News the DOJ is required by law to explain themselves. The statute requires the so-called Department of Justice at this moment within 15 days to provide a written explanation to Congress and to the American people as to why they've withheld certain documents. The Justice Department has defended its partial release of the Epstein files and the removal of around a dozen files, including at least one that features President Trump's photo.

Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. Ukraine's president says he wants wider consultations with European allies, as the Trump administration holds talks with Ukrainian and Russian teams in Florida. NPR's Joanna Kikis reports there are several barriers to a peace deal. Writing on social media, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said talks are moving in a fairly rapid pace and that his team, is working with Trump envoys. He said Norway's Prime Minister told him by phone that his country would help put pressure on Russia to end the war. Speaking to reporters via voice message, Zelensky

talked about the most difficult issues in negotiations. He said the issue of Ukraine's territories remains the hardest, followed by the Zaporizia nuclear power plant, funding for recovery, and technical issues about security guarantees. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual press conference last week that Russia was opened in negotiations, but that Russia's goals in this war remain unchanged. Joanna Kikisis, NPR News, Kiev. A memorial service was held today at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. It was one week ago that gunmen fired on a Jewish festival killing 15 people. The BBC's Phil Mercer reports. Thousands of people attended a memorial at Bondi Beach to remember the country's worst mass shooting in three decades. A day

of reflection came at the end of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed by sections of the crowd. His government has been criticized for its response to rising anti-Semitism. Mr. Albanese has promised a crackdown on extremism and a review into the powers and processes of the intelligence agencies and the police. The BBC's Phil Mercer reporting, this is NPR News in Washington. Vice President J.D. Vans is set to speak within the hour to the Conservative Youth Organization Turning Point USA. It's wrapping up its convention in Phoenix. Its new president, Erica Kirk, the widow of the group's founder Charlie Kirk, has endorsed Vans for president in 2008. This time of year, Santa Claus is everywhere. Now, many families are specifically attending events with Santas that look like them. Leslie Eiler Thompson reports. Shedric Webster is the Nashville area's premier Black Santa.

He's also one of the first members of a new professional organization called the Santas of Color Coalition, which supports a movement of Santas that represents all races. There's a difference in our beard care. There's a difference in how we walk and how we talk. Webster says the coalition's membership is growing, and their work is resonating with parents, like Alyssa Duturo. Knowing that Santa looks like you would come to your neighborhood or spend time with your family, You see yourself more in Christmas, right?

One of my friends has Asian Santas, and I love that. Many members of the Santas of color will travel across the country this month, just to be Santa Claus. For NPR News, I'm Leslie Eiler Thompson in Nashville. Thousands gathered at Stonehenge in southwest England this morning to welcome the winter solstice. They arrived before dawn, summoned costume, and cheered and danced at sunrise. The historic site was built to align with the sun's movement on the winter and summer solstices. Today is the shortest day of the year north of the equator. It's seen by some as a time of renewal as the days get longer.

I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.