NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-21-2025 3PM EST

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. The Department of Justice is defending its partial release of the Epstein files, arguing it is following the Epstein Transparency Act. But the sponsors of the law disagree. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. Congress passed a law requiring the DOJ release its files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by this past Friday, but the partial release included heavy redactions and was mostly already public. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC News, privacy laws required redactions to protect Epstein victims. Redacting information very much trumps some deadline in the statute. But Republican Representative Thomas Massey of Kentucky told CBS News, Blanche is not protecting victims and is breaking the law. Our law trumps the prior law. That's just common sense. Law School 101.

Yet Todd Blanche is using a different theory that wouldn't survive first contact with any court. Massey says he hopes to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in. contempt of Congress. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. President Trump is ratcheting up the pressure on Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. The U.S. intercepted another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela yesterday the second time in the past two weeks. NPR's deepest shibiram reports. This second incident stopping an oil tanker comes after Trump announced a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of Venezuela. Venezuela has responded and called the U.S. actions on the U.

second oil tanker, quote, criminal. It comes as more than 100 people have been killed in U.S. strikes on boats off the coast of Venezuela that the Trump administration says are smuggling drugs. To complicate matters, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump, quote, wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle, implying that Trump wants Maduro out of office. Deepa Chivaram, NPR News. The state of the economy will be front and Center for Wall Street investors this holiday week when the GDP data for the third quarter comes out. NPR's Rafael NAM has more. On Tuesday, the U.S. is set to release an important report card detailing how much the economy grew in the July to September period. It's backwards looking,

so it's not going to provide the latest snapshot of the economy. Nonetheless, the GDP report is coming at a time when Americans are not feeling great about the economy. Recent polls have shown the cost of living and affordability are becoming a top concern at many households. That's putting a lot of pressure on President Trump, who's aggressively defending his economic record. And it means this GDP data could attract even more attention in the days leading up to Christmas. Rafael N.P.R. News. Electricity is being restored after a major power outage in San Francisco yesterday. At one time, 130,000 homes and businesses were affected. There are still thousands in the dark. This is NPR News in Washington. The Israeli Security Cabinet

today approved a plan for another 19 Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The finance minister said this brings to 69 the number of new settlements there over the past few years. They're widely viewed as illegal under international law. Today is a national day of reflection in Australia to honor the 15 people killed during a Jewish festival one week ago. Thousands of people gathered today at the Bandai Beach in Sydney where the attack took place. Prime Minister Anthony Abolesei was among the officials. He was booed when his name was announced. He's been criticized for not doing enough to counter rise in anti-Semitism.

Avatar Fire and Ash is blazing a little less fiercely than expected at movie box offices. NPR's Bob Mundello has details. The Avatar threequel is. is definitely dominating the weekend at cinemas. You want to spread your fire across the world. You need me. But it's not hot enough to be setting records at $88 million for its first three days in North America and another $257 million overseas.

It's running more than 20% behind Avatar Way of Water two years ago. Second place finisher, David, which tells the biblical story of David and Goliath, will take in $21 million, the highest opening ever for a faith-based animated film. And Timothy Chalemay's Marty Supreme will easily set this year's record for per theater average, with more than $145,000 in ticket sales at each of its six theaters. Bob Mondello, NPR News. And I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.