NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-21-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. In Australia today, Good evening and thank you for being here. Please rise as we light the memorial candle followed by observing a minute of silence. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking on Sydney's iconic Bondi beach where a week ago today, two government targeted a Jewish festival. The thousands who gathered held a minute of silence

to remember the 15 people who were killed. Earlier, Albanese announced a review of national law enforcement and intelligence agencies, the BBC's Phil Mercer. The ultimate aim isn't necessarily political survival. It will be making Australia safer. And I think at these times, times of crisis, the prime minister being booed tonight, the prime ministers get booed at the cricket here in Australia.

So it is a bit of a national sport to have a go at the prime minister. But tonight is extremely significant because Mr. Albanese is here. And I think in times of crisis, Australians want their leaders to do one. thing lead. There are questions this weekend about the Justice Department's release of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case. More than a dozen of the files released on Friday are no longer available online, including a photograph for President Trump. DOJ said in a social media post last night that photos and other material will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law that requires the release. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have left for the

holiday break without addressing premium subsidies for health care. And Pierce, Selena Simmons reports. On average, premium costs are doubling in Affordable Care Act plans. Congressional Democrats have been pushing for months to extend enhanced subsidies that helped keep premiums low, but Republicans have blocked those efforts, offering alternative health bills that are not likely to become law instead. However, a bipartisan effort called a discharge petition reached the required number of signatures this week. That process can force the House to consider a bill that would extend the subsidies for three years, but it likely won't be voted on until January.

Millions of enrollees are expected to become uninsured. Selena Simmons-Duffin and PR News, Washington. Now to Boulder, Colorado, where hundreds protested the Trump administration's decision to eliminate a weather and climate hub in the city, Colorado Public Radio Zichanta Cor has more. The Trump administration recently announced that it would dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, or N-Car, which is headquartered in Boulder. The center has pioneered key weather models and developed technology to prevent plane crashes. At the protest, Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper said he was holding up a Senate spending bill

to make sure N-car is fully funded. We're going to stop this appropriation bill unless they pass this bill to make sure the N-Car is funded. The move comes as the administration has canceled or withheld hundreds of millions of federal climate dollars awarded to Colorado. For NPR news, I'm Ishaun Tocor in Boulder. This is NPR. The Venezuelan government is denouncing the U.S. interception of a second oil tanker, saying it will take the issue to the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. Coast Guard stopped the tankers Saturday. It does not appear to be on the Treasury Department's public list of sanctioned tankers.

But the White House says it was carrying sanctioned oil and falsely flagged as Panamanian. The lights are coming back on in San Francisco, a large part. of the city was hit by a major power outage Saturday. The utility, Pacific gas, and electric. It says about 130,000 customers nearly a third of the city were hit by the blackout. It caused traffic jams and prompted officials to ask residents to avoid any non-essential travel. This time of year, Santa Claus is everywhere. Now many families specifically attending events with Santa's that look like them. Leslie Eiler Thompson reports from Nashville. Shedric Webster is the Nashville area's premier, Black.

Santa. He's also one of the first members of a new professional organization called a 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 DeTuro. 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.

And I'm Charles Snyder. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe. When you manage your money with Wise, you'll always get the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Join millions of customers and visit Wise.com. T's and Cs apply.