NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-21-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. The Justice Department has released more files from the Jeffrey Epstein case, but is facing questions about more than a dozen that were released Friday, including a photo showing President Trump. Those files are no longer available. NPR's Casey Morel reports. The removed documents, which included a photograph showing an image of President Trump, are part of the Department of Justice's Epstein Library. It's an online repository where people can access. the files that have been released so far. NPR was able to access the files on Friday when they were initially made available for public consumption. On Saturday, the files were no longer available

for view in the Epstein Library or for download. It's unclear if this is due to a technical error, a formal removal from the DOJ or other officials, or something else. The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the files were no longer available. Casey Morell, NPR News, Washington. On social media late last night, the Justice Department said that photos and other material from the Epstein files will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law that requires the release. Turning Point USA, wrapping up its annual conference in Phoenix today. And Pierre-Nelan Moore reports on the largest event the group has sailed since its founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated three months ago. Turning Point says more than 30,000 supporters are attending this year's conference known as America Fest.

roughly a 10,000 person boost from last year, a potential sign of continued momentum moving forward despite losing Charlie Kirk. That said, for many attendees, his death remains gutting. 25-year-old Angie Perez credits the late activist with helping reinforce her conservative Christian beliefs. It makes me really emotional because I viewed him as like, he's my hero, and I always saw him as like an older brother than I never had. Several of Kirk's close allies will close out the conference. on Sunday, including Vice President J.D. Vance, who's expected to give the final address.

Elena Moore, NPR News, Phoenix. Venezuela is accusing the United States of international piracy and kidnapping after Washington intercepted another oil tanker in the Caribbean. It's a second such incident off the Venezuelancosis month. The BBC's Alphrey Tolbert reports. Footage released by the U.S. government and verified by the BBC shows helicopters hovering above the Panamanian-flagged centuries as personnel board it. Officials say the tanker was carrying sanctioned oil, which they claim, without evidence,

is used to fund what they call narco-terrorism. But the ship is not on the US Treasury's list of sanctioned vessels. Last week, President Trump said he would impose a blockade of sanctioned oil entering and leaving Venezuela. The country's government has accused his administration of theft and kidnapping, acts which it says will not go unpunished. And you're listening to NPR News. To South Africa now where authorities are engaged in a manhunt.

They're looking for a group of gunmen responsible for a shooting at a pub. They left nine people dead and at least ten others injured. They say about a dozen suspects open fire on the pub from two separate vehicles. The mass shooting is the second in South Africa over the past few weeks. Vice President J.D. Vance is to deliver the final addressed today at that Turning Point USA annual conference in Phoenix on Thursday, Erica Kirk endorsed Vance for the 28 Republican presidential nomination. She's been leading the group since her husband, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated. An engineer from Germany made history this weekend,

62 miles above Earth. NPR's Amy Heldt reports on the first wheelchair user to go to space. From the edge of space, back down to the West Texas desert. Mihi Benthouse was still beaming as she emerged from the Blue Origin Space Capsule. It was the coolest experience ever. She joined five others on the 10-minute flight, seven years after, suffering a spinal injury in a bike accident. The aerospace engineer uses a wheelchair, but for a short time Saturday, she felt unconstrained, using a special strap to keep her legs bound in microgravity. I tried to turn upside down.

Blue Origin sponsored her flight. The price tag is not made public, as space tourism today is largely for the wealthy and powerful. Benthouse says she hopes her story inspires others. I think you should never give up on your dreams. And she says, let's not stop here. Amy held NPR News. And I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.

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