NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-23-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Roran. A Republican and Democratic member of Congress who have called for the full release of the Jeffrey Epstein files are threatening to fine and possibly arrest Justice Department officials over the slow and much-redacted release of those files. Democrat Rokana and Republican Thomas Massey say this could include arresting Attorney General Pam Bondi. The procedure was last used about 90 years ago. While some of Epstein's victims are speaking out, it got what they say as the slow pace of those documents release. This is Miranda Lucerta, speaking with ABC News. The only way that justice will be served is to bring these men to light and have everyone see who they are and what they have done to us. And to other women, too, who have not spoken yet.

Arizona's Attorney General Chris Mays has agreed to drop charges against one of the state's fake election. accused of attempting to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election. From member station KJZZ in Phoenix, Wayne Shutsky reports. Former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Lehman was one of 11 Arizona Republicans who signed a document falsely claiming President Trump won the state in 2020. A grand jury indicted these fake electors in several allies, including attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on fraud and other felony charges. A spokesman confirms the state attorney general will drop the charge. charges against Lehman. Layman's attorney says his client did not sign a plea deal or agree to testify, though he will not object to certain subpoenas for text messages sought by prosecutors.

The Arizona case is now in limbo, as the state Supreme Court considers an appeal over whether it should be sent back to the grand jury. For NPR News, I'm Wynchutsky in Phoenix. President Trump's designs on Greenland are back in the news after he appointed his special envoy to that issue. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports Denmark and Greenland are making it clear they won't allow the U.S. to take over the territory. The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint statement demanding respect for their territory after Trump announced that he's appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry to be a special envoy. Landry posted on X that he's honored to take up what he called a voluntary position to, quote,

make Greenland a part of the U.S. Denmark and Greenland call this totally unacceptable, say national borders are rooted in international law, Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, the statement went on to say. Polls there show that while most Greenlanders want independence from Denmark, an overwhelming majority reject the idea of joining the U.S. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. Federal regulators have approved a pill version of the now injectable weight loss drug Wagovia. It could be available as early as 2026.

Medical experts say this could be a lower cost option. This is NPR News. A federal judge in Maryland says that Kilmar-Abrego-Garcia is to remain free while the judge considers issues concerning his immigration status in the U.S. Garcia is the El Salvador native who the Trump administration mistakenly deported back to his home country only to have him freed this summer and later charged with human smuggling. The Trump administration is sought to deport him to a third country. A group of 21 states along the with the District of Columbia is suing the Trump administration, this overfunding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As NPR's

Raphael NOM reports, the lawsuit seeks to address an unusual stance the CFPB is adopting. The latest legal fight is about the CFPB's refusal to accept funding for the agency. Under the law that established the CFPB, the agency is supposed to be funded by the combined earnings at the Federal Reserve. But under acting director Russell vote, the CFPB is defining that to mean profits and arguing that since the Fed is losing money, the agency cannot request the funding. The states, however, say that's an unlawful definition. And combined earnings really means the wider money coming into the Fed. Therefore, the states say the CFPB has to accept the funding, because otherwise it's on course to run out of money in January. Raffel

NPR News. The NFL's Kansas City Chiefs say they're moving from Missouri to nearby Kansas where that state will help them build a new $3 billion dome stadium. From Washington, this is NPR News. I'm Dan Ronan. 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. Thank you.