NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-24-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: December 24, 2025

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Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dua Lisei Countel. A million more documents potentially related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have just been delivered to the Justice Department today for review and possible release to the public. So far, tens of thousands of documents have been shared, some heavily redacted. Jennifer Freeman represents several of the victims. She told NPR about one of her clients, Maria Farmer. What she told me is that she has been shedding tears of joy and tears of sorrow. And she has been vindicated and redeemed by that, which is terrific.

Yet there are tears of sorrow because it's taken nearly 30 years. Attorney Jennifer Freeman, the European Union is responding angrily to the Trump administration's imposition of visa bans on five European citizens, including a former European Commissioner, U.S. Secretary. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the individuals as, quote, radical activist and weaponized who weaponized government, non-governmental organizations. From Brussels, Terry Schultz, reports. The EU's Digital Services Act, or DSA, has been a longstanding source of tension with the U.S. because it imposes responsibilities on big tech platforms, such as to be transparent about their processes to take down illegal content and to combat disinformation.

U.S. officials have often characterized it as targeting American companies. In announcing he can no longer visit the U.S., the State Department blamed former EU Internal Market Commissioner Tieri-Briton personally for the legislation, which was enacted last year. A European Commission statement strongly condemns the U.S. decision, saying the DSA is designed to ensure a fair and safe playing field for all companies, and that, if needed, the EU will act to defend its regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. New York is leading a multi-state coalition suing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over transgender care.

As NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin's reports, Kennedy is aiming to essentially ban such care for youth nationally, even though it is supported by all major U.S. medical associations. Secretary Kennedy published a declaration last week calling gender affirming care for youth, quote, neither safe nor effective, unquote, to treat gender dysphoria. The declaration then says that a declaration. hospitals and doctors provide this care to young patients, they could be barred from getting Medicare and Medicaid payments entirely. Now, a coalition of 19 Democratic-led states and D.C. are asking the U.S. District Court in Eugene, Oregon, to rule the HHS declaration unlawful and block its enforcement. In a statement, New York Attorney General Latisha James said, quote, Secretary Kennedy cannot unilaterally change medical standards by posting a document online. HHS declined to

comment on the lawsuit. This is NPR News from New York City. A civilian search and rescue group operating in the Mediterranean Sea says over 100 people are feared dead after a smuggler's boat crowded with migrants capsized. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has the latest on this terrible event still emerging. The non-profit search and rescue group Sea Watch posts on X that a crowded wooden boat has disappeared into the Mediterranean Sea. Alamphone, the volunteer organisation that runs an emergency hotline for migrants, says some 117 people were on board the boat that went missing after leaving Libyan shores for Europe on December 18th.

On December 21st, Alamphone says they were informed that a Tunisian fisherman had found a single survivor. It's the latest tragedy on this dangerous route that people pay smugglers to take in the hope of finding a better life in Europe. The International Organization for Migration says, since 2014, over 33,220 migrants have gone missing, presumed dead on this Mediterranean route. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News. A small group of monks and a dog named Aloka from a Buddhist temple in Fort Worth, Texas, have been on a pilgrimage, a 120-day walk to Washington, D.C., to promote peace and harmony. When they began their Instagram handle, Walk for Peace, USA had few followers.

But today, it's grown to more than 166,000 because people have been stopping to meditate and receive blessings, peace strings. The public can follow the venerable monks on an interactive map on Facebook and Instagram. I'm Dwali Saikautau and PR News.