NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-25-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: December 25, 2025

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This holiday season on the StoryCorps podcast, a Christmas memory from the Cold War. I remember this red phone on his desk. If it rang, there was a national emergency. One time the red phone rang, he answered it, and there was a small voice that asked us to Santa Claus. Cozy up under the tree and listen to a special holiday edition of the StoryCorps podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Duaulahili Psychout. Christmas celebrations have returned to Gaza for the first time in more than two years of war. NPR's Anas Baba in Gaza City reports the tiny Palestinian Christian community marked the day with hymns and bells tolling.

For the past two years, Christians here in Gaza hunkered down behind the walls of this church. The only one left standing in Gaza. They lived here, prayed here, and survived the Israeli military's bombardments of Gaza City. More than 20 Christians were killed in the Israeli attacks at this church and another that was destroyed. Today, though, this community of just 500 or so Christians in Gaza is singing again. And with the fragile seas fell in place now, the Palestinian children at the Holy Family Church in Gaza marked Christmas this year with the new clothes. As the community gathered to both, celebrate the birth of Jesus, and mourned the many Palestinians killed in the war.

Anas Bobo and Pure News, Gazist. In Maryland, U.S. immigration agents fired at a vehicle after the driver allegedly tried to run them over. This is according to Homeland Security officials. And Piers Joel Rose reports the incident left one man with bullet wounds and another injured. The incident occurred in Glenburny, Maryland, south of Baltimore. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers approached a van, driven by a man they identified as an undocumented immigrant from Portugal. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the man tried to flee before driving the van directly at the ICE officers attempting to run them over. The ICE officers then fired defensively, according to DHS, striking the driver who lost control of the van.

Both the driver and a passenger, also identified by DHS as an undocumented immigrant, were hospitalized after the crash. It's one of multiple recent shootings involving immigration authorities who are working to carry out President Trump's mass deportation plan. Joel Rose, NPR News. President Trump recently ordered a blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers into and out of Venezuela. It's one of the latest examples of Trump's aggressive use of power in the region and around the world, critics say. The president, in his own words, says he's settled eight wars in 10 months. NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordonez explains what America first looks like today. He really does see the world through spheres of influence.

I mean, Trump's even cited the month. Monroe Doctrine and saying that he wants to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere. And that's a big break from past administrations that's prioritized other regions, while also confronting the big powers like Russia and China. Trump's instead sought to curry favor with Russia, as we've reported in a bid to try to end the war in Ukraine. That war is now approaching four years, a war that Trump said he would end in a day. This is NPR News. Police in Turkey's counterterrorism department have arrested more than 100 suspected members of the Islamic State. The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office said 137 warrants were issued and so far on this holiday, at least 115 people have been detained.

The prosecutor's office said the suspects were allegedly planning attacks on Christmas and New Year's Day. The counterterrorism operation is still active and more arrests are expected. Families are getting ready to sit down for Christmas and holiday meals. Many tables, especially those of Latino families, will be filled with tamales. Texas Public Radio's Joy Palisios, reports making them is often part of a labor-intensive party, Veld Tamalada. If it's your first time at Tamalada during the holidays, get ready to be put to work. You'll be handed a spoon, a few dozen corn husks, the maslis to spread on them, and, probably some pork to stuff it with.

It's an annual tradition for Hispanic families like the Riojas in San Antonio. Family member Anna Fossum says gatherings like tamiladas are about connecting with every branch of the family. That's what the tamalada means to me. Yes, we're making tamales, but we're also making new memories. The whole process takes hours, especially if you're making 20 dozen or so. Oh, and if you're going, be sure to bring a bottle and a few really good stories to share. I'm Joy Palacios in San Antonio. King Charles III attended Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

This is NPR News from New York City. This holiday season on the StoryCorps podcast, we're casting our eyes north. We have checked and rechecked our tracking screens. I hate to bring you and all your good listeners the bad news, but it doesn't appear... Just a minute. We have a sighting. Santa is on his way. Your tales of the fears, hopes, and joys of Christmas past on a special holiday edition of the StoryCorps podcast from NPR.