NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-26-2025 7AM EST

Episode Date: December 26, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. U.S. forces have launched a strike against Islamic State fighters in northwest Nigeria. NPR Scott Newman reports President Trump made the announcement on social media last night. Writing on truth social, Trump suggested that the attack on ISIS militants was in response to, quote, targeting and viciously killing of Christians in the country's northwest. The Pentagon confirmed the strike, which it said, was carried out in Sokoto State at the request of Nigerian authorities. Trump has accused Nigeria of failing to stop the persecution of Christians in the country, and last month he said he ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans for possible military action against ISIS there. Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The country's government says attacks by militant groups are less about religion and more about where the groups operate. In his post, Trump will a quote, Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists.

Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington. The deadline for buying individual health insurance on health care.gov is still a few weeks away. Enrollment so far is only slightly lower than this time last year. NPR, Salina Simmons-Duffin reports that final enrollment numbers could still change because of spiking premiums. In 2025, enrollment on the Affordable Care Act exchanges hit a record. million. But enhanced federal subsidies are expiring at the end of December, which will force millions to pay more out of pocket for their coverage. In a post on X, federal health official Dr. Mehmet Oz wrote that enrollment on health care.gov stands at 15.6 million, a small

drop compared to last December. Oz did not mention the expiring subsidies, although that's been a political battle for months. He said that anti-fraud measures explained the slight decrease. Health policy experts point out that many people have let their enrollment. automatically renew, but they may drop their coverage in January if they find they can't afford their new premiums. Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News. Shoppers were expected to spend a record amount this holiday season, even as polls show Americans remain uneasy about the economy. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports, despite months of uncertainty over tariffs and supply delays, the disruptions, many feared, never fully materialized.

For how much we've talked about tariffs, with all the delays and changes, they did not disrupt the holiday season as much as feared. We saw Black Friday set a record, then Cyber Monday said a spending record. Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping, saw people spending over $10 million every minute on the evening of Cyber Monday. MasterCard, which tracks spending online and in stores, estimates that spending grew nearly 4% in November and December. That's NPR's Alina Selyuk, reporting.

This is NPR News. A grizzly bear was seen this week in a southwest Montana mountain range that hasn't had bears for more than 50 years. Montana Public Radio's Ellis Julin reports the siting comes as lawmakers consider removing the bear's federal protections. State wildlife officials confirm the bear sighting in mountains roughly 100 miles from Yellowstone National Park. The first time a grizzly's been spotted there since bear recovery began in the 1970s. The regions around Yellowstone and Glacier National Park support the two large. populations of bears in Montana. As their numbers grow, the bears are seeking out new habitat in their historic ranges. Congress is currently considering legislation to take these bears off the

endangered species list. Montana and Wyoming state officials say this population has sufficiently recovered and are requesting grizzlies be delisted. U.S. Fish and Wildlife last January rejected state's petitions to delist bears in the lower 48. For NPR news, I'm Ellis Jew Lynn in Missoula, Montana. Hawaii's Big Island is banning people from feeding feral cats. A move officials say is needed to protect native wildlife. The law is set to take effect in January and allows fines of up to $50 for a first offense, increasing to $500 for repeat violations. Biologists argue the ban is necessary to protect native species from both cat attacks and parasites carried in cat feces. But critics of the ban warn it could push feeding efforts underground and leave hungry cats.

that's hunting more, not less. On Wall Street, Dahl Futures are trading lower at this hour. This is NPR News in Washington. 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.