NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-27-2025 11PM EST

Episode Date: December 28, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney today. It came ahead of Zelenskyy's expected meeting Sunday with President Trump in Florida. NPR's Geronika Kis is more from Kiev. Russia attacked Kiev and surrounding areas with hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles, as well as hundreds of strike drones. Speaking to reporters via voice message, Zelensky said Russia showed what it thinks of intensive efforts to end this war. They responded with a massive attack on Ukraine, he said.

If the American side wants to hold a wartime referendum or elections, we cannot do it under conditions like these. Zelensky has said several times that he is ready to hold a referendum on the latest peace proposal if security is guaranteed for voters. Zelensky said that security guarantees are a main focus of talks with the Trump administration. Joanna Kikis and PR News, Kiev. The Census Bureau is looking for temporary workers in six states to help carry out a major field test. As NPR's Hansi Lo Wong reports, it's part of preparations for the 2030 census that will be used to redistribute political representation and federal funding. The Census Bureau says it needs about 1,500 workers for the 2026 census test, and it's looking for U.S. citizens who have been parts of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.

Many of these temporary workers will be knocking on doors to help develop better ways of getting a count of every person living in the states in 2030. Those numbers determine each state chair of congressional seats, electoral college votes, and federal funding for public services. The 26 census test will also involve selected households from around the country. Starting in March, the Bureau says it plans to mail out invitations to take part in the test. Some census advocates are concerned, though, that growing distrust in the federal government may discourage many people from participating. Hansi Lo Wong and PR News. The Kennedy Center is threatening to sue jazz musician Chuck Redd, who cancelled his Christmas Eve concert after learning President Trump's name,

was added to the building. NPR's Chloe Veltman has our reports. The Centre's president, Richard Grinnell, hit back with a letter on Friday, saying he is seeking $1 million in damages from Chuck Red for his, quote, political stunt. The Centre's press team shared the letter with NPR and said in an email Grinnell intends to file the lawsuit after the holidays. Red did not respond to NPR's request for comment, but the vibraphonist and drummer told the Associated Press earlier in the week that he backed out of the engagement in protest against the name change. Red has hosted the Centre's Christmas Eve Jazz Jam since 2006. The John F. Kennedy's Centre for the Performing Arts was established through legislation in 1964. Trump's hand-picked

Board of Trustees voted in favour of the name change on December 18th. Legal experts say the move was unlawful. Chloe Veltman, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. China is gauging the public's reaction to potential new rules that would regulate the behavior of AI chatbots. The rules would, among other things, ban obscenity and the glamorizing of suicide. NPR's Emily Fang reports. These new rules up for public comment would ban any AI behaviors that manipulate humans and, quote, harm personal dignity and mental health. They would also ban gambling behavior, anything that abets crime, broadly speaking, and

and obtaining sensitive personal information. They'd also compel AI companies to train their chatbots and data sets that, quote, conform to the core socialist values and embody the exceptional traditional culture of the Chinese people. Strict rules already apply to humans on the internet. New guidelines published this week by China's cyberspace administration forbids influencers, for example, from acting lewd, vulgar, or promoting anti-mainstream values, including encouraging people, not to work. Emily Fang and Pierr News.

It was a busy bull day in college football. Ethan Grunkmeyer threw for a career high 262 yards and two touchdowns as Penn State beat Clemson today 22 to 10 in the pinstrait bowl at Yankee Stadium. Grunkmeier completed 23 of 44 passes in the win. East Carolina meanwhile beat Pittsburgh 23 to 17 in the military bowl. Army beat Connecticut 41 to 16 while BYU slip past Georgia Tech 25 to 21. And Fresno State beat Miami of Ohio 18 to 3, and North Carolina State dominated Memphis this evening, while North Texas beat San Diego State 49 to 47. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for using money around the globe.

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