NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-29-2025 10AM EST

Episode Date: December 29, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mara Lago today. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports Trump is trying to push forward his peace plan for Gaza, but Israel says it's not yet time to move to the next phase. Under the first part of the deal, Hamas was supposed to return all of the hostages taken in the October 7th attack. Israel says the U.S. shouldn't move forward until the remains of one final hostage. are returned, and Hamas agrees to give up power and weapons. But Trump will want to show progress in his peace plans, says Israeli analysts Ayal Hulata.

I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the meeting in Mar-Lago, President Trump will declare that there is an agreement on the Board of Peace starting to take action and the things are moving ahead. Trump is planning to chair the board. He's also trying to get an international force into Gaza. Michelle Kellelman, NPR News, Jerusalem. 2025 has been a rough year for local organizations that serve low-income communities. One of the largest networks, community action agencies, helps about 15 million people navigate everything from housing to utility bills.

But as NPRs, Jennifer Lutton reports ongoing funding cuts and policy changes have left many groups scrambling. We're talking about a thousand local local institutions. anti-poverty groups that date back to the 1960s, and they sign people up for, you know, housing, health care, food, heating aid, on and on, you name it. I visited one called Hapcap. It's in Southeastern Appalachian, Ohio. And executive director Kelly Hadd has told me for her the chaos started in January. She called it the worst day in her career. It was when President Trump ordered a freeze on all spending. That's NPR's Jennifer Ludden reporting. Stocks opened lower to start the holiday shortened week on Wall Street. MPR. Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones Industrial

Leverage slipped about 160 points in early trading. 2025 has been a good year for the stock market. With just three trading days left this year, all the major indexes are up by double digits. Crude oil prices rose more than a dollar a barrel, but a barrel of West Texas oil is still selling for less than $60, and gasoline prices continue to fall. AAA says the average price of regular gas nationwide is now two $2.83 a gallon. December's gas prices were the lowest since 2020 during the pandemic. The founder of Lulu Lemon has launched a hostile effort to reshape the company's board of directors. Founder Chip Wilson is still one of the company's biggest shareholders.

The value of those shares has fallen sharply this year, and Lulu Lemon is on the lookout for a new CEO. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Stocks continue to trade lower on Wall Street. The Dow was down to 165 points. This is NPR News in Washington. Heating costs are expected to rise three times faster than inflation this winter. That's according to an outlook published this month by the state directors of a program to help low-energy households heat their homes. NPR's Camilla Dominovsky reports rising costs for electricity and natural gas are the root causes.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association expects that, on average, families using propane or heating oil will see no change or even small savings compared to last year. But total winter heating costs will be up around $50 for those with natural gas heating and more than $130 on average for families that use electricity. The Energy Information Administration, meanwhile, has also adjusted its winter outlook to anticipate a colder winter and higher spending than previously predicted. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News. A powerful winter storm is sweeping across the northeast bringing snow, ice, rain, and strong winds. National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Orobeck says some states could see more than a foot of snow.

So heavy snows are also likely during the day on Monday from northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, western New York State, and also northwestern New York State. All these areas are downwind of the Great Lakes. Wind chills are plunging in North Dakota and Minnesota, while the south faces severe thunderstorms and a sudden drop in temperatures. On Wall Street, the Dow was down 171 points, the NASDAQ down 146. The S&P 500 also trading lower, down 26. This is NPR News.