NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-30-2025 1PM EST

Episode Date: December 30, 2025

NPR News: 12-30-2025 1PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Israel is barring 37 more aid organizations from operating in Gaza, including internationally recognized groups that have been on the ground for decades, such as Doctors Without Borders. NPR's Aibatrawi reports Israel says these aid groups fail to meet security standards. Israel's decision revokes the permits of groups like Oxfam, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Mercy Corps, and Doctors Without Borders, or MSF. These aid groups work respectively on issues related to water and desalination, tents and shelter supplies, food distribution, and health care. And they have also documented in detail. Israel's war in Gaza, criticizing the breadth of destruction and killing by Israeli forces, while also providing firsthand accounts from Gaza at a time when international media remains banned. Humanity and inclusion, which handles unexploded bombs left by the military, is also among the banned groups now.

Israel says staff of some groups were involved in terrorist activity and that the 37 aid groups did not meet security and transparency. requirements. MSF says this prevents organizations from providing essential services to people in both Gaza and the West Bank. Ayel-Batrawi, NPR News, Dubai. As of January 1st, people in five states will no longer be able to use certain federal assistance to buy foods that the Health Department deems unhealthy. West Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah will become the first of at least 18 states to enact new restrictions related to the SNAP program. Retail industry and health experts warn that implementing the changes on the local level will be kind of. complicated and costly to many U.S. retailers to the tune of $1.6 billion to start with.

Well, as 2025 winds down a look back at one of President Trump's most consequential acts this year, the sweeping cost-cutting entity known as the Department of Government Efficiency, NPR Stephen Fowell reports on whether Doge is delivering on the promise of saving over a trillion dollars in federal spending. More than 90% of federal spending goes towards popular entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, Plus spending on defense and interest payments on more than $38 trillion in debt. Doge didn't touch those programs. Congress would have to be the ones to take action, and this year they did. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act saw tax cuts and new spending on President Trump's priorities.

It's actually expected to increase the federal deficit by at least $3 trillion additional dollars over the next decade. It's NPR Stephen Fowler reporting. In the latest legal rulings on President Trump's policies, Judge Amy Berman says the White House cannot stop funding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. And fellow federal judge Angel Kelly has blocked the administration from ending temporary deportation protections for more than 200 South Sudanese nationals in the U.S. At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial average is down 67 points. This is NPR News. China's military launched a second day of war games surrounding Taiwan, this marking the sixth time that China has rehearsed an attack on Taiwan since former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled island three years ago. Ashish Valentine has more.

The drills, which China calls Justice Mission 2025, took place in five maritime zones encircling Taiwan. Dozens of naval vessels and over 100 aircraft. were involved. Chinese military vessels fired rockets and missiles into the water surrounding the island and practiced denying access to foreign ships that may come to Taiwan's aid. The Chinese military said the exercises were a response to Taiwan's separatist agenda, and the $11 billion arms sale recently agreed between Washington and Taipei. Taiwanese airports cancel more than 80 domestic flights today in response to the drills, and 300 others may face delays. For NPR news, I'm Osh-Falenton-Tan, In Minnesota, scientists are using pine needles to measure forever chemicals.

Details from Minnesota Public Radio's Kirstie Morone. The study aims to provide clues about how the human-made chemicals known as PFS move through the air and end up in lakes, rivers, and fish. Summer Streets is a research scientist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. She recruited volunteers to collect pine needles to test for PFS. And it's really that waxy surface that just kind of grabs on to those content. and holds them in place so that we can measure them later. Street says researchers will look for PFAS hotspots that can be traced back to a single source.

For NPR News, I'm Kirstie Morone in Buffalo, Minnesota. It's NPR.