NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-30-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: December 30, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu exchanged praise during their meeting at Mara Lago on Monday, but as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, tensions remain over Gaza and Israeli actions in the West Bank. President Trump says he doesn't agree with Netanyahu 100% on the West Bank, though he didn't air his concerns in public. He also didn't criticize Israel for its continued strikes. inside Gaza. Israel's lived up to the plan 100%. But there's still a lot of work ahead for Trump's 20-point plan. He has yet to announce a board of peace or say when an international force will be in place. And Hamas has shown no signs it will give up its power or weapons. In the meantime,

the humanitarian situation remains dire, with reports of children dying from cold, wet weather. Michelle Kellerman and PR News, Jerusalem. President Trump says the U.S. hit a dockside facility as part of a pressure campaign on Venezuela. In a radio interview, Trump referenced a strike targeting a site where boats accused of carrying drugs load up. When asked Monday, he didn't say if the military or CIA was involved or confirmed the location. One of the Trump administration's biggest moves in 2025 was creating the Department of Government Efficiency aimed at cutting costs and streamlining federal agencies. But many of those promises, haven't panned out. NPR Stephen Fowler has been tracking the effort. If you look at the start

of the new fiscal year in October through the end of November, the government has spent a half trillion dollars more than it brought in. That's because 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. That's NPR, Stephen Fowler reporting. China's military launched a second day of war games surrounding Taiwan. This marks the sixth time that China has rehearsed an attack on Taiwan since Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled island three years ago. Ashish Valentine reports. 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 Ashish Valentine. Another artistic group has canceled a performance at the Kennedy Center, joining a growing list of acts refusing to play at the venue after its board voted to add President Trump's name to the building. Jazz Supergroup, The Cookers, had been set to perform two New Year's Eve concerts but canceled.

In a statement, the group said it remains committed to playing music that reaches across divisions rather than deepening them. Four years after labor organizing at Starbucks stores took off, baristas are still without a contract. NPR's Andrea Shue reports that hasn't stopped more stores from seeking union representation. Employees at 19 Starbucks stores filed petitions for union elections this month. They seek to join the more than 560 unionized stores across the country. But four years after the first union election win, baristas have yet to finalize a contract with Starbucks. Each side blames the other for not negotiating in good faith. Since mid-November, thousands of baristas have gone on strike, calling for increased hours and higher wages.

Starbucks says its pay and benefits package is the best in retail, citing its health care plan, tuition reimbursement, and paid family leave. The company also points out that less than 4% of its employees work at unionized stores. Andrea Shue and PR News. Tiger Woods turns 50 today, making him eligible for the purests. PGA Tour Champions, the tour for players 50 and over. He hasn't played at all this year and hasn't said whether he'll tee up in the new league. This is NPR News in Washington.