NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-31-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says Justice Department lawyers are continuing to review files related to the late-convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to release to the public. The department has come under criticism for its handling of the file's release, which is required by a law Congress passed last month. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. In a post on social media, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says Justice Department lawyers are, working around the clock through the holidays to review the Epstein files for public release. Blanche says redactions required by law to protect Epstein's victims take time. The Epstein File Transparency Act required the records to be released by December 19th.

The Justice Department has released two batches of documents, but a huge amount still needs to be made public. The department has faced criticism for failing to meet the deadline and for the significant redactions to many of the documents that have been released. Ryan Lucas and PR News, Washington. A Georgia judge has dismissed a massive racketeering case against more than 60 people who were arrested for protesting a multi-million dollar police training center in Atlanta. For member station W.A.B.E. in Atlanta, Alex Helmick has details. The 61 defendants in the sprawling case were accused of a variety of actions,

including throwing Molotov cocktails at police officers, illegally camping near the facility, and damaging police vehicles and construction equipment. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ruled Attorney General Chris Carr did not have the authority to secure the 2023 indictments. The long-running battle over the training center came to a head when a protester was shot and killed in 2023 by state troopers who were not prosecuted. That sparked violent clashes that led to more arrests. The center eventually opened in 2025. The Georgia Attorney General's office says it plans to appeal the ruling. For NPR News, I'm Alex Helmick.

in Atlanta. Authorities in Finland are holding a ship and crew that departed from Russia that they believe damage critical undersea cables between Finland and Estonia. Terry Schultz reports a vessel sailing under a flag from St. Vincent and the Grenadines was found with its anchor underwater. A disruption in a telecommunications network alerted officials to damage to an underwater cable in the Gulf of Finland. Finnish police and border guards dropped onto the deck of the cargo vessel Fitberg, which was traveling from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Haifa Israel, and they found the ship's anchor was down, raising suspicion it had been dragged over the cables, as has happened in previous similar incidents.

Helsinki Police Chief Yari Lioku says the investigation is underway. We are at the moment suspecting aggravated disruption of the telecommunication and also aggravated sabotage and attempted aggravated sabotage. Police say the 14-person crew has been detained. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz. You're listening to NPR News. 20206 is making its way around the planet in spectacular fashion, started with the Central Pacific Islandation of Kiribati. They counted down in Auckland, New Zealand, and Sydney, Australia in the UAE.

Drums and dancing marked occasion with celebrations culminating with fireworks at the iconic Birch Khalifa. At 2,717 feet the world's tallest building lit up in electric blue, red, and spirals of fireworks against Dubai's dark sky. Nightclubs had a tough year in 2025 with a number of well-known venues closing across the United States, and Piersnett Ullaby with the latest. Several clubs in Brooklyn and San Francisco announced closures, including Yolo, where this live set was recorded last year. In Los Angeles, the legendary Mayan theater closed, and clubs announced closures in Cleveland, Chicago, Austin, Texas, and on the Jersey Shore. It was a hard year.

Stephen Parker runs the International Venue Association. He says the economy is to blame. Margins are tight, people are going out less, and they do not drink as much. Plus, he says gentrification is an issue, and so is pressure from big corporations like Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Their practices spurred an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Justice Department with a trial scheduled for March. Netta Ulibe, NPR News. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down more than 300 points. This is NPR News.