U.S. strikes ISIS; Congress recap; vacation spending : NPR

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In the present day’s prime tales

The U.S. has launched a “lethal strike” in opposition to Islamic State fighters in northwest Nigeria, President Trump introduced yesterday. Trump stated in a Reality Social submit that the strike was directed at “ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who’ve been focusing on and viciously killing, primarily, harmless Christians, at ranges not see for a few years, and even Centuries!”

President Trump listens throughout a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Protection Medal within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on December 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs North America

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs North America

• 🎧 The assault is a “important intervention and inflection level” in U.S. army involvement in Nigeria, NPR’s Emmanuel Akinwotu tells Up First. He notes that the Christmas Day timing additionally carries spiritual symbolism. Whereas ISIS has grow to be a governing power within the rural areas and is considered one of a number of militant teams within the nation, specialists say the group focused by the U.S. isn’t one of many foremost teams focusing on Christians, in line with Akinwotu. The important thing query now, he provides, is whether or not the strikes are about defending Christians, because the president says, or degrading ISIS within the area.

Vacation spending exceeded expectations, regardless of polling that reveals People have low confidence within the economic system. Black Friday and Cyber Monday set data, with Mastercard estimating that spending grew by practically 4 % in November and December.

• 🎧 “An increasing number of, it is the rich which are doing a lot of the spending,” NPR’s Alina Selyukh says. Many shoppers are switching to extra reasonably priced choices, reminiscent of T.J. Maxx or thrift shops, however luxurious manufacturers like Ralph Lauren proceed to carry out properly. Rising wages have fueled a lot of the nation’s spending, Selyukh says, and the job market will likely be a key factor to observe within the 12 months forward.

Congress entered 2025 with an formidable agenda: strengthening the economic system, addressing the border disaster, boosting the army and extra. However all year long, it ceded a lot of its energy to Trump. Lawmakers handed a file low variety of payments as Trump dismantled elements of the federal government and clawed again billions in beforehand authorized funding.

• 🎧 Practically 30 Home Republicans usually are not in search of reelection subsequent 12 months, NPR’s Claudia Grisales says. Speaker Mike Johnson noticed pushback from his personal occasion when he just about closed the Home through the 43-day shutdown. With a possible authorities shutdown in January and spiking well being care premiums, affordability is predicted to dominate the marketing campaign path — and Republicans aren’t assured to carry on to their majority, Grisales notes.

Deep dive

A police officer stands guard as demonstrators march via downtown throughout a protest in opposition to President Trump’s immigration insurance policies on Sept. 6 in Chicago, Ailing.

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Scott Olson/Getty Photographs

Crime fell throughout a lot of the U.S. in 2025 — each violent and property crimes — in large cities and small cities throughout crimson and blue. NPR spoke to researchers who examine crime about what drove this development, and whether or not it may final. Here is what they stated:

• 🫆 Murder surged in 2020 and 2021 amid the financial, monetary and psychological stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers say the nation is now transferring previous that surge.
• 🫆The nationwide decline contrasts with the Trump administration’s depiction of crime, significantly in Democrat-led cities.
• 🫆 Tahir Duckett, who directs the Heart for Improvements in Group Security at Georgetown Regulation, warns that utilizing crime to justify crackdowns can erode civil rights and develop authorities energy.
• 🫆 Crackdowns can even backfire, growing distrust and making individuals much less prone to name 911 or cooperate with police.
• 🫆 Researchers aren’t optimistic that the development will proceed into 2026. Funding cuts fear specialists like Ames Grawert, of the Brennan Heart for Justice.

Weekend picks

Try what NPR is watching, studying and listening to this weekend:

🍿 Films: Can Timothée Chalamet play a supremely annoying character and nonetheless captivate audiences from starting to finish? Hearken to Pop Tradition Joyful Hour focus on his newest movie, Marty Supreme, to seek out out.

 📺 TV: TV critic David Bianculli says 2025 provided so many nice reveals he could not slender them all the way down to a listing. However in a 12 months of intense TV, that is the sequence he says stands aside.

📚 Books: Subsequent 12 months marks America’s 250th birthday. Think about these 10 books earlier than the Fourth of July to achieve a deeper understanding of U.S. historical past.

🎵 Music: Now that the radio stations have switched off the Christmas music, you possibly can admit it: Was there a track you bought sick of listening to? NPR breaks down why we hear the identical songs 12 months after 12 months, and why the Christmas music canon is so laborious to interrupt into.

🎭 Theater: Love “The Nutcracker”? You are not alone. The vacation staple brings in about half of many U.S. ballet corporations’ annual income. And because the pandemic, they’ve relied on it greater than ever.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

1. This week’s Far-Flung Postcard takes readers to an iconic hair salon within the Jaffa flea market, within the larger a part of Tel Aviv. When she wanted a break from the information, NPR’s Hadeel Al-Shalchi would take refuge on the store, which is intentionally protected by its proprietor and welcomes Jews and Palestinians alike.
2. The unique Betty Boop, the primary 4 Nancy Drew books and Greta Garbo’s first talkie are among the many many works from 1930 that can enter the general public area beginning Jan. 1.
3. Is gaining power considered one of your New Yr’s resolutions for 2026? Life Equipment’s Information to Constructing Energy publication offers you a month of skilled tips about how you can create a long-lasting power and resistance coaching routine.

This article was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.