U.S. Strikes ISIS In Nigeria, The Year In Congress, Holiday Spending

December 26, 2025

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: This daily news briefing podcast delivers concise, expert-driven reports on global and domestic headlines through host-led interviews with NPR correspondents, tying fast-paced current events to broader geopolitical, political, and economic implications in a crisp journalistic style.
The Format: A structured news roundup featuring host discussions with specialized correspondents.
The Key Players:
- Leila Falden: Anchor delivering sharp transitions and probing questions.
- Emmanuel Ekenwatu: NPR Africa correspondent in Nigeria, providing on-the-ground insight into US military actions.
- Claudia Garcales: NPR Congressional correspondent, dissecting legislative gridlock.
- Alina Selyuk: NPR retail correspondent, unpacking consumer spending trends.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

What you'll learn

1 `(00:02)` **US Military Strikes ISIS Militants in Northwestern Nigeria**
2 `(06:14)` **Congress Cedes Power in 2025: Record-Low Legislation Under Speaker Mike Johnson**
3 `(10:02)` **Record Holiday Spending Despite Economic Gloom**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

President Trump has announced the U.S. launched a number of strikes against Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria. Congress started 2025 with an ambitious legislative agenda, but 12 months later has ceded much of its power to President Trump and has passed a record low number of bills. And, shoppers spent a record amount of money this holiday season even as polling finds Americans are feeling glum about the economy.

Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Gerry Holmes, Jason Breslow, Emily Kopp, Lisa Thomson and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from David Greenberg. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

(00:00) Introduction
(02:00) U.S. Strikes ISIS In Nigeria
(05:40) The Year In Congress
(09:28) Holiday Spending

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy