U.S. Strikes ISIS In Nigeria, The Year In Congress, Holiday Spending
Up First from NPR
NPR
4.5 • 52.8K Ratings
🗓️ 26 December 2025
⏱️ 14 minutes
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Summary
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.
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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
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The U.S. says its military struck Islamic state militants in northwestern Nigeria. The president |
| 0:07.7 | says the strikes on Christmas Day were aimed at stopping the killing of Christians, and this |
| 0:12.3 | is just the beginning. Why is the president focused on Nigeria? I'm Leila Faldon, and this is up |
| 0:17.9 | first from NPR News. |
| 0:27.6 | When Speaker Mike Johnson convened Congress in January, he made a bold declaration. |
| 0:32.8 | Working together, we have the potential to be one of the most consequential congresses in the history of this great nation. |
| 0:35.0 | Twelve months later, has Congress lived up to that potential? |
| 0:38.9 | And holiday spending broke records this year in the U.S. |
| 0:42.6 | It honestly blew my mind. |
| 0:44.4 | Sales just exceeded all my expectations. |
| 0:47.2 | With polls reporting people feeling glum about the economy, what's driving spending. |
| 0:52.3 | Stay with us. |
| 0:53.0 | We'll give you the news you need to start your day. |
| 1:01.2 | AI data centers use a lot of electricity, and you may be paying for it. |
| 1:07.1 | I think it's almost inevitable that ordinary people are going to end up subsidizing |
| 1:12.6 | the wealthiest industry in the world. On the latest Planet Money podcast, how data centers |
| 1:18.4 | might be hijacking your electric bill. Listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 1:25.3 | You may have heard of OZempPEC and other GLP1 drugs. |
| 1:29.4 | They're everywhere and endorsed by the likes of Serena Williams. |
| 1:32.2 | For me, the answer was GLP1s. |
| 1:35.6 | That answer also meant a weekly injection. |
| 1:38.2 | Until now. |
... |
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