Hi, Run here. Somehow we are almost at the end of 2025. A lot happened this year, and it's been a tough one for NPR and local stations. We lost federal funding for public media. We've seen relentless attacks on a free press, but we're not going anywhere. Here at ThruLine, we will keep bringing you immersive, entertaining stories that answer our guiding question.

How did we get here?

If you're already a ThruLine Plus supporter, thank you so much.

We see you, and we're really grateful for you.

If not, please consider joining the community of public radio supporters

right now before the end of the year at plus.npr.org. Signing up unlocks a bunch of perks like

bonus episodes and more from across NPR's podcasts. Plus, you get to feel good about supporting

public media while you listen.

End the year on a high note and invest in a public service that matters to you.

Visit plus.npr.org today.

Thanks.

Welcome back to ThruLines Winter Book Club.

Today, we're going to start by telling you a story.

Once upon a time,

Of all the good days in the year on Christmas Eve, old Scrooge sat busy in his counting

house.

It was cold, bleak, biting weather, foggy with all, and he could hear the people in the court

outside go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts,

and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them.

The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already.

The door of Scrooge's counting house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk,

whom in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters.

...