NPR News: 12-08-2025 12AM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is Ira Glass. On This American Life, we tell stories about when things change. Like for this guy, David, whose entire life took a sharp, unexpected, and very unpleasant turn. And it did take me a while to realize it's basically because the monkey pressed the button.
What unexpected event changed David's life?
That's right. Because the monkey pressed the button. Surprising stories every week, wherever you get your podcasts.
Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dualisa Kautel. For the first time ever, the annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala was hosted by a U.S. president. Donald Trump and his wife Melania were photographed in formal black attire, visibly joyful during tributes. to the actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford, the singers Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, and the band Kiss. Before the star-studded festivities, Trump told reporters about the current negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russia-Ukraine I thought was going to be a little bit easier, but it's not being made easy. It's a very tough war, very nasty. 27,000 people died last month, mostly soldiers.
This weekend, Russia continued massive strikes on Ukraine, and Moscow said it had shot down some 77 Ukrainian drones. Days after clearing Congressman Henry Cuellar of federal corruption charges, President Trump went after him on social media, saying he showed a lack of loyalty by filing for re-election as a Democrat, despite speculation that he might switch parties. Texas Public Radio's Dan Katz reports.
Cuellar and his wife had been accused of taking about $600,000 in bribes from an oil and gas company tied to the Azerbaijan government and from a bank in Mexico City. Last week, the president said he's pardoning the couple. But in a post on Truth Social Sunday, Trump slammed the congressman for running again as a Democrat, accusing Cuellar of choosing to work with the same party that, quote, wanted him and his wife to spend the rest of their lives in prison, unquote. Cuellar told Fox News Sunday he's praying for the president and the country to be successful. The pardon came a day after a Republican candidate, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, announced his bid to challenge Cuellar in the South Texas district that just became more competitive due to the GOP's mid-cycle redistricting.
I'm Dan Katz in San Antonio.
Qatar, a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, says formal negotiations still have not begun for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Doha.
One last Israeli hostage body needs to be handed over from Hamas to Israel, and then the ceasefire's second phase can begin, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That phase would include Hamas laying down its weapons and Israeli troops withdrawing. But Majid El-Ansari, advisor to the prime minister of Qatar, told reporters talks haven't started yet.
What was the significance of the Kennedy Center Honors Gala?
I cannot tell you that these talks will begin tomorrow. I cannot tell you they will begin next week. But the communication that is taking place between all the parties is based on applying pressure in order to move to stage two.
He said the Trump administration is applying pressure on Israel to move forward on the ceasefire. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Doha, Qatar.
The Royal Thai Army has launched missile attacks against Cambodia following fresh-arm clashes along their shared borders on Sunday. Evacuation orders were also announced in four border provinces. This is NPR News. In Southern California, thousands of people gathered over the weekend for one of the oldest outdoor holiday tree lighting displays in the U.S., a pastime that many thought wouldn't happen after the L.A. fires. From Altadena, Stephen Cuevas reports.
For over a century, the dozens of hundred-foot-tall cedar trees lining Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena come alive each December with a colorful galaxy of lights. It was feared the mile-long stretch of cedars would have been lost in the Eaton Fire. They survived, shielding scores of homes below their branches. Altadena's representative in Congress, Judy Chu, called Saturday night's celebration a moment of healing and triumph.
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