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Isa Soares Tonight
Pope Leo Calls for Peace, Unity Around the World; Kremlin "Analyzing" New 20-Point Peace Plan; Russia Launches Christmas Day Attack in Kherson; California Hit with Powerful Christmas Eve Storm; Justice Dept. Discovers Million More Possible Epstein Files. Aired 2-2:30p ET
Aired December 25, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN ANCHOR: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone. I'm Salma Abdelaziz in for Isa Soares, and this is a special edition of
Tonight.
As many people around the world celebrate Christmas today, Pope Leo is denouncing the suffering of those in Gaza while calling for courage to end
Ukraine's war with Russia. In his first Christmas message, the pontiff highlighted the conversation over conflict. The first U.S.-born pope urged
Russia and Ukraine to engage in direct talks to put an end to nearly four years of war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE LEO (through translator): This is the way of mission, a path towards others. In God, every word is an addressed word, is an invitation to
conversation, a word never closed in on itself. This is the renewal that the Second Vatican Council promoted, which will bear fruit only if we walk
together with the whole of humanity, never separating ourselves from it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Pope Leo also called out the devastating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, asking for justice, peace and stability in the
Palestinian territories, Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Our Chris Lamb is in Rome with more on these Christmas celebrations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, despite the cold and the rain, thousands gathered in St. Peter's for the first Christmas
celebrated by Pope Leo since his election. Leo was out in the Popemobile on Christmas Day and on Christmas Eve before the midnight mass, came out to
the square to greet the thousands gathered under umbrellas to follow the mass from outside. And he said he admired them for their courage in coming
out to be part of the celebrations.
Now, Leo, in his messages, has emphasized that Christmas is about peace. He specifically called for peace and for concern and solidarity with people in
Gaza. And he made that call during the homily that he gave on Christmas Day morning from St. Peter's Basilica.
POPE LEO (through translator): How then can we not think of the tents in Gaza exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold, of those so many others,
refugees and displaced persons on every continent, or of the makeshift shelters of thousands of homeless people in our own cities?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAMB: Leo came onto the balcony of St. Peter's, where he greeted people in different languages, wishing them a happy Christmas. He spoke in Arabic, in
Chinese and Polish, showing his linguistic skills. Leo, in his Christmas message, calling for the guns to fall silent in Ukraine before Christmas,
he said he hoped that there could be a ceasefire in Ukraine just for Christmas Day for 24 hours. He also talked about different conflicts taking
place around the world, trying to bring the Christmas message to the here and now in what he was saying. Leo, seeming in festive spirit, seeming
happy to be marking the first Christmas since his election.
Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABDELAZIZ: Now, while billions of Christians across the globe celebrate in peace today, Ukrainians are making their fourth straight Christmas under
the shadow of war. Authorities say one person was killed in a Russian strike on a market in Kherson as people were busy preparing for the
holidays. It follows Moscow's massive aerial attack earlier this week that prompted power cuts across the country. This comes as the Kremlin says it
is analyzing a new 20-point peace plan.
On Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled a willingness to compromise on what has been a major sticking point. The Ukrainian president indicated he
might withdraw troops from the Donbas to create a demilitarized zone if Russia agrees to do the same.
[14:05:00]
But Kyiv is also demanding security guarantees similar to NATO's Article 5. CNN's Nada Bashir has more details on what this new proposal contains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In his annual Christmas address to the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to those on
the front line as well as those celebrating the holidays away from home, praying for peace in Ukraine. But he also drew focus to Russia's continued
assault on the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): On Christmas Eve, the Russians once again showed us who they really are.
Massive shelling, hundreds of Shahed drones, ballistic missiles, Kinzhal missiles, everything was used. This is how godless people strike. This is
what those who have absolutely nothing in common with Christianity or with anything human do. But we are holding on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASHIR: Christmas Day in Ukraine was marked by yet another large-scale attack by Russia targeting a market in the center of Kherson. At least one
person is reported to have been killed, according to a regional military official. The attack comes despite apparent indications of progress in
peace talks. Zelenskyy this week signaled his willingness to make concessions on several key negotiation points, most crucially concessions
on withdrawing troops from parts of the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control.
In return, Russia would be expected to also withdraw its forces from parts of Ukraine, effectively ceding control of an equivalent amount of territory
and effectively establishing a demilitarized zone. The proposed withdrawal comes as part of a broader 20-point peace plan hammered out by the U.S. and
European allies.
In addition to concessions on territory, Ukraine is also asking for guarantees when it comes to its security and economic recovery through
concrete commitments from the U.S., as well as European and NATO states.
Moscow has not offered any details regarding peace talks. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier this week that the
Kremlin would continue to maintain contact in the near future through existing channels.
Nada Bashir, CNN in London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABDELAZIZ: Britain's royal family has attended their annual Christmas church service in Sandringham. The king and queen were joined by the prince
and princess of Wales, as well as their children, Beatrice and Eugenie. That's being seen as a show of support from the king, in spite of the
scandal that is surrounding their father, Andrew.
And earlier, King Charles broadcast his annual Christmas message in a prerecorded statement from Westminster Abbey. The king reflected on the
theme of a journey and a pilgrimage as he looked back on 2025.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING CHARLES, UNITED KINGDOM: A few weeks ago, the queen and I were delighted to make a state visit to the Vatican, where we prayed with Pope
Leo in a historic moment of spiritual unity. Together, we celebrated the jubilee theme, Pilgrims of Hope.
Pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it has particular significance for our modern world, and especially at Christmas. It is about journeying
forward into the future, while also journeying back to remember the past and learn from its lessons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now, British TV viewers saw a special musical moment at the beginning of the annual Christmas carol service, which aired last night.
The video was shown of Catherine, princess of Wales, and her daughter, Charlotte, playing a festive piano duet. The carol service, was filmed at
Westminster Abbey in London earlier this month, with about 1,600 people in attendance. A selection of British artists, saying and speakers, including
Prince William, actors Kate Winslet, and Chiwetel Ejiofor delivered poignant readings, all tied to the theme of love, compassion, and
connection.
Now, U.S. President Donald Trump is spending the Christmas holiday at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida. On Wednesday, he and the first lady took
part in a longstanding holiday tradition as they fielded calls from excited children across the country, awaiting Santa's arrival.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We track Santa all over the world. We want to make sure that Santa is being good. Santa is a very good person. We want
to make sure that he's not infiltrated, that we're not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa. So, we found out that Santa is good. Santa loves
you.
What would you like Santa to bring?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not coal.
TRUMP: Not coal. No, you don't want coal. Well, coal is -- you mean clean, beautiful coal. I had to do that. I'm sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now, following those calls, President Trump went on to post a Christmas message on social media, criticizing who he described as radical
left scum.
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In Bethlehem, in the West Bank, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, Christian worshippers attended Christmas mass at the Church of the Nativity. These
are Bethlehem's first Christmas festivities since the start of Israel-Hamas war made possible by a ceasefire that is for now largely holding. Christmas
mass was led by the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and despite the celebrations, the number of people attending is still, of course, very
limited, with one Palestinian politician expressing concerns to CNN about Israeli military checkpoints blocking the roads.
Now, in Australia, at Bondi Beach, Christmas was low-key in the wake of the December 14th mass shooting that killed 15 people at a Police patrolled the
beach, as you can see, as hundreds gathered, some in Santa hats for their annual traditions, but beachgoers are also thinking of the victims of that
horrific attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK CONROY, BRITISH TOURIST: I think it's tragic, and I think everybody respects and is very sad for what happened, and I think people here are out
on the beach because it's like a celebration, but everybody has got it in their memories, and everybody is respectful of what happened, and
everybody, and I mean everyone, is feeling for their family and friends who are going through the worst possible thing you could imagine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now, the attack has prompted stricter public meeting rules in Sydney that were just passed on Wednesday.
Still ahead, a powerful storm has hit much of California. We'll take a look at the forecast and what might be on the way. And then a surprise
announcement from the U.S. Justice Department related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. Our live report is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ABDELAZIZ: California is cleaning up from a powerful Christmas Eve storm and preparing for more wet weather. Here's a live look at conditions across
the state. Mountain regions have already seen several inches of snow, in other parts flooding due to heavy rain. The storm knocked over trees and
flooded major roadways. More than 7 million people across Southern California were at a high risk for flooding. CNN Meteorologist Allison
Chinchar has a preview of what's still to come.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: More than half a foot of rain has already fallen across portions of California, and these numbers are
expected to go up over the next 24 hours as more rain is expected to come into these areas. We have an excessive rainfall risk for the remainder of
today, as well as portions of Friday across Southern and Central California, in anticipation of the extra rain that is coming in.
Now, that first wave already began earlier this morning, that will continue through the afternoon and early evening hours, but then we have our next
round. That's to come in maybe around 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. local time tonight across portions of Northern and Central California, but that system begins
to slide southward so that by the time we really get into much of the latter half of the day Friday, the focus for rain will be over Southern
California.
Then the good news comes. Take a look at this as we head into the weekend, finally getting some much-needed drier conditions across that state.
[14:15:00]
Unfortunately, until we get to that drier portion, we still have more rain in the forecast. You're looking at widespread rainfall totals of an extra
one to three inches, but some of those spots, especially where you see the orange and red color here, could be looking at an extra four to six inches
total before this is all said and done.
In terms of snowpack, still looking at least an additional three feet of snow across the Sierras. This is going to make it very difficult for travel
over the next 24 to 48 hours, especially say if you're headed from Reno and Tahoe, maybe going west over to Sacramento or San Francisco or vice versa
in the opposite direction. You are likely going to encounter some delays on the roadways there just because of how much snow is expected to come down.
In addition to the rain and snow, we also have very gusty winds, and that's not just for California. You can see several neighboring states here also
looking at those high wind alerts where you could be looking at wind gusts up around 40, 50, even as much as 60 miles per hour as we head through the
next couple of days. So, that's also going to cause some travel concerns, mainly in the airways.
So, keep in mind, you may end up having some airline delays in some of these major cities. One thing we talked about again is the heavy amounts of
snow. Keep in mind, these three to six feet of additional snowfall is on top of what these areas have already had. And we know that many of these
locations have already picked up one to three feet just in the last few days, which is likely going to incur some additional travel problems.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABDELAZIZ: Thank you to Allison Chinchar for that report. Now, the U.S. Justice Department says it has lawyers working around the clock to go
through more than a million additional documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. It says it may need a few more weeks to make them
public. By law, all Epstein files were supposed to be released on December 19th. And there's growing frustration on Capitol Hill at the slow rollout,
with some lawmakers accusing the Trump administration of trying to hide information.
The Justice Department says it needs time to make proper redactions. Previous drops have mentioned President Donald Trump multiple times,
including details of his flights aboard Epstein's private jet. Now, Mr. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but we want to get more on
all of this from Kevin Liptak. He is in Florida, where President Trump is spending the Christmas holiday. Thank you, first of all, for being with us
on this Christmas day, Kevin.
Just talk, talk me through the reaction. It's been about a day now since the Justice Department has made that announcement, that discovery,
uncovering a million documents, which apparently had not been found previously. What has been the reaction? What has been the fallout to this
shocking announcement?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, Salma, I don't think anyone thinks that this is necessarily good news, that there is actually an
additional million documents that they have to start going through.
And I think for the White House, the reaction is twofold. One, there's a recognition that this drip, drip, drip of information is just going to
continue. And that is what I think is really kind of frustrating to a lot of officials, is that every couple of days now, they have to react to this
new tranche of information, including mentions of President Trump. And, you know, so far, there haven't been any major revelations, necessarily.
But every time, it does seem to shed some new light and add some new layers to what we know about the two men's relationship. That is just politically
inconvenient for President Trump. I think the second one is that it just makes this whole process look a little haphazard and leads and fuels the
accusations that the administration is orchestrating a cover-up somehow.
And, you know, from the perspective of the White House, who fought for so long to prevent this law from being passed that would require all of these
documents to come out before President Trump eventually got on board, when it became clear that almost every Republican was going to buck him on that.
I think it's just, again, an inconvenience politically for them to have to deal with. But the recognition, at least when you talk to officials now, is
that they're just going to have to get through this. And the only way to get around it is to sort of plow through.
You know, you know, Susie Wiles, she's the White House chief of staff. I think she sort of characterized it in a way that so many officials view it.
She thought that the attorney general had just whiffed it. That's what she told Vanity Fair in that strikingly candid interview that came out earlier
this month. That is, I think, the view of so many people who are involved in this.
Now, today, we're hearing from Democrats, you know, who have said that the administration isn't being forthcoming. Robert Garcia, he's the top
Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said that it was outrageous that the DOJ has illegally withheld these one million documents from the public.
Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, said that justice delayed is justice denied.
And what they're pointing to is the fact that these documents, they're coming from the Southern District of New York, which is the office that
prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
[14:20:00]
That prosecution happened years ago, you know, 2019, 2020. There's no answer, really, about what happened to these documents in the ensuing
years. So, still, I think a lot of questions, actually, for the Justice Department to explain, although right now they seem to have their hands
full in redacting these documents and actually getting them released, Salma.
ABDELAZIZ: Their hands full redacting these documents. That's really important in the sense from critics that it's haphazard, that they just
whiffed it. Speaking on those redactions, there's been a lot of controversy around them, of course. Some people have been accusing the Justice
Department of redacting too much, not, you know, covering up the names of co-conspirators or not redacting enough in terms of victims. We were
playing images of just entirely blacked out pages as you were speaking.
How can they handle these reductions differently to where maybe they won't be facing those types of controversies?
LIPTAK: Yes, because it is a balance, right? Like, they have to get these documents out. They're under pressure. The deadline has already passed. So,
they do need to redact them fairly quickly. And, you know, ordinarily when the Justice Department is going through a process like this, they do have
more time and they are able to do it a little more carefully to ensure that all of the information that is able to get out is unredacted.
But at the same time, they do want to protect these victims, and it does seem as if they're erring on the side of over-redaction to ensure that some
of these names that shouldn't be out in the public sphere aren't out there.
But, you know, at the end of the day, you know, this law was passed for the victims who want some answers here. And so, far they have not been able to
get some of, I guess, the revelations that they had been hoping to get from these documents from what has been released, in part because they haven't
gotten to some of them yet. You know, the charging documents and the charging memos and some of the prosecutorial information just hasn't been
released yet. You know, redacted or not, they just haven't put it out.
You have seen in some cases the Justice Department actually taking documents down when there have been issues raised that some of the women's
images or names have been put out there. So, I do think it's a delicate process that they're trying to get through, but it has left no one happy.
You know, the victims aren't happy. Their advocates aren't happy. Members of Congress aren't happy. And in fact, they're talking about bringing
contempt charges up against Pam Bondi.
So, it is a chaotic process, a haphazard process that they're just going, I think, to have to plow through until all of these pages are out.
ABDELAZIZ: It's so important to remind our viewers that ultimately, at its core, this process is about getting victims answers. Thank you so much,
Kevin, for breaking that down for us.
LIPTAK: Yes.
ABDELAZIZ: Now, still ahead, it is a Christmas tradition made to be broken. We'll take a look at Mexico's love of Christmas pinatas.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ABDELAZIZ: Boldly colored pinatas stuffed with sweet treats are a familiar sight across Mexico on Christmas. Many are lovingly made by hand, even
though they are ultimately meant to be broken. Polo Sandoval has more on this tradition that's sure to crack a smile.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Star-shaped pinatas in Mexico. The colorful paper shapes won't last long after a few well-placed
hits from partygoers. But this holiday tradition in Mexico, it's about more than just candy.
[14:25:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I think pinatas unite us. The fun that breaking pinatas brings.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): You see, making pinatas is a labor of love in some Mexican workshops, especially the star-shaped ones, which are the star
attractions of Mexican Christmas parties called posadas. They commemorate Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. The seven points of the star
symbolize the seven deadly sins and the sweet treats inside. They're the reward for good overcoming evil. And in the weeks before Christmas,
everyone in this shop pitches in to help with production, even those still learning the family business.
JAYDAN HERNANDEZ ORTIZ, FAMILY OWNS PINATA BUSINESS (voice-over): This time of year is beautiful because it's a tradition carried out every year,
started by my grandmother, now passed on. I am the third generation continuing this tradition.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): A product made to be destroyed, but workers say they still put a lot of love into them.
JAQUELINE GARCIA GONZALEZ, ARTISAN (through translator): We always try to give it that touch, some love, so that people are attracted to them.
Because sometimes when you make things in a rush or just for the sake of making them, well, you don't transmit that. And that's what we look for in
pinatas.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): From the workshops to the posada, star pinatas are a tradition dating back centuries, bursting with the Christmas spirit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I mean, we like parties. We like to put emotion into everything. And the colors reflect that. They reflect
it as a symbol of joy.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): Paula Sandoval, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABDELAZIZ: In the German capital, swimmers, young and old alike, took a cold Christmas day plunge to ring in the holidays. Dressed in their Santa
hats, as you can see, and Christmas garb, the Berlin seals braved a frigid lake earlier today. The temperature outside was just minus eight degrees
Celsius. Members of the group range in age from 12 to nearly 90 years old. The tradition has been going on for over 40 years.
Now, finally, before we go, a sheriff in Ohio was surprised to find the driver he pulled over for speeding appeared to be Santa Claus. Police body
cam footage shows a man behind the wheel dressed like jolly old St. Nick and a passenger dressed as Mrs. Claus. In the video, the sheriff asked
Santa for identification and then shared a laugh with the couple over the very unique situation. A Facebook post on the Fulton County Sheriff's page
says the Santa driver was left off with a warning and a friendly reminder to just slow down.
Thank you so much for watching us tonight. I'm Salma Abdelaziz. Stay with CNN "Seasons: Slow Luxury" with Laura Jackson is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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