Fresh Air · 2025-12-29 · 50 min · 8,470 words

Comic Cristela Alonzo

Listen to the original audio · Transcribed with NVIDIA Parakeet · Timestamps stay in sync with the live audio

We the people make a free press possible. Together we hold power to account with reporting for the public, funded by the public. It takes all of us to protect the future of public media. Make your gift now at donate.npr.org. Hi, it's Terry Gross.

Somehow we're almost at the end of 2025. It's been a rough year for a lot of people and for NPR and all public radio stations because of the elimination of all federal funding for public media. Despite that loss and despite attacks on the free press, we are still here for you. We will not shy away from exercising the right to editorial independence. guaranteed by the First Amendment, and with your support, we will not be silenced.

NPR will keep reporting the news without fear or favor. And here at Fresh Air, we will keep bringing you interviews with investigative reporters, uncovering some of the most important stories of our time, as well as interviews with authors, actors, directors, musicians, composers, scientists, health experts, religion scholars, and more. If you're already an NPR Plus supporter, thank you so much. We're so grateful for you.

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