NPR News: 11-19-2024 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – Episode Released November 19, 2024

President-Elect Trump's Treasury Secretary Selection Sparks Public Debate

In the latest developments surrounding President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet appointments, the selection of the next U.S. Treasury Secretary remains uncertain. Host Shea Stevens reports that billionaire investors Howard Lutnick and Scott Besant are strong contenders for the position. "It's turned into a little bit of Game of Thrones at Mar-a-Lago," explains NPR's Maria Aspin ([00:46]). Both Lutnick and Besant have been actively campaigning, writing op-eds, and participating in interviews to showcase their support for Trump.

The competition intensified over the weekend when Elon Musk, the influential CEO of Tesla, publicly weighed in on the selection process. Musk took to the social media platform X, stating that Besant would be a "business as usual choice" and expressed his preference for Lutnick ([00:46]). This endorsement has added significant pressure to the decision-making process, highlighting the high stakes and internal dynamics at play within Trump's circle.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Backs Republicans in Mail-In Ballot Dispute

Transitioning to the political arena, Shea Stevens highlights a pivotal decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court favoring Republican groups in the ongoing battle over mail-in ballots. Hansi Lewong details the court's ruling, which mandates that county election officials refrain from counting mail-in ballots that arrived on time but have discrepancies in the return envelope dates ([01:38]).

State law requires voters to sign and date the outer return envelope, raising questions about the constitutionality of rejecting ballots based on incorrect dates. The Republican National Committee prompted the court to intervene after several counties opted to count what are known as "undermined ballots." Additionally, a related lawsuit filed by Republican candidate David McCormick, who is undergoing a recount in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race, seeks to have undated and misstated ballots counted, echoing his arguments from two years prior ([01:38]). This decision underscores the ongoing partisan tensions surrounding election integrity in the state.

President Biden Authorizes Ukraine to Utilize U.S. Ballistic Missiles Inside Russia

In international news, President Joe Biden has granted Ukraine permission to deploy U.S. ballistic missiles deeper into Russian territory, a move that Ukrainian forces have long awaited. Greg Myhre reports that this authorization permits the use of ATACMS missiles against Russian and North Korean forces amid intense clashes ([02:22]).

Ukraine aims to retain territories it seized in western Russia in August, contending that Russian military movements behind the front lines justify long-range attacks. Initially, Biden resisted approving such actions, citing concerns that Ukrainian strikes within Russia could escalate the conflict further. However, as the Biden administration approaches the final months of its term, signals indicate a commitment to providing robust support to Ukraine. Myhre summarizes, "The Biden administration has been signaling that it wants to do what it can to help Ukraine during his final months in office" ([02:31]).

Former U.S. Soldier Sentenced for Capitol Riots Attack

Shea Stevens reports a significant legal development involving former U.S. soldier Edward Richmond Jr., who has been sentenced to over four years in prison for assaulting police officers during the Capitol riots in January 2021 ([03:15]). At 41 years old, Richmond had previously faced court-martial charges related to a decades-old fatal shooting of a handcuffed civilian in Iraq.

During the sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge John Bates remarked that Richmond "seemed to be genuinely remorseful" for his actions ([03:15]). This sentencing marks a notable case in the ongoing efforts to address and hold accountable those involved in the violent events at the Capitol, reflecting the broader legal and societal repercussions of the January 6th insurrection.

Russia Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Amid Sudan Crisis

The United Nations Security Council faced a setback as Russia exercised its veto power against a resolution aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire in Sudan. Linda Fasulo provides an in-depth analysis of the situation, where the proposed resolution by Britain and Sierra Leone sought to end hostilities between Sudanese government forces and the rebel RSF, urging dialogue toward a national ceasefire ([03:59]).

The resolution also called for humanitarian pauses to facilitate the safe passage of civilians and the delivery of aid across Sudan. Following the veto, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned Russia's action as "unconscionable," emphasizing the dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan ([03:59]). In contrast, the Sudanese government praised the veto, aligning with Russia's stance amidst ongoing violence that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 10 million people since the civil war began in April 2023.

Wall Street Futures Remain Flat After Mixed Market Performance

Concluding the episode, Shea Stevens touches on the financial markets, noting that U.S. futures remained flat in after-hours trading following a mixed close in Asia-Pacific markets. Despite variations in regional performances, Wall Street showed stability as investors digested the latest economic indicators and global events ([04:42]).

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode, providing listeners and readers with a clear understanding of the major news stories covered, complete with notable quotes and attributions.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. As President elect Donald Trump makes choices to fill his Cabinet, the process of picking the next US treasury secretary is unclear. Some observers believe that Trump will choose between billionaire investors Howard Lutnick and Scott Besant. But NPR's Maria Aspin reports that supporters of both candidates, including Elon Musk, are publicly fighting over who should get the job.

[Maria Aspin]

It's turned into a little bit of Game of Thrones at Mar a Lago. You know, Lutnick and Besant have been publicly campaigning to a certain extent, writing op EDS and giving interviews about how great Donald Trump is. And some of this is, you know, the usual auditioning. But then over the weekend, things did get messy in public. Enter Elon Musk. He's, of course, the Tesla CEO, the billionaire who's exerting a tremendous amount of influence on Trump's new government. Musk posted on X that Besant would be a, quote, business as usual choice and that Musk would prefer Lutnik.

[Shea Stevens]

NPR's Mayor Aspen Maria Aspin reporting. Pennsylvania Supreme Court is siding with Republican groups in the latest wrangling over the state's mail in ballots. As NPR's Hansi Lewong reports, it's a long running battle over ballots from this year's general election.

[Hansi Lewong]

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered the state's county election officials not to count mail in ballots that arrived on time, but in envelopes without the correct date, handwritten by the voter. State law requires a voter to sign and date the outer return envelope, but it's an open question whether rejecting ballots for not having the correct date violates Pennsylvania's constitution. The Republican National Committee asked the state Supreme Court to weigh in after some counties decided to tally what are often called und misstated ballots. A related lawsuit was also filed by David McCormick, the Republican whom the Associated Press declared last week the winner of Pennsylvania's U.S. senate race that's undergoing a recount. Two years ago, McCormick argued in court that undated and misstated ballots should be counted. Hansi Lewong, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

President Biden says it's okay for Ukraine to fire U.S. ballistic missiles deeper into Russia. As NPR's Greg Meiber reports, Ukraine waited a long time for that approval.

[Greg Myhre]

President Biden's decision will allow the Ukrainians to use the missiles known as ATACMS against Russian and North Korean forces in ongoing heavy fighting. Ukraine is trying to hold territory it captured inside western Russia back in August. Ukraine has long argued that Russia moves troops and weapons freely behind the front lines on the Russian side of the border because Ukraine can attack from long distance. Biden had resisted this move, saying Ukrainian attacks with US Weapons inside Russia could lead to an escalation in the war. But the Biden administration has been signaling that it wants to do what it can to help Ukraine during his final months in office. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

This is NPR. A former U.S. soldier has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for attacking police officers during the capitol riots in January 2021. 41 year old Edward Richmond Jr. Had already been court martialed for a decades old fatal shooting of a handcuffed civilian during the in Iraq. U.S. district Court Judge John Bates told Richmond during sentencing on Monday that he seemed to be genuinely remorseful. Russia has vetoed a Security Council resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over 10 million have been displaced since the civil war there began in April 2023. More from Linda Fasulo.

[Linda Fasulo]

The Security Council draft resolution proposed by Britain and Sierra Leone calls on Sudanese government forces and the rebel RSF to immediate end hostilities and begin dialogue with the aim of achieving a national ceasefire. It also urges the warring parties to agree to humanitarian pauses to allow the safe passage of civilians and delivery of aid across Sudan. After the veto, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield said it was unconscionable that Russia would cynically stand in the way of demanding actions to save lives in what she called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, the Sudanese government commended the Russian veto for NPR News amid SULO in New York.

[Shea Stevens]

US Futures are flat in after hours trading on Wall street following Monday's mixed close on Asia Pacific markets. Shares are higher at the sour. I'm Shea Stevens. This is NPR News.

[Maria Aspin]

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[Maria Aspin]

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