NPR News: 01-03-2025 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 3, 2025, 1 PM EST

Host: Louise Schiavone
Release Date: January 3, 2025

1. Speaker Election in the House of Representatives

The 119th Congress has commenced its legislative session with the critical task of electing a Speaker of the House. Mike Johnson, endorsed by President-Elect Donald Trump, is the leading candidate and remains optimistic about securing the position. Lisa McClain, the Republican Conference Chair, advocated for Johnson's leadership on the House floor:

[00:52] Lisa McClain: "Mike has remained the same kind and caring person as he was before he assumed this role. He's an honest broker. He shows you his true beliefs at face value. He is steadfast in his values of faith, family, and love of this country."

Despite McClain's endorsement, the election remains closely contested and may extend beyond a single ballot. The narrow margins underscore the potential for a protracted selection process.

2. President Biden to Visit New Orleans After Deadly Attack

In response to the tragic New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, which claimed 14 lives, President Biden is scheduled to visit the city on Monday. The visit aims to offer condolences and support to the affected community. The White House stated:

"The president and first lady will grieve with the community and meet with officials."

Drew Hawkins reports from New Orleans, highlighting the community's ongoing trauma. Tyler Burt, a Loyola University graduate student and pedicab driver, shared his personal experience:

[01:56] Tyler Burt: "We had a high five, and then I believe that he was run over while I was, like, in contact with him. So I just remember that was one of them, of him going under the vehicle."

Burt continues to grapple with the incident, emphasizing his resolve to confront fear with love:

[02:10] Tyler Burt: "I don't want to meet that with fear. I'd rather meet that with love. But at this time, I got to just make sure I'm capable of doing that."

3. Israeli Military Operations in Syria’s Golan Heights

Tensions escalate in the Golan Heights as Israeli troops reportedly raid Syrian homes and villages. Israel asserts that these actions are necessary for national security. Hadil Al Shalshi provides an in-depth look at the situation:

[02:32] Hadil Al Shalshi: "Israel says its move into the buffer zone that's monitored by the United Nations is aimed at keeping their borders secure."

The military operations commenced shortly after the overthrow of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad by the rebel group Hay etahri Rashem (HTS). Mohammed Faroukh, a resident near an Israeli checkpoint, expresses deep concern for his family's safety:

[02:52] Mohammed Faroukh: "My small daughter now wakes up at night shouting, 'a tank. A tank.'"

Faroukh fears further annexation and the expansion of Israeli settlements, heightening the region's instability.

4. Wall Street Rebounds and US-Japan Steel Acquisition Dispute

Wall Street shows signs of recovery, breaking a five-day losing streak with significant gains:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 258 points
• NASDAQ: Up 267 points

In related economic news, Nippon Steel Corporation has reacted to President Biden's decision to block the acquisition of Pittsburgh-based US Steel by the Japanese firm. Nippon Steel criticizes the administration's move as a choice that jeopardizes the future of American steelworkers for political reasons. President-Elect Trump previously opposed the deal as well. Biden justified his decision by emphasizing the importance of US ownership in steel manufacturing capacity:

"US Companies should represent the major share of US Steel making capacity."

5. Environmental Impact: Russian Oil Spill in the Black Sea

A significant environmental disaster unfolds off Russia’s Crimean Peninsula where two Russian oil tankers collided in a storm last December, resulting in a spill of heavy fuel oil. Charles Mainz reports on the ongoing cleanup efforts:

[04:00] Charles Mainz: "Russia's Ministry of Transportation classified the spill as the world's first involving heavy fuel oil, a factor complicating the cleanup effort."

The high density of the crude oil has hindered effective skimming, leading the Kremlin to declare a federal emergency. While authorities have removed approximately 80,000 tons of oil-contaminated sand, environmentalists argue the response is insufficient. Volunteers have taken a leading role in manually removing oil deposits and rescuing affected wildlife.

6. JetBlue Fined for Operational Delays

JetBlue Airways faces a hefty $2 million penalty imposed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for operating multiple flights with chronic delays. This marks the first instance of such a fine being levied against the airline. The penalty is structured as follows:

• $1 million to be paid to the U.S. government.
• $1 million allocated for compensating affected customers.

Louise Schiavone concludes with this report:

"JetBlue Airways has incurred a $2 million penalty for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. The Department of Transportation says this is the first time for such a fine. $1 million is to be paid to the US government. The other half will go to compensate affected customers."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on January 3, 2025. For those who missed the episode, this overview provides a clear and detailed account of the major news stories covered.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone in the House of Representative.

[Unknown Speaker]

The House come to order.

[Louise Schiavone]

The 119th Congress is taking up its first order of business, the election of a Speaker of the House. Mike Johnson has the support of President Elect Trump and has told reporters he is confident he will hold on to the gavel. Republican Conference care chair Lisa McClain led his defense on the House floor.

[Lisa McClain]

Mike has remained the same kind and caring person as he was before he assumed this role. He's an honest broker. He shows you his true beliefs at face value. He is steadfast in his values of faith, family and love of this country.

[Louise Schiavone]

The margins are close, and it could take more than one ballot. The White House says that President Biden will travel to New Orleans on Monday to meet with people affected by the New Year's Day attack in the city where 14 people were killed. In a statement, the White House said the president and first lady will grieve with the community and meet with officials. People in New Orleans are still reeling from the deadly New Year's Day attack. The Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins has this snatchup.

[Drew Hawkins]

Tyler Burt knows the streets of the French Quarter like the back of his hand. A graduate student at Loyola University by day and a pedicab driver by night, he was parting ways with his last customer for the night when the truck turned onto Bourbon Street.

[Tyler Burt]

We had a high five, and then I believe that he was run over while I was, like, in contact with him. So I just, I just remember that was one of them, of him going under the vehicle.

[Drew Hawkins]

Burt says he's still trying to recover from it, but it takes time.

[Tyler Burt]

I don't want to meet that with fear. I'd rather meet that with love. But at this time, I got to just make sure I'm capable of doing that.

[Drew Hawkins]

For NPR News, I'm Drew Hawkins in New Orleans.

[Louise Schiavone]

Residents of Syria's Golan Heights say Israeli troops are raiding their homes and villages. Israel says it is trying to protect its security. NPR's Hadil Al Shalshi has more from the Golan Heights.

[Hadil Al Shalshi]

Israel says its move into the buffer zone that's monitored. The United nations is aimed at keeping their borders secure. The military operation started just hours after the overthrow of the Syrian leader Bashar al Assad by the rebel group Hay etahri Rashem, or HTS. Mohammed Faroukh lives about 300 yards from an Israeli checkpoint in the Al Baath village. He says Israeli tanks roll into his village regularly. Faroukh said his small daughter now wakes up at night shouting, a tank. A tank. Out of fear. He says Syrians are worried there will be more annexation and more Israeli settlements in the area. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

In the Golan Heights, Wall street appears to be on track to break a five day losing streak. The Dow is up 258, the NASDAQ up 267. This is NPR News in Washington. Nippon Steel Corporation has responded to President Biden's decision to reject the acquisition of Pittsburgh based US Steel by the Japanese company. Nippon Steel charged Biden sacrificed the future of America's steelworkers for his own political agend. President Elect Trump also opposed the proposed deal. Biden said US Companies should represent the major share of US Steel making capacity. Oil cleanup efforts continue along Russia's Black Sea coastline. Last month, two Russian oil tankers collided off the contested Crimean Peninsula. NPR's Charles Mainz has more.

[Charles Mainz]

In a statement, Russia's Ministry of Transportation classified the spill as the world's first involving heavy fuel oil, a factor complicating the cleanup effort. The density of the crude said the ministry made skimming the oil off the sea's surface all but impossible. The Kremlin declared a federal emergency in the wake of the accident, and authorities say they've since removed some 80,000 tons of oil contaminated sand from the Russian coastline, a third of the total needed. Yet environmentalists have criticized the government cleanup operation as inadequate, with thousands of volunteers instead leading efforts to shovel up oil deposits and rescue wildlife. The spill occurred late December in the Kerch Strait when two Russian tankers were badly damaged in a storm. Charles Mainz, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

JetBlue Airways has incurred a $2 million penalty for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. The Department of Transportation says this is the first time for such a fine. $1 million is to be paid to the US government. The other half will go to compensate affected customers. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

[Unknown Speaker]

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