NPR News: 01-04-2025 10PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Title: NPR News: 01-04-2025 10PM EST
Release Date: January 5, 2025
Host: Windsor Johnston
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. Memorial Service for President Jimmy Carter

Windsor Johnston opens the episode by reporting on the heartfelt memorial service held in Atlanta to honor the late President Jimmy Carter. Friends and family gathered to celebrate Carter’s enduring legacy.

Jason Carter, President Carter’s grandson, delivered a poignant tribute:

“Celebrating this incredible life and a life that I think we can all agree is as full and powerful as any life can be. As someone said, it's amazing what you can cram into 100 years.”
[00:38]

The service marks the beginning of President Carter’s motorcade from his birthplace in Plains, Georgia, heading to Washington, D.C. for a state funeral scheduled at the National Cathedral on January 9th. President Carter will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Building, allowing the public to pay their respects.

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2. Impending Major Winter Storm

A significant weather alert dominates the news as a massive winter storm approaches the United States. Windsor Johnston introduces the segment, highlighting the National Weather Service's warning that 62 million Americans are in the storm's path.

Monte Carana provides detailed forecasts:

“This year's first major winter storm is predicted to bring blizzard-like conditions to the Central Plains on Sunday. There is expected to be at least 8 inches of snow from central Kansas to Indiana. The storm will reach the east coast by Sunday night.”
[01:36]

Carana warns of potential travel delays, hazardous road conditions due to icy precipitation, and possible power outages. Additionally, severe thunderstorms are anticipated to impact the southern regions on Sunday, compounding the storm's effects.

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3. Elon Musk's Support for Far-Right Politicians

In a politically charged segment, Windsor Johnston reports on Elon Musk's increasing support for far-right politicians globally, raising concerns about its implications for U.S. policy.

Lauren Frayer from London details Musk's controversial remarks:

“It started last summer when Elon Musk, a self-described free speech advocate, called Britain a police state for people who'd posted disinformation that led to race riots. Zinseni's called for the release of a far-right Islamophobe jailed in the UK for assault and fraud.”
[02:26]

Musk has recently accused British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of inadequately prosecuting child rapists and endorsed a post urging the king to remove Starmer—an action beyond the monarch's constitutional powers. Although some far-right figures like Nigel Farage have sought donations from Musk, they have distanced themselves from his latest statements. British citizens remain baffled by Musk's involvement, especially with his impending role in the Trump administration, leaving many to speculate on potential shifts in U.S. foreign and domestic policies.

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4. Tragic Attack in New Orleans

A tragic incident unfolded in New Orleans as a man rammed a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, resulting in significant casualties. Windsor Johnston provides the grim details:

The attacker, a U.S.-born citizen from Texas, had previously rented the truck and was found with suspected bomb-making materials in his home. Authorities reported that weeks before the attack, he had acquired a cooler and gun oil, suggesting premeditation. The assault claimed at least 14 lives and injured dozens more. The suspect was fatally killed in a subsequent shootout with police, bringing an end to a violent rampage that shocked the community.

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5. Breakthrough in Marsupial Mole Research

In a surprising turn from the day's grim news, Windsor Johnston shares an intriguing scientific discovery about the elusive marsupial mole.

Nell Greenfield Boyce reports on the genetic analysis conducted by scientists:

“This mole is so rare, a mere sighting in the wild makes headlines. To learn more about it, researchers analyzed DNA from a single dead mole stored in a museum.”
[04:05]

Sarah Lucas from the University of Munster in Germany explains the findings:

“I think that's definitely one of the major findings of this paper because they were listed as extremely endangered, because we had no idea about what their population dynamics were happening. And again, it's really hard to find a living one.”
[04:28]

The study, published in Science Advances, reveals that the marsupial mole's population experienced a sudden decline approximately 70,000 years ago, likely due to historical climate changes. This discovery sheds light on the species' vulnerability and underscores the importance of preserving such rare creatures.

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Windsor Johnston concludes the episode, encapsulating the day's significant events from national tributes and severe weather to political controversies and scientific breakthroughs.

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This summary excludes advertisements and non-content segments to focus solely on the podcast's informative discussions and key insights.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Family and friends gathered at a memorial service to honor the late President Jimmy Carter. In Atlanta tonight, the former president's grandson, Jason Carter, spoke about his grandfather's legacy.

[Jason Carter]

Celebrating this incredible life and a life that I think we can all agree is as full and powerful as any life can be. As someone said, it's amazing what you can cram into 100 years.

[Windsor Johnston]

President Carter's motorcade started in southern Georgia today, where he was born and raised on a farm in Plains. The procession is scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, where he will lie in state at the U.S. capitol Building. His official state funeral will be held at the National Cathedral on January 9th. A massive winter storm is forecast to hit more than two dozen states in the U.S. the National Weather Service says heavy snowfall, icy conditions, sleet and rain are expected to hit the Central Plains, the Mid Atlantic region and the southern U.S. over the next several days. NPR's Mansi Khurana reports. 62 million Americans are in the path of the storm.

[Monte Carana]

This year's first major winter storm is predicted to bring blizzard like conditions to the Central Plains on Sunday. There is expected to be at least 8 inches of snow from central Kansas to Indiana. The storm will reach the east coast by Sunday night. Travel delays are possible, especially if rain begins to freeze into ice. This can also make road conditions dangerous and power outages can occur. Severe thunderstorms are expected to roll into the south on Sunday. Monte Carana, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Billionaire Elon Musk is expressing his support for far right politicians around the world. In recent days, Musk has stepped up his criticism of Britain's centre left government and prime minister. NPR's Lauren Frere reports from London.

[Lauren Frayer]

It started last summer when Elon Musk, a self described free speech advocate, called Britain a police state for people who'd posted disinformation that led to race riots. Zinseni's called for the release of a far right Islamophobe jailed in the UK for assault and fraud. This week, Musk falsely accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to go after child rapists and endorsed a post calling for the king to remove Starmer from power, something the monarch isn't allowed to do. Even the far right British MP Nigel Farage, who's courted Musk for donations, has distanced himself from some of his comments. Many Britons are perplexed by Musk's interest and wonder what it portends for US Policy, with Musk slated for a role in the incoming Trump administration. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News in Washington. The man who rammed a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon street in New Orleans had suspected bomb making materials at his home. Officials told the Associated Press that the driver had resumed the rental truck weeks ago and had purchased a cooler and gun oil before the attack. At least 14 people were killed and dozens of others were injured. The man, a US Born citizen from Texas, was killed in a shootout with police. Scientists have analyzed DNA from a mysterious and elusive animal, the marsupial molecule. As NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports, the mole tunnels beneath the sands of remote deserts in Australia.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

This mole is so rare, a mere sighting in the wild makes headlines. To learn more about it, researchers analyzed DNA from a single dead mole stored in a museum. Sarah Lucas is with the University of Munster in Germany. She says the genetic evidence suggests that this mole's population size abruptly crashed about 70,000 years ago.

[Sarah Lucas]

I think that's definitely one of the major findings of this paper because they were listed as extremely endangered, because we had no idea about what their population dynamics were happening. And again, it's really hard to find a living one.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

A report on the finding in the journal Science Advances says the decline may have happened during a period of past climate change. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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