NPR News: 01-07-2025 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 7, 2025, 11 AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Producer: NPR

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1. Biden Administration Announces Rule to Remove Medical Debt from Credit Reports

Speaker: Asma Khalid
Timestamp: [00:13 - 00:26]

The Biden administration, through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), has unveiled a new rule aimed at alleviating the financial burden on millions of Americans by removing medical debt from credit reports. Asma Khalid reports:

“Tens of millions of people in the United States are saddled with medical bills they cannot pay, sometimes forcing them to drain their savings... This means some people may see their credit scores improve and have an easier time receiving a mortgage.” [00:26]

The rule is expected to eliminate $49 billion in unpaid medical bills from credit histories, potentially enhancing credit scores and facilitating access to mortgages. While the CFPB has prioritized addressing medical debt, the future of this initiative remains uncertain under a forthcoming Trump administration, given longstanding Republican criticisms of the agency.

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2. Special Counsel Jack Smith Prepares Final Report on Trump Investigations

Speaker: Carrie Johnson
Timestamp: [01:05 - 01:23]

Special Counsel Jack Smith is set to submit his final report concerning investigations into President-Elect Donald Trump. Carrie Johnson details the unfolding situation:

“Attorney General Merrick Garland will decide how much of the report to make public in the days ahead... Two other defendants, longtime Trump aides, are still being prosecuted over the classified papers at Mar A Lago.” [01:23]

The comprehensive two-volume report is expected to cover allegations of 2020 election interference and the mishandling of classified documents. While Trump's legal team seeks to prevent the report's release, Attorney General Merrick Garland has pledged transparency in prosecutorial decisions. The outcome of this release remains a focal point of political and public interest.

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3. Central U.S. and Mid-Atlantic States Recovering from Winter Storm; New Storm Approaches South

Speaker: Peter Mullinax
Timestamp: [02:01 - 02:25]

A significant winter storm has impacted the Central U.S. and Mid-Atlantic regions, bringing several inches of snow and ice from Missouri to New Jersey. Approximately 60,000 customers in Virginia still lack power. Looking ahead, meteorologist Peter Mullinax warns of an impending winter storm targeting the southern United States:

“We're going to end up seeing areas of snow and ice start to take shape across parts of northern Texas, southern Oklahoma... leading to some pretty disruptive and even significant snow and ice accumulations in parts of those regions.” [02:25]

The National Weather Service anticipates that the new storm will cause widespread disruptions as it moves through the Gulf Coast and into the lower Mississippi Valley by Friday.

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4. National Weather Service Warns of Dangerously Strong Winds in Los Angeles

Timestamp: [02:49]

The National Weather Service has issued warnings for the Los Angeles area regarding dangerously strong winds expected today. These winds could reach hurricane strength, posing significant risks by potentially blowing over tractor trailers and large trees, creating life-threatening conditions.

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5. Earthquake in Tibet Claims at Least 126 Lives

Timestamp: [02:49]

Chinese state media reports a powerful earthquake struck Tibet near Mount Everest, resulting in at least 126 fatalities. The region has experienced numerous aftershocks, compounding the devastation caused by the initial tremor.

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6. McDonald's Rolls Back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies

Speaker: Kristen Wright
Timestamp: [03:40 - 04:22]

McDonald's has announced a strategic shift in its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as reported by Kristen Wright:

“McDonald's will no longer set goals for diverse representation... McDonald's is also ending a pledge with suppliers that encourage them to increase leadership and staffing opportunities for people of color in their own companies.” [03:40]

The fast-food giant attributes this change to a shifting legal landscape, notably the 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action in college admissions. This move aligns with a broader trend of corporate DEI policy rollbacks, with McDonald's emphasizing its continued commitment to inclusion despite the policy changes. The incoming Trump administration is expected to challenge similar corporate diversity programs.

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7. Former President Jimmy Carter to Lie in State; State Funeral Planned

Timestamp: [04:22]

The nation prepares to honor former President Jimmy Carter following his passing. Carter's body will be transported to Washington, D.C., where he will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Building. His state funeral is scheduled for Thursday, after which he will be laid to rest in his hometown of Plains, Georgia.

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8. Getty Images and Shutterstock to Merge in $3.7 Billion Deal

Timestamp: [04:22]

In a significant move within the visual content industry, Getty Images and Shutterstock have announced their merger, creating a consolidated company valued at $3.7 billion. The merged entity will operate under the Getty Images name, aiming to enhance their market presence and expand their offerings in the competitive landscape of visual content services.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductions, and non-content segments to focus solely on the key news topics discussed in the episode.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. The Biden administration says a new rule will remove medical debt from Americans credit reports. NPR's Asma Khalid says the change was announced today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

[Asma Khalid]

Tens of millions of people in the United States are saddled with medical bills they cannot pay, sometimes forcing them to drain their savings. Under this new rule, medical debt will no longer be listed on anyone's credit report. The White House says today's Rule will remove $49 billion in unpaid medical bills from people's credit reports. This means some people may see their credit scores improve and have an easier time receiving a mortgage. The CFPB has made going after medical debt a priority, but some congressional Republicans have long crit to the agency and it's not clear what will happen in a new Trump administration. Asma Khalid, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Special counsel Jack Smith is preparing to submit his final report in the investigations of President Elect Trump. This comes as Trump's lawyers are asking the Justice Department to block the report's release. And Pierce Kerry Johnson tells us the two volume report will be transmitted to the attorney general today.

[Carrie Johnson]

Attorney General Merrick Garland will decide how much of the report to make public in the days ahead. During his confirmation hearings, Garland said said he wanted to be transparent about the decisions prosecutors made. Special counsel Jack Smith has been unwinding his investigations of Trump because the Justice Department believes a sitting president cannot be prosecuted. But many people have been waiting to read his final report about 2020 election interference and the mishandling of classified documents. Two other defendants, longtime Trump aides, are still being prosecuted over the classified papers at Mar A Lago. They're fighting the idea of any more information in that case becoming public. Carrie Johnson, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Washing Parts of the Central U.S. and Mid Atlantic states are recovering from a powerful winter storm. It dumps several inches of snow and ice from Missouri to New Jersey. There are nearly 60,000 customers in Virginia who still don't have power back now, National Weather Service meteorologist Peter Mullinax says there is a new winter storm preparing to strike the south starting at the Gulf Coast.

[Peter Mullinax]

We're going to end up seeing areas of snow and ice start to take shape across parts of northern Texas, southern Oklahoma as we get into Thursday morning. And then by the time we get to Thursday night into Friday, snow and ice will make its way across the architects region and lower Mississippi Valley that will ultimately lead to some pretty disruptive and even significant snow and ice accumulations in parts of those regions.

[Korva Coleman]

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service is warning the Los Angeles area of dangerously strong winds today. These could be life threatening. Forecasters say some winds could gust to hurricane strength. These could blow over tractor trailers and even huge trees. On Wall street, the Dowie is up about 80 points. You're listening to NPR News. Chinese state media say a powerful earthquake in Tibet not far from Mount Everest has killed at least 126 people today. There have been dozens of aftershocks. McDonald's is the latest major corporation to announce it's rolling back some policies it implemented to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive company. NPR's Kristen Wright reports. The fast food giant made the announcement in an open letter to employees.

[Kristen Wright]

McDonald's will no longer set goals for diverse representation. It says more than 30% of its U.S. leaders are members of underrepresented groups. McDonald's is also ending a pledge with suppliers that encourage them to increase leadership and staffing opportunities for people of color in their own companies. McDonald's cites a shifting legal landscape and the 2023 Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action in college admissions. The company's move is just the most recent in a series of corporate DEI rollbacks. McDonald's says it benchmarked its new approach to what some other companies are doing. It maintains it is still committed to inclusion. The incoming Trump administration is expected to challenge corporate diversity programs. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The body of former President Jimmy Carter will be flown to Washington, D.C. today. He will lie in state in the U.S. capitol building. Carter's state funeral will be then held on Thursday. He'll be buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Two leading visual content companies say they're going to merge. Getty Images and Shutterstock say they'll join to build a company valued at $3.7 billion. They will be known as Getty Images. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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