NPR News: 11-17-2024 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Comprehensive Summary of November 17, 2024 Episode

Release Date: November 17, 2024

NPR's "News Now," hosted by Nora Rahm, delivers the latest headlines and in-depth reports within a concise five-minute format. This episode covers significant political developments, international conflicts, natural disasters, and environmental concerns, providing listeners with a well-rounded overview of current events.

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President-Elect Donald Trump's Administration Picks Spark Controversy

[00:19]
Nora Rahm opens the episode by highlighting President-elect Donald Trump's swift announcement of key positions for his incoming administration. Among the most debated appointments are Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, and Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.

[00:39]
NPR’s Maura Lyson critiques these choices, pointing out the candidates' perceived lack of relevant experience:

"None of these three people has experience running large organizations like the Department of Defense or justice or specific knowledge in these fields." (00:39)

Lyson further elaborates on the controversies surrounding each nominee. Tulsi Gabbard is labeled a "Putin apologist," Matt Gaetz is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for "drug abuse and having sex with underage women," and Pete Hegseth, despite being a veteran and Fox News host, faces scrutiny over his qualifications.

Religious Affiliations of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth Examined

[01:00]
Nora Rahm transitions to an investigative report by Oded Youssef, focusing on Pete Hegseth's religious background and its potential influence on his policy positions.

[01:06]
Youssef details:

"He belongs to a Christian Reformation church that seeks to impose Old Testament biblical law across society." (01:06)

Julie Ingersoll, a professor of religious studies, comments on Hegseth’s motivations:

"He sees his role in history and culture as bringing Christianity to bear on all of life across the globe." (01:36)

Despite attempts by NPR to contact Hegseth for comment, no response was received by the time of reporting.

President Biden to Visit Amazon Rainforest and G20 Summit

[01:57]
The episode briefly mentions President Biden's environmental and diplomatic initiatives. Biden is set to become the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest, underscoring a commitment to environmental conservation. Following this, he will attend the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, aiming to address global economic and political challenges.

Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Results in Dozens of Casualties

[01:57]
Nora Rahm reports on a tragic incident in northern Gaza where Palestinian officials claim that an Israeli airstrike killed dozens in a residential building housing at least six families. Ruth Sherlock provides a detailed account:

[02:18]

"With much of northern Gaza cut off by the Israeli offensive against Hamas, Palestinian rescue workers are mostly unable to operate there, so there's little help for the wounded." (02:18)

Sherlock describes the devastating impact of the strike in Beit Lahiya, noting unverified videos showing significant destruction:

"A gaping hole of broken concrete in a built-up area with damaged buildings all around." (02:18)

The Israeli military responded by stating that the strikes targeted "terrorist targets," emphasizing their efforts to evacuate civilians from war zones. Recent intensifications in north Gaza are attributed to Hamas regrouping efforts.

Super Typhoon Hits the Philippines Amid Climate Concerns

[03:14]
Nora Rahm brings attention to a severe weather event as a super typhoon makes landfall in Luzon, the Philippines' main island. Simon Ponsford of the BBC reports:

[03:31]

"This is the sixth major storm to smash into the Philippines in the past month and there are warnings it could be life-threatening." (03:31)

The typhoon has prompted evacuation orders for over a million people. While Manila, the capital with 15 million residents, is spared the severe impacts, Luzon faces threats of torrential rains leading to flash floods and landslides. The government is on high alert, fearing extensive damage similar to previous storms like Beryl and Follet.

Hurricanes Contribute to Coastal Erosion in Texas

[03:56]
In an environmental update, Gabrielle Dawkins of Houston Public Media discusses the long-term effects of hurricanes on Texas coastlines. Geologist Shuhab Khan from the University of Houston provides critical insights:

[04:07]

"80% of the coast is eroding, 80% and the average rate for that is 1.27 meters per year." (04:07)

Khan emphasizes the necessity of continuous monitoring:

"Keeping a keen eye on the coast is a must, especially after hurricanes like Beryl earlier this year." (04:15)

Dawkins adds that data collected from these observations will aid in quantifying coastal erosion, tracking recovery processes, and enhancing predictive models for future storm damage.

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This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates pivotal global and national issues, from political appointments and international conflicts to natural disasters and environmental degradation. By providing expert analyses and firsthand reports, NPR ensures that listeners are well-informed about the critical events shaping our world.

Transcript

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[Nora Rahm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President elect Donald Trump has wasted no time in announcing his choices for his next administration. NPR's Maura Lyson reports. Some are considered question, including Tulsi Gabbard to be the director of national Intelligence, Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Pete Hegseth for Defense.

[Maura Lyson]

None of these three people has experience running large organizations like the Department of Defense or justice or specific knowledge in these fields. And Tulsi Gabbard, for instance, is a Putin apologist. Matt Gaetz is someone who's been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for drug abuse and having sex with underage women. Pete Hegseth is a veteran and a Fox News weekend host.

[Nora Rahm]

Moore has come to light about Hegseth's religious affiliation. NPR's Oded Youssef reports.

[Oded Youssef]

Peter Hegseth is a veteran, perhaps best known for co hosting a weekend show on Fox News. He often attacks diversity and inclusion initiatives, public education, and has said women should not have combat roles in the military. As a professor of religious studies, Julie Ingersoll has looked at Hegseth's positions through the lens of his faith. She says he belongs to a Christian Reformation church that seeks to impose Old Testament biblical law across society, certainly in.

[Julie Ingersoll]

Keeping with the theological system and the culture that he supports. He sees his role in history and culture as bringing Christianity to bear on all of life across the globe.

[Oded Youssef]

NPR attempted to reach Hegseth but did not hear back. Odette Youssef, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

President Biden is visiting the Amazon rainforest today, the first sitting US president to do. Later, he'll attend the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Palestinian officials say dozens have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building that housed at least six families in northern Gaza. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports.

[Ruth Sherlock]

With much of northern Gaza cut off by the Israeli offensive against Hamas, Palestinian rescue workers are mostly unable to operate there, so there's little help for the wounded. And it's hard to get official figures of how many people died in the strike on this residential building in Beit Lahiya in north northern Gaza. Gaza officials say more than 70 people, six families were sheltering in the building when it was hit. Videos shared online of the site, not verified by npr, show a gaping hole of broken concrete in a built up area with damaged buildings all around. In a response to npr, the Israeli military said overnight it conducted several strikes on what it called terrorist targets in the area. In recent weeks, fighting has intensified in north Gaza as Israel says Hamas has regrouped there. The Israeli military says its continuous efforts to evacuate the civilian population from the active war zone. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Nora Rahm]

This is NPR News in Washington. A super typhoon that's been sweeping across the Philippines has made landfall in the main island of Luzon. The BBC Simon Ponsford reports. There have been evacuation orders for more than a million people.

[Simon Ponsford]

This is the sixth major storm to smash into the Philippines in the past month and there are warnings it could be life threatening. The super typhoon is battering the country's most populous island, Luzon, although the capital, Manila, where about 15 million people live, is not forecast to be in its path. The government is worried that along with fierce winds, the storm will bring torrential rain and could cause flash floods and landslides.

[Nora Rahm]

Hurricanes can have long lasting eroding effects on coastlines. Gabrielle Dawkins of Houston Public Media spoke with a geologist who's been monitoring the Texas coast.

[Shuhab Khan]

80% of the coast coast is eroding, 80% and the average rate for that is 1.27 meter per year.

[Gabrielle Dawkins]

Shuhab Khan, professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Houston, shared year over year statistics. He says keeping a keen eye on the coast is a must, especially after hurricanes like Beryl earlier this year, Folet.

[Shuhab Khan]

Island, and from there on all the way till Sargent. There were a lot of damages and then you go towards Matagoda, decrease and finally Mustang and North Padre. We had minimal changes, if any.

[Gabrielle Dawkins]

Khan says data being collected will help to quantify coastal erosion, track recovery process and improve predictive models for storm damage. I'm Gabrielle Dawkins in Houston.

[Nora Rahm]

And I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.

[Lisa]

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