NPR News: 11-17-2024 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 17, 2024, 9 PM EST

Released on November 18, 2024

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1. FCC Leadership Under New Direction

Host Jeanine Herbst opens the episode with significant political news:

"President Elect Donald Trump has picked Brendan Carr, a veteran Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission, to lead the agency that regulates broadcasting, telecommunications, broadband and other related industries." [00:16]

This appointment signals potential shifts in the FCC's operations, as Trump aims to bring the independent agency "under tighter White House control" and use it to address grievances against media outlets that have fact-checked or criticized him.

2. Escalation in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict

Jeanine Herbst continues with international developments:

"President Biden for the first time is allowing Ukraine to fire U.S.-made long-range missiles into Russia." [00:16]

This policy change follows the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine. Polina Litvinova elaborates on the recent Russian military actions:

"The strikes caused emergency power cuts in several Ukrainian regions, including the capital Kyiv." [01:22]

The missile and drone attacks targeted power plants and energy infrastructures, resulting in at least seven fatalities. Ukraine is bracing for the winter, facing severe power shortages and damaged thermal power plants. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sibycha remarked on the attacks:

"We need peace through strength, not appeasement." [01:22]

3. Social Security Future Under Scrutiny

Concerns rise among Americans regarding the incoming administration's impact on Social Security. Jeanine Herbst introduces the segment:

"President Elect Trump has put forward an agenda to keep the program solvent, but some experts are skeptical." [02:12]

Charles Blahouse, a Social Security specialist at George Mason University, critiques Trump's proposals:

"Wild Trump's proposal, including eliminating taxation on Social Security benefits, would likely accelerate its insolvency." [02:25]

An unnamed expert adds:

"There has been more damage done to Social Security finances by the delay of the last several decades than would be done by a proposal like this." [02:44]

Despite assurances from Trump not to raise the retirement age or reduce benefits, experts remain doubtful about the sustainability of his plans. Charles Blahouse concludes:

"Trump has promised not to raise the Social Security retirement age or reduce spend benefits." [03:00]

4. Market Movements

Jeanine Herbst provides a brief update on the stock market:

"U.S. futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. Dow futures up a fraction. Nasdaq futures up more than a half percent." [03:08]

5. Healthcare Workers Struggle Post-Covid

The podcast highlights the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare workers who were frontline responders during the Covid-19 pandemic. Amy Maxman from KFF HealthNews reports:

"Deborah Raghunanan... has panic attacks, brain fog and recently suffered an aneurysm... she traces the problems back to a Covid outbreak in 2020." [03:35]

Deborah Raghunanan shares her struggles:

"All of us have to go right back where the COVID started. So that's a double whammy. That's a double kick." [03:52]

Despite enduring long-term health issues like PTSD and long Covid, these workers receive limited support from employers and the government. Their low-wage positions make it difficult to seek alternative employment or take necessary time off for recovery.

6. Passing of Influential Gymnastics Coach

The episode mourns the death of Licaroli, a renowned yet controversial gymnastics coach:

"The Licaroli, the charismatic, if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the US into an international power in the sport, has died. He was 82 years old." [04:10]

Under Licaroli's leadership, multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions emerged, including Nadia Kamenec and Mary Lou Retton. However, his strict coaching methods were criticized for contributing to a culture that enabled the Larry Nassar scandal. The Licarolis denied any responsibility related to these allegations.

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NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of pressing national and international issues, offering listeners insightful analysis and firsthand accounts from experts and those directly affected.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Elect Donald Trump has picked Brendan Carr, a veteran Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission, to lead the agency that regulates broadcasting, telecommunications, broadband and other related industries. The FCC mostly stays out of the public spotlight, but it does roar back into public view with controversies over TV and radio broadcasts. While it's an independent agency overseen by Congress, Trump has made clear he would like to bring it under tighter White House control and use it to punish TV networks that have fact checked him or otherwise covered him in a way that sparks his ire. President Biden for the first time is allowing Ukraine to fire U S made long range missiles into Russia. A U.S. official tells NPR that change in policy was spurred by thousands of North Korean troops sent to help Russia in its war against Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia launched a missile drone barrage into Ukraine today, targeting power plants and energy infrastructures, killing at least seven people. NPR's Polina Litvinova has more.

[Polina Litvinova]

The strikes caused emergency power cuts in several Ukrainian regions, including the capital Kyiv. Some trains were delayed because of power outages on the railway. According to Ukraine's energy company the Tech, Russian forces heat thermal power plants across the country. Some of the equipment was seriously damaged. The energy attacks and power shortages come as Ukraine prepares for cold winter weather. Ukraine's foreign Minister Andriy Sibycha called the attack Putin's true response to all those who called and visited him recently, referring to a phone call of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Russia's President Vladimir Putin this week, which was criticized by Ukrainian leadership. We need peace through strength, not appeasement, cbh wrote on X. Polina Litvinova, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Some Americans are concerned about what the incoming administration will mean for Social Security. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports. President Elect Trump has put forward an agenda to keep the program solvent, but some experts are skeptical.

[Charles Blahouse]

Charles Blahouse specializes in Social Security at George Mason University. He says wild Trump's proposal, including eliminating taxation on Social Security benefits, would likely accelerate its insolvency. The program has been facing a funding shortfall for years.

[Unnamed Expert]

There has been more damage done to Social Security finances by the delay of the last several decades than would be done by a proposal like this. A proposal like that would be damaging to Social Security finances, but not at the same order of magnitude what we are already living with.

[Charles Blahouse]

Trump has promised not to raise the Social Security retirement age or reduce spend benefits. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. Dow futures up a fraction. Nasdaq futures up more than a half percent. This is NPR News. Healthcare workers who were on the job when Covid ripped through nursing homes and hospitals are still struggling. Many have symptoms of PTSD and long Covid. They've asked for assistance, but employers and the government have offered little support. Amy Maxman with our partner KFF HealthNews has more.

[Amy Maxman]

Deborah Raghunanan is a nursing assistant. She has panic attacks, brain fog and recently suffered an aneurysm. She traces the problems back to a Covid outbreak in 2020 when she was caring for veterans at a long term nursing facility. Raghunanan still works there today.

[Deborah Raghunanan]

All of us have to go right back where the COVID started. So that's a double whammy. That's a double kick.

[Amy Maxman]

At work, she relives the trauma of the outbreak. She and other nursing assistants have asked for help and compensation. As low wage caretakers, they can't easily change jobs or take time off to heal.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Amy Maxman with NPR's partner, KFF Health News. The Licaroli, the charismatic, if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the US into an international power in the sport, has died. He was 82 years old. No cause of death was given. Karoly and his wife trained multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in the US And Romania, including Nadia Kamenec and Mary Lou Retton. But a strict method sometimes came under fire as several former gymnasts blamed them for creating a culture that allowed for the Larry Nassar scandal. The Karolis denied responsibility. I'm Jeanine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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