NPR News: 11-18-2024 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 18, 2024, 1 AM EST

In this episode of NPR News Now, NPR delivers a comprehensive update on the latest global and national events, ranging from international conflict and environmental initiatives to political appointments and noteworthy incidents. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode released on November 18, 2024.

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1. U.S. Authorizes Ukraine to Use Long-Range Missiles Against Russia

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Juliana Kim
Timestamp: [00:19] - [01:18]

For the first time since the conflict began, President Joe Biden has permitted Ukraine to utilize powerful American long-range missiles to target Russian territory. This significant policy shift marks a departure from the Biden administration's previous reluctance, which stemmed from concerns that such actions might further escalate the conflict.

Key Points:

• The authorization specifically allows strikes in and around the Russian region of Kursk, an area previously reinforced by approximately 10,000 North Korean troops aiding Russia.
• A U.S. official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, indicated that Britain is expected to follow suit, leveraging American missile components already in British arsenals.

Notable Quote: Juliana Kim reports, “[The U.S. official] stated that Britain will likely follow suit and allow Ukraine to use their long range missiles at Russia” ([00:32]).

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2. President Biden’s Landmark Climate Change Initiatives in the Amazon

Host: Dale Willman
Speaker: President Joe Biden
Timestamp: [01:18] - [01:59]

President Biden made history as the first sitting U.S. President to visit the Amazon rainforest, underscoring his administration’s commitment to combating climate change. Using the Amazon as a backdrop, Biden highlighted what he considers one of his administration's greatest achievements.

Key Points:

• Biden referenced a significant climate change law aimed at halving carbon emissions by 2030, which has spurred $450 billion in clean energy investments, created hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs, and stimulated a manufacturing boom.
• The President announced the formation of a coalition with the goal of raising at least $10 billion by 2030 to protect 20,000 square miles of land in the Amazon, emphasizing that economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive.

Notable Quote: President Joe Biden asserted, “Folks, we don't have to choose between the environment and the economy” ([01:30]).

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3. Controversial Appointment of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General Under Trump’s Administration

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Luke Garrett
Timestamp: [01:59] - [03:13]

As the transition to the Trump administration progresses, President-elect Donald Trump has named over 30 individuals for key positions, including the highly controversial appointment of former Representative Matt Gaetz as Attorney General. Gaetz's nomination has sparked significant debate due to ongoing investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct.

Key Points:

• Matt Gaetz, under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, has resigned from Congress, casting uncertainty on the future of the investigation's findings.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly stated that the ethics report on Gaetz is incomplete and inappropriate to release following Gaetz's departure from Congress. Johnson emphasized that he has not discussed the ethics report with Trump.

Notable Quotes: House Speaker Mike Johnson clarified on CNN, “The report is not finished. It’s in a rough draft form was not yet ready to be released. And since Matt Gaetz left the Congress, I don’t think it’s appropriate to do so” ([02:26] - [02:42]).

Speaker Johnson further stated, “The president and I have literally not discussed one word about the ethics report” ([02:57]).

Additional Insight: While some Senate Republicans are advocating for the release of the ethics report on Gaetz, Speaker Johnson maintains that such discussions have not occurred, leaving the investigation's future uncertain.

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4. Near-Miss Plane Crash at National Hot Rod Association Finals in California

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [03:13] - [03:50]

A startling incident unfolded at the Pomona Fairgrounds in California during the National Hot Rod Association finals when a small Piper PA32 plane narrowly avoided crashing into the spectators. The mishap resulted in injuries to all occupants of the aircraft but fortunately left no one on the ground harmed.

Key Points:

• The plane made contact with several vehicles before ultimately crashing just outside the drag strip.
• Among the four aboard, two individuals are reported to be in critical condition.
• Damage was reported to some cars in the vicinity, but prompt response by the Louisiana County Fire Department limited broader impact.

Notable Quote: Jonathan Torres, Louisiana County Fire Department public information officer, explained, “Units were dispatched for an aircraft down. It was a single engine plane that made contact with a couple of vehicles before ultimately hitting the ground” ([03:39] - [03:50]).

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5. Titanic Memorabilia Sets Auction Record with $2 Million Sale

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Vicky Barker
Timestamp: [03:50] - [04:53]

In an extraordinary auction, a historic gold pocket watch awarded to Captain Arthur Rostron—the captain of the RMS Carpathia who rescued Titanic survivors—sold for a staggering $2 million. This sale not only highlights the enduring fascination with Titanic relics but also sets a new benchmark for memorabilia from the infamous maritime disaster.

Key Points:

• The pocket watch, a Tiffany timepiece, was originally presented to Captain Rostron by Madeline Astor and two other affluent widows, commemorating the rescue of 705 Titanic survivors.
• The winning bid was placed by a private collector from the United States, surpassing the previous record set in April by a gold pocket watch from John Jacob Astor’s body, which sold for $1.5 million.

Notable Quote: Vicky Barker reported, “The successful bidder was a private collector in the US the two million dollar prize breaks the previous record for Titanic memorabilia” ([04:10]).

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulated significant developments across various spheres, including international military strategy, environmental policy, political appointments, public safety incidents, and historical memorabilia. With authoritative reporting and insightful commentary, NPR continues to provide listeners with a thorough understanding of both immediate news and its broader implications.

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Note: This summary excludes sponsor messages, advertisements, and other non-content sections to focus solely on the core news updates.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from BetterHelp. BetterHelp is committed to making mental well being a priority and offering support in taking on everything life demands. With therapists available to communicate via video chat or [e-mail] News live from NPR.

[Dale Willman]

News, I'm Dale Willman. For the first time since fighting there began, President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the green light to use powerful American long range weapons for striking inside Russia. NPR's Juliana Kim reports.

[Juliana Kim]

The Biden administration had long resisted allowing Ukraine to fire American long range missiles into Russian territory for fear that it would only escalate fighting. But on Sunday, a U.S. official told NPR that the Biden administration has reversed its policy and will now allow Ukraine to use those weapons to strike in and around the Russian region of Kursk. It's the same area where North Korea sent some 10,000 troops to help Russia last month. The US official was not authorized to speak publicly about the decision, but said Britain will likely follow suit and allow Ukraine to use their long range missiles at Russia. The British needed U.S. approval because these missiles contain U.S. components. Juliana Kim, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

President Joe Biden was in Brazil on Sunday and became the first sitting US President to visit the Amazon rainforest. He used the backdrop to talk about what he called one of his greatest legacies, the fight against climate change.

[Joe Biden]

Back home, I signed the most significant climate change law in history, a law that positioned us to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030. This generated $450 billion in new clean energy investments and that's created hundreds of thousands of good paying jobs and a manufacturing boom as well. Folks, we don't have to choose between the environment and the economy.

[Dale Willman]

Biden also announced plans to form a coalition that hopes to raise at least $10 billion by 2030 to protect 20,000 square miles of land in the Amazon. President Elect Donald Trump has now named more than 30 people he wants to appoint to serve in his next administration. Few of them have been more polarizing than his choice of former Representative Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Luke Garrett]

Trump's pick for the nation's top cop was being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for various allegations, including sexual misconduct. Gaetz has since resigned from Congress, making it unclear whether the committee's investigation will be released. On Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson made his wishes clear on cnn.

[Mike Johnson]

The report is not finished. It's in a rough draft form was not yet ready to be released. And since Matt Gaetz left the Congress, I don't think it's appropriate to do so.

[Luke Garrett]

Speaker Johnson went on to say he has not discussed this with Trump.

[Mike Johnson]

The president and I have literally not discussed one word about the ethics report.

[Luke Garrett]

Not once in the past. The House has at times released ethics reports on former members of Congress. And some Senate Republicans are now saying they want to see this report on Gaetz. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. A small plane narrowly missed crashing into spectators watching the National Hot Rod association finals in California Sunday morning. The pilot and three passengers were all injured. The Piper PA32 plane crashed just outside the drag strip at the Pomona Fairgrounds. Louisiana County Fire Department public information Officer Jonathan Torres says some cars were damaged in the incidents.

[Jonathan Torres]

Units were dispatched for a aircraft down. It was a single engine plane that made contact with a couple of vehicles before ultimately hitting the ground.

[Dale Willman]

Two of those on the plane are in critical condition. No one on the ground was hurt. A gold pocket watch given to the captain of the ship that rescued passengers on the Titanic more than 100 years ago has sold at auction for $2 million. Vicky Barker has more on our story from London.

[Vicky Barker]

The inscribed Tiffany timepiece was presented to Arthur Rostron, captain of the Carpathia, by Madeline Astor, the widow of millionaire John Jacob Astor, and two other wealthy widows. They were among the 705 survivors rescued from the Titanic's lifeboats. Their husbands perished. The successful bidder was a private collector in the US the two million dollar prize breaks the previous record for Titanic memorabilia, set back in April when a gold pocket watch recovered from the body of John Jacob Astor himself sold for $1.5 million. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

[Dale Willman]

And I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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