NPR News: 11-18-2024 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of November 18, 2024 Episode

Release Date: November 18, 2024
Host: Dave Mattingly
Podcast: NPR News Now

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1. U.S. Approves Ukraine’s Use of Long-Range Weapons Against Russia

Timestamp: [00:18 - 01:22]

Host Introduction: Dave Mattingly opens the episode from Washington, highlighting a significant policy shift by the Biden administration.

Key Developments:

• Authorization of Long-Range Weapons:
  President Biden has authorized Ukraine to deploy U.S.-supplied long-range missiles targeting areas within Russia. This marks a notable reversal of the administration’s previous stance, which hesitated due to concerns about escalating the conflict.

  Quote:
  Juliana Kim states, "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." ([00:36])

• Strategic Implications:
  The approved targets include the Russian region of Kursk, a strategic area recently bolstered by North Korean troops. This move is seen as a response to ongoing military support Russia has received from allies like North Korea.

• International Coordination:
  Although a U.S. official speaking to NPR was not authorized to discuss the decision publicly, it was indicated that the United Kingdom is likely to follow suit. The British use of U.S.-components in their missiles necessitates U.S. approval for their deployment against Russian targets.

Kremlin’s Response:

• Accusations of Escalation:
  Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, has accused President Biden of intent to escalate the war between Russia and Ukraine.

  Quote:
  Peskov claims, "Biden is seeking to escalate the war between Russia and Ukraine," reflecting heightened tensions stemming from this new authorization.

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2. Scrutiny Over Trump’s Administration Nominees

Timestamp: [02:00 - 02:32]

Host Transition: Dave Mattingly shifts focus to the U.S. political landscape, particularly upcoming nominees for the Trump administration.

Key Points:

• Controversial Nominees:

  • Tulsi Gabbard: Former Democratic House member labeled a "Putin apologist."
  • Matt Gaetz: Former Republican House member under investigation for alleged drug abuse and inappropriate relations with underage women.

• Senate’s Role:
  Democratic senators, alongside some Republicans, have criticized these nominations. Nonetheless, Republican senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski face pushback. Other Republicans advocate for presidential discretion in selecting executive branch officials.

  Quote:
  Mara Liasson notes, "Republicans will have a 53 to 47 majority in the new Senate, so they can afford to lose three votes," indicating the likelihood of the nominees securing confirmation despite opposition.

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3. Additional Major News Highlights

Timestamp: [02:32 - 04:34]

a. Trump Nominates Energy Company Executive Chris Wright

• Nomination Details:

  • Chris Wright: CEO of Liberty Energy, Colorado-based energy company.
  • Policy Stance: Advocates for expanded oil and gas development, including fracking. Opposes Biden’s suspension of natural gas export approvals.

  Quote:
  Dave Mattingly reports, "Wright has called for expanded fossil fuel production worldwide as a way to lift more people out of poverty."

b. Boeing Announces Layoffs Amid Industry Challenges

• Layoff Details:

  • Impact: Over 400 employees from the Professional Aerospace Labor Union are set to be laid off.
  • Reason: Part of broader job cuts following a recent strike by union machinists.

  Quote:
  Mattingly states, "The company says the layoffs are part of thousands of planned job cuts following a recent strike by union machinists."

c. CDC Reports E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Organic Carrots

• Outbreak Overview:

  • Affected States: At least 18, including New York, Minnesota, Washington, California, and Oregon.
  • Source: Bags of organic carrots from Grimway Farms, sold at Trader Joe’s and Wegmans.
  • Casualties: Over three dozen illnesses and one confirmed death.

  Quote:
  Mattingly informs, "The CDC says more than three dozen people became sick. One person died."

d. SpaceX to Attempt Next Test Launch of Starship Rocket

• Launch Details:

  • Scheduled Time: 4 PM Central Time on Tuesday.
  • Location: Boca Chica, Texas Facility.
  • Objectives: Test ship and booster capabilities, including the chopsticks system used for catching boosters.
  • Outcome Expectation: Planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean post suborbital flight.

  Quote:
  Jerry Clayton from Texas Public Radio reports, "The test flight will focus on ship and booster capabilities, as well as the chopsticks the company is using to catch its boosters."

• Context:
  This marks SpaceX’s sixth test flight after five previous attempts. Originally scheduled for Monday, the launch was rescheduled without a specified reason.

e. NASA’s Artemis Program and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Strike

• Artemis Program:

  • Objective: Use the Starship rocket to transport astronauts to the Moon, advancing lunar exploration efforts.

• Union Strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas:

  • Details: Union employees initiated a strike on Friday, demanding a new contract with higher wages. The strike affects operations at the hotel casino located near the Vegas Strip.

  Quote:
  Mattingly notes, "Union employees at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas remain on strike, seeking a new contract with higher pay."

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Conclusion: Dave Mattingly wraps up the episode by covering a diverse range of topics from international military support and political nominations to public health concerns, space exploration, and labor disputes, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing news.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Biden is giving Ukraine the go ahead to use long range weapons supplied by the U.S. against targets inside Russia. NPR's Juliana Kim says it's something Kyiv has long been urging Biden to do.

[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.

[Dave Mattingly]

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov is accusing Biden of seeking to escalate the war between Russia and Ukraine, which began with Russia's invasion more than two and a half years ago. President Biden is in Brazil for this week's G20 summit where Russia's invasion of Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle east and climate change are expected to get a lot of attention. The summit in Rio de Janeiro runs through tomorrow. At least two of President elect Donald Trump's nominees for his next administration have been criticized by Democratic senators as well as some Republicans. Here's NPR's Mara Liasson.

[Mara Liasson]

Tulsi Gabbard is a former Democratic House member and a Putin apologist. Matt Gaetz is a former Republican House member who's been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for drug abuse and having sex with underage women. There's been some pushback from Republican senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, but some other Republican senators say presidents should be able to have who they want running executive branch agencies. Republicans will have a 53 to 47 majority in the new Senate, so they can afford to lose three votes. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

Donald Trump is nominating energy company executive Chris Wright to serve as energy secretary. Wright is CEO of Liberty Energy, based in Colorado, and is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development as well as fracking. Wright has called for expanded fossil fuel production worldwide as a way to lift more people out of poverty. He he also opposes the Biden administration's suspension of natural gas export approvals. Boeing says it's given layoff notices to more than 400 employees who belong to the Professional Aerospace Labor Union. The company says the layoffs are part of thousands of planned job cuts following a recent strike by union machinists. This is NPR News from Washington. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an outbreak of E. Coli in at least 18 states has been traced to bags of organic carrots. They were sold by Grimway Farms at grocery chains that included Trader Joe's and Wegmans. More than three dozen people became sick. One person died. The CDC says most of those who became ill lived in New York, Minnesota and Washington state, as well as California and Oregon. SpaceX says it will try again tomorrow to carry out the next test launch of its Starship rocket from its facility in Texas. That rocket is nearly 400ft tall and has been on five previous test flights. Jerry Clayton with Texas Public radio has more.

[Jerry Clayton]

SpaceX says the launch window will begin at 4pm Central Time Tuesday at the facility in far South Texas at Boca Chica. The test flight will focus on ship and booster capabilities, as well as the chopsticks the company is using to catch its boosters. The main spacecraft will continue towards a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean after its suborbital flight. The sixth flight test was originally scheduled for Monday, but was pushed forward today. SpaceX did not reveal the reason for the change in test launch dates. I'm Jerry Clayton in San Antonio.

[Dave Mattingly]

NASA hopes to use the starship rocket to carry astronauts to the moon as part of its Artemis program. Union employees at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas remain on strike. They walked off the job at the hotel casino near the Vegas Strip on Friday, seeking a new contract with higher pay. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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