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- [00:01]
NPR Announcer
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Jack Speer
In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. President elect Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon to be education secretary, potentially the last since Trump during the campaign threatened to do away with the agency. Trump citing McMahon, who served as head of the SBA under his first administration, as a tireless advocate of school choice. McMahon is co founder and CEO of the WWE professional wrestling franchise. Still, even with Trump's threats to abolish the Education Department, he likely lacks authority to do so, that is without congressional approval. Trump also nominated billionaire Wall street financier Howard Lutnick to head the Commerce Department. Lutnick is a supporter of proposed tariffs and was among the potential choices to head the Treasury Department. That job remains in play. Meanwhile, President Elect Trump has announced he'll nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz, known for the Dr. Oz show on daytime TV, to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports. Oz has been criticized for promoting unproven therapies, especially weight loss products.
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Selena Simmons Duffin
Dr. Mehmet Oz has a medical degree. He's a cardiothoracic surgeon. He built his fame and fortune by promoting alternative therapies like unproven diet products, cleanses and detox detoxes. He first became famous as a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show. That led to a radio show and to daytime TV's the Dr. Oz Show. That ended in 2022 when Oz ran as the Republican candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania. He narrowly lost to John Fetterman in that race. If he's confirmed by the Senate, he'll be overseeing an enormous health agency that spends about $1.5 trillion a year. That's more than the Department of Defense. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
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Jack Speer
The Texas State Board of Education today moved a step closer to approving a controversial curriculum that embeds Bible stories into elementary classes. Bill Ziebel with member station KERA in Dallas, has more.
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Bill Ziebel
The Texas Education Agency proposed a curriculum from Bluebonnet Learning designed to build a broad array of student skills. It incorporates Bible lessons like the Golden Rule. But critics, including Southern Methodist University religious studies professor Mark Chancey, say the focus tilts heavily toward Christianity.
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Mark Chancey
Not only is it taught in such a way that it's going to promote some religions over others, but in many cases it even just gets the basic facts wrong.
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Bill Ziebel
The Texas State Board of Education is scheduled to take a final vote on Friday. I'm Bill Siebel in Dallas.
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Jack Speer
California voters have rejected a measure that would have raised the minimum wage there to $18 an hour, the highest statewide minimum wage in the country. While proponents of the initiative said it would help millions of workers support their families, opponents said it would have increased costs, led to higher taxes and forced businesses to cut jobs. California's current minimum wage for most workers is still among the highest in the US at $16 an hour. Stocks close MIX On Wall street today, the Dow down 120 points. The NASDAQ rose 195 points. This is NPR. Wrapping up his final G20 meeting in Brazil, President Joe Biden made an urgent appeal to his fellow world leaders to work to curb climate change by denouncing a $325 million contribution to help developing countries move away from damaging fossil fuels. It's in contrast to President Elect Trump, who's repeatedly called the climate crisis, quote, a hoax. A new Broadway musical with a score by Elton John called Tammy Faye about the famous televangelist, announced it will be closing in December, less than a month after it opened. While the show received rave reviews in London's West End as well as Olivier, it is the first high profile flop of the new Broadway season. Jeff London reports.
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Geoff London
Capitalized for up to $25 million, Tammy Faye will close after only 29 performances, losing its entire investment.
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Unknown Singer
Show me mercy. Show me mercy. Show me mercy.
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Geoff London
With music by Elton John and lyrics by Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters, the show was greeted across the board with painting from the critics and struggled to find an audience. Last week, it grossed less than $400,000 in ticket sales. By comparison, Hamilton and a similarly sized theater brought in about $1.6 million. Tammy Fay's final performance will be on Sunday, December 8th. For NPR News, I'm Geoff London in New York.
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Jack Speer
Crude oil futures prices moved higher today. Oil up 23 cents a barrel to settle at 69.39a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. I'm Jack Speer, NPR News, in Washington.
- [04:57]
NPR Announcer
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