NPR News: 11-19-2024 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 19, 2024, 5 PM EST

Host: Jack Speer

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Commerce Department Nomination: Howard Lutnick

Timestamp: [00:18]

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Howard Lutnick, a billionaire investor and Wall Street executive, to lead the Department of Commerce. Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald—a financial services firm profoundly affected by the 9/11 attacks, which claimed the lives of hundreds of its employees, including Lutnick's brother—has been a pivotal figure in Trump's transition team. Notably, he was also under consideration for the role of Treasury Secretary.

Scott Horsley reports:

[00:38] "Lutnick served as co-chair of Trump's transition team, helping to vet many of the president-elect's other nominees. As Commerce Secretary, he would oversee a sweeping federal bureaucracy that includes the National Weather Service, the Census Bureau, and the agency charged with calculating the nation's gross domestic product."

The role of Commerce Secretary typically involves promoting U.S. exports globally. However, this responsibility may be challenged if Trump's inclination to impose tariffs on all imports leads to a trade war.

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Healthcare Leadership: Dr. Mehmet Oz Nominated

Timestamp: [01:17]

In a move to reshape healthcare policy, President-elect Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Trump praised Oz, stating, "There may be no physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to make America healthy again."

Dr. Oz, a 64-year-old cardiothoracic surgeon and former host of a health-focused TV talk show, brings a medical background and public recognition to the position. Despite his unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, Oz is expected to collaborate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, pending confirmation.

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Transgender Bathroom Ban Proposal at U.S. Capitol

Timestamp: [02:03]

Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina is advancing a controversial measure aimed at banning transgender women from women's bathrooms within the U.S. Capitol. This initiative emerges weeks after Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware made history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

Nancy Mace states:

[02:21] "I'm absolutely 100% gonna stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women's restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms. I will be there fighting you every step of the way."

Mace frames the proposal as a protective measure for women's rights, explicitly linking it to McBride's election:

[02:21] "It's uncertain whether this effort will get a vote in the House or if rules in the Capitol will be changed to implement it."

In response, Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride emphasized the importance of focusing on substantive policy issues rather than what she termed "manufacturing culture wars."

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Trump and Elon Musk’s Collaborative Ventures

Timestamp: [02:43]

President-elect Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk have been collaborating closely, with Trump recently visiting Texas to observe a test flight of Musk's SpaceX Starship rocket. The rocket successfully lifted off the pad during the visit. Musk, a significant supporter of Trump's campaign, leads SpaceX, Tesla, and the social media platform X. These companies are entwined with federal contracts and regulatory engagements, positioning them as influential players in the current administration.

Meanwhile, Wall Street experienced a downturn, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing 120 points lower.

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Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine Adjustment

Timestamp: [03:43]

In international developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin has revised Russia's nuclear weapons policy following the Biden administration's decision to permit Ukraine to use longer-range Western-supplied weapons. This new doctrine lowers the threshold for the use of nuclear arms, potentially allowing Moscow to respond with nuclear force even to conventional attacks by nations allied with nuclear powers.

While the doctrine suggests a possible nuclear response, it is deliberately broad to avoid committing explicitly to the use of such weapons.

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UN Peacekeepers Injured in Southern Lebanon

Timestamp: [03:55]

Four UN peacekeepers were injured in an attack on their base in southern Lebanon. All personnel involved are from Ghana, with three of the injured requiring hospitalization. The United Nations, which staffs peacekeeping forces from approximately 50 countries in the region, has previously accused Israel of targeting its peacekeepers. However, in this incident, the UN believes non-state actors, likely Hezbollah or other militant groups, were responsible for firing the rocket that injured the peacekeepers.

Lauren Frey reports from Beirut:

"The UN has accused Israel of deliberately targeting its peacekeepers in Lebanon in the past, but it says it believes the rocket that injured four Ghanaian peacekeepers in this case was fired by non-state actors."

This violence occurs amidst concerns over the unity of the peacekeeping force, especially after Argentina's decision to withdraw its troops.

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Escape and Recapture of Monkeys from Research Facility

Timestamp: [04:35]

Authorities have successfully recaptured 39 out of 43 monkeys that escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility in South Carolina. The primates, bred for medical research, managed to flee after an employee failed to secure their enclosure properly. Fortunately, all recaptured monkeys are reported to be in good health, while four remain at large but accounted for as those that did not stray far from the compound.

Jack Speer continues:

"Weeks after their escape from the South Carolina research facility, authorities say all but four small monkeys that apparently did not stray far from their compound have been recaptured."

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For more updates and detailed coverage, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Jack Speer]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. President elect Donald Trump has chosen a billionaire investor and Wall street executive to lead the Commerce Department. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. Nominee Howard Lutnick has also been a key member of Trump's transition team and was also being considered for the higher profile role of treasury secretary.

[Scott Horsley]

Lutnick is chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm that lost hundreds of employees, including Lutnick's brother, in the World Trade center attack on 9 11. Lutnick served as co chair of Trump's transition team, helping to vet many of the president elect's other nominees. As commerce Secretary, he would oversee a sweeping federal bureaucracy that includes the National Weather Service, the Census Bureau, and the agency charged with calculating the nation's gross domestic product. Typically, the secretary is also a roving salesperson for U.S. exports. That job could be complicated if Trump's threat to impose tariffs on all imports sparks a trade war. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speer]

President Elect Trump is nominating Dr. Mehmet Oz to head up the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Trump in a statement saying there may be no physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to make America healthy again. The 64 year old Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon who hosted a team TV talk show focused on health for a decade, winning nine Emmy nominations. He unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Pennsylvania. Oz would work with Trump's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. If both are confirmed. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina is promoting a measure that would ban transgender women from women's bathrooms at the U.S. capitol. NPR's Elena Moore reports. It comes just weeks After Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware became the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.

[Nancy Mace]

It's uncertain whether this effort will get a vote in the House or if rules in the Capitol will be changed to implement it. Representative Nancy Mace characterizes the measure as a move to protect women's rights. But when asked if the election of a transgender woman was the catalyst, she's clear, yes and absolutely and then some.

I'm absolutely 100% gonna stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women's restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms. I will be there fighting you every step of the way.

In response to the measure, Congresswoman elect McBride stresses the need to focus on policy instead of, quote, manufacturing culture wars. Elena Moore, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Jack Speer]

President Elect Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk have been spending a lot of time with one another lately. And that continues today with Trump making a trip to Texas to watch one of Musk's companies test its massive Starship rocket. That rocket lifted off the pad at this hour. Musk supported Trump's campaign. Musk's SpaceX rocket company, along with his electric vehicle maker Tesla and social media platform X, benefit from either billions in federal contracts or deals with federal regulators or both. On Wall street, the Dow closed down 120 points today. This is NPR. Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the bar in terms of the use of nuclear weapons following the Biden administration's decision to allow Ukraine to use longer range Western supplied weapons. The doctrine would allow for a nuclear response by Moscow, even to a conventional attack by any nation supported by nuclear power. While it envisions a possible nuclear response, it is written broadly to avoid a firm commitment to using such weapons. The UN Says four of its peacekeepers were injured today in southern Lebanon when their base came under fire. All four are from gone up, three had to be hospitalized. Emperor's Lauren Frey reports from Beirut.

[Lauren Frey]

In the past, the UN has accused Israel of deliberately targeting its peacekeepers in Lebanon, but it says it believes the rocket that injured four Ghanaian peacekeepers in this case was fired by non state act actors, a reference to Hezbollah or other militants. It did not say whether it believes these Ghanaian peacekeepers were targeted or caught in crossfire. The violence comes amid concerns about unity, though, after the UN Said Argentina is withdrawing its troops. It's one of about 50 countries that staff the UN peacekeeping force here. Israel has periodically called for UN peacekeepers to leave their posts in Lebanon, something the force as a whole has refused to do. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, Beirut.

[Jack Speer]

Weeks after their escape from the South Carolina research facility, authorities say all but four small monkeys that apparently did not stray far from their compound have been recaptured. The 43 monkeys, bred for medical research, escaped from the Alpha Genesis facility after an employee failed to fully lock their enclosure. Officials say all the recaptured primates are in good health. I'm Jack Speer, NPR News, in Washington.

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