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

Host: Jack Speer

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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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