NPR News: 11-20-2024 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 21, 2024

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter Contributors: Lexi Schapittle, Sergio Martinez Beltran, Emily Wu, Jeff Brady

---

1. House Ethics Committee Deadlocked on Matt Gaetz’s Attorney General Nomination

[00:17] Shea Stevens: The House Ethics Committee remains deadlocked over releasing its report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz. This delay comes as Gaetz seeks confirmation for his nomination to become Attorney General under President-elect Trump.

[00:35] Lexi Schapittle: The committee investigated serious allegations against Gaetz, including drug use and sex trafficking during his tenure in the House. Despite bipartisan calls for transparency, including from senators across the aisle, the committee has yet to agree on releasing the report. “There has been, quote, no agreement to release the report,” stated Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi. Congresswoman Susan Wild, the ranking Democrat on the committee, highlighted the partisan divisions, adding, “Members were divided along party lines, but agreed to revisit the matter at another meeting on December 5th."

---

2. Legislation Affecting Transgender House Members and Texas’s Deportation Facilities Proposal

[01:08] Shea Stevens: The House of Representatives is deliberating a bill that would prohibit transgender women from using female bathrooms and locker rooms within the U.S. Capitol. This proposed legislation directly impacts Sarah McBride, an incoming House member from Delaware who is openly transgender and poised to become the nation’s first openly transgender congresswoman.

Concurrently, Texas is making a significant move by offering President-elect Trump 1,400 acres of land in Star County for the construction of mass deportation facilities. This initiative is part of Texas’s broader strategy to handle an anticipated increase in deportations.

[01:40] Sergio Martinez Beltran: The land in Star County, near the U.S.-Mexico border, is earmarked for processing and detaining deportees, with plans to establish what could become the largest deportation facility in the nation. General Land Commissioner Don Buckingham emphasized the readiness of Texas to collaborate with the federal government: “We are ready to enter into an agreement with the federal government to build a facility for the processing, detention and, quote, largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation.” This offer aligns with President Trump’s recent statements about declaring a national emergency to utilize military resources for deportation efforts.

---

3. Conviction and Sentencing of University of Georgia Student Murderer

[02:20] Shea Stevens: Hosea Barrel has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of a University of Georgia nursing student last February. Emily Wu provides more details from Atlanta.

[02:30] Emily Wu: Ibarra was convicted on all 10 charges, including felony murder and aggravated assault with intent to rape. The incident occurred during a morning run when Ibarra approached Riley, dragging her approximately 65 feet off the path before fatally beating her. Despite being a Venezuelan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, Ibarra had temporary permission to stay while his immigration case was pending. Notably, he waived his right to a jury trial, resulting in the judge delivering a guilty verdict just 15 minutes after the closing arguments. The prosecution opted not to seek the death penalty in this case. “The prosecution did not seek the death penalty in this case,” Wu reported.

---

4. U.S. Provides Ukraine with Anti-Personnel Landmines; Azerbaijan’s Fossil Fuel Focus at COP 29

[03:13] Shea Stevens: In defense news, Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the United States is supplying Ukraine with anti-personnel landmines to aid in its conflict against Russia. Austin highlighted the safety aspect of these weapons, noting that their effectiveness diminishes over time, reducing long-term risks.

Simultaneously, Azerbaijan is drawing international attention as it prioritizes oil and gas development over renewable energy projects, even as the nation hosts the upcoming UN Climate talks.

[03:55] Jeff Brady: According to a report from Global Energy Monitor, Azerbaijan is currently constructing more oil and gas power plants than renewable energy sources like solar or wind. Ahead of COP 29, a government official was caught promoting Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel interests, reflecting the country’s stance. President Mukhtar Babayev commented, “I mean the oil and gas countries, fossil fuel producing countries. It's a good chance for these countries to demonstrate their leadership in this issue.” This position puts Azerbaijan at odds with the Paris Climate Agreement's expectations, which call for wealthy nations like the U.S. to support developing countries in transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

---

5. South Carolina Parole Board Upholds Life Sentence for Susan Smith

[04:35] Shea Stevens: The South Carolina parole board has decided that Susan Smith must remain incarcerated for her conviction in the 1994 murders of her two sons. Smith initially claimed that her children were taken by two black carjackers, a narrative that was later disproven when she admitted to driving her vehicle into a lake with her toddler strapped in the backseat. This decision ensures that Smith continues to serve her life sentence without the possibility of parole.

---

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key news topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on November 21, 2024. For detailed updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR News.

Transcript

[Sponsor Message]

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

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The House Ethics Committee is deadlocked on whether to release its report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz. The panel discussed the matter today as Gaetz talked with senators about his controversial nomination to become attorney general. NPR's Lexi Schapittle has more.

[Lexi Schapittle]

The House Ethics Committee investigated drug use and sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz when he was a member of the House. Now that he's President Elect Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, senators from both parties have said they want to see the panel's report. But after the House committee met for two hours, Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, said there had been, quote, no agreement to release the report. The ranking Democrat on the committee, Congresswoman Susan Wild, told reporters that members were divided along party lines, but agreed to revisit the matter at another meeting on December 5th. Like Cesha Pittle, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Shea Stevens]

The House of Representatives is considering legislation to bar transgender women from using female bathrooms and locker rooms at the U.S. capitol. The proposal would affect incoming House member Sarah McBride, who is openly transgender. McBride is a Democrat from Delaware who would be the nation's first openly transgender person in Congress. The state of Texas is offering President elect Trump land to build mass deportation facilities. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran has this report.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

The 1400 acres of land are to be used to construct deportation facilities. That's in a letter to the president elect from Texas, General Land Commissioner Don Buckingham. The land is in Star county, which includes towns on the US Mexico border. The county flipped Republican for the first time in more than a Century on November 5th. Buckingham says her office is ready to enter into an agreement with the federal government to build a facility for the processing, detention and, quote, largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation. Trump has said he'll declare a national emergency and use the military to assist with deportations. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Austin.

[Shea Stevens]

The man accused of murdering a University of Georgia nursing student last February has been sentenced. Hosea Barrel has received life without parole. As Emily Wu reports from Atlanta, Jose.

[Emily Wu]

Ibarra was found guilty of all 10 charges against him, including felony murder, aggravated assault with the intent to rape, obstructing a 911 call and tampering with evidence. Ibarra is a Venezuelan citizen who entered the US illegally in 2022, he was granted temporary permission to stay in the country while his immigration case was being processed. Prosecutors described how while on a morning run, Riley encountered Ibarra, who stopped her in her tracks, dragged her nearly 65ft off the path and beat her to death. Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial, and the judge returned the guilty verdict 15 minutes after closing arguments ended. The prosecution did not seek the death penalty in this case. For NPR News, I'm Emily Wu Pearson in Atlanta.

[Shea Stevens]

This is NPR News. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says the United States is providing Ukraine with anti personnel landmines for use in its war against Russia. Austin says those weapons are safer because their effectiveness fades over time. President Biden announced the move during the G20 meeting in Brazil. Only days after authorizing Ukraine's use of long range ballistic missiles against Russia, Azerbaijan is more focused on developing oil and gas than renewable energy. As that nation hosts this year's UN Climate talks, the country is behind on meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets under the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. NPR's Jeff Brady reports.

[Jeff Brady]

A report from the nonprofit Global Energy Monitor shows Azerbaijan is building more oil and gas power plants than solar or wind. Before the conference called COP 29, a government official was caught promoting Azerbaijan's fossil fuel business. Asked about this COP 29, President Mukhtar Babayev only said the world is moving toward green energy and petro states.

[Mukhtar Babayev]

I mean the oil and gas countries, fossil fuel producing countries. It's a good chance for these countries to demonstrate their leadership in this issue.

[Jeff Brady]

Under the Paris agreement, wealthy countries like the US Are expected to help developing countries like Azerbaijan transition their economies to cleaner energy. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The South Carolina parole board says Susan Smith must remain behind bars. Smith is serving a life sentence for the 1994 murders of her two sons. She told police that two black carjackers kidnapped the boys, but later admitted driving her vehicle into a lake with a toddler strapped in the backseat. This is NPR News.

[Sponsor Message]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Shopify, the global commerce platform that helps you sell and show up exactly the way you want to customize your online store to your style. Sign up for a $1 per month trial [e-mail] NPR.