NPR News: 11-20-2024 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 20, 2024, 1AM EST

Host: Shay Stevens | Source: NPR

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1. President-Elect Trump's Commerce Secretary Pick

[00:19] - 01:20

President-elect Donald Trump has announced Wall Street CEO Howard Lutnick as his nominee for U.S. Commerce Secretary. Lutnick, who also serves as the co-chair of Trump's transition team, is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing the administration's economic agenda, particularly concerning the implementation of sweeping tariffs.

Maria Aspin highlights the expansive role of the Commerce Department, which oversees significant operations like the Census Bureau and the National Weather Service, with a budget of approximately $11 billion. "Commerce has a wide-ranging set of responsibilities and serves as a critical liaison between the White House and the business community," Aspin explains.

However, the focus under Lutnick's leadership appears to be heavily tilted towards trade and tariffs. Trump stated on Truth Social, “We’ll lead our tariff and trade agenda,” emphasizing a strategic approach to balancing this agenda despite the traditional role of the Commerce Secretary in promoting international trade. This aggressive stance on tariffs is likely to strain relationships with key trading partners, as Lutnick's policies could provoke backlash from other nations.

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2. California's Minimum Wage Ballot Measure Defeated

[01:20] - 02:30

In a close vote, California's Proposition 32, which aimed to increase the statewide minimum wage, was narrowly defeated. According to the Associated Press and reported by Farida Javala Romero from KQED, just over 4% of voters opposed the measure, falling short of the majority required for passage.

Proposition 32 sought to raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for approximately 2 million Californians, up from the current $16 per hour. Joe Sandberg, an anti-poverty advocate and millionaire investor who led the initiative, expressed disappointment but remains committed to the cause: “This is one bump in the longer term journey to make California a place where everyone who works can afford life's basic needs” ([02:02]).

Opponents, including various business groups, argued that the increase would result in higher prices for consumers and potential job losses. Romero notes that while most economic studies indicate that minimum wage hikes have minimal impact on overall employment, they can lead to slight increases in prices. Despite the setback, supporters of Proposition 32 vow to continue their efforts to secure a living wage for California workers.

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3. SpaceX Successfully Completes Starship Test Flight

[02:30] - 03:15

SpaceX has achieved another milestone with the successful test flight of its Starship rocket, currently the largest ever constructed. Jeff Brumfield reports that the launch proceeded largely as planned, with Starship lifting off smoothly from the South Texas pad ([02:40]).

The mission featured the Super Heavy booster, which successfully propelled Starship into orbit. Although the booster was intended to return to the launch tower, safety concerns necessitated its diversion to the Gulf of Mexico, where it safely splashed down. The Starship itself traveled partway around the globe and conducted a critical test by briefly relighting one of its rocket engines before making a precise landing in the southern Indian Ocean.

Notably, both Elon Musk and President-Elect Trump were present to witness the launch, underscoring the event's significance in the realms of both technology and national interest.

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4. Los Angeles Enacts Migrant Protection Measure

[03:15] - 04:35

The Los Angeles City Council has passed a new ordinance aimed at protecting migrants within the city. This measure prohibits the use of local resources to assist federal immigration authorities, thereby reinforcing Los Angeles' status as a sanctuary city. Additionally, the LA public school system has reaffirmed its commitment to being a sanctuary institution, ensuring that undocumented students receive necessary support without fear of deportation.

This policy shift underscores the city's dedication to safeguarding immigrant communities against federal enforcement actions, aligning with broader national debates on immigration and local governance.

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5. UN Reports Over 200 Child Fatalities in Lebanon Amid Conflict

[03:50] - 04:35

The head of the United Nations Children's Agency (UNICEF) has reported a harrowing toll of over 200 children killed in Lebanon within a span of less than two months. Lauren Frayer details the UN's statement, which condemns the "silent normalization of horror," citing multiple instances where children from the same families have been victims of violence over consecutive days.

James Elder, a spokesperson for UNICEF, draws parallels between the situations in Lebanon and Gaza, noting, "there are chilling similarities" in the Israeli responses to military actions in both regions. These responses include heavy aerial bombardments and ground incursions, resulting in significant civilian casualties. UNICEF, along with other agencies, is actively providing food and medical aid to the hundreds of thousands of children displaced by the ongoing conflicts.

Elder emphasized the urgent need for intervention: “Those able to stop this violence,” advocating for immediate action to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

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6. New York City Issues First Drought Warning in Over Two Decades

[04:35] - End

New York City has declared its first drought warning in more than 20 years as dry conditions persist across the Northeast. City and state officials have implemented stringent water conservation measures in response to the scarcity, which has also contributed to the outbreak of hundreds of brush fires in the region.

Mayor Eric Adams announced that a significant infrastructure project—the $2 billion repair of the city's main water aqueduct—has been temporarily halted. This decision reflects the prioritization of immediate water conservation efforts amidst the ongoing drought crisis.

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For more updates and detailed news coverage, stay tuned to NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Shay Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. President elect Donald Trump has announced his pick to become U.S. commerce secretary. He's Wall Street CEO Howard Lutnick, co chair of the transition team. As NPR's Maria Aspin reports, Lutnick will now play a critical role in carrying out Trump's economic promises, especially his sweeping tariffs.

[Maria Aspin]

Commerce has a budget of about $11 billion and a wide ranging set of other responsibilities. It oversees the Census Bureau and the National Weather Service, and it's a big liaison between the White House and the business community. But it's clear that Trump and Lutnick are especially excited about tariffs. Trump said on Truth Social that Lutnick quote, we'll lead our tariff and trade agenda, which is going to be a tricky balance. The commerce secretary also traditionally encourages trade with other countries. So if the next commerce secretary is enthusiastically slapping tariffs on everything, that's going to anger a lot of trading partners.

[Shay Stevens]

And Maria Aspen reporting. A ballot measure in California that would have increased the statewide minimum wage has been narrowly defeated, according to the Associated Press from member station KQED. Farida Jamfala Romero reports that over 4% voted yes for the measure, just short of the majority needed to pass.

[Farida Javala Romero]

Proposition 32 would have given what proponents say is as many as 2 million Californians, a race to $18 an hour by 2026, up from $16 an hour. Joe Sandberg, an anti poverty advocate and millionaire investor who spearheaded the meas, and other supporters were disappointed but would keep fighting.

[Joe Sandberg]

This is one bump in the longer term journey to make California a place where everyone who works can afford life's basic needs.

[Farida Javala Romero]

Business groups opposing the measure argued it would lead to price increases and job cuts. Most economic studies show minimum wage races have little or no impact on jobs overall, although they can lead to small price increases. For NPR News, I'm Farida Javala romero in Oakland, California.

[Shay Stevens]

SpaceX has completed another test flight of its Starship, the latest largest rocket ever built. NPR's Jeff Brumfield says it went mostly according to plan.

[Jeff Brumfield]

Starship lifted off smoothly from its pad In South Texas.

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3, 2, 1.

[Jeff Brumfield]

Its super heavy booster carried it into orbit. The booster was supposed to fly back to the launch tower, but safety issues caused it to divert to the Gulf of Mexico, where it splashed down. Starship itself flew partway around the world and briefly relit one of its rocket engines, a crucial test before it could fully fly in space. It then landed precisely as planned in the southern Indian Ocean. Both Elon Musk and President Elect Trump were there to watch the launch. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Shay Stevens]

This is npr. The Los Angeles City Council has voted to enact a measure designed to protect migrants. The ordinance bars the use of local resources to help federal immigration agents, reaffirming a city practice that's already in place. The LA public school system is also reaffirming itself as a so called sanctuary. The head of the United Nations Children's Agency has told reporters in Geneva that his agency has tracked the killings of more than 200 children in Lebanon in less than two months. NPR's Lauren Frayer has more from Beirut.

[Lauren Frayer]

In a statement, the UN calls it the silent normalization of horror and lists examples of some of the more than 200 children killed in Lebanon in recent days. Seven children from the same family two Sundays ago, two more that Monday, 13 the following day, and so on. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder says there are chilling similarities between Gaza and Lebanon. In both, Israel has carried out heavy aerial bombardment and ground incursions in response to military attacks, and UNICEF is one of several agencies providing food and medical aid to hundreds of thousands of children who fled fighting in both places. Elder urged, quote, those able to stop this violence to avoid what he calls inertia. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, Beirut.

[Shay Stevens]

New York City has issued its first drought warning in over two decades. City and state officials had already implemented water conservation measures amid dry conditions across the Northeast, fueling hundreds of brush fires. Mayor Eric Adams says a 2 billion doll project to repair the city's main water aqueduct is being put on hold. This is NPR News.

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