NPR News: 11-20-2024 7AM EST

Summary

Trump’s Nominations: Dr. Mehmet Oz, Linda McMahon, and Howard Lutnick

In the latest developments from Washington, President-elect Donald Trump has announced his nominations for key administrative positions. Dr. Mehmet Oz has been nominated to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). As Korva Coleman reported at [00:18], "If he's confirmed by the Senate, he'll be overseeing an enormous health agency that spends about $1.5 trillion a year." Selena Simmons Duffin elaborated on Dr. Oz's background, stating at [00:31], "He built his fame and fortune by promoting alternative therapies like unproven diet products, cleanses and detoxes." Dr. Oz, known for his daytime television presence, narrowly lost a Senate race in Pennsylvania in 2022.

Additionally, President-elect Trump has nominated Linda McMahon to head the Department of Education. McMahon previously managed the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term and is recognized for her background in professional wrestling. Howard Lutnick, a billionaire investor and Wall Street executive, has been nominated to lead the Commerce Department, further shaping Trump's incoming administration with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds.

Israel’s Use of Sniper Drones in Gaza

A concerning report from NPR’s Kat Lansdorf at [01:37] highlights allegations that Israel is deploying a new type of weapon—a sniper drone—in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to more than a dozen eyewitness accounts, these drones are being used to target civilians, medical professionals, and first responders. Kat Lansdorf detailed, "witnesses say these are being used to shoot civilians," adding troubling descriptions of the technology’s impact.

The Israeli military has denied these claims, with their spokesperson stating at [01:37], "Any suggestion that it intends to harm civilians is, quote, unfounded and baseless." Despite multiple inquiries, the Israeli military did not provide a response to NPR's questions about the deployment of such drone technology in Gaza. However, the existence of these drones, produced by companies linked to Israel, remains a point of contention and concern.

Texas Education Board Approves Controversial Curriculum Including Bible Stories

The Texas State Board of Education is nearing a decision to approve a new curriculum that integrates Bible stories into elementary school classes. Korva Coleman introduced this story at [02:22], highlighting the move as a significant shift in educational content. Bill Ziebel from KERA in Dallas reported at [02:36], "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."

However, the curriculum has faced criticism from various quarters. Mark Chancey, a religious studies professor at Southern Methodist University, expressed concerns at [02:53]: "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." These criticisms underscore the contentious nature of integrating religious content into public education. The Texas State Board of Education is scheduled to make a final vote on the curriculum on Friday, as reported by Bill Ziebel.

Shibuzi’s Pop Chart Dominance Threatened by Upcoming Holiday Hits

In the realm of music, Stephen Thompson shared an update at [03:42] about the pop charts dominated by the bar song "Shibuzi." The song has been on an impressive 18-week run at number one on the Billboard charts, nearly tying the all-time record for the most weeks at the top. Stephen Thompson noted, "Shibuzi is just a single week away from tying the all-time record, Someone."

However, the momentum of "Shibuzi" faces potential challenges with the onset of the holiday season. As holiday songs typically surge in the charts, the influx of classics like Wham’s "Last Christmas" is expected to reclaim significant chart positions. Stephen Thompson remarked at [03:59], "There's just one problem. Winter is coming and with it a flood of holiday songs that take over the top 10 each year." The early resurgence of "Last Christmas," reentering the top 40 at number 38, signals stiff competition that may impede "Shibuzi’s" path to record-breaking status.

Passing of Thomas Kurtz, Co-Creator of BASIC Programming Language

The tech community mourns the loss of Thomas Kurtz, the co-creator of the BASIC programming language, who passed away in New Hampshire at the age of 96. Korva Coleman reported at [04:32], "He set out to create a simple programming language computer students could use and he helped develop BASIC in the mid-1960s." Kurtz’s contributions were pivotal in making computer programming more accessible, especially for educational purposes.

Among his numerous innovations, Kurtz designed systems that allowed multiple users to operate computers simultaneously, a foundational concept in modern computing environments. His legacy in computer science remains influential, marking significant advancements in how programming and computer use have evolved over the decades.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on November 20, 2024. From significant political nominations and military technology concerns to educational curriculum debates, pop culture phenomena, and notable passings in the tech world, the episode provided a comprehensive overview of current events shaping various facets of society.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President elect Donald Trump says he'll nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. NPR Selena Simmons Duffin reports. Oz is best known for his former daily talk show.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon. He built his fame and fortune by promoting alternative therapies like unproven diet products, cleanses and 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. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

President Elect Trump has also nominated Linda McMahon to run the Education Department. She ran the Small Business Administration when Trump was first president. She's a former pro wrestling magnet. Trump also tapped billionaire investor and Wall street executive Howard Lutnick to run the Commerce Department. Israel is using a new kind of weapon in the war in Gaza, a sniper drone. That's according to more than a dozen eyewitness accounts collected by NPR. As NPR's Kat Lansdorf reports, witnesses say these are being used to shoot civilians.

[Kat Lansdorf]

For months, NPR has been hearing about a small quadcopter drone with a rifle attached shooting at civilians, medical professionals and first responders in Gaza. Several eyewitnesses, including visiting doctors from other countries, have described the technology being used to shoot and sometimes kill civilians, including children. The Israeli military told NPR it was unaware of such incidents and that any suggestion that it intends to harm civilians is, quote, unfounded and baseless. NPR also asked the Israeli military repeatedly if it was using this sniper drone technology in Gaza. It did not respond to the question, but the technology exists, is produced by companies with ties to Israel and has been touted by the Israeli military in the past. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Korva Coleman]

The Texas State Board of Education has moved a step closer to approving a controversial curriculum that puts Bible stories in elementary school classes for member station K E R A in Dallas. Bill Ziebel has more.

[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.

[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.

[Bill Ziebel]

The Texas State Board of Education is scheduled to take a final vote on Friday. I'm Bill Ziebel in Dallas.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in pre market trading, Dow futures are higher. This is NPR. The U.S. has closed its embassy in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Today it cited the potential for a Russian air attack. Other embassies in Kyiv are also closed. This came after Ukraine fired US Made long range missiles into Russia yesterday. The hit by Shabuzi, a bar song, tipsy, tops the pop charts again this week. But NPR Stephen Thompson reports a seasonal change is brewing.

[Stephen Thompson]

For months, a bar song has been creeping up on the all time record for most weeks at number one of any song in Billboard chart history. Now, with 18 weeks at the top, Shibuzi is just a single week away from tying the all time record, Someone.

[Unknown]

Pull me up a double shot of winners.

[Stephen Thompson]

There's just one problem. Winter is coming and with it a flood of holiday songs that take over the top 10 each year. In fact, this week's Billboard charts issue an early warning as Wham's 1984 hit Last Christmas reenters the top 40 at number 38.

[Unknown]

Last Christmas I gave you my heart.

[Stephen Thompson]

With Wham, Mariah Carey and other holiday favorites on deck, Shibuzi's hopes of breaking the record could be headed up in smoke or more to the point, up the chimney. Stephen Thompson, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The co creator of the computer language Basic has died in New Hampshire. According to his wife, Thomas Kurtz was 96. He set out to create a simple programming language computer students could use and and he helped develop basic in the mid-1960s. Among other innovations, Kurtz designed ways for more than one person to use a computer at a time. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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