NPR News: 11-20-2024 7PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 20, 2024, 7 PM EST

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest national and international developments. This summary encapsulates the key stories, discussions, and insights from the episode released on November 21, 2024.

1. President-Elect Donald Trump's Legal Challenges

Timestamp [00:19]
NPR's Jack Speier reported significant developments in the legal battles facing President-Elect Donald Trump. Trump's legal team is pushing for the immediate dismissal of his New York criminal case, where he was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to an adult film star. Despite the conviction, Trump has not yet been sentenced.

Timestamp [00:38]
NPR’s Amanda Bastillo detailed the arguments presented by Trump’s lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emile Bovey, who contend that the ongoing case poses a "uniquely destabilizing" threat to the government. They argue that the evidence presented violates a recent Supreme Court ruling that prevents the prosecution of presidents for official acts performed while in office.

In response, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg stated, "The jury's verdict, which came before the Supreme Court's ruling and election, should have been acknowledged earlier." Bragg also indicated the possibility of pausing the case until Trump completes his next presidential term, though his team is prepared to contest any dismissal attempts.

2. House Ethics Committee and Attorney General Nominee Matt Gates

Timestamp [01:25]
Jack Speier provided updates on the House Ethics Committee's recent activities concerning Matt Gates, the former congressman and current attorney general nominee. The committee investigated allegations that Gates engaged in inappropriate conduct, including having sex with an underage girl and using illicit drugs.

Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest informed reporters, "At this point, there's been no agreement to release the report." Meanwhile, Ranking Democrat Susan Wilde of Pennsylvania disclosed that committee members were deadlocked along party lines regarding the report's release. The Justice Department, which Gates would lead if confirmed, conducted a three-year investigation and filed no charges. Gates has maintained his innocence throughout the process.

3. Anti-Abortion Groups Outline Objectives for the Next Administration

Timestamp [02:09]
NPR's Carol Tobias reported on the strategic plans of anti-abortion organizations in anticipation of the Trump administration. The National Right to Life Committee, led by Carol Tobias, identified its primary objective as "cutting federal funds to groups like Planned Parenthood."

Timestamp [02:20]
Sarah McCammon of Students for Life of America expressed a more focused approach, stating, "I think to be realistic, what we are going to see and I think most likely accomplish is just getting government out of the abortion business." The group’s plan, titled Make America Pro Life Again, includes advocating for new federal restrictions on abortion pills and pushing for tighter state-level limitations.

4. Conviction in Georgia Murder Case and Border Policy Implications

Timestamp [02:49]
A significant legal verdict was announced as a Venezuelan man, Jose Barrow, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of nursing student Lacan Riley in Georgia. Barrow had waived his right to a jury trial, resulting in a bench trial. The case has intensified the national debate on border enforcement, as authorities claim Barrow entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and remained pending his immigration case.

5. President-Elect Trump's Stance on Artificial Intelligence Policies

Timestamp [02:49]
President-Elect Trump declared his intentions to repeal President Joe Biden's artificial intelligence (AI) policies upon assuming office. This announcement coincides with an international meeting of government AI experts in San Francisco, focusing on establishing safety guardrails for AI technology. The implications of Trump's proposed changes on the future regulation and development of AI remain uncertain.

6. Passing of Reverend Tony Campolo

Timestamp [03:56]
Feedback came regarding the passing of Tony Campolo, a prominent Baptist preacher and sociologist, at the age of 89. Jason DeRose highlighted Campolo's influential role as a spiritual advisor to former President Bill Clinton and co-founder of Red Letter Christians, a group advocating for social justice issues among evangelicals.

Campolo was known for his progressive stance on many issues, though he initially opposed abortion rights and same-sex relationships. In 2015, after extensive personal reflection and interactions with gay Christian couples, he publicly stated a change in his views, emphasizing the similarity between their relationships and his own.

7. Stock Market Update

Timestamp [04:40]
Jack Speier provided a brief overview of the stock market's performance, noting that:

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 139 points.
• The NASDAQ Composite declined by 21 points.
• Significant downturns were observed in big-box retailer Target, which failed to meet its earnings expectations.

Conclusion

The episode of NPR News Now encapsulated a range of critical issues from legal battles surrounding a president-elect, ethics investigations, social policy debates, significant criminal convictions, and shifts in technological governance. Additionally, it marked the passing of a notable religious and social figure, Tony Campolo, and provided a snapshot of the day's financial markets.

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This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to deliver an informative overview of the episode's content for those who have not listened.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. President elect Donald Trump's lawyers are calling for an immediate dismissal of his New York criminal case. As NPR's Amanda Bastillo reports, a jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to an adult film star. But Trump has yet to be sentenced.

[Amanda Bastillo]

In a new court filing, Trump's lawyers Todd Blanche and Emile Bovey argue that continuing the case would be, quote, uniquely destabilizing and a threat to the whole government. Trump's legal team has long said that they would challenge the verdict in the case. For months. His lawyers also argued that the evidence brought in a trial violated a summer Supreme Court ruling that presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts taken while in office. Manhattan District ATT Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a court filing earlier this week that his team is prepared to challenge any attempts to dismiss the case. He said the jury's verdict, which came before the Supreme Court's ruling and election, should have wait. Still, he suggests openness to pausing the case until Trump finishes his next presidential term. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, New York.

[Jack Speier]

The House Ethics Committee has wrapped up its meeting in Washington with no decision Yadam releasing its report on Matt, the former congressman and current attorney general nominee was investigated for allegedly having sex with an underage girl and using illicit drugs. Ethics committee chair Michael Guest told reporters at this point, there's been no agreement to release the report. Ranking Democrat Susan Wilde of Pennsylvania went further, though, saying committee members voted but were deadlocked along party lines. The Justice Department, which Gates would lead if confirmed by the Senate, conducted its own three year investigation. No charges were filed. Gates maintains he did nothing wrong. The president elect has said a federal ban is off the table, but anti abortion groups still have goals for the next Trump administration. And pro Sarah McCammon has more.

[Carol Tobias]

Groups opposed to abortion rights say they have a list of objectives for the next four years. Carol Tobias with the National Right to Life Committee says a top goal is cutting federal funds to groups like Planned Parenthood.

[Sarah McCammon]

I think to be realistic, what we are going to see and I think most likely accomplish is just getting government out of the abortion business.

[Carol Tobias]

Existing federal law prohibits the use of federal funds for most abortions. Another group, Students for Life of America, recently released a plan called Make America Pro Life Again, which includes pushing for new federal limits on abortion pills and new restrictions in states. Sarah McCammon, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

The Venezuelan man accused of murdering nursing student Lacan Riley in Georgia has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Jose Barrow had waived his right to a jury trial, meaning a jury. The killing of the young woman who was out on a morning run, has added fuel to the national debate on border enforcement since authorities contend Ibera entered the country illegally in 2022 and was allowed to remain in the US pending his immigration case. You're listening to NPR News. In Washington. President elect Trump is vowing to repeal President Joe Biden's artificial intelligence policies when he returns to the White House to begin serving second term. The announcement comes as government AI experts from various countries are gathering this week in San Francisco to talk about guardrails for the rapidly emerging technology. The meeting, which features participation by the U.S. canada, Singapore, the UK and the EU, among others, is focusing on AI safety. It's not clear what Trump's plan to undo the current administration's work means for the future of AI. A leader among progressive evangelical Christians has died. Tony Campolo was 89 years old and purist Jason DeRose reports.

[Jason DeRose]

Tony Campolo was a Baptist preacher, a sociologist, spiritual advisor to Bill Clinton, and one of the founders of Red Letter Christians. That group encourages evangelicals to take more seriously social justice issues such as alleviating poverty and peacemaking. Campolo often tangled with others in progressive circles because of his opposition to abortion rights. For years, he preached and taught that same sex relationships were sinful. He and his wife disagreed on the issue and even held public debates. Then in 2015, he released a statement saying he'd changed his mind. Tony Campolo wrote that through meeting and spending time with gay Christian couples, he'd learned that their relationships were very much like his own. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Stocks went out. The session on Wall street with the mix closed, though there was some were some notable declines, including big box retailer Target, which failed to meet earnings. The dow was up 139 points. The NASDAQ fell 21 points today. I'm Jack Speer, NPR News, in Washington.

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