NPR News: 11-20-2024 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 20, 2024, 9 PM EST Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest national and international news, covering political developments, economic updates, environmental events, and significant corporate announcements. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode released on November 21, 2024.

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1. The Pursuit for President Trump's Treasury Secretary

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Maria Aspin
Timestamp: [00:20 - 01:18]

As President Elect Donald Trump prepares to finalize his cabinet, the search for a new Treasury Secretary has become particularly competitive and contentious. The role is pivotal in shaping the nation's economic policies, including the promised tax cuts and tariffs central to Trump's campaign.

Maria Aspin reports that the competition has grown intense, with notable names such as billionaire investors Mark Rowan and Scott Besant, and former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh emerging as frontrunners. Initially, billionaire CEO Howard Lutnick received support from influential figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. However, Lutnick has since been nominated for the Commerce Secretary position, narrowing the Treasury race.

Quote:
"The next treasury secretary will be responsible for helping shape the nation's economy," – Maria Aspin [00:34]

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2. Los Angeles Passes Sanctuary City Ordinance

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Jasmine Garst
Timestamp: [01:18 - 01:26]

In a decisive move, Los Angeles has unanimously passed a sanctuary city ordinance aimed at protecting immigrants in anticipation of the incoming Trump administration. This ordinance seeks to shield the city's 1.3 million immigrant residents from potential mass deportations.

Jasmine Garst highlights that while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates at the federal level, it heavily depends on state and local cooperation. The new policy explicitly prohibits the use of city resources and personnel in federal immigration enforcement, aligning Los Angeles with about a dozen other states implementing similar protections.

Quote:
"The ordinance comes in response to incoming President Donald Trump's promises of mass deportations," – Jasmine Garst [01:26]

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3. Bomb Cyclone Impacts Umatilla Indian Reservation

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Anna King
Timestamp: [02:17 - 02:52]

A severe weather event, described as a "bomb cyclone," swept through the northwest, significantly affecting the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon. Winds reached speeds of 85 miles per hour, causing extensive disruptions.

Anna King reports firsthand accounts from residents like Gisele Halfmoon, who took shelter with her mother to avoid the intense winds. The strong gusts not only posed immediate dangers but also led to property damage and posed challenges for emergency response crews, who are currently assessing the situation.

Quote:
"It got pretty intense a few times with some of the more major gusts you could hear things kind of toppling," – Gisele Halfmoon [02:43]

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4. Wall Street Closes Mixed Amid Target's Significant Decline

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [03:02]

The stock market experienced a mixed close on Wall Street, with certain sectors facing notable declines. Among the affected, shares of Target, the big-box retailer, plunged by 20% following weaker-than-expected earnings reports. Despite this downturn, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw an uptick of 139 points by the end of the trading session.

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5. Senate May Review Trump's Cabinet Picks Without FBI Background Checks

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [03:02 - 04:02]

As Senate lawmakers gear up to evaluate President Elect Trump's cabinet nominations, concerns arise over the absence of traditional FBI background checks. The Trump transition team has yet to finalize agreements with the White House and the Justice Department necessary for the FBI to conduct thorough screenings of the administration's nominees.

This unprecedented approach could expedite the confirmation process but may also leave potential red flags undiscovered, complicating Senate approvals.

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6. Colorado River Management Faces Critical Decisions

Host: Jack Speier
Reporter: Alex Heger
Timestamp: [04:02 - 04:29]

With existing management rules for the Colorado River set to expire in 2020, federal officials have introduced new options aimed at addressing the river's sustainability amid shrinking water levels. Six members of Station KUNC, including Alex Heger, report on the fragmented stance among the seven Western states dependent on the river.

The states are divided on which regions should bear the brunt of water cutbacks, leading to the proposal of two separate management plans. The federal administration advocates for a unified approach, emphasizing the urgency of reaching a consensus.

Quote:
"We can either remain stuck at an impasse or we can secure a future for future generations that promises the stability and sustainability of one of our greatest natural resources," – Ali Zaidi [04:17]

Despite initial cooperation under the Biden administration, state leaders remain optimistic that the incoming Trump administration will not hinder progress, believing that negotiations will continue unabated.

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7. Ford to Cut 4,000 Jobs in Europe by 2027

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [04:41]

Automaker Ford has announced a significant reduction in its European workforce, planning to eliminate 4,000 jobs in the UK and across Europe by the end of 2027. The decision is attributed to economic challenges and the strategic shift towards electric vehicle (EV) production. This move reflects broader industry trends as automakers transition to more sustainable and technologically advanced vehicle offerings.

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NPR News Now continues to provide timely and in-depth coverage of critical issues impacting the nation and the world. For the latest updates, tune in to NPR's hourly news broadcasts.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. As President Elect Donald Trump continues nominating supporters to his next cabinet, one big job remains open. As NPR's Maria As Aspen reports, the race is on to be Trump's treasury secretary.

[Maria Aspin]

The next treasury secretary will be responsible for helping shape the nation's economy, including the tax cuts and sweeping tariffs the president elect promised during his campaign. It's a crucial economic role, but the competition to be Trump's nominee has turned messy and public. Over the weekend, Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Both posted on X in support of one candidate, billionaire CEO Howard Lutnick. But now Lutnick is out of the race. Instead, Trump nominated him to be Commerce Secretary. The remaining apparent frontrunners for treasury include two other billionaire investors, Mark Rowan and Scott Besant, and a former Federal Reserve governor, Kevin Warsh. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York.

[Jack Speier]

Los Angeles has passed a sanctuary city ordinance to protect immigrants when a new administration takes over the White House. Here's NPR's Jasmine Garst.

[Jasmine Garst]

The ordinance comes in response to incoming President Donald Trump's promises of mass deportations as soon as he takes office. According to the LA City Council, which passed the ordinance unanimously, 1.3 million immigrants live in the city. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ice, is federal, it relies heavily on the cooperation of states and counties for resources. Los Angeles policy will prohibit the use of city resources and personnel to carry out that federal immigration enforcement. About a dozen states have similar laws. President Elect Trump has signaled that he will declare immigration a national emergency and use the military to support mass deportation. He's also said he will ask Congress to outlaw sanctuary cities. Jasmine Garst, NPR News, New York.

[Jack Speier]

A so called bomb cyclone ripped through the northwest overnight and this morning on the Confederated tribes of the umatilla Indian reservation. 85 mile an hour winds were buffeting an area in Oregon. For Northwest Public Broadcasting, Anna King reports.

[Gisele Halfmoon]

As the winds came, Gisele Halfmoon took her off Aussie Pup and went up to stay with her mom. She says her mom is more prepared with flashlights, batteries and supplies and lives in a more protected valley area than she does.

[Unnamed Reporter]

We were there just kind of, you know, listening to the wind outside. It got pretty intense a few times with some of the more major gusts you could hear things kind of toppling.

[Gisele Halfmoon]

By Crews from the Confederated tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are still assessing damages. For NPR News, I'm Anna King in Richland, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

Stocks wound out the session on Wall street with a mixed close, though there were some notable declines, including shares of big box retailer target, which dropped 20% and weaker than expected earnings. The Dow was up 139 points today. You're listening to NPR. As Senate lawmakers prepare to begin their work on looking at President elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, it appears they may be doing so without traditional FBI background checks. The Trump transition team so far has not signed the requisite agreements with the White House and the Justice Department that would allow the FBI to screen incoming administration's personal choices. That means the Senate could be asked to vote on Trump's picks without the usual rigorous checking to uncover possible red flags that could stand in the way of Senate confirmation. Federal officials are releasing a set of options for managing the shrinking Colorado river after the current rules expire in 2020. Six members of Station KUNC, Alex Heger reports they're calling on Western states to speed up negotiations.

[Alex Hager]

The seven states are deeply divided about who should feel the pain of cutbacks during dry times, and they've released two separate proposals about managing the river. The federal government wants them to agree on one. White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi is urging them to pick up the pace.

[Ali Zaidi]

We can either remain stuck at an impasse or we can secure a future for future generations that promises the stability and sustainability of one of our greatest natural resources.

[Alex Hager]

The Biden administration initially called on states to agree on one plan before the recent election. But state leaders say they don't expect Donald Trump's return to the White House to disrupt negotiations. For NPR News, I'm Alex Hager in Fort Collins.

[Jack Speier]

Colorado automaker Ford says it's cutting its European workforce by 4,000 people in the UK and Europe by the end of 2027. The automaker citing headwinds due to the strength of the economy and pressures to focus more on electric vehicles. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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