NPR News: 11-21-2024 10PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 21, 2024 – Detailed Summary

Release Date: November 22, 2024
Host: NPR
Episode Title: NPR News: 11-21-2024 10PM EST

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International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Israeli Leaders

Timestamp: [00:20]
Reporter: Jack Spear

In a significant development from The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yov Gallant. The ICC accuses both leaders of committing war crimes during the conflict in Gaza.

timestamp: [00:41]
Scott Newman Reports from Tel Aviv:

Netanyahu's office and several government ministers have vehemently condemned the ICC's decision, labeling it as "antisemitic." Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment, calling the move "a moral disgrace." The ICC alleges that both leaders are responsible for "using starvation as a method of warfare" and committing crimes such as murder and persecution in Gaza.

However, the enforcement of these warrants faces challenges, as neither Israel nor its ally, the United States, are members of the ICC's 124-member states. Human rights group Beit Salam commented on the matter, stating the ICC's decision is "one of the lowest points in Israeli history."

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U.S. Political Shifts: Matt Gaetz Resigns, Pam Bondi Nominated as Attorney General

Timestamp: [01:24]
Reporter: Jack Spear

Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has stepped down from his House seat amid an investigation into allegations involving inappropriate conduct, including claims of sexual relations with a minor and illicit drug use. Gaetz’s resignation clears the way for President-elect Donald Trump to appoint a new Attorney General.

Trump has nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the position. Bondi is a long-time Trump ally, having served as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial. With over 18 years of experience as a prosecutor and a history as the chair of the America First Policy Institute, Bondi is seen as a strong candidate to continue Trump's legal agenda.

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Severe Weather Impacts West Coast: Flooding Threats in Eureka, California

Timestamp: [01:24 – 02:36]
Reporter: Suki Lewis

An atmospheric river system is wreaking havoc on the West Coast, bringing intermittent heavy rains that have left thousands without power and caused the closure of several schools. Eureka in Northern California is particularly hard-hit, with nearly 12 inches of rain falling in just 24 hours.

Timestamp: [02:11]
James White, National Weather Service:
"The biggest area of concern is the Eel River south of Eureka, which is expected to keep rising overnight and into tomorrow as it reaches major flood states."

The rising Eel River threatens to cut off numerous roads, posing a danger to local farmers who need to move livestock to safety. Additionally, the saturated ground increases the risk of downed trees and mudslides, especially in the small town of Ferndale. Transportation officials are on high alert, preparing for potential evacuations and road closures as the situation develops.

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Political Proposals by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy May Clash with 1974 Law

Timestamp: [02:52]
Reporter: Jack Spear

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, has unveiled a proposal encouraging President Trump to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress as a cost-cutting measure. This initiative could potentially lead to a constitutional clash with the 1974 law governing government spending, raising concerns among legal experts about its feasibility and legality.

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Wall Street Sees Significant Gains

Timestamp: [02:52]
Reporter: Jack Spear

In financial news, Wall Street experienced a robust rally today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging by 461 points. This notable increase reflects investor optimism amidst the current economic landscape.

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Brazil's Former President Jair Bolsonaro Indicted for Alleged Coup Plot

Timestamp: [02:52 – 03:36]
Reporter: Kerry Khan, Rio de Janeiro

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces serious legal troubles as he has been indicted on charges of orchestrating a coup to overturn the government following his loss in the 2022 election. Federal police have revealed a nearly 900-page report detailing the alleged conspiracy involving Bolsonaro and 36 others aiming to violently overthrow Brazil's democratic state.

Key figures indicted alongside Bolsonaro include his former defense minister, his vice-presidential running mate, his former spy chief, and the president of his political party. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a lengthy prison sentence. Despite the charges, Bolsonaro maintains his innocence, asserting that he is a victim of political persecution. Additionally, he has been barred from holding public office until 2030, effectively ending his immediate political ambitions.

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Unprecedented Dolphin Strandings on Cape Cod Raise Environmental Alarm

Timestamp: [04:14]
Reporter: Jack Spear

Cape Cod is grappling with an alarming increase in dolphin strandings, with the International Fund for Animal Welfare reporting 342 incidents this year—five times the annual average. Scientists attribute this surge to warming ocean waters, which disrupt dolphins' food sources, and altered tides that can trap them onshore.

The unprecedented number of strandings has stretched the resources of responding organizations, highlighting the pressing need for environmental interventions. Efforts are underway to understand the underlying causes and mitigate the impact on the local marine ecosystem.

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Crude Oil Prices Rise Amid Market Volatility

Timestamp: [04:14]
Reporter: Jack Spear

In energy markets, crude oil prices have climbed, increasing by $1.35 per barrel. This rise reflects ongoing market volatility and concerns over global supply dynamics.

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Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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[Jack Spear]

In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Officials in Israel are largely condemning a decision by the International Criminal Court in the Hague to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yov Gallant. The court has accused the leaders of war crimes related to the war in Gaza. NPR Scott Newman reports from Tel Aviv.

[Scott Newman]

Netanyahu's office and several government ministers labeled the decision antisemitic. Gallant's replacement, defense minister, Israel Katz, called it a moral disgrace. The court says it has reasonable grounds to find that Netanyahu and Golant bear criminal responsibility for using starvation as a method of warfare and for crimes including murder and persecution in Gaza. However, the human rights group Beit salam says the ICC's decision isn't surprising and called it, quote, one of the lowest points in Israeli history. Enforcement of the warrants is dependent on the ICC's 124 member states, which do not include Israel or its ally, the United States. Scott Newman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jack Spear]

With former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz stepping aside as president elect Donald Trump's attorney general, Nomin Trump has chosen another Floridian, Trump announcing on his social media platform he's picking former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of the lawyers at his first impeachment trial. She spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor, has been chair of the America First Policy Institute. Gaetz resigned his House seat this week amid an investigation into allegations of sex with a minor in illicit drug use. An atmospheric river is slamming the west coast intermittently, leaving thousands without power and closing some schools there. The National Weather Service warns Eureka in Northern California could see flooding. Suki Lewis of member station KQED has more.

[Suki Lewis]

Nearly 12 inches of rain fell in the nearby coastal mountains in just 24 hours. James White of the National Weather Service says the biggest area of concern is the Eel river south of Eureka, which is expected to keep rising overnight and.

[James White]

Into tomorrow as it reaches major flood states. It's going to cut off a lot of roads, and a lot of those farmers need to move their livestock as the river rises. And so that can always be a dangerous situation if people get trapped out there.

[Suki Lewis]

Transportation officials say they're preparing in case the rising water cuts off the small Northern California town of Ferndale as rain continues to fall on already saturated ground. There's also a greater risk of downed trees and mudslides. For NPR News, I'm Sukie Lewis.

[Jack Spear]

In Eureka, President elect Donald Trump's chief cost cutters, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have big plans in terms of those efforts could run into a constitutional clash. A proposal from the two where they encouraged Trump to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress could conflict with the 1974 law. On Wall street, the Dow was up 461 points. This is NPR. Brazil's former far right president has been indicted on charges of plotting to overturn the government after his reelection loss in 2022. Federal police in the South American nation say Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others conspired together to keep the former president in power. Pierce. Kerry Khan reports.

[Kerry Khan]

The nearly 900 page federal police report into the alleged coup involved what authorities say was a far reaching criminal organization attempting a violent overthrow of the Democratic state. Indicted along with Bolsonaro as former defense minister who was his vice presidential running mate, his former spy chief and the president of his political party. It's now up to Brazil's attorney general to decide whether charges will be pursued. If convicted, Bolsonaro could fill face a lengthy prison term. He has long denied any wrongdoing and says he is being politically persecuted. Bolsonaro has been barred from running for office until 2030. Kerry Khan, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

[Jack Spear]

Scientists say it's been a bad year for dolphin strandings on Cape Cod, with no clear idea what's causing an unusually large number of beachings. International Fund for Animal Welfare, which responds to marine mammal strandings, says it has responded to 342 incidents involving dolphins. That's five times the annual average. Scientists say warming waters are changing the availability of the animals food supply as well as changes in tides that can sometimes trap the animals. Officials with the center say the large number of incidents involving dolphins is also stretching the organization's resources. Crude oil features prices moved higher today. Oil up $1.35 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Speier, NPR News, in Washington.

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