NPR News: 11-21-2024 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of November 21, 2024 Episode

Host: Shea Stevens
Release Date: November 21, 2024
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. House Ethics Committee on Matt Gaetz Report (00:19 - 01:18)

Shea Stevens opens the episode with a report on the House Ethics Committee's deadlock over releasing its investigation into Attorney General Matt Gaetz.

• Michael Guest, Chairman of the House Ethics Committee, stated after a closed-door meeting, “At this point, there has been no agreement to release the report” (00:31).

• The committee probed allegations against Gaetz, including “paying for sex, including with the minor, and doing illegal drugs” (00:40). Gaetz resigned his seat just before the report's consideration.

• Congresswoman Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, clarified, “there was a vote, no member crossed party lines and there was no consensus” (00:40). The committee is scheduled to reconvene on December 5.

• Despite the stalled report, Gaetz maintains his innocence and has been engaging with Republican members of the Senate Judiciary panel overseeing his confirmation process (00:40).

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2. Speaker Mike Johnson's Bathroom Declaration (01:18 - 01:44)

A significant policy change has been introduced by Speaker Mike Johnson, mandating that House members use Capitol bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex.

• Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vehemently opposed the declaration, labeling it “outrageous” (01:31). She warned, “What it inevitably results in are women and girls who are primed for assault because… people are going to want to check their private parts” (01:31).

• Ocasio-Cortez further criticized the pending bathroom bill, stating it would lead to the bullying of women in Congress (01:44).

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3. Department of Justice Moves Against Google (01:44 - 02:30)

The Justice Department has filed a motion requesting that a federal judge order Google to divest its Chrome browser and Android phone business or place them under court supervision.

• The DOJ's demands include stopping third-party payments that ensure Google’s search engine remains the default on devices (01:44).

• Google responded by calling the DOJ's proposal “staggering” and a “threat to the security and privacy of its users” (01:44).

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4. Australia's Proposed Social Media Ban for Children (02:30 - 03:13)

Australia's Parliament is deliberating a groundbreaking social media ban aimed at children under 16.

• Reported by Kristina Kukolya, the legislation could impose fines up to US$33 million on companies that fail to prevent minors from accessing their platforms (02:30).

• Platforms targeted include Reddit and Snapchat, while exemptions apply to YouTube, some online gaming, and messaging sites.

• The Australian government has yet to specify the implementation mechanisms, though the bill enjoys support from the main opposition coalition. Some online safety experts question its potential effectiveness (02:30).

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5. Safe Rent Solutions Class Action Settlement (03:13 - 03:56)

A federal judge has approved a $2.2 million settlement in a class action lawsuit against Safe Rent Solutions, a property management firm.

• Plaintiffs accused the Texas-based company of using algorithms to discriminate against Black and Latino renters based on race and income, particularly those using housing vouchers (03:13).

• Safe Rent Solutions has agreed to halt certain screening services provided to landlords and management companies in response to the settlement (03:13).

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6. National Book Awards Highlights (03:56 - 04:39)

The National Book Awards ceremony celebrated some of the most esteemed works in American literature.

• Percival Everett won the Fiction award for his novel James, a retelling of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn from Jim's perspective. In his acceptance, Everett expressed gratitude to his “wife, his agent, his two teenage sons” (03:56).

• Jason De Leon secured the Nonfiction award for Soldiers and Kings, which explores the perilous journeys of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border. De Leon acknowledged, “everyone out there on the migrant trail trying to make ends meet” (04:15).

• Lena Khalaf Tufaha received the Poetry award for her collection Something About Living, which provides an expansive history of the Palestinian people (04:24).

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7. Country Music Awards Recap (04:39 - 04:57)

The Country Music Awards took place in Nashville, spotlighting standout artists.

• Chris Stapleton was the evening’s standout, earning four honors, including Album of the Year for Starting Over. His song “White Horse” won both Song of the Year and Single of the Year, while Laney Wilson was named Female Vocalist of the Year (04:39).

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with concise updates on critical political developments, significant legal actions against major corporations, international regulatory moves on social media, notable legal settlements addressing discrimination, and highlights from prestigious literary and music award ceremonies. Through engaging reporting and key quotes from involved parties, the episode offered a comprehensive overview of current events for its audience.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been omitted to focus on the core news stories presented in the episode.

Transcript

[BetterHelp]

This message comes from BetterHelp. BetterHelp is committed to making mental well being a priority and offering support in taking on everything life demands. With therapists available to communicate via video chat or [e-mail] News.

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The House Ethics Committee is deadlocked on whether to release its report on Attorney General Matt Gaetz. NPR's Deirdre Walsh reports.

[Michael Guest]

House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest told reporters after a closed door meeting about their probe.

[Deirdre Walsh]

At this point, there has been no agreement to release the report.

[Michael Guest]

The ethics panel investigated Gaetz for allegations of paying for sex, including with the minor, and doing illegal drugs. He resigned his seat just before the committee was set to consider its report. The top Democrat on the panel, Congresswoman Susan Wild, said after guests spoke to reporters she wanted to clarify there was a vote, no member crossed party lines and there was no consensus. The members did agree to meet again on December 5. Gaetz, who insists he's done nothing wrong, spent the day meeting with Republican members of the Senate Judiciary panel who will lead the confirmation process. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Shea Stevens]

A declaration by Speaker Mike Johnson orders House members to only use Capitol bathrooms that correspond to their biological sex. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez calls the move outrageous.

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]

What it inevitably results in are women and girls who are primed for assault because they want because people are going to want to check their private parts in suspecting who is trans and who is CIS and who's doing what.

[Shea Stevens]

Ocasio Cortez also says that a pending bathroom bill would allow the bullying of women in Congress. In a motion filed last night, the Justice Department is asking the federal judge who oversees the antitrust case against Google to order the tech giant to sell its popular Chrome browser. DOJ also wants Google to divest from its Android phone business or have it undergo court supervision and stop making third party payments that ensure its search engine is the default. In a statement, Google called the proposal staggering and a threat to the security and privacy of its users. Australia's Parliament is considering a social media ban for children. As Kristina Kokolpia reports, tech companies could face multimillion dollar fines for breaches.

[Kristina Kukolya]

The proposed changes, described by the Australian government as world leading, could see social media companies fined the equivalent of up to US$33 million for breaching rules to prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing their platforms. Reddit and Snapchat are also on the list, while YouTube, some online gaming and messaging sites are exempt. Companies would have the responsibility to enforce the age restrictions, but the government has yet to explain how they'll be implemented. The legislation is expected to pass Parliament with support from the main opposition coalition, but some online safety experts have questioned its effectiveness. For NPR News, Christina Kukolya, Melbourne, Australia.

[Shea Stevens]

You're listening to NPR. A federal judge has approved a $2.2 million settlement of a class action claiming property management firm Safe Rent Solutions used algorithms to score renters based on race and income. The plaintiffs accused the Texas based company of unfairly discriminating against black and Latino applicants using housing vouchers. Safer has agreed to roll back some of the screening services that it offers to landlords and management companies. The ceremony for this year's National Book Awards were held last night. The prizes are some of the most prestigious awards in American literature. NPR's Andrew Limbonk has more on this year's winners.

[Andrew Limbonk]

Percival Everett won the fiction award for his book James, which is a retelling of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, except from Jim's point of view. In his speech, Everett thanked the usual suspects, his wife, his agent, his two teenage sons, whose near complete apathy about.

[Lena Khalaf Tufaha]

My career helps me keep things in perspective.

[Andrew Limbonk]

And nonfiction. Jason De Leon won for his book Soldiers and Kings, about people who smuggle migrants over the southern US Border. He thanked the subjects in his book.

[Jason De Leon]

And everyone out there on the migrant trail trying to make ends meet and trying to do the right thing while keeping hope alive.

[Andrew Limbonk]

And the poetry award went to Lena Khalaf Tufaha, whose collection Something About Living is An expansive History of the Palestinian people. Angelimbang and Pyrenees at the Country Music.

[Shea Stevens]

Awards last night, Chris Stapleton received four honors, including album of the Year. His song White Horse won song of the Year and single of the Year. Laney Wilson is female vocalist of the year. The event was held last night in Nashville. This is NPR News.

[Lena Khalaf Tufaha]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Shopify, the global commerce platform that helps you sell and show up exactly the way you want to customize your online store to your style. Sign up for a $1 per month trial [e-mail] NPR.