NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of November 23, 2024, 10 AM EST Episode

Host: Giles Snyder
Producer: NPR
Release Date: November 23, 2024

1. Trump Nominates New Health Officials

President-elect Donald Trump is finalizing his appointments for key health positions in his incoming administration. The latest announcement includes his nominee for the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Dave Weldon, an internal medicine doctor, army veteran, and former Republican congressman from Florida, has been selected to lead the CDC.
  • Ping Huang reports that in a statement on Truth Social, Trump hailed Weldon as a "respected conservative leader on fiscal and social issues" who will "restore the CDC to its true purpose and work to end the chronic disease epidemic" (00:33).
  • Highlighting Weldon’s background, Huang notes his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2009, including roles on the Appropriations, Health and Human Services, and Science committees. Weldon is also recognized for introducing the Weldon Amendment, which safeguards anti-abortion healthcare workers and organizations from discrimination.

In addition to Weldon, Trump has appointed:

• Dr. Marty McGarry to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Scott Besant, a billionaire hedge fund manager, as the nominee for Treasury Secretary (01:24).

These nominations mark a significant effort by the Trump administration to shape key health and economic agencies.

2. Potential Strike at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

A looming holiday strike threatens operations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. Hundreds of service workers affiliated with contracting companies ABM and Prospect are considering a 24-hour walkout.

• Dorothy Griffin, a representative of the workers, voiced their grievances:

  "We're not treated fairly. We're not paid fairly. We're not respected in our jobs of what we do. And we just want higher, you know, more wages and a little respect."
  (01:47)

The workers handle essential services such as cleaning and sanitizing airplane interiors, trash removal, and providing wheelchair escorts. The strike, which has not set an exact date, underscores ongoing tensions between labor and management over wages and workplace respect (01:57).

3. Texas Orders State Agencies to Divest from China

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has mandated that all Texas state agencies divest from Chinese investments, citing financial and security concerns. This directive comes amid increasing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China.

• Stephen Lewis from Rice University's Baker Institute commented on the complexity of the directive:

  "Abbott barred, quote, making any new investments of state funds in China and ordered them to sell any it has at the first available opportunity."
  (02:30)

• Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media highlighted the challenges involved:

  "There isn't the bureaucracy expertise to be able to differentiate what is a Chinese company, what is not a Chinese company, what is an investment, because there's all kinds of joint partnerships, joint ventures."
  (02:47)

The move could have significant financial repercussions for Texas, potentially affecting major companies like Tesla and Texas Instruments. China stands as the third largest destination for foreign direct investment from Texas, following Mexico and Canada, making the divestment process both urgent and complicated (02:58).

4. Israeli Airstrike in Beirut

An Israeli airstrike destroyed an eight-story building in Beirut early today, leading to the deaths of at least 11 individuals and injuring dozens more.

• Lebanese civil defense officials continue to search through the rubble for survivors, emphasizing the severity of the attack (03:17).

This incident heightens regional tensions and calls attention to the fragile security situation in Lebanon's capital.

5. NATO and Russia-Ukraine Tensions

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with President-elect Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, to discuss pressing security issues. This meeting follows Russia’s recent use of an experimental hypersonic missile in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has justified the missile strike as retaliation for Ukraine’s deployment of U.S. and British long-range missiles targeting areas within Russia.

NATO and Ukraine are scheduled to hold emergency talks to address the escalating conflict and the implications of Russia's advanced weaponry (03:17).

6. Stock Markets Reach Record Highs

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high on Friday, with other major stock indexes also showing substantial gains throughout the week.

• Scott Horsley from NPR details that the Dow climbed more than 400 points on Friday, driven by strong earnings reports and robust demand in certain sectors (04:11).

  • Nvidia reported another blockbuster earnings quarter, powered by high demand for its artificial intelligence chips.

  • In the retail sector, Walmart exceeded profit expectations, whereas Target faced disappointing results. Both retailers indicated that consumers remain cautious, prioritizing essential purchases over discretionary spending.

  • The National Association of Realtors noted a slight uptick in home sales last month, though rising mortgage rates could dampen future growth.

• By the end of the week, the Dow had surged nearly 2%, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 indexes each rising by about 1 point. These gains reflect a resilient market environment despite mixed signals from different industries (04:11).

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, introductions, and outros to focus solely on the episode's news content.

Timestamps

• 00:33: Trump's nomination of Dave Weldon to head the CDC
• 01:24: Additional Trump nominations for FDA and Treasury Secretary
• 01:47: Dorothy Griffin's statement on the Charlotte airport strike
• 01:57: Details on the potential strike and workers' roles
• 02:30: Governor Abbott's directive to divest from China
• 02:47: Andrew Schneider on the complexities of divesting
• 02:58: Impact on Texas-based companies
• 03:17: Israeli airstrike in Beirut and NATO-Russia-Ukraine tensions
• 04:11: Stock market performance and economic insights

For more updates, visit NPR News Now.