NPR News: 11-23-2024 6PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 23, 2024, 6 PM EST

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the day's most pressing issues, ranging from political appointments and election outcomes to international incidents, public health concerns, and sports highlights. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics covered in the episode released on November 23, 2024.

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1. Presidential Nominations and Economic Policy

Host: Jeanine Hurst

Main Points:

• Nominations by President-Elect Donald Trump:
  • Brooke Rawlins has been nominated as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. She previously served as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump's first administration.
  • Scott Besant, a billionaire investor, has been nominated as the Treasury Secretary, a role encompassing broad responsibilities in economic, regulatory, and international affairs.

Insight from NPR’s Scott Horsley [00:46]:

• Potential Policy Directions:
  • Besant is expected to receive a supportive reception from the incoming GOP Congress.
  • One of his initial priorities will likely be seeking an extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, some of which are slated to expire next year.
  • There is speculation that Besant may advocate for further tax reductions. However, such measures could exacerbate the federal debt, which has recently surpassed $36 trillion.

Notable Quote:

“He'll likely be pushing on an open door when it comes to cutting taxes, although that would probably add to the federal debt,” said Scott Horsley at [00:46].

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2. 2024 Presidential Election: High Turnout and GOP Success

Host: Jeanine Hurst

Main Points:

• Election Outcomes:
  • The 2024 presidential election saw historically high voter turnout, the second highest since 1960.
  • Contrary to long-held political beliefs, the Republicans, led by Donald Trump, achieved significant victories, capturing the House, Senate, and the presidency.

Analysis by NPR’s Miles Parks [01:31]:

• Implications for Voting Policies:
  • Traditionally, high-turnout elections have benefitted Democrats, primarily because low-propensity voters tend to be poorer and less educated, demographics that lean Democratic.
  • The GOP's success in a high-turnout environment challenges this assumption and may influence the party to reconsider its stance on voting reforms.

Expert Commentary:

• Charles Stewart, Election Expert at MIT:
  • “It will be interesting now to see how that impacts the party's feelings about voting policy,” Stewart remarked, highlighting the potential for the GOP to embrace policies that could make voting more accessible.

Quote from Greg Eklund [01:58]:

“Republicans are much less likely to favor election reforms that expand access, but it's an open question whether that will shift now that the party has succeeded in a high turnout environment,” continued Miles Parks.

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3. International Incident: Disappearance of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in UAE

Host: Jeanine Hurst

Main Points:

• Incident Overview:
  • Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli Moldovan citizen connected to the Orthodox Jewish organization Chabad, has been missing since Thursday afternoon in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Details from NPR’s Ruth Sherlock in Tel Aviv [02:29]:

• Investigation Status:
  • The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed Kogan's disappearance and stated that Israeli intelligence and security authorities are conducting a thorough investigation.
  • Initial information suggests the possibility of a terrorist incident.
• Chabad’s Presence in UAE:
  • Chabad established its office in Abu Dhabi in 2020 following the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE.
  • A Chabad representative in Abu Dhabi indicated they have no current information regarding Kogan's whereabouts.
• UAE’s Response:
  • The UAE Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to NPR's request for comment on the matter.

Quote:

"Israelian intelligence and security authorities have launched an intensive investigation in light of information that suggested a terrorist incident," explained Ruth Sherlock at [02:29].

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4. Public Health Alert: Listeria Outbreak Linked to US Chang Food

Host: Jeanine Hurst

Main Points:

• Outbreak Details:
  • Federal health officials reported the death of an infant due to a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meat products from US Chang Food.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 11 infections across California, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, with nine hospitalizations.
• Recall Information:
  • Listeria was detected during routine testing last month.
  • Initially, US Chang Food recalled approximately 4,500 pounds of product on November 9th.
  • The recall has since expanded to include 72,000 pounds of meat and poultry products.

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5. Sports Highlight: NWSL Championship Match Preview

Host: Jeanine Hurst

Main Points:

• Match Details:
  • The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) championship match is scheduled for tonight at 8:00 PM Eastern in Kansas City.
  • The contest will feature the Washington Spirit, the number two seed, against the top-seeded Orlando Pride.

Analysis by NPR’s Greg Eklund [04:12]:

• Key Players:
  • Orlando Pride: Relegating their hopes on Marta, the 38-year-old Brazilian superstar who scored the game-winning goal in their semifinal match.
  • Washington Spirit: Forward Ashley Hatch, a veteran from the Spirit's 2021 NWSL title team, emphasizes respect and determination to defeat Marta.

Notable Quote from Ashley Hatch [04:32]:

“Obviously, we respect her, but we also want to beat her. So I think it's a combination of all those things,” Hatch stated at [04:32].

Additional Insight:

• During the regular season, Washington Spirit faced Orlando Pride twice and lost both encounters, adding an extra layer of anticipation to tonight's championship match.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a succinct yet thorough overview of significant national and international developments, offering expert insights and firsthand reports to keep the audience well-informed.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Jeanine Hurst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Hurst. President elect Donald Trump today nominated Brooke Rawlins as secretary of the Department of Agriculture. She served as the director of Domestic Policy Council in his first administration. Trump also tapped billionaire investor Scott Besant as his treasury secretary. That's a position with widespread responsibilities in economic, regulatory and international affairs. NPR Scott Horsley has more.

[Scott Horsley]

He'll probably get a friendly reception from the new GOP Congress if he's confirmed one of his first jobs will be getting an extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, parts of which are set to expire next year. He'll likely be pushing on an open door when it comes to cutting taxes, although that would probably add to the federal debt, which we learned just yesterday has now surpassed $36 trillion.

[Jeanine Hurst]

NPR Scott Horsley reporting. Turnout in this year's presidential election was very high historically, and Republicans, including Donald Trump, fared well winning the House, Senate and presidency. As NPR's Miles Parks reports, that contradicts conventional political wisdom, and it could entice Republicans to embrace policies that make voting easier.

[Miles Parks]

For years, it's been largely assumed that high turnout elections would favor Democrats. That's because low propensity voters tend to be poorer and less educated, and those groups have tended to vote Democratic. 2024 turned that upside down. It was the second highest turnout election since 1960, and the GOP won big. Charles Stewart, an election expert at mit, says it will be interesting now to see how that impacts the party's feelings about voting policy.

[Greg Eklund]

Republicans are much less likely to favor election reforms that expand access, but it's.

[Miles Parks]

An open question whether that will shift now that the party has succeeded in a high turnout environment. Miles Parks, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Hurst]

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities are investigating the disappearance of an Israeli Moldovan rabbi who is connected to an Orthodox Jewish organization. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has more from Tel Aviv.

[Ruth Sherlock]

The Israeli prime minister's office says Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli Moldovan citizen, has been missing since Thursday afternoon. In a statement, it said Israeli intelligence and security authorities have launched an intensive investigation in light of information that, quote, suggested a terrorist incident. Kogan has been in the UAE working with Chabad, a Jewish Orthodox community organization with chapters around the world. Chab Chad first opened its office in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, in 2020 after diplomatic ties were established between Israel and the UAE. A representative in the Chabad office in Abu Dhabi told NPR they had no information to share regarding Kogan's whereabouts. The UAE Foreign Ministry did not immediately reply to NPR's request for comment. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Hurst]

This is NPR News. Federal health officials say an infant has died from a listeria outbreak that's tied to Ready to eat meat from US Chang Food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 11 people were infected in several states, California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York, and that nine people were hospitalized. Listeria was found during routine tests last month and this week, the Spartanburg, South Carolina based company recalled 72,000 pounds of meat and poultry products as a result. That, though, is an expansion of an original recall on November 9th that involved around £4,500 of product. The championship match in the National Women's Soccer League is set for tonight, 8:00pm Eastern in Kansas City. It's between the Washington Spirit, a number two seed, and the top seeded Orlando Pride. Greg Eklund has a preview of the match.

[Greg Eklund]

Orlando is riding its hopes on 38 year old Marta, the Brazilian superstar who scored the Pride's game winning goal in their semifinal match last weekend. Washington forward Ashley Hatch, who was around for the Spirits only NWSL title in 2021, says her team is well aware of Marta's stature in the game.

[Ashley Hatch]

Obviously, we respect her, but we also want to beat her. So I think it's a combination of all those things. But I think playing against an amazing player such as Marta like it brings so much more excitement to the game.

[Greg Eklund]

During the regular season, Washington played Orlando twice and lost both contests. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eklund in Kansas City.

[Jeanine Hurst]

And I'm Janine Hurst, NPR News.

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