NPR News: 11-24-2024 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: November 24, 2024, 11 AM EST

Host: Noor Rahm
Produced by: NPR

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1. President Elect Trump Finalizes Cabinet Selections

Timestamp: [00:16] - [01:18]

After a weekend filled with strategic announcements, President-elect Donald Trump has officially named his nine cabinet picks, completing his executive branch appointments. Notably, longtime aide Brooke Rollins has been selected as the Agriculture Secretary, a move that solidifies Trump's commitment to loyalists within his administration.

Amy Held, NPR contributor, highlights the composition of Trump's choices:

"Trump's choices, charged with the nation's health, defense, education and more share some common threads. Fierce loyalists, some with tons of TV experience but not much related to the top jobs." (00:31)

Despite the announcements, Trump's transition team faces delays. The administration is behind on essential paperwork, including the disclosure of potential contributions from interest groups and wealthy donors, which are necessary for cabinet nominees to undergo FBI background checks.

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2. Efforts to Protect Undocumented Immigrants in Los Angeles

Timestamp: [01:18] - [02:20]

In East Los Angeles, hundreds gathered at a local high school over the weekend seeking assistance to attain American citizenship. This initiative is part of a broader strategy by the LA school district and city to shield undocumented residents from potential deportation under the incoming Trump administration.

Kelly McEvers reports on the situation:

"Refugio and Cheryl Sanchez have three kids. They say people they know on social media are already talking about how there could be checkpoints and how they might get rounded up." (01:51)

The Sanchez family, representing approximately 800,000 similar families in LA, has enrolled to receive legal support for Cheryl Sanchez, who is undocumented. Officials anticipate conducting additional workshops and events in the upcoming weeks as the community braces for possible policy changes.

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3. Climate Change Agreement Reached at COP 29 Summit

Timestamp: [02:20] - [03:10]

Early this morning in Baku, Azerbaijan, negotiators at the COP 29 summit reached a consensus aimed at assisting less developed nations in combating climate change. However, the agreement has faced criticism for not adequately addressing the scale of the climate crisis.

Simon Steele, head of the UN climate body, acknowledged the limitations of the deal:

"No country got everything they wanted, and we leave Baku with a mountain of work to do. The many other issues we need to progress may not be headlines, but they are lifelines for billions of people. So this is no time for victory lapse." (02:47)

Under the agreement, wealthier nations have committed to increasing their financial contributions to $300 billion annually to support the most vulnerable countries. Despite this pledge, many observers deem the commitment insufficient to meet global climate goals. Future climate meetings are scheduled to continue in Brazil next year in an effort to build upon this foundation.

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4. Political Unrest and Security Issues in Pakistan and Jordan

Timestamp: [03:10] - [04:38]

Islamabad, Pakistan: The capital faced a partial lockdown today in response to planned protests demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated for over a year on multiple criminal charges. Authorities have shut down major roads and suspended mobile and Internet services to maintain order.

Amman, Jordan: A rare incident of gunfire occurred overnight in the Rabia neighborhood, near the now-closed Israeli Embassy. According to Jaina Raff, NPR correspondent:

"Jordan's security directorate says a gunman opened fire on a police patrol... The suspect had a criminal record, including drug and illegal weapons possession, and had been wanted by police." (03:49)

The Israeli Embassy in Amman has been cordoned off since the onset of the Gaza war over a year ago. The attack underscores ongoing tensions, particularly given that a significant portion of Jordan's population is of Palestinian descent, many of whom are barred from returning to their ancestral homeland by Israeli authorities. Although Jordan maintains a peace treaty with Israel established three decades ago, public opinion remains largely opposed to the treaty.

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5. Orlando Pride Clinches National Women's Soccer League Championship

Timestamp: [04:38] - [04:56]

In a thrilling conclusion to the season, the Orlando Pride triumphed over The Washington Spirit with a decisive 1-0 victory in Kansas City, securing their first-ever National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) championship. Brazilian star Marta played a pivotal role in Orlando's success, solidifying her legacy as one of the sport's all-time greats.

Noor Rahm concludes the news segment:

"This is the first championship for Orlando and its Brazilian star, Marta." (04:38)

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Notable Advertisements Skipped:

• Progressive Insurance Advertisement at the beginning of the transcript ([00:00]-[00:16]).
• Shopify Advertisement towards the end of the transcript ([04:56]-).

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This summary encapsulates the key developments reported in the NPR News Now episode aired on November 24, 2024. From political cabinet appointments and immigration efforts to international climate agreements and regional security incidents, the episode provided a comprehensive overview of pressing national and global issues.

Transcript

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[Noor Rahm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. After a weekend whirl of announcements, plans for the incoming presidential cabinet are now complete. NPR's Amy Held reports. President elect Donald Trump named nine picks Friday.

[Amy Held]

Trump's announcement Saturday of longtime aide and ally Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary rounds out his selections of executive branch department heads. The Republican controlled Senate begins the confirmation process early next year. Trump's choices, charged with the nation's health, defense, education and more share some common threads. Fierce loyalists, some with tons of TV experience but not much related to the top jobs. Trump campaigned on promises to shake up government bureaucracy. His transition so far is behind on its paperwork still unsigned documents that would show which interest groups or wealthy donors may be contributing and allow his cabinet picks to get FBI background checks. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Noor Rahm]

Hundreds of people showed up at a high school in East Los Angeles this weekend to get help becoming American, American citizens. It's all part of a larger effort by the school district and the city to protect people from deportation that's been promised by the incoming Trump administration. NPR's Kelly McEvers reports.

[Kelly McEvers]

Refugio Sanchez has citizenship like an estimated 800,000 other people in LA. His wife, Cheryl Sanchez, is undocumented. They say people are panicking.

[Noor Rahm]

I don't want to be separated from my kids, my family.

[Kelly McEvers]

Refugio and Cheryl Sanchez have three kids. They say people they know on social media are already talking about how there could be checkpoints and how they might get rounded up. The family signed up to get legal help for Cheryl through a nonprofit school board officials say there will be more events like this in the coming weeks. The LA school district and the city recently voted to become sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants. Kelly McEvers, NPR News, Los Angeles.

[Noor Rahm]

Early this morning in Azerbaijan, a deal was reached at the COP 29 summit to help less developed countries tackle climate change. It's being criticized for failing to meet the scale of the challenge. Richer countries agreed to raise their contribution for those countries most vulnerable to climate change to $300 billion a year. Simon Steele, the head of the UN climate body, conceded that the agreement that was reached is far from perfect.

[Simon Steele]

No country got everything they wanted, and we leave Baku with a mountain of work to do. The many other issues we need to progress may not be headlines, but they are lifelines for billions of people. So this is no time for victory lapse.

[Noor Rahm]

Climate negotiators are to meet in Brazil next year. This is NPR News in Washington. The capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, is partially locked down today because of a planned protest. Demonstrators are demanding the release of the former premier, Imran Khan, in prison for more than a year on several criminal charges. Officials have closed major roads leading into the city and suspended mobile and Internet services. In Jordan, there was a rare shooting overnight in the capital, Amman, in the neighborhood where the now closed Israeli Embassy is located. NPR's Jaina Raff reports from Amman.

[Jaina Raff]

Jordan's security directorate says a gunman opened fire on a police patrol in the capital's Rabia neighborhood. It says he was shot dead in a firefight after trying to escape. State media says three police officers sustained moderate injuries. It said the suspect had a criminal record, including drug and illegal weapons possession, and had been wanted by police. The Israeli embassy has been cordoned off and closed since shortly after the start of the Gaza war more than a year ago. A majority of Jordan citizens are of Palestinian origin who are not allowed by Israel to return to their homeland. Jordan, a strong US ally, signed a peace treaty with Israel 30 years ago, but polls show most Jordanians, regardless of origin, oppose the treaty. Jay Narraf, NPR News, Amman.

[Noor Rahm]

In women's soccer, the Orlando Pride beat The Washington Spirit 1 Nothing last night in Kansas City to win the National Women's Soccer League championship. This is the first championship for Orlando and its Brazilian star, Marta. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

[Amy Held]

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.