NPR News: 11-24-2024 8AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – November 24, 2024, 8AM EST

Hosted by NPR, this episode of "NPR News Now" delivered a comprehensive overview of the latest national and international news, covering political appointments, climate agreements, natural disasters, international conflicts, and sports achievements. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed.

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1. President Elect Donald Trump's Cabinet Appointment

Timestamp: 00:19 – 01:14

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Brooke Rollins as his new Secretary of Agriculture, marking the final appointment for his incoming cabinet. Rollins, who previously served as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council under Trump's first administration, is now the President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank founded to promote Trump's policies.

Sarah McCammon highlighted Rollins' qualifications, noting her strong educational background with an agriculture degree from Texas A&M and a law degree from the University of Texas. Giles Snyder emphasized the significance of this appointment by stating, "The choice of Rollins completes the cabinet level roster for the incoming Trump administration" (00:19).

As the head of the US Department of Agriculture, Rollins will oversee a vast agency with approximately 100,000 employees, managing critical programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and various farm subsidies.

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2. COP29 Climate Summit and Global Climate Commitments

Timestamp: 01:14 – 02:04

At the COP29 Summit held in Baku, Azerbaijan, world leaders reached a multifaceted agreement aimed at assisting less developed countries in combating climate change. However, the summit faced substantial criticism for not addressing the crisis's scale adequately.

Sarah McCammon reported that wealthier nations have committed to increasing their annual contributions to $300 billion to support nations most vulnerable to climate impacts. Despite this progress, Simon Steele, the head of the UN Climate Body, acknowledged the agreement's imperfections:

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 a victory lapse." (01:42)

Giles Snyder pointed out that while the deal represents a step forward, significant challenges remain in meeting global climate goals.

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3. Severe Flooding in Northern California

Timestamp: 02:04 – 03:00

An intense atmospheric river storm recently hit Northern California, resulting in catastrophic flooding and tragic loss of life. Two individuals were found dead in floodwaters over the weekend.

Juan Carlos Lara from KQED in San Francisco provided detailed coverage of the disaster, mentioning that one deceased person was discovered in a submerged vehicle in Santa Rosa. Police Sergeant Patricia Stephens confirmed, "a man in his 60s was found dead in a creek Saturday morning" (02:17).

Weather officials reported unprecedented water levels, particularly in the Russian River, which saw higher than normal levels for November. Lara highlighted the severity by stating, "Downtown Santa Rosa saw more than a foot of rain over three days, which weather officials are calling a once in a thousand year event" (02:39).

The US Department of Agriculture, overseeing flood response and nutrition programs, plays a critical role in managing such natural disasters.

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4. Winter Storm Impacts and Power Outages

Timestamp: 03:00 – 03:47

A winter storm warning remains in effect through Tuesday for California's Sierra Nevada, anticipating continued harsh weather conditions. Concurrently, Washington state is grappling with significant power outages following last week's storm system, predominantly affecting the Seattle metropolitan area.

Giles Snyder reported on the widespread impact of these weather events, noting the ongoing challenges faced by residents in these regions.

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5. Lebanon-Israel Tensions and Missing Israeli Rabbi

Timestamp: 03:00 – 04:03

Tensions escalate in the Middle East as Lebanon's military accuses Israel of conducting an airstrike that resulted in the death of one Lebanese soldier and injured at least 18 others. Lebanon's caretaker prime minister condemned the attack as an assault on U.S.-led ceasefire efforts. No official comment has been made by the Israeli government regarding the allegations.

In related news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the body of Rabbi Sabeesh Kogan, who had been missing since Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, has been found. Netanyahu vowed to "seek justice" in response to Rabbi Kogan's disappearance and presumed kidnapping.

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6. Orlando Pride Clinches First NWSL Championship

Timestamp: 03:56 – 04:54

In sports news, the Orlando Pride secured their inaugural championship in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) with a decisive 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit. The match took place at a neutral site in Kansas City, a strategic choice for the championship showdown.

Greg Ecklund from Kansas City provided insights into the game, praising Orlando's star player, Barbara Banda, who delivered a stellar performance throughout the playoffs. Banda, originally from Zambia, scored the championship-winning goal in the 37th minute, exemplifying her determination:

Barbara Banda: "I always want to take on the defenders, so I saw that opportunity and I had to put the ball at the back of the net for the [Pride]." (04:26)

This victory marks a significant milestone for the Pride, having lost only two matches all season, and celebrates the first championship title for Marta Vieira da Silva, the legendary Brazilian forward, widely revered among fans as Marta.

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For more detailed coverage and updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into "NPR News Now."

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Giles Snyder]

News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President elect Donald Trump has chosen the.

[Sarah McCammon]

Head of a pro Trump think tank to be his agriculture secretary. Trump has tapped Brooke Lawlands to lead.

[Giles Snyder]

The agency responsible for the nation's farm and nutrition programs, as NPR Sarah McCammon reports.

[Brooke Rollins]

Brooke Rollins worked for Trump's first administration, most notably as director of the Domestic Policy Council. After leaving the White House, Rollins was among a group of senior advisers who set up the America First Policy Institute to promote Trump's ideas. She's now the nonprofit group's president and CEO. Rollins has an agriculture degree from Texas AM and a law degree from the University of Texas. The US Department of Agriculture has around 100,000 employees and oversees several large programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and farm subsidies. Sarah McCammon, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

The choice of Rollins completes the cabinet level roster for the incoming Trump administration. A deal reached at the COP 29.

[Sarah McCammon]

Summit in Azerbaijan to help less developed countries tackle climate change is being sharply criticized for failing to meet the scale of the challenge. Richer countries agreed to raise their contribution.

[Giles Snyder]

For those countries most vulnerable to climate.

[Sarah McCammon]

Change to $300 billion a year.

[Giles Snyder]

Simon Steele, the head of the UN.

[Sarah McCammon]

Climate body, conceded, though, that the agreement.

[Giles Snyder]

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.

[Giles Snyder]

Two people were found dead in or near floodwaters this weekend after an atmospheric river storm dumped heavy rain on parts of Northern California.

[Sarah McCammon]

From member station KQED in San Francisco.

[Giles Snyder]

Juan Carlos Lara reports.

[Juan Carlos Lara]

More than 50 miles north of San Francisco, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said Saturday one person was found dead in a submerged vehicle in the city of Santa Rosa. Police Sergeant Patricia Stephens says a man in his 60s was found dead in a creek Saturday morning, Piner Creek at that area.

[Weather Official]

In fact, all creeks in Santa Rosa were extremely high and had been experiencing flooding during this storm.

[Juan Carlos Lara]

Weather officials say the nearby Russian river has experienced higher water levels than normal for November, and a flood warning for the area remains in effect until further notice. Downtown Santa Rosa saw more than a foot of rain over three days, which weather officials are calling a once in a thousand year event for NPR News. I'm Juan Carlos Lara in San Francisco.

[Giles Snyder]

Winter storm warning is in effect through Tuesday for California's Sierra Nevada. In Washington state, tens of thousands remain without power after that weather system hit last week. The outages mostly in the Seattle area. And from Washington, this is NPR News. Lebanon's military is blaming an Israeli airstrike for killing one soldier and wounding at least 18 others. Israel has not commented, but Lebanon's caretaker prime minister is condemning the attack as.

[Sarah McCammon]

An assault on U. S. Led ceasefire efforts.

[Giles Snyder]

A strike happened in an area of southwestern Lebanon where there has been heavy fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing to seek justice in the case of.

[Sarah McCammon]

An Israeli rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates.

[Giles Snyder]

A statement from Netanyahu's office today says the body of Rabbi Sabeesh Kogan has been found. He went missing Thursday. There were suspicions that he'd been kidnapped.

[Sarah McCammon]

The Orlando Pride won their first championship in the National Women's Soccer League with a one nil win this weekend over the Washington Spirit.

[Giles Snyder]

The match took place on a neutral.

[Sarah McCammon]

Site in Kansas City, where reporter Greg Eklund is based.

[Greg Ecklund]

Orlando forward Barbara Banda, who grew up in Zambia and played her first season in the nwsl, saved her best for last in the playoffs. She scored two goals in the Pride's quarterfinal, a goal in the semis, and the only goal of the title match in the 37th minute.

[Barbara Banda]

I always want to take on the defenders, so I saw that opportunity and I had to put the ball at the back of the net for the.

[Greg Ecklund]

Top seeded Pride, who lost only two matches all year. It was their first appearance in the championship match. It was also the first title for Marta Vieira da Silva, their 38 year old Brazilian superstar known to many fans simply as Marta. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eckled in Kansas City.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Giles Snyder.

[Sarah McCammon]

This is NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor]

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