Loading summary
Transcript9 lines
- [00:00]
Humana Representative
Support for this podcast and the following message come from Humana. Employees are the heartbeat of your business. That's why Humana offers group dental, vision, life and disability plans designed to protect them. Exceptional service, broad networks and modern benefits. That's the power of human care.
- [00:21]
Jack Spear
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A federal judge is dismissing the elections interference case against President elect Donald Trump at the request of special counsel Jack Smith. As NPR's Kerry Johnson explains, Smith will leave the Justice Department before Trump's inauguration.
- [00:39]
Kerry Johnson
The special counsel is likely to produce a report about the two cases that he built against President elect Trump. But because of a long standing Justice Department view that presidents cannot be charged or prosecuted, DOJ will continue to pursue Trump's co defendants in the Mar A Lago classified documents case. Walt Nada and Carlos de Oliveira have pleaded not guilty to obstruction and other charges. Once Trump takes office, he could direct the Justice Department to drop that case or move to pardon both men. Prosecutors say they're confident in the strength of the cases, but presidents are different under the law. Kerry Johnson, NPR News, Washington.
- [01:16]
Jack Spear
Israeli airstrikes have been hitting targets in Lebanon even as there have been some reports of progress towards a ceasefire between the two sides. Israel has been striking targets there as it battles Iranian backed Hezbollah militants. After around a year of skirmishes, Israeli troops launched a ground invasion of Lebanon in October. At least 12 people reportedly were killed in the latest strike. The fighting there comes even as Israel has been battling Hamas forces in Gaza since 2022. The Justice Department and Google made closing arguments today in a trial over whether Google's ad business breaks US Competition laws. It comes days after a judge in a separate case declared Google's sear an illegal monopoly. Morph NPR's Bobby Allen.
- [01:57]
Bobby Allen
Justice Department lawyers argued before a judge in Virginia that Google's highly lucrative advertising empire was built by breaking the law. Google sells ad space online. They own tools that websites use to display ads, and Google controls the largest auction house where ad transactions take place. Justice attorneys say it's a monopoly that has boxed out competition. Google countered that if online advertising is brought in to include social media and TV services, it is not as dominant as the government claims. The judge is expected to rule sometime next month. It follows Google losing another case over Google search, which could result in the company spinning off its popular Chrome browser. Bobby Allen, NPR News.
- [02:37]
Jack Spear
U.S. appeals Court has rejected a request from British socialite Jhilaine Maxwell to revisit the decision upholding her conviction for helping the late financier Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls in the order in the U.S. circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan court rejecting several arguments to set aside the 62 year old Maxwell's 2020 conviction. She's currently serving a 20 year sentence. Epstein died in prison in 2019 awaiting trial on charges in the case, with authorities declaring that he took his own life. Stocks continue to power to new record highs in what will be a holiday shortened trading week. The Dow up 440 points today. The Nasdaq rose 51 points. You're listening to NPR. Queen Latifah will host this year's Kennedy Center Honors. The actor, singer and entrepreneur was herself an Honoree last year. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports.
- [03:29]
Elizabeth Blair
Queen Latifah is an Emmy and Grammy Award winner who became the first female rapper to win a Kennedy center honor. Earlier this year, Latifah hosted the NAACP Image Awards. The Kennedy Center Honors celebrate career achievements in the arts. This year's honorees are Bonnie Raitt, the Grateful Dead, Arturo Sandoval, Francis Ford Coppola and the Apollo. The show will be broadcast on CBS and stream on Paramount on December 22nd. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.
- [04:01]
Jack Spear
A Texas judge was sent to hear arguments today in the case over a bid for the assets of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones by the satirical news outlet the Onion. Jones has alleged a bankruptcy auction was marred by fraud and collusion. It's not clear how the judge will rule he would allow the Onion to move ahead. He could allow rather, the Onion to move ahead with its purchase, order a new auction or even name the only other bidder as the winner. Jones filed for bankruptcy after being ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion following defamation lawsuits filed by families of the victims of 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Jones had claimed the school shooting that left 26 people dead, including 20 children, was fake. Crude oil futures prices closed lower today amid some easing of Mideast tensions. Oil dropped $2.30 a barrel to end the session at 68.94a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.
- [05:00]
Boland Branch Representative
This message comes from Boland Branch. Boland Branch's best sale of the year is right now. Try the organic cotton sheets loved by millions. Go to bolandbranch.com and use code NPR for 25% off everything. Limited time only exclusions apply. See site for details.