NPR News: 11-27-2024 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of November 27, 2024, 2PM EST Episode

Released on November 27, 2024

1. Violent Threats Targeting Trump’s Cabinet Picks
Time Stamp: 00:20 – 01:23

NPR News began with alarming reports concerning violent threats directed at several of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees and appointees. Lakshmi Singh reported that these threats, including bomb threats and harassment, occurred both the previous night and the morning of the episode's release.

Quote:
Caroline Levitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, stated, “Law enforcement acted quickly and President Elect Trump and the transition team are grateful for their efforts to ensure the safety of those targeted” (00:39).

The FBI has taken these threats seriously, with Levitt noting that numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents have been reported against Trump’s nominees. Among those targeted was Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, nominated as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik disclosed that she received a bomb threat while driving home with her family, further highlighting the personal risk faced by those in Trump's incoming administration (00:39).

2. Trump’s Appointment of General Keith Kellogg and Ukraine Policy Concerns
Time Stamp: 01:23 – 01:54

Lakshmi Singh continued with news about Trump appointing General Keith Kellogg as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia. This appointment was announced via Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.

There is growing concern regarding Trump's stance on U.S. aid to Ukraine. His criticism of ongoing support has led to fears that he may pressure Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to end the war. This potential shift in policy could have significant implications for international relations and the conflict's resolution.

3. Ceasefire Between Israel and Hezbollah Stabilizes Southern Lebanon
Time Stamp: 01:54 – 02:12

Lauren Frere reported on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, noting that thousands of residents are beginning to return to southern Lebanon. Despite the ceasefire holding, significant displacement remains, with a third of Lebanon's population having been displaced and tens of thousands of Israelis similarly uprooted.

Officials have indicated that Israel is not yet calling for the return of its displaced residents, citing a need for one to two months of rebuilding before it is safe for people to go back. The situation remains tense as both communities navigate the aftermath of recent conflicts (01:54).

4. Disney Agrees to $43 Million Settlement Over Gender Pay Discrimination
Time Stamp: 02:12 – 03:13

In a significant development, Disney has consented to a settlement exceeding $43 million in response to claims that it paid female employees less than their male counterparts. Danielle Pryor from Central Florida Public Media provided details, explaining that the settlement awaits judicial approval.

The lawsuit was initiated by Disney worker La Ronda Rasmussen in 2019, alleging that six male colleagues received higher pay for identical roles despite having less experience. Approximately 9,000 other female employees joined the lawsuit, pointing to widespread pay disparities within the company.

As part of the settlement, Disney is required to employ a labor economist to monitor and ensure pay equity across the organization. Despite the settlement, Disney maintains its stance of having “always been committed to paying our employees fairly and have demonstrated that commitment throughout this case” (02:30). The company expressed satisfaction with the resolution, though it continues to deny any wrongdoing (02:30).

5. New York City Found in Contempt for Inadequate Jail Protections
Time Stamp: 03:13 – 04:13

NPR reported that a U.S. district judge in Manhattan has declared New York City in contempt for its failure to protect inmates from violence and brutality within its jails. Judge Laura Taylor highlighted that the city has placed incarcerated individuals in “unconstitutional danger,” pointing out that conditions have deteriorated since the city settled abuse and violence claims nearly a decade ago.

The ruling underscores a systemic issue within the city's correctional facilities, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to safeguard the rights and well-being of inmates (03:13).

6. Mortgage Rates Experience Minor Fluctuations
Time Stamp: 03:13 – 04:13

In economic news, Freddie Mac reported a slight decrease in fixed 30-year mortgage rates, which ticked down to 6.81%. Conversely, 15-year fixed-rate mortgages saw a marginal increase to 6.1% compared to the previous week. This variation presents opportunities and considerations for prospective homebuyers navigating the current market (03:13).

7. Breakthrough Study on Dinosaur Fossilized Droppings Reveals Dietary Insights
Time Stamp: 04:13 – 04:52

Jeff Brumfield introduced a groundbreaking study from Europe, potentially the largest ever conducted on dinosaur feces. Paleontologist Martin Kvarnstrom of Uppsala University led the research, analyzing over 500 fossilized droppings to uncover the dietary habits of early dinosaurs.

Quote:
Martin Kvarnstrom remarked, “We know a lot about the life and extinction of the dinosaurs, but not so much about the rise of the dinosaurs” (04:23).

The study revealed that early dinosaurs possessed more diverse diets compared to contemporary lizards, which likely contributed to their ability to thrive during significant climatic shifts in the Triassic period. These findings, published in the journal Nature, provide valuable insights into how dinosaurs became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates on Earth (04:34).

8. U.S. Stock Market Sees a Dip
Time Stamp: 04:52 – End

Concluding the episode, it was reported that U.S. stocks are trading lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping by 92 points. This downturn reflects the ongoing volatility and investor concerns amidst various economic and political developments (04:52).

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the November 27, 2024, episode of NPR News Now, offering a comprehensive overview for listeners and readers alike.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Saatva. Saatva luxury mattresses are every bit as elegant as the most expensive brands, but because they're sold online, they're about half the price. Visit saatva.com NPR and save an additional $200.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Several of President elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks and appointees are the targets of new violent threats. A spokesperson for Trump's transition team says warnings of bomb threats and harassment happened last night and this morning. NPR's Franco Ordonez has details.

[Caroline Levitt]

A Trump spokesperson, Caroline Levitt, said in a statement that law enforcement acted quickly and that President Elect Trump and the transition team were grateful for their efforts to ensure the safety of those targeted. The FBI told NPR it takes all potential threats seriously and it's aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents against Trump nominees. Levitt did not say who was targeted, but Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who has been nominated to serve as Trump's ambassador to the United nations, said in her own statement that she was the target of a bomb threat. The New York Republican said she was driving home to Saratoga county with her husband and their three year old son when they were told of a threat at their residence. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Trump is selecting General Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, according to the latest Post His Truth Social account. Trump's criticism of the ongoing US Aid to Ukraine has stoked concerns that when he takes office, he might press Ukraine to relinquish land to Russia to end the war. A new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding as thousands of residents make their way back to southern Lebanon. NPR's Lauren Frere is inside.

[Lauren Frere]

In Lebanon, a third of Lebanon has been displaced. On the other side, there's tens of thousands of Israelis who've been displaced. And Israel is still not calling on its residents to return. Officials there say there'll be a one to two month period of rebuilding before Israel's comfortable having Those people return.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Lauren Frere reporting. Disney has agreed to pay more than $43 million in a settlement over claims it paid its female workers less than their male counterparts. Central Florida Public Media's Danielle Pryor says the settlement is pending approval by a judge.

[Danielle Pryor]

The company and the female employees reached the settlement earlier this week. Disney worker La Ronda Rasmussen filed the initial lawsuit in 2019, claiming six men at the company were paid more than her even though they had the same job title and in some cases less job experience. About 9,000 other female workers joined her in suing the company over similar experiences. As part of the settlement, Disney will be required to hire a labor economist to ensure there's pay equity throughout the company. Disney still denies any wrongdoing, writing, quote, we've always been committed to paying our employees fairly and have demonstrated that commitment throughout this case, and we're pleased to have resolved this matter. For NPR News, I'm Danielle Pryor in Orlando.

[Lakshmi Singh]

From Washington, this is NPR News. A U.S. district judge in Manhattan finds New York City in contempt for failing to better protect inmates from violence and brutality at its jails. In her ruling today, Judge Laura Taylor said the city had placed incarcerated people in unconstitutional danger. She continues, the poor conditions have gotten worse since the city settled abuse and violence claims nearly a decade ago. People shopping for a home are finding slightly lower mortgage rates this week. The finance giant Freddie Mac reports a fixed rate for a 30 year mortgage tick down 6.81%. 15 year fixed rate mortgages went the other way. Those increased slightly since last week, too, 6.1%. Well, researchers in Europe have published what could be the largest ever study of dinosaur poop. NPR's Jeff Brumfield says the fossilized droppings provide clues about how they came to rule the Earth.

[Jeff Brumfield]

Everyone knows an asteroid killed the dinosaurs, but how did they come to dominate in the first place? Martin Kvarnstrom is a paleontologist at Uppsala University in Sweden.

[Martin Kvarnstrom]

We know a lot about the life and extinction of the dinosaurs, but not so much about the rise of the dinosaurs.

[Jeff Brumfield]

To learn more, Kvarnstrom and his colleagues analyzed over 500 fossilized poops to see what they were eating.

[Martin Kvarnstrom]

That's a lot of poop.

[Jeff Brumfield]

They found that early dinosaurs had more diverse diets than other lizards alive at the time. That probably helped them thrive during some major shifts in climate in the Triassic period. The work appears in the journal Nature. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks trading lower. The Dow is down 92 points. This is NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.