NPR News: 12-02-2024 6PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 2, 2024, 6 PM EST

NPR News Now delivers the latest updates across national and international headlines in a concise, five-minute format. This episode covers significant political developments in the United States, international crises, economic indicators, and human interest stories from around the globe.

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White House Announces Pardon for Hunter Biden

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: 00:20

In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden has issued a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, despite earlier statements suggesting otherwise. Hunter was convicted earlier in the year on federal gun charges and tax offenses. The decision to pardon comes ahead of his scheduled sentencing later this month.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained the rationale behind the pardon:

"Hunter was singled out and because his last name was Biden, because he was the president's son. That's what we saw."
(00:54)

This pardon effectively shields Hunter Biden from any further prosecution by the Justice Department concerning actions from the past decade. President Biden has not addressed the pardon publicly since its announcement on Sunday evening.

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Trump's Attorney General Nominee Meets with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: 01:18

Pam Bondi, former Attorney General of Florida and President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Attorney General, appeared before Capitol Hill. During her meeting with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Bondi reiterated her commitment to upholding the duties of the nation's highest law enforcement office.

Pam Bondi stated:

"Should I earn the trust and the nomination from all of the senators, I will do my best every day to work tirelessly for the American people. And I will make you, the president and our country proud."
(01:35)

Bondi, aged 59, was nominated following the withdrawal of Florida Republican Matt Gaetz from consideration.

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U.S. Responds to Escalating Conflict in Syria

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: 01:48

The United States has expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Syria, where anti-government rebels have seized control of significant territories, including the major city of Aleppo. Both Russia and Iran have committed to supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad amidst these developments.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the U.S. stance:

"The Syrian people should determine who their leaders are and that Assad has never engaged in that process."
(02:37)

Miller stated that the U.S. seeks a credible process to end Syria's civil war and prevent further destabilization but noted that there has been no shift in U.S. policy regarding Assad.

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Federal Reserve Official Hints at Possible Interest Rate Cuts

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: 02:54

Christopher Waller, a key member of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, indicated a potential interest rate cut in the upcoming final meeting of the year. Speaking at George Washington University, Waller suggested that the Fed might support lowering rates to sustain economic momentum.

This announcement coincided with a downturn in Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 128 points.

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Tragic Stampede at Guinea Soccer Match Claims Nearly 60 Lives

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: 02:54

A devastating stampede at a soccer match in Guinea resulted in nearly 60 fatalities and numerous injuries. The chaos erupted following fans' protests against a referee's decision, leading to the throwing of stones. As thousands attempted to flee the PAC stadium, security forces deployed tear gas in an effort to control the rioters.

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Award-Winning Wine Collection at Arizona State University's Mirabella Community

Reporter: Kathy Ritchie
Timestamp: 03:52

Jodi Kosterlitz, dining room manager at Mirabella, a senior living community affiliated with Arizona State University in Tempe, has achieved a remarkable feat. Under her management, Dolce Vita Bistro, Mirabella’s restaurant, received the prestigious Wine Spectator Award of Excellence over the summer.

Jodi Kosterlitz shared:

"I didn't think there'd ever been a senior living to do it, so we."
(04:20)

Mirabella stands out as the first—and currently the only—senior living community across the United States to earn this distinction, recognizing their extensive and well-curated wine selection.

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Rare Spade-Toothed Whale Discovered in New Zealand

Host: Jack Speier
Timestamp: 04:36

In an extraordinary marine biology discovery, scientists in New Zealand have found a dead specimen of a spade-toothed whale on the shores of South Island. This marks only the seventh recorded instance of such a whale and the first time one has been found deceased. Prior to this, spade-toothed whales have never been observed alive, leaving much about these elusive creatures unknown.

Researchers hope that the analysis of this specimen will shed light on the behavior, biology, and ecology of spade-toothed whales, contributing valuable knowledge to marine science.

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NPR News Now continues to provide timely and comprehensive coverage of the events shaping our world. Stay informed with NPR for the latest updates.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

NPR News In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. The White House says President Biden agonized over pardoning his son Hunter Biden, a decision he says he made over the weekend. The president's son was convicted earlier this year, federal gun charges and tax offenses in purest. Deepa Shivram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Hunter Biden was scheduled to receive his sentencings in both cases later this month, but now he'll get a full pardon despite the president repeatedly saying he wouldn't do it. White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre says the president believed there was a, quote, miscarriage of justice in the process.

[Karine Jean Pierre]

Hunter was singled out and because his last name was Biden, because he was the president's son. That's what we saw.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The pardon shields Hunter Biden from any further prosecution by the Justice Department for anything he might have done in the last 10 years. The president himself has not spoken to the press about the pardon since announcing it Sunday evening. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

President elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, was on Capitol Hill today, Bondi meeting with, among others, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. While no questions were allowed, the 59 year old Bondi spoke briefly, pledging to uphold the duties of the nation's highest law enforcement official.

[Karine Jean Pierre]

Should I earn the trust and the nomination from all of the senators, I will do my best every day to work tirelessly for the American people. And I will make you, the president and our country proud.

[Jack Speier]

Gwandi is the former attorney general of Florida. She was nominated to head the Justice Department after Florida Republican Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. The State Department says the US does not want to see any country take advantage of the unraveling security situation in Syria. Anti government rebels unexpectedly seized control of large parts of Syria last week, including one of the major cities, Aleppo. As NPR's Jackie Northam reports, Russia and Iran have both pledged to back the Syrian government.

[Matthew Miller]

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller says the US Wants to see every country use its influence to prevent the security situation in Syria from spiraling out of control. He says the US Wants to see a serious and credible process to end the country's civil war once and for all. Still, Miller says nothing has changed in terms of US Policy on Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

[NPR Sponsor]

Assad is a brutal dictator with blood.

[Jack Speier]

On his hands, the blood of innocent civilians inside Syria.

[Matthew Miller]

Miller says the Syrian people should determine who their leaders are and that Assad has never engaged in that process. Jackie Northam, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

A top official with the interest rate setting Federal Reserve says he is leaning towards supporting another interest rate cut when the central bank holds its final meeting of the year later this month. Christopher Waller, a key member of the Fed's board of governors, made his comments at George Washington University. Fed is due to meet in two weeks. On Wall street today, the dow was down 128 points. You're listening to NPR. Nearly 60 people are dead. Many others were hurt after a stampede erupted at a soccer match in Guinea. Officials say the chaos started after fans protested a referee's call and began throwing stones, prompting thousands to try to flee the PAC stadium. Many tried to escape through stadium gates as security officials fired tear gas at the rioters. When you think about a senior living community, you might have some preconceived notions, but what you may not expect is a place that's award winning for its collection of wine. Kathy Ritchie of member station KJZZZ in Phoenix has the story.

[Kathy Ritchie]

Jodi Kosterlitz is a dining room manager at Mirabella at Arizona State University, a retirement community located in the heart of campus in Tempe. Over the summer, Mirabella's restaurant, Dolce Vita Bistro, won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. But getting this award wasn't easy.

[Jodi Kosterlitz]

There's specific qualifications to get this award, you have to have a certain amount of bottle selections on your list, plus be a public restaurant. We happen to have both those things.

[Kathy Ritchie]

So Kosterlitz decided to throw Mirabella's name into the ring.

[Jodi Kosterlitz]

I didn't think there'd ever been a senior living to do it, so we.

[Kathy Ritchie]

Were the first and so far the only senior living community in the country to win such an award. For NPR News, I'm Kathy Ritchie in Phoenix.

[Jack Speier]

Scientists in New Zealand say for only the seventh time ever a spade toothed whale has been found. This specimen found dead on a beach there. None of the rare whales have ever been seen alive. Scientists say almost nothing is known about the creatures. They hope to learn more about the animals by analyzing the specimen found on New Zealand's South Island. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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