NPR News: 12-03-2024 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 3, 2024

NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive update on the latest developments shaping the national and international landscape. From significant shifts in U.S. law enforcement appointments to escalating political tensions in South Korea, this episode encapsulates pivotal moments with insightful analysis and firsthand reports.

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U.S. Law Enforcement Nominees Withdraw Amid Scrutiny

Giles Snyder opens the episode with a report on the withdrawal of Chad Chronister, the Florida County Sheriff, from consideration for the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Initially tapped by President-elect Donald Trump, Chronister's lack of experience in managing a complex organization like the DEA came under scrutiny.

In his resignation, Chronister stated, "As the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I've concluded that I must respectfully withdraw." (00:37). His departure follows similar setbacks, including Matt Gaetz stepping aside from the U.S. Attorney General nomination amid a sex scandal that eroded support among Republican lawmakers.

Brian Mann, reporting from Washington, highlights the challenges faced by the Trump administration in securing suitable candidates for key law enforcement positions, reflecting broader implications for the incoming administration’s stability and policy implementation.

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Defense Department Nominee Faces Allegations

Transitioning to national defense, Giles Snyder reports on President-elect Trump's choice for the Defense Department facing intense scrutiny on Capitol Hill. Pete Hagseth, the nominee, engaged in private meetings with Republican senators amid serious allegations, including drinking, sexist behavior, financial mismanagement, and a sexual assault allegation—which he vehemently denies.

The unfolding investigation has cast a shadow over the nominee's prospects, raising questions about his suitability to lead the Defense Department at a time when the U.S. faces complex global security challenges.

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Housing Costs Reach New Record High

In a detailed analysis, Jennifer Ludden of the NPR Center for Ludden reports a concerning trend in the housing market. According to new census data analyzed by Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, nearly 43 million households allocated more than a third of their income to housing last year, with about half of them spending over 50%. (01:44)

Ludden explains that both renters and homeowners are grappling with skyrocketing housing costs:

"Renters are far more likely to struggle, but the biggest uptick was actually among homeowners." (01:44)

Harvard researchers attribute this surge to factors such as older individuals retiring or reducing work hours, concurrently with rising housing expenses. Even homeowners who have paid off their mortgages are burdened by increased insurance and property taxes since 2019. The study underscores that housing costs have outpaced wage growth, exacerbating financial strains across the board.

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Thanksgiving Travel Sets New Records Despite Challenges

Joel Rose delivers a report on the unprecedented surge in Thanksgiving air travel. Over 18 million people passed through airport security checkpoints during the travel period, marking a 4.5% increase compared to the previous year. (02:38)

A single day saw nearly 3.1 million travelers being screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), breaking the previous record set in July. Despite the high volume, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported satisfactory on-time performance, with only 1.4% of flights delayed and a minimal 0.3% canceled. However, ground transportation experienced hiccups, with traffic congestion reported outside major airports in Dallas and Washington, D.C.

Rose concludes that while the air travel sector managed the influx effectively, the surrounding infrastructure faced significant strain.

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Russia Accused of Forcibly Adopting Ukrainian Children

In an alarming report, Joanna Kakissis covers findings from Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab, which accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior Kremlin officials of approving the forced foster care and adoption of over 300 Ukrainian children since the 2022 invasion. This act is part of a broader pattern that may constitute war crimes, prompting the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Putin.

Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Lab, emphasizes the severe implications:

"This is extremely important because now it basically creates a method by which their Ukrainian identity can be erased." (04:01)

The researchers discovered that these children could obtain Russian citizenship through their Russian foster parents or guardians, effectively stripping them of their Ukrainian identities. Dozens of children have already been granted Russian citizenship, raising urgent concerns about identity erasure and international law violations.

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South Korea Political Crisis Spurs Calls for President's Resignation

Giles Snyder reports on a burgeoning political crisis in South Korea, where the main opposition party demands President Yoon Suk Yeol to either resign or face impeachment. The controversy erupted when President Yoon briefly imposed martial law, citing threats from North Korea, which led to military encirclement of the parliament.

However, the situation swiftly reversed when the national assembly voted to overrule the president’s decision. In response, South Korea's largest union announced a strike, pledging to continue until President Yoon steps down. This political instability has unsettled investors, with South Korean financial markets experiencing a 1.6% decline amid wavering investor confidence.

The unfolding crisis underscores the fragile political equilibrium in South Korea and its potential ripple effects on the regional economy and international relations.

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NPR News Now continues to monitor these stories, providing in-depth coverage and updates as events unfold. Stay informed with reliable reporting and comprehensive analysis on the issues that matter most.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Another of President elect Donald Trump's law enforcement nominees is withdrawing from consideration. Chad Chronister, a county sheriff in Florida, says he will as head of the U.S. drug Enforcement Administration. Here's NPR's Brian Mann reporting.

[Brian Mann]

Trump tapped Sheriff Chronister to lead a massive drug fighting organization with field offices and agents around the globe. But the nominee had little experience managing a complex organization like the dea. Now Chronister has withdrawn from consideration, writing on social media, quote, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I've concluded that I must respectfully withdraw. A sheriff of Hillsborough county, which includes the city of Tampa, he angered some Floridians by enforcing Covid era lockdown rules. Trump also saw his first nominee for U.S. attorney General, Matt Gaetz, step aside after a sex scandal appeared to cost him support among Republican lawmakers. Brian Mann, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

President ELECTS Trump's choice to lead the Defense Department was on Capitol Hill for a second day today. Pete Hagseth meeting privately with Republican senators amid new allegations of drinking, sexist behavior and financial mismanage in addition to a sexual assault allegation that he denies. The number of people with unaffordable housing costs has hit another record high. NPR center for Ludden reports of both renters and homeowners struggling as prices have spiked in recent years.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Nearly 43 million households paid more than a third of their income for housing last year, and for about half of them, it was more than 50%. That's according to an analysis of new census data by Harvard's Joint center for Housing Studies. Renters are far more likely to struggle, but the biggest uptick was actually among homeowners. Harvard researchers say a growing number of older people have retired or cut back on work, lowering their income, just as housing costs have spiked. And even if they've paid off a mortgage, insurance and property taxes have also shot up since 2019. Harvard finds that housing costs have risen faster than wages for both renters and owners. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

Thanksgiving air travel reached a new all time high this year. NPR's Joel Roll says the number of people passing through airport security checkpoints was up four and a half percent over last year.

[Joel Rose]

More than 18 million people passed through security checkpoints during the Thanksgiving travel period that ended Monday according to the Transportation Security Administration, the TSA says it screened nearly 3.1 million travelers in a single day on Sunday, breaking the previous record set in July. Despite the record volume, the Federal Aviation Administration says on time performance for the week was good, with only 1.4% of flights delayed and just 0.3% canceled. But there were some problems on the roads with traffic jams outside airports in Dallas and Washington, D.C. joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

And you're listening to NPR News. An investigation by Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab says Russia's president and senior Kremlin officials approved sending more than 300 Ukrainian children into forced foster care and adoption since the 2022 invasion. And NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports that the researchers say there is evidence of further war crimes.

[Joanna Kakissis]

The International Criminal Court has already issued a warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin on alleged war crimes for his role in the deportation of Ukrainian children. Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Lab, says Russian foster parents or guardians can apply for Russian citizenship, behalf of Ukrainian children in their custody.

[Nathaniel Raymond]

This is extremely important because now it basically creates a method by which their Ukrainian identity can be erased.

[Joanna Kakissis]

The researchers confirmed dozens of the children have already been assigned Russian citizenship. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

K. South Korea's main opposition party is calling on President Yoon Suk Yeol to resign or face impeachment after he briefly imposed martial law, citing the need to protect the country from North Korea. The move prompted soldiers to encircle parliament UN reverse course hours later after the national assembly voted to overrule the president. South Korea's largest union says its members will strike until Yoon steps down. The political crisis in South Korea has rattled investors. The financial markets in Asia losing ground in Wednesday trading. South Korea's benchmark down 1.6%. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

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