NPR News: 12-03-2024 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 3, 2024, Episode Summary

Hosted by NPR's Dave Mattingly and featuring reports from Elena Moore, Laurel Wamsley, Rohit Chopra, and Will Stone.

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1. President Biden Pardons Hunter Biden Amid Political Backlash

Timestamp: [00:17]

NPR's Dave Mattingly opens the episode by addressing the controversial decision by President Joe Biden to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. This move has sparked criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, breaking the president's earlier assurances that he would refrain from such actions.

Elena Moore reports that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the pardon on social media, stating, "Real reform cannot begin soon enough" ([00:47]). Johnson is among a growing number of Republicans, along with some Democrats, who argue that the pardon undermines public trust in the justice system. Colorado Senator Michael Bennett echoed these sentiments, declaring on X (formerly Twitter) that Biden's decision "puts personal interest ahead of duty," further eroding Americans' faith in the fairness and equality of the justice system.

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2. Expansion of U.S. Export Controls on Chinese Technology Firms

Timestamp: [01:21]

The Biden administration has announced plans to add 140 Chinese technology companies to the existing export control list, a move primarily targeting firms involved in the manufacture of equipment for producing computer chips. This expansion, detailed by the Commerce Department, includes companies based not only in China but also in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, many of which are Chinese-owned.

China's Commerce Ministry has strongly denounced the U.S. decision, viewing it as an escalation in the ongoing technology and trade tensions between the two nations.

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3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Proposes New Regulations for Data Brokers

Timestamp: [01:55]

Laurel Wamsley introduces a segment featuring Rohit Chopra, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), who discusses a proposed rule aimed at tightening regulations on financial data brokers. Under the current Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumer privacy has been protected for over five decades, limiting how consumer reporting agencies can utilize personal information. However, the rise of data brokers—entities that collect and sell vast amounts of sensitive financial data—has largely skirted these regulations.

Rohit Chopra emphasizes the necessity of the new rule, stating, "It's not known whether the incoming Trump administration will support the rule," ([02:35]) highlighting the uncertainty surrounding its future implementation.

An unnamed expert adds depth to the discussion: "Often our adversaries don't need to hack anything. Data brokers are making this data available to anyone willing to pay a price" ([02:25]), underscoring the vulnerabilities in the current system.

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4. Three Mountain Climbers Missing on New Zealand’s Highest Peak

Timestamp: [02:41]

Dave Mattingly reports a distressing incident involving two American and one Canadian mountain climber who have gone missing while attempting to summit New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki. The climbers, including certified alpine guides from Colorado and California, failed to return as scheduled, prompting authorities to launch a search operation.

Laurel Wamsley updates that search teams have discovered climbing-related items belonging to the trio, indicating the seriousness of the situation ([03:04]). Efforts to locate them continue as the community awaits further updates.

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5. Missing Woman from Hawaii Found Unharmed in Mexico

Timestamp: [03:11]

In a relief-filled development, authorities in Los Angeles have located a woman from Hawaii who was reported missing by her family three weeks ago. The woman, Hanna Kobayashi, was found unharmed in Mexico after crossing the border on foot with her luggage on November 12, a day following her arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Laurel Wamsley provides details from Louisiana Police Chief Jim McDonnell, who explains that surveillance video captured Kobayashi entering a tunnel at the San Ysidro crossing. Chief McDonnell adds, "There’s no evidence she’s been the victim of a crime. It appears Kobayashi wanted to step away from modern connectivity" ([03:52]), suggesting a voluntary disappearance rather than foul play.

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6. Breakthrough Research on Muscle Memory Reveals Rapid Muscle Regeneration

Timestamp: [03:58]

Dave Mattingly introduces a fascinating study on muscle memory, followed by a detailed report from Will Stone.

Researchers in Finland conducted a 20-week study involving approximately 40 participants who engaged in regular weightlifting. The study split participants into two groups: one maintained continuous training, while the other took a 10-week hiatus mid-study. Eli Halonen, the exercise physiologist leading the research, explains, "...group lost muscle during their time off, [but after] five weeks of retraining, they regained like everything that they lost" ([04:34]).

Will Stone further elaborates, stating that this study aligns with existing research indicating that previously trained individuals can rapidly regain muscle mass after periods of inactivity. This has significant implications for athletic training and rehabilitation practices, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the human body.

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7. Wall Street Updates: Mixed Signals as the Dow Dips

Timestamp: [04:45]

Concluding the episode, Dave Mattingly provides a brief financial update. Wall Street experienced a predominantly positive day overall; however, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 128 points yesterday, reflecting ongoing volatility in the markets.

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For more updates, visit NPR News Now and stay informed with the latest headlines and in-depth analyses.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats are criticizing President Biden for his sweeping pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. It was something the president said repeatedly he would not do. Hunter Biden had been scheduled to be sentenced this month in two federal cases. One involved his guilty plea on charges of tax evasion. The other stemmed from his conviction on gun charges, as NPR's Elena Moore reports.

[Elena Moore]

In a statement on X, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed the Biden family for eroding public trust in the justice system, adding that, quote, real reform cannot begin soon enough. Johnson is one of a handful of prominent Republicans who have spoken out about this and some Democrats. Democrats have also come out against the pardon. Colorado Senator Michael Bennett wrote on X that Biden's decision puts, quote, personal interest ahead of duty, adding that it further erodes Americans faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

The Biden administration is adding 140 Chinese technology companies to those subject to export controls. Nearly all are based in China. Some are Chinese owned, but located in Japan, South Korea and Singap. Many manufacture equipment used to produce computer chips. The expanded list was announced yesterday by the Commerce Department. China's Commerce Ministry denounced the move by the US The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing a new rule to better protect Americans financial data from scammers and thieves.

[Laurel Wamsley]

Here's NPR's Laurel Wamsley.

[Rohit Chopra]

For more than 50 years, the Fair Credit Reporting act has protected consumer privacy by restricting how consumer reporting agencies can use personal information. But a growing industry of data broker brokers has avoided compliance with that law even as they collect and sell enormous troves of sensitive financial data. Now the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing a rule that would ensure financial data brokers comply with that law. CFPB Director Rohit Chopra says the rule will help protect Americans personal information.

[Unnamed Expert]

Often our adversaries don't need to hack anything. Data brokers are making this data available to anyone willing to pay a price.

[Rohit Chopra]

It's not known whether the incoming Trump administration will support the rule. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Dave Mattingly]

Two mountain climbers from the US And a third from Canada are missing after failing to return from their planned hike to the highest peak in New Zealand. Authorities say the two Americans, one from Colorado, the other from California, are certified alpine guides the three were reported missing yesterday when they did not show up for their prearranged transport. After attempting to scale the peak known.

[Laurel Wamsley]

As Aoraki, search teams did discover some climbing related items belonging to the three.

[Dave Mattingly]

This is NPR News from Washington. Police in Los Angeles say a woman from Hawaii reported missing by her family.

[Laurel Wamsley]

After landing at LAX three weeks ago.

[Dave Mattingly]

Has been found unharmed in Mexico.

[Laurel Wamsley]

Louisiana Police Chief Jim McDonnell says surveillance.

[Dave Mattingly]

Video shows the 30 year old woman crossing from Southern California into Mexico on foot with her luggage.

[Laurel Wamsley]

That was on November 12, a day after she arrived in Los Angeles. McDonnell says U.S. customs and Border Patrol.

[Dave Mattingly]

Video shows Hanna Kobayashi walking alone into a tunnel at the San Ysidro crossing. She's been declared a voluntary missing person.

[Laurel Wamsley]

McConnell says there's no evidence she's been the victim of a crime. He says it appears Kobayashi wanted to.

[Dave Mattingly]

Step away from modern connectivity. New research on muscle memory reveals how muscle can bounce back quickly, even if a person becomes inactive for a time.

[Laurel Wamsley]

Here's npr' Will Stone.

[Will Stone]

Muscle memory describes the observation that it's easier to gain muscle if you have previously trained before. To see this in action, researchers in Finland recruited about 40 people and had them lift weights regularly for a total of 20 weeks. One group did it continuously, the other split it up and took a 10 week break in the middle. Eli Halonen, an exercise physiologist who led the study, says that group lost muscle during their time off, Five weeks of.

[Eli Halonen]

Retraining and they regained like everything that they lost.

[Will Stone]

Halonin says their study reflects a body of research showing that you can regain muscle quickly even after taking weeks off. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

Wall street is coming off a mostly positive day for stocks. However, The Dow lost 128 points yesterday. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.

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