NPR News: 12-03-2024 8PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – December 4, 2024

Release Date: December 4, 2024
Host: NPR
Title: NPR News Now
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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Political Developments

Withdrawal of DEA Nominee

In a significant development, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sheriff Chad Chronister of Florida, has withdrawn his candidacy. [00:30] Chronister announced his decision on social media, stating, "As the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I've concluded that I must respectfully withdraw." [00:35] His withdrawal comes amid concerns over his limited experience in managing large, complex organizations. Additionally, Chronister faced backlash in Florida for his strict enforcement of COVID-era lockdown measures in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa.

Nomination of Cash Patel for FBI Director

President-elect Trump's choice for FBI Director, Cash Patel, is garnering attention and likely facing a challenging Senate confirmation process. [01:17] Patel is characterized as a loyalist with a history of skepticism toward the FBI and the broader intelligence community. He has advocated for a "radical overhaul" of the century-old agency, which has raised eyebrows among Senate Democrats and other stakeholders. Brian Mann reports that Patel's nomination is expected to lead to a "protracted and potentially bruising Senate confirmation fight." [01:35]

Senate Democratic Leadership

In Senate news, New York Senator Chuck Schumer has been unanimously reelected as the Democratic leader for the upcoming session of Congress in January. [01:49] Recognizing the deep divisions within the country, Schumer emphasized the Democratic Party's commitment to bipartisan efforts. He highlighted bipartisan legislation crafted under the Democratic majority, including funding for infrastructure projects and initiatives to boost the nation's semiconductor industry. Schumer affirmed, "Senate Democrats will continue to dedicate every ounce of our strength, focus and determination to fight and deliver for the American people." [02:12]

On the Republican side, Senate GOP leaders are strategizing to prioritize policies such as border security, energy, and tax cuts. They plan to employ procedural tactics that require only a simple majority for bill passage, circumventing the need for Democratic support. This approach reflects a shift towards more partisan legislative maneuvers in the new Congress. [02:21]

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Weather Updates

Snowfall in the Great Lakes Region

The Great Lakes region continues to grapple with significant snowfall, with more expected in the coming days. [02:43] After several feet of snow accumulated over the weekend, forecasters predict additional inches could fall this week. The heavy snowfall has led to ongoing disruptions, particularly in western Pennsylvania, where many school districts remain closed today. Lake-effect snow has also impacted parts of western New York, Ohio, and Michigan, although storms are gradually showing signs of slowing. [02:58]

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Financial Markets

Wall Street Performance

Today's Wall Street session ended on a mixed note. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 76 points, reflecting cautious investor sentiment. Conversely, the S&P 500 managed to close slightly higher, up by 2 points, while the NASDAQ saw a gain of 76 points. [03:07] These fluctuations indicate a volatile market environment as investors respond to ongoing economic and political developments.

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Education

Attendance Disparities for Native Students

While many schools across the United States have largely recovered from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, significant challenges remain for Native American and Alaska Native students. [03:21] Data from 34 states reveal that in half of them, absentee rates for Native students are at least 9 percentage points higher than the state average. [03:36] This disparity existed prior to the pandemic but has widened since then, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support these communities and address underlying inequities in the education system.

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Health

Malaria Vaccine Rollout in Nigeria

Nigeria has commenced the distribution of a new malaria vaccine, marking a pivotal step in combating the mosquito-borne disease that has severely affected the West African nation. [03:40] Last year alone, nearly 200,000 Nigerians died from malaria, accounting for over 30% of global malaria fatalities. Imperial's Gabriela Emanuel reports that the vaccine rollout begins in two Nigerian states with the highest malaria incidence rates. The vaccine requires four doses and will target children under one year old, with plans to expand immunization efforts across the rest of the country in the coming years. [03:53]

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Business

Alaska Airlines Flight Delays

Alaska Airlines is experiencing additional flight delays due to an unspecified technology problem affecting operations in Seattle. [04:25] The airline temporarily grounded flights at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for 40 minutes in an effort to alleviate congestion caused by the issue. This incident follows similar disruptions in September, where Alaska Airlines flights were also grounded in Seattle due to significant technology troubles. The company continues to address these challenges to ensure smoother booking processes and on-time departures for passengers. [04:28]

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive news covered in the episode.

Transcript

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[Jack Speer]

In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. Another of President elect Donald Trump's law enforcement nominees is withdrawing from consideration.

[Brian Mann]

Chad Chronister, a county sheriff in Florida, says he won't serve as head of the U.S. drug Enforcement Administration.

[Jack Speer]

Here's NPR's Brian Mann.

[Deidre Walsh]

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. As 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.

[Brian Mann]

President elect Donald Trump's pick to be.

[Jack Speer]

FBI director is a loyalist who in.

[Brian Mann]

The past has also shared Trump's skepticism.

[Jack Speer]

And at times disdain for the agency.

[Brian Mann]

And the intelligence community overall. Cash Patel, now receiving fresh attention following the announcement he is the president elect's choice to lead the bureau. However, Patel is likely to face a.

[Jack Speer]

Protracted and potentially bruising Senate confirmation fight.

[Brian Mann]

Among other things, Patel has said the century old FBI should be radically overhauled. Senate Democrats unanimously reelected New York Senator Chuck Schumer as the Democratic leader for.

[Jack Speer]

The new session of Congress in January.

[Brian Mann]

NPR's Deidre Walsh reports. The top leader know that there are deep divisions in the country, but says his party wants to find ways to.

[Jack Speer]

Work across the aisle.

[Chuck Schumer]

Schumer touted bipartisan legislation Democrats crafted in the majority, funding infrastructure projects and boosting the nation's semiconductor industry. He vowed Democrats would remain focused on the same principles in the minority.

[Senate Democrat]

Senate Democrats will continue to dedicate every ounce of our strength, focus and determination to fight and deliver for the American people.

[Chuck Schumer]

Senate Republicans, meanwhile, gather to begin planning their policy priorities. President elect Trump called into the session. GOP leaders discussed pushing through bills on border security, energy and tax cuts using a procedure that allows passage with a simple majority without needing any Democratic votes. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Brian Mann]

Even as crews continue to work to.

[Jack Speer]

Clean up all the snow that has fallen on the Great Lakes region in recent days. More snow may be on the way.

[Brian Mann]

After several feet of snow fell in some spots over the weekend. Forecasters now say they expect several more.

[Jack Speer]

Inches of snow could fall this week.

[Brian Mann]

Many school districts in western Pennsylvania remain closed today. Storms are finally showing signs of slowing lake effect. Snow also hit parts of western New York, Ohio and Michigan.

[Jack Speer]

A mixed close on Wall street today. The dow was down 76 points.

[Brian Mann]

The S&P 500 closed up 2 points.

[Jack Speer]

The NASDAQ was up 76 points. This is NPR. Many schools across the country have recovered.

[Brian Mann]

To a large degree from the COVID.

[Jack Speer]

19 pandemic, but some struggling, especially those.

[Brian Mann]

Who served Native American and Alaska Native students.

[Jack Speer]

Disparity existed before the pandemic, but has grown since then. Looking at 34 states that track the.

[Brian Mann]

Numbers, half had absentee rates for Native students that were at least 9 percentage.

[Jack Speer]

Points above the state average. Nigeria has started rolling out a new malaria vaccine.

[Brian Mann]

It's a major step for the West African country that's hard hit by the mosquito borne disease. Imperial's Gabriela Emanuel report.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and it has the world's highest malaria burden. Last year, nearly 200,000 people in Nigeria died from malaria. That's more than 30% of malaria deaths worldwide. This vaccine is initially being rolled out in two Nigerian states that have some of the worst malaria numbers. The vaccine requires four doses and will be given to children under one next year. The plan is to vaccinate children in the rest of Nigeria. Gabriela Emmanuel, NPR News.

[Jack Speer]

More delays for Alaska Airlines, which says.

[Brian Mann]

Unspecified technology problem caused the temporary grounding of flights in Seattle and continued trouble for people trying to book flights online. In a statement today, the company says it requested a 40 minute ground stop at Seattle Tacoma International Airport to try to clear up the congestion resulting from the problem. In September, Alaska Airlines flights were grounded in Seattle because of what the company called significant disruptions due to technology troubles.

[Jack Speer]

I'm Jack Speer, NPR News, in Washington.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Shopify, the global commerce platform that helps you sell and show up exactly the way you want to customize your online store to your style. Sign up for a $1 per month trial [e-mail] NPR.