NPR News Now: December 5, 2024, 10 AM EST

Hosted by Korva Coleman

NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines and in-depth coverage of current events. In the December 5, 2024 episode, hosted by Korva Coleman, listeners are presented with a comprehensive overview of significant political developments, economic updates, cybersecurity threats, health studies, and advancements in space science.

1. Political Developments

A. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Initiative

President-elect Donald Trump's allies, billionaire Elon Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, are set to make a significant appearance on Capitol Hill. They will discuss their proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which, contrary to its name, is not a formal department but an advisory panel aimed at enhancing governmental operations.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the initiative's importance, stating at [00:44]:

"We want to take a blowtorch to the regulatory state, and I think what Elon and Vivek have in mind can help us in that regard."

Johnson further explained the intent to gather like-minded Republicans for a comprehensive brainstorming session to formulate actionable plans.

2. South Korea Protests and Political Turmoil

South Korea is experiencing significant unrest as street protests continue for the second consecutive day. Demonstrators are vehemently demanding the resignation of President Yoon Sung Yeol following his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law earlier this week.

NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul at [01:19]:

"Labor unions and civic groups took to the streets of several cities, denouncing President Yoon Sung Yeol for what they see as his assault on South Korea's democracy."

Opposition lawmakers have introduced an impeachment bill in Parliament, aiming for a vote on Saturday. Achieving the necessary two-thirds majority will require support from at least eight ruling party members. The ruling party's leader is working to mobilize lawmakers against the motion. Should the impeachment pass, South Korea's Constitutional Court will decide the next steps, potentially leading to President Yoon's replacement by the prime minister until new elections are held.

3. French Political Shake-Up

In France, President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation of his Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, following a vote of no confidence in Parliament. The motion succeeded as far-right and far-left lawmakers united to remove Barnier from office. Macron has requested Barnier to remain in a caretaker capacity while he seeks a new prime minister, ensuring governmental continuity during this period of political transition.

4. U.S. Economic Updates

Scott Horsley provides a detailed analysis of the U.S. economic landscape at [01:59]:

• Trade Deficit: The Commerce Department reported a reduction in the national trade deficit by $10 billion in October, driven by a decline in both exports and imports, with imports decreasing more significantly.

• Stock Market Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened higher, rising more than 30 points, and continued to climb, eventually up over 40 points. The Nasdaq also saw an increase of more than 10 points.

• Oil Production and Gas Prices: OPEC and its allies have postponed a planned increase in oil production for next year in response to weak demand. Concurrently, retail gasoline prices in the U.S. are gradually decreasing, with AAA reporting the average price of regular gas at $3.03 per gallon—a reduction of seven cents over the past month.

• SEC Nomination and Cryptocurrency: President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate Paul Atkins to head the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Atkins, an SEC veteran, is anticipated to adopt a lenient approach to market regulation and is a proponent of cryptocurrency. Notably, Bitcoin has surged past $100,000 overnight, reflecting the rising interest and investment in digital currencies.

5. Cybersecurity Concerns

U.S. security officials are raising alarms about a substantial hacking campaign attributed to China, targeting major telecommunications companies. At [03:11], Korva Coleman reports:

"U.S. security officials are urging telecommunications companies to step up their network security. They say there's been a huge hacking campaign backed by China and it's stolen large amounts of metadata from Americans."

The affected companies include Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen. While the extent of ongoing access to the stolen data remains unclear, the urgency in enhancing cybersecurity measures underscores the severity of the threat.

6. Health Study: CTE Risks in Ice Hockey

A groundbreaking study has emerged, highlighting the increased risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) among ice hockey players. Becky Sullivan covers the findings at [03:54]:

"Researchers at Boston University have long studied the brains of former football players to draw conclusions about CTE... The new study looks at 77 brains from deceased hockey players from all levels, from youth to professionals."

The study revealed that the risk of CTE escalates with the duration of an athlete's career. Dr. Jessie Mez elaborates at [04:19]:

"We found that with each additional year of play, the odds of having CTE increased by 34%."

This research is pioneering in its focus on hockey, a sport where concussions and head impacts are prevalent. The findings have significant implications for player safety and may influence future regulations within the sport.

7. Advancements in Space Science

In an exciting development, a pair of European satellites have been launched into orbit to conduct a novel experiment. Upon reaching their designated positions in space, the satellites will maneuver into a precise formation to create an artificial solar eclipse. While this phenomenon won't be visible from Earth, it will allow scientists to study the sun's properties and behaviors with unprecedented detail.

Korva Coleman concludes the news segment with this groundbreaking scientific endeavor, highlighting the continuous advancements in space exploration and research.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now on December 5, 2024, provides listeners with a thorough overview of pivotal global and domestic events. From high-stakes political maneuvers and economic shifts to pressing cybersecurity threats and significant health research, the podcast encapsulates the multifaceted nature of today's world. Additionally, the innovative strides in space science underscore humanity's enduring quest for knowledge and discovery.