NPR News: 12-05-2024 6PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 5, 2024, 6PM EST

Host: Jack Speier
Producer: Katie Reardon, Joel Rose
Release Date: December 5, 2024

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Federal Investigation into Memphis Police Department

[00:15] Jack Speier opens the episode with a report on a new federal investigation into the Memphis Police Department, highlighting excessive use of force and discriminatory practices.

[00:38] Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark elaborates on the findings:

“The violations our investigation uncovered stem from Memphis Police Department's deficient policies, supervision, training and accountability systems.”
— Kristen Clark [00:38]

The probe, initiated after the tragic beating death of Tyre Nichols in 2023, involved thorough documentation of illegal searches, unnecessary use of force, and policing disparities affecting Black residents. Memphis officials have pledged to implement changes but have declined to sign a consent decree. Clark warned that the Department of Justice may impose legally binding reforms if an agreement isn't reached.

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Concerns Over Tulsi Gabbard’s Appointment as Director of National Intelligence

[01:23] A coalition of former diplomats and intelligence officials, including Wendy Sherman and Anthony Lake, have urged Senate lawmakers to conduct closed-door hearings regarding former Representative Tulsi Gabbard’s appointment as the next Director of National Intelligence by President-elect Donald Trump.

[01:50] Joel Rose reports that the group is particularly "alarmed over the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 US intelligence agencies," citing her past meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017 as a point of contention.

The officials argue that a full review of Gabbard’s interactions and qualifications is essential to ensure national security integrity.

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Federal Judge Rejects Boeing's Plea Deal Over 737 Max Crashes

[02:01] In aviation news, a federal judge has dismissed Boeing's plea agreement related to the fatal crashes of two 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in 346 deaths.

[02:12] Judge Reed O'Connor stated:

“The court should play a big role in picking an independent monitor to oversee Boeing,”
— Reed O'Connor [02:12]

He criticized the Justice Department for factoring in diversity considerations during the selection process for the monitor. Boeing and the DOJ are now given 30 days to negotiate and update the court on further actions. This decision is seen as a victory for the families of the victims who deemed the initial deal too lenient.

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Tsunami Warning for California Canceled After 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake

[02:51] A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck near Humboldt County, close to the Oregon border, prompting a tsunami warning for the California coast covering approximately 5.3 million people.

[02:58] Joel Rose updates that the warning has now been lifted. Initial reports indicate significant damage in the affected areas, and Wall Street responded with the Dow falling 248 points.

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EPA Increases Civil Cases by 3% in 2024

[03:15] The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has handled over 1,800 civil cases this year, marking a 3% increase from the previous year.

[03:32] Joel Rose highlights the EPA’s enhanced enforcement and compliance efforts, which have resulted in the reduction of millions of pounds of pollutants that would otherwise harm communities.

Notable actions include:

• [03:39] The first-ever criminal charges against an individual accused of smuggling climate-changing coolants into the US.
• [03:44] A $2 billion fine imposed on engine manufacturer Cummins for using software to manipulate diesel emission tests.

These measures underscore the EPA’s commitment to environmental protection and regulatory compliance.

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Pantone Unveils "Mocha Mousse" as 2025 Color of the Year

[03:49] Pantone has announced "mocha mousse" as the new Color of the Year for 2025, reflecting a trend towards earthy and natural tones.

[04:00] Lori Pressman, Pantone's Vice President, explained:

“It's for us taking the temperature, what's taking place in the world around us and how does that get expressed into the language of color.”
— Lori Pressman [04:07]

An unnamed expert added:

“We can see it very clearly in the beauty business with all this move towards authentic beauty and how we're eating the foods we're eating. We want foods that are real. We don't want foods with 80 million chemicals in them.”
— Unnamed Expert [04:15]

Designers and marketers in fashion and interiors are expected to incorporate mocha mousse into their products, aligning with the current preference for natural and authentic aesthetics.

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NASA’s Artemis Mission Delayed to Spring 2026

[04:39] NASA has announced a delay in its Artemis mission, now scheduled for Spring 2026. The postponement is due to ongoing evaluations of the Orion spacecraft's heat shield performance under stress conditions observed during an initial mission two years ago.

[04:45] Joel Rose reports that engineers are meticulously assessing the heat shield to ensure the safety and success of future missions, delaying the timeline to address these critical issues.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, sponsorship messages, and non-content sections to focus solely on the informative segments of the episode.

Transcript

[Bolin Branch]

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[Jack Speier]

CSITE for details, Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. A new federal investigation details excessive use of force and discriminatory practices within the Memphis Police Department.

[Katie Reardon]

Katie Reardon of member station WKNO reports.

[Jack Speier]

Memphis officials say they'll make changes but will not commit to signing a consent decree.

[Kristen Clark]

The Department of Justice's civil rights probe began after five black Memphis police officers were charged in the beating death of black motorist tyre Nichols in 2023. Federal prosecutors spent 17 months documenting instances of illegal searches and stops, the unnecessary use of force and policing disparities for certain groups, including black residents. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark spoke at a press conference.

The violations our investigation uncovered stem from Memphis Police Department's deficient policies, supervision, training and accountability systems.

The DOJ could sue to force a legally binding set of reforms if they do not reach an agreement with local officials. For NPR News, I'm Katie Reardon in Memphis.

[Jack Speier]

A group of former diplomats and intelligence and national security officials in a letter are requesting Senate lawmakers hold closed door.

[Katie Reardon]

Hearings that to allow for a full review of the government's files on former representative Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard is President Elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next director of national intelligence. Former officials from both parties, including former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and former national security Adviser Anthony Lake, along with retired ambassadors and others, say they're.

[Jack Speier]

Alarmed over the choice of Gabbard to.

[Joel Rose]

Oversee all 18 US intelligence agencies, citing.

[Katie Reardon]

Meetings Gabbard had with Syrian President Bashar.

[Joel Rose]

Al Assad in 2017.

[Jack Speier]

A federal judge is rejecting a plea deal between Boeing and the Justice Department.

[Katie Reardon]

NPR's Joel Rose reports. It's a victory for family members of.

[Jack Speier]

Those killed in two crashes of Boeing.

[Joel Rose]

Jets who said the deal was too lenient.

[Reed O'Connor]

The plea deal stems from the crashes of two 737 Max jets in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to defraud regulators about the safety of those planes and to pay a fine of more than $240 million. But federal judge Reed O'Connor in Texas is refusing to sign off. O'Connor says the court should play a big role in picking an independent monitor to oversee Boeing, and he criticized the Justice Department for including diversity considerations in the selection process. The judge is giving Boeing and the DOJ 30 days to confer and update the court on their next steps. Joel Rose, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Tsunami warning issued in the wake of a powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake for the California coast has now been canceled at.

[Joel Rose]

One point, the warning covering an estimated 5.3 million people, according to the U.S. geological Survey.

[Katie Reardon]

The quake centered near a small city.

[Joel Rose]

In coastal Humboldt county near the Oregon border. There are reports of major damage as a result of the quake. On Wall street, The Dow fell 248 points today.

[Jack Speier]

This is NPR. The Environmental Protection Agency says it handled more than 1800 civil cases this year.

[Joel Rose]

That is a 3% rise compared to last year. The agency citing its revitalized enforcement and.

[Katie Reardon]

Compliance efforts, which it credits with reducing.

[Joel Rose]

Millions of pounds of pollutants that otherwise would affect communities. The EPA's efforts included the first ever criminal charges for a man accused of.

[Jack Speier]

Smuggling climate changing coolants into the US and 2 billion in fines paid by.

[Joel Rose]

Engine maker Cummins for using software to skirt diesel emission tests.

[Jack Speier]

Pantone, the self described world's authority on.

[Joel Rose]

Color, has announced that mocha mousse is the new color of the year.

[Katie Reardon]

NPR's Emma Bowman reports on why the.

[Jack Speier]

Earthy tone belongs to 2025.

[Lori Pressman]

Pantone's Vice President Lori Pressman says its annual color of the year pic seeks to capture the zeitgeist.

[Unnamed Expert]

It's for us taking the temperature, what's taking place in the world around us and how does that get expressed into.

[Lori Pressman]

The language of color, harmony with the natural world?

[Unnamed Expert]

That is, you can see it very clearly in the beauty business with all this move towards authentic beauty and how we're eating the foods we're eating. We want foods that are real. We don't want Foods with 80 million chemicals in them.

[Lori Pressman]

In response, designers and marketers in fashion and interiors incorporate the pigment into their products to stay on trend. So expect to see a lot more soft, almondy moussy brown around. Emma Bowman, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Another delay for NASA's latest Artemis mission, which is now being pushed to the spring of 2026.

[Joel Rose]

Engineers have been looking at how the Orion spacecraft's heat shield holds up under stress. That falls on an initial mission two years ago. I'm Jack Speer, NPR News, in Washington.

[Jack Speier]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Viori A new perspective on performance apparel. Check out the latest Dream Knit collection by visiting viori.com NPR for 20% off your first purchase. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.