NPR News: 12-07-2024 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 7, 2024, 1 PM EST

The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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President Trump Endorses Defense Secretary Pick Pete Hegseth

Timestamp: [00:16 - 01:06]

President elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for his nominee, Pete Hegseth, for the position of Secretary of Defense during an interview with Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press."

• Trump praised Hegseth's qualifications, stating, “[00:39] Pete is doing well now. I mean, people were a little bit concerned.”

• Addressing controversy, Trump noted, “[01:06] Yeah, I've had a lot of senators call me up saying he's fantastic,” despite ongoing skepticism from some senators regarding allegations of heavy drinking and mistreatment of women against Hegseth.

Hegseth is scheduled for further meetings in the Senate next week as he seeks confirmation, with Trump expressing confidence that he will secure the necessary votes.

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Trump Visits Paris; South Korean President Faces Impeachment Efforts

Timestamp: [01:11 - 01:37]

President Trump arrived in Paris to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after the devastating fire. During his trip, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Simultaneously, in South Korea, efforts to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol have stalled:

• Impeachment Motion Fails: A motion to impeach was blocked as ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote, preventing a quorum. Consequently, Yoon remains in office, though public opinion remains largely against him, with polls indicating that 70% of South Koreans believe he should be impeached.

Anthony Kuhn, NPR News

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Intense Manhunt for United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s Killer in New York City

Timestamp: [01:37 - 02:29]

The search for the assassin of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson continues into its fourth day. New York City police are meticulously combing through substantial evidence to identify and locate the shooter.

• Key Developments:

  • Surveillance Footage: The suspect was captured fleeing Central Park by bicycle.
  • Crucial Clue Found: Authorities recovered a backpack believed to belong to the shooter, currently under analysis.
  • Possible Escape Route: Sightings at a bus terminal suggest the gunman may have left New York City, though his current location, the murder weapon, and motive remain unknown.

• Authorities' Call to Action: The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Amy Held, NPR News

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Arson Attack on Melbourne Synagogue Condemned as Antisemitic Act

Timestamp: [03:12 - 03:51]

In Melbourne, Australia, police are investigating an arson attack on a synagogue that occurred yesterday. Two masked individuals were observed spreading a liquid accelerant inside the synagogue early morning, resulting in extensive damage.

• Community Impact: The synagogue, established in the 1960s by Holocaust survivors, holds significant historical and cultural importance.

• Government Response: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the attack as an antisemitic assault on Australian values, emphasizing the nation's commitment to diversity and religious tolerance.

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Pope Francis Appoints 21 New Cardinals from Diverse Backgrounds

Timestamp: [03:51 - 04:34]

Pope Francis has named 21 new cardinals, enhancing the global representation within the Catholic Church's leadership.

• Diverse Selection: The new cardinals hail from six different continents, including countries like Japan (with smaller Catholic populations) and nations such as Iran and Serbia, which have never previously had a cardinal.

• Global Representation: Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has prioritized appointing cardinals from outside the traditional power centers, resulting in over 90 countries being represented in the College of Cardinals.

• Voting Eligibility: The College currently comprises 253 members, with more than half eligible to vote for the next pope until they reach the age of 80.

Claire Djangrave, NPR News, Rome

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Commemorating Pearl Harbor: Ceremony Honors 2,300 Fallen Servicemen

Timestamp: [04:34 - 04:56]

On December 7th, marking the 83rd anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, a solemn ceremony was held at the historic military base in Hawaii.

• Remembrance Efforts: The Navy and the National Park Service organized the event to honor the over 2,300 servicemen who lost their lives during the assault that propelled the United States into World War II.

• Participant Tribute: Two survivors of the attack attended the ceremony, serving as living reminders of the event's profound impact on American history.

Nora Rahm, NPR News

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on December 7, 2024. For more detailed coverage, please refer to the full podcast transcript.

Transcript

[Jackson Financial]

This message comes from Jackson. Seek clarity in retirement [e-mail] Jackson is short for Jackson Financial, Inc. Jackson National Life Insurance Co. Lansing, Michigan and Jackson National Life Insurance Co. Of New York Purchase, New York.

[Nora Rahm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President elect Donald Trump says he still has confidence in his pick to be secretary of defense. NPR's Tamara Keith reports.

[Kristen Welker]

Trump sat down with Kristen Welker for an interview that will air Sunday on Meet the the Press. In excerpts released Friday, Trump spoke up for Pete Hegseth, praising his Ivy League education.

[Donald Trump]

Pete is doing well now. I mean, people were a little bit concerned.

[Kristen Welker]

The former Fox News host has had to answer a lot of tough questions from senators and denies allegations of heavy drinking and mistreatment of women. Trump said he doesn't yet have assurances from senators that he has the votes to get confirmed, but added, I think you will.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah, I've had a lot of senators call me up saying he's fantastic.

[Kristen Welker]

Hegseth has more meetings on the Hill next week. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

Trump is in Paris today for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. He met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In South Korea, a motion to impeach the president has failed in parliament. The president briefly declared martial law this week, but was forced to cancel it by opposition lawmakers. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Ruling party lawmakers, that's the president's party, boycotted the vote, so the parliament did not get a quorum of 200 out of 300 lawmakers. And although the opposition parties have a majority in parliament, they don't have a two thirds majority, so they couldn't have a valid vote. Opposition lawmakers say they're going to keep trying, keep submitting impeachment bills until one of them passes. It looks like Yoon is going to keep his job for now, but his problem is that polls in South Korea show that 70% of the people think he should be impeached, and so it's highly likely that large scale protests will continue.

[Nora Rahm]

NPR's Anthony Kuhn reporting from Seoul. The manhunt for the killer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson is now in its fourth day. NPR's Amy Held reports. New York City police say they're working through a huge amount of evidence seeking the shooter's identity and whereabouts.

[Amy Held]

Authorities have been sweeping Central park, where the suspect was seen on surveillance video fleeing by bicycle after Wednesday's brazen sidewalk shooting. By Friday, that search yielded something crucial a backpack believed to be his. Police tell CNN they're analyzing it for clues. Meantime, they believe the gunman has likely left New York City after being seen at a bus terminal. Where he went from there is unknown. So is his identity, the location of the murder weapon and a motive in the attack. Police have released a grainy facial image of what they call a person of interest. The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Nora Rahm]

This is NPR News in Washington. In Australia, police are searching for two suspects in yesterday's arson attack at a synagogue in Melbourne. Officials say two people wearing masks were spotted spreading a liquid accelerant inside the building early yesterday morning. The fire caused extensive damage to the synagogue, which had been built in the 1960s by survivors of the Holocaust. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the blaze as an antisemitic attack on Australian values. Today in Rome, Pope Francis has named 21 new cardinals to lead the Catholic Church. Claire John Dugret has more.

[Claire Djangrave]

The men come from six different continents, and several represent countries such as Japan, with small Catholic populations. Two countries, Iran and Serbia, have never had a cardinal before. Since his election in 2013, Francis has chosen cardinals from outside of the church's traditional power centers. More than 90 countries are now represented in the College of Cardinals. The college has 253 members overall, including more than half who are currently eligible to vote on selecting the next pope. Members are allowed to vote until they turn 80 years old. For NPR News, I'm Claire Djangrave in rome.

[Nora Rahm]

Today is December 7th. It was 83 years ago today that Japan bombed the military base in Hawaii that launched the U.S. into World War II. The Navy and the National Park Service are holding a ceremony at the site to remember the more than 2,300 servicemen who died. Two survivors of the attack planned to attend. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.

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