NPR News: 12-08-2024 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of December 8, 2024, 5PM EST Episode

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on significant global and national events in its December 8, 2024, 5PM EST episode. This summary encapsulates the key topics discussed, enriched with notable quotes and structured for clarity.

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1. Russia Grants Asylum to Syria’s Deposed President Bashar al-Assad

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [00:19] - [01:34]

NPR reported that Russia has granted asylum to Syria's ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his family, according to state-run media outlets. Assad fled to Moscow following the rebel group HTS's overnight advancements in Damascus. Russia's longstanding alliance with the Assad regime underscores this development.

President Biden's Concerns and Actions: President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House's Roosevelt Room, emphasizing the potential risks arising from Assad's departure.

• Biden remarked at [00:55]: "A time of great risk."
• At [00:59], he stated: "We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum."

Biden highlighted that American forces conducted numerous precision airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria on Sunday and maintained approximately 900 troops in the region. He viewed Assad's fall as a pivotal moment offering an opportunity for Syria's reconstruction.

• Biden concluded at [01:03]: "Moving forward, the US will support Syria's neighbors, continue military operations against the Islamic State and engage with the forces that now control Syria."

Luke Ehrick of NPR adds: "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country." [01:15]

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2. The End of Assad’s Half-Century Rule in Syria

Reporter: Jackie Northam
Timestamp: [01:34] - [02:33]

Jackie Northam delved into the repercussions of Bashar al-Assad's downfall, marking the end of over fifty years of his family's authoritarian rule in Syria. Initially perceived as a reformer upon succeeding his father in 2000, Assad's regime soon devolved into severe oppression, characterized by the suppression of dissent, torture, killings, bombings, and the use of chemical weapons against civilians.

Expert Insight: Mona Yakubian, a Syrian specialist at the US Institute of Peace, provided context on the resultant humanitarian crisis.

• Yakubian at [02:12]: "More than 12 million Syrians are forcibly displaced. The economy has virtually collapsed. So it is an impoverished and devastated Syria that he has left behind."

Northam posed the critical question of Syria's future post-Assad, highlighting the immense challenges ahead in rebuilding a war-torn nation.

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3. Wall Street Anticipates Upcoming Inflation Data

Reporter: Raphael Nam
Timestamp: [02:33] - [03:16]

Raphael Nam reported on the latest financial sentiments as Wall Street prepares for new inflation figures. Recent months have seen a gradual easing of inflation, offering some relief to policymakers, especially after the Federal Reserve's two rate cuts earlier in the year.

However, the slow pace of inflation reduction remains a concern. The Federal Reserve is expected to convene later in December, with investors anticipating a third rate cut. Despite this optimism, the Fed remains cautious, acknowledging that the battle against inflation is ongoing.

• Nam summarized at [02:38]: "The problem is that the pace at which inflation is easing has been very slow, and that is a bit of a concern."
• He noted at [03:08]: "They know the fight against inflation is not over."

The upcoming inflation data, scheduled for release on Wednesday, will significantly influence the Fed's decisions and the broader economic outlook.

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4. Highlights from the Kennedy Center Honors Gala

Reporter: Elizabeth Blair
Timestamp: [03:16] - [04:06]

The annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala was spotlighted, celebrating distinguished individuals and groups for their contributions to the arts. This year's honorees include the Grateful Dead, the Apollo Theater in New York City, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, and musicians Arturo Sandoval and Bonnie Raitt.

Notable Honors:

• Francis Ford Coppola: Praised by Kennedy Center Chairman David Rubinstein as "a masterful storyteller," Coppola's work includes iconic films such as The Godfather, American Graffiti, and Apocalypse Now [03:35].

• The Morning: Recognized for "pushing creative boundaries and influencing American culture," according to Elizabeth Blair [03:48].

• Musicians Arturo Sandoval and Bonnie Raitt: Both multi-Grammy award winners were celebrated for their outstanding musical achievements [04:02].

David Rubinstein added a touch of humor during the event, stating at [04:02]: "It's in the lock of the drawer, baby."

The Honors Gala is scheduled to broadcast on CBS and stream on Paramount on December 22nd [04:06].

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5. Weekend Box Office Performance

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [04:17] - [04:59]

Jeanine Herbst provided an overview of the weekend box office, highlighting significant earnings:

• Moana 2: Secured the top spot with an estimated $52 million in ticket sales, bringing its domestic total to $300 million. This surpasses the original Moana's earnings and places the sequel in this year's top five box office hits [04:17].

• Wicked: Achieved second place with $34 million domestically. The musical adaptation has grossed $455 million globally since its Universal release [04:17].

• Gladiator 2: Ranked third with an estimated $12 million in weekend sales [04:17].

These figures reflect strong audience engagement with both animated sequels and live-action adaptations during the holiday season.

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This summary aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights presented in the NPR News Now episode of December 8, 2024. For those who missed the broadcast, this encapsulation offers a detailed glimpse into the day's pivotal news.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Russia granted asylum to Syria's deposed president Bashar al Assad and his family. That's according to state run news media. Tass fled to Moscow after the rebel group HTS reached Syria's capital, Damascus, overnight. Russia was a key ally of the Assad regime. President Biden says the U.S. is worried about the extremist Islamic State or ISIS, taking advantage of a power vacuum in Syria to seize control. NPR's Luke Ehrick reports. Biden addressed the nation from the Roosevelt Room at the White House this afternoon.

[Joe Biden]

President Biden characterized the fall of Assad's regime in Syria as a time of great risk.

[Luke Ehrick]

We're clear eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum.

[Joe Biden]

Biden said American forces launched dozens of precision airstrikes against their camps and operatives in Syria on Sunday. The US still has some 900 troops in Syria, but the president also celebrated the fall of Bashar al Assad.

[Luke Ehrick]

It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country.

[Joe Biden]

Moving forward, the president said the US Will support Syria's neighbors, continue military operations against the Islamic State and engage with the forces that now control Syria. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Meanwhile, NPR's Jackie Northam reports on the end of more than a half century of brutal rule by the Assad family.

[Jackie Northam]

There are few tears being shed in Syria for Bashar al Assad. When he succeeded his father in 2000, Assad was seen as a reformer, but it didn't last long. He became a cruel despot, crushing any dissent, torturing, killing opponents, bombing and using chemical weapons on his own people. Mona Yakubian is a Syrian specialist at the US Institute of Peace. She says Assad provoked a civil war that led to one of the biggest humanitarian and displacement crises of the 21st century.

[Mona Yakubian]

More than 12 million Syrians are forcibly displaced. The economy has virtually collapsed. So it is an impoverished and devastated Syria that he has left behind.

[Jackie Northam]

The question now is, after decades of bloody authoritarian rule, what comes next for Syria? Jackie Northam, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall Street's gearing up for the latest inflation data. NPR's Raphael Nam reports Inflation has been.

[Raphael Nam]

Easing in recent months. That's providing some comfort to policymakers with the Fed cutting rates twice already this year. The problem is that the pace at which inflation is easing has been very slow, and that is a bit of a concern. The Fed is scheduled to meet later this month, and for now, investors still expect them to cut rates for a third time. But the Fed has to be cautious here. They know the fight against inflation is not over. So a lot will depend on how the latest inflation data shape up. Those numbers come out on Wednesday. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is NPR News. The annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala takes place in Washington, D.C. tonight. The grateful Dead and the Apollo Theater in New York City are among this year's honorees. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has more on some of the others being celebrated tonight.

[Elizabeth Blair]

Kennedy Center Chairman David Rubinstein calls filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola a masterful storyteller. The five time Oscar winner's canon includes the Godfather, American Graffiti and Apocalypse Now.

[Luke Ehrick]

I love the smell of Night Palm.

[Elizabeth Blair]

In the Morning, chosen for pushing creative boundaries and influencing American culture. This year's class of honorees also includes multiple Grammy winning musicians Arturo Sandoval and Bonnie Raitt.

[David Rubinstein]

It's in the lock of the draw, baby.

[Elizabeth Blair]

The Kennedy Center Honors will broadcast on CBS and stream on Paramount on December 22nd. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office, Moana, too took the top spot again with an estimated $52 million in ticket sales. Now that brings the animated Disney film's domestic total to $300 million, and that surpasses the take for the original Moana. It also puts the film in this year's top five at the box office. In second place, Wicked with $34 million. Globally, the musical adaptation released by Universal has taken in $455 million. In third place, Gladiator 2 with an estimated $12 million. I'm Jeanine Hurst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[GiveWell]

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