NPR News: 12-10-2024 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 10, 2024, 1AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Release Date: December 10, 2024

NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines and in-depth reporting across various topics. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the December 10, 2024, 1AM EST episode.

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Pennsylvania Governor Condemns Murder Linked to Policy Disputes

Giles Snyder opens the episode with a report on the tragic killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly committed by 26-year-old Luigi Mangione. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the incident, emphasizing that violence does not resolve policy disagreements.

"We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint," Shapiro stated at [00:30].

Mangione faced arraignment on five charges, including illegal firearm possession and presenting false documents to police, outside the Altoona courthouse. Shapiro lauded the individual who called 911 upon witnessing Mangione at a McDonald's, highlighting true heroism. The suspect is additionally charged with murder and other offenses in New York, where Manhattan prosecutors unveiled the charges late Monday night.

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Not Guilty Verdict in New York Marine Veteran's Subway Incident Sparks Outrage

In a separate case from New York, Marine veteran Daniel Penney was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide for his actions leading to the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless and mentally ill subway passenger. The trial concluded with mixed reactions from the courtroom and the public.

Charles Lane reports that upon the jury's verdict, the courtroom erupted with applause from some, while others expressed anger, labeling the verdict as racist.

"The man killed Jordan Neely was black," Lane explains, noting that witnesses described Neely threatening passengers before Penney, who is white, used a chokehold to subdue him [01:24].

Prosecutors argued that Penney exceeded necessary force, whereas his defense maintained he acted in self-defense and to protect others. The verdict incited angry protests outside the courthouse. Meanwhile, lawyers representing Neely's family urged the public to direct their anger towards constructive actions.

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Syrian Rebels Move Towards Government Formation Amid Russian Naval Withdrawal

Shifting focus to international affairs, Giles Snyder covers the evolving political landscape in Syria. The rebels who ousted President Bashar al-Assad are now endeavoring to establish a government. Assad's Prime Minister, Mohammad Jalali, announced on Monday his intention to transfer power to an administration based in rebel-held northwest Syria, anticipating the transition to take mere days [01:58].

Concurrently, the U.S. State Department revealed that it is not currently reevaluating the designation of the main rebel group as a foreign terrorist organization. In related developments, satellite imagery analyzed by Geoff Brumfiel of NPR indicated that Russian naval ships have departed the Syrian port of Tartus.

"It's unclear whether they're gone for good," Brumfiel remarked, noting that Russian vessels frequently conduct military exercises from Tartus and may return in the future [02:33].

The departure of the Russian navy marks a significant shift, although the long-term implications for Syrian stability remain uncertain.

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Tulsi Gabbard Faces Scrutiny Over 2017 Damascus Visit Amid Intelligence Director Nomination

Giles Snyder further reports on domestic politics, highlighting that President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, appeared before Capitol Hill on Monday. Her meeting with senators raised questions regarding a controversial visit she made to Damascus in 2017, stirring debates about her foreign policy decisions [03:03].

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Arizona Polygamous Leader Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison

In legal news, Samuel Bateman, a 48-year-old polygamous leader from Arizona, received a sentence of 50 years imprisonment, effectively equating to a life sentence. A federal judge in Phoenix condemned Bateman for taking more than 20 spiritual wives, including 10 underage girls [03:03].

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Passing of Clark Reed, Influential Southern Republican Leader

Debbie Elliott reports on the death of Clark Reed, a pivotal figure in Southern Republican politics. Reed, who served as the chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party for a decade starting in the mid-1960s, played a crucial role in transforming the Deep South from a predominantly Democratic stronghold to a Republican bastion [03:49].

Reed's efforts established his home in the Mississippi Delta as a nexus for GOP strategists and thinkers. He was instrumental in mentoring future Republican leaders, including former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott. Reed passed away at age 96 in Greenville, Mississippi.

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Renowned Poet Nikki Giovanni Passes Away at 81

The episode also mourns the loss of Nikki Giovanni, a celebrated poet and prominent figure in the black arts and civil rights movements. Giovanni succumbed to cancer at 81, following her third diagnosis. Her life and impactful career were prominently featured in the award-winning documentary "Going to Mars", highlighting her contributions to literature and activism [04:38].

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For comprehensive coverage and continued updates, tune into NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says a 26 year old man linked to the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson is no hero in America.

[Josh Shapiro]

We do not kill people in cold blood to resolve policy differences or express a viewpoint.

[Giles Snyder]

Governor Shapiro speaking outside the courthouse in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after Luigi Mangione was arraigned on five charges, including allegedly carrying an illegal firearm and presenting false documents to police. Shapiro said the real hero is a person who called 911 and after seeing Mangione at a McDonald's restaurant. Mangione is now also facing murder and other charges in New York. Court documents show Manhattan prosecutors filed the charges late Monday night. In a separate case in New York, a Manhattan jury has found a Marine veteran not guilty of criminally negligent homicide. Daniel Penney used a chokehold on a homeless and mentally ill subway passenger last year. From member station wnyc, Charles Lane reports.

[Charles Lane]

The courtroom burst into commotion after the foreperson read the verdict. At first there was applause. Others shouted obscenities and called the country racist. The man killed Jordan Neely was black. Witnesses testified that he was yelling threats at passengers on the subway train before Daniel Penney, who was white, placed him in a chokehold. Prosecutors said Penney went too far, while Penney's lawyers said he was defending himself and others. The verdict set off angry protests outside court, even as lawyers for Neely's family asked to channel anger towards good deeds. For NPR News, I'm Charles Lane in New York.

[Giles Snyder]

The Syrian rebels who overthrew President Bashar al Assad are now working to form a government. On Monday, Assad's Prime Minister Mohammad Jalali agreed to hand over power to an administration based in rebel held territory in northwest Syria. Jalali said Monday the transition could take days to carry out. Meanwhile, the State Department says it's not actively reviewing the foreign terrorist organization designation of the main rebel group that overthrew President Assad. Satellite imagery appears to show that Russian navy ships have left a Syrian port. NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports.

[Geoff Brumfiel]

The Russian navy had been using the port of Tartus on Syria's Mediterranean coast as a major base of operations for years. Satellite photos from the commercial company Planet showed two Russian frigates and a submarine at the base just days ago. But a new image shows all Russian ships appear to have left. It's unclear whether they're gone for good. Russian vessels regularly conduct military exercises from Tartus and may yet return. But for now, there's no sign of the Russian navy in Syria. Geoff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

President elect Donald Trump's choice for director of national intelligence was on Capitol Hill Monday. Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard met with senators amid questions of her visit to Damascus in 2017. This is NPR. A polygamous leader in Arizona has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. A federal judge in Phoenix, Arizona, sentenced 48 year old Samuel Bateman Monday, saying that it is effectively a life sentence. Bateman claimed to have taken more than 20 spiritual wives, including 10 underage girls. A pioneer of Southern Republicanism has died. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports that Clark Reed helped move the Deep south from a solidly Democratic region to the Republican powerhouse it is today.

[Debbie Elliott]

Clark Reed was chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party for 10 years, starting in the mid-1960s. He once said the state party was so small back then it could meet in a phone booth. But the businessman was determined to make the South a two party region. Despite the dominance at the time of conservative Democrats. Reid's home in the Mississippi Delta became a hub for GOP power brokers and thinkers, and he was a force at Republican conventions dating from the Nixon era. He mentored future leaders of the GOP, including former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and former U.S. senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott. Clark Reed died Sunday at his home in Greenville, Mississippi. He was 96. Debbie Elliott, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

The renowned poet Nikki Giovanni has died. According to a statement, Giovanni died Monday at age 81 following a third cancer diagnosis. Giovanni was a prominent figure in the black arts and civil rights movements, her life and career explored in the prize winning documentary film Going to Mars. This is npr.

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