NPR News: 12-10-2024 7AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 10, 2024

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter Highlights: Daniel Estrin, Jacqueline Diaz, Brian Mann, Kirk Ziegler

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1. Benjamin Netanyahu's Corruption Trial Begins

Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Time: [00:00] – [01:05]

In a historic first, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is testifying as a defendant in his own corruption trial. Held in a fortified underground courtroom, Netanyahu has faced numerous attempts to delay his court appearance, citing the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Daniel Estrin reports:

“He did try to delay this day in court for several months. He and his lawyers argued because of the wars and the conflicts Israel is facing on multiple fronts, it should be delayed a couple months. In fact, he was unsuccessful.” [00:36]

Despite the attempts to postpone, Netanyahu is now scheduled to testify three days a week for six hours each day, with the trial expected to extend over several weeks. The Prime Minister aims to leverage the trial to bolster his image as Israel’s staunch leader amid war, highlighting his tenure as the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history.

“He will be using this trial as part of this public battle to shape his image as a warrior for Israel in the middle of the war.” [00:36]

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2. Hope Renewed for Missing American Journalist in Syria

Reporter: Jacqueline Diaz
Time: [01:05] – [02:03]

American freelance journalist and former Marine Corps officer Austan Tice has been missing in Syria for over twelve years. With the ouster of President Bashar Al Assad’s regime, there is renewed optimism regarding Tice’s fate.

Jacqueline Diaz explains:

“Austin Tice was last seen in Syria in August 2012... it should be delayed a couple months. In fact, he was unsuccessful.” [01:23]

Tice disappeared while reporting on the Syrian civil war and is believed to have been detained by the Syrian government. The recent political changes in Syria have prompted the Biden administration and Tice’s family to express hope that the new leadership will facilitate his return.

“Tice's parents said in a statement they remain hopeful their son will return home.” [01:23]

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3. United Healthcare CEO Murdered; Suspect Charged

Location: New York City and Central Pennsylvania
Reporter: Brian Mann
Time: [02:03] – [03:02]

Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare. Thompson was fatally shot last week in New York City, shaking the nation’s business community.

Brian Mann provides details:

“NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney says the big break in this case came when investigators found a surveillance camera that caught a phone photo of the alleged gunman's face.” [02:15]

Mangione was apprehended at a McDonald's in central Pennsylvania after the public assisted in identifying him from the surveillance footage. Authorities discovered that Mangione was carrying a handwritten document, which may shed light on his motives.

“Mangione was allegedly carrying a gun, a silencer and other evidence police say linked him to Thompson's shooting.” [02:53]

Speculation suggests Mangione may harbor significant animosity towards corporate America, though investigations continue to uncover the underlying reasons for the attack.

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4. President Biden Establishes New National Monument Honoring Native American History

Reporter: Kirk Ziegler
Time: [03:02] – [04:14]

President Joe Biden has designated the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School as a national monument, recognizing the painful history of forced assimilation of Native American children through boarding schools.

Kirk Ziegler reports:

“The new Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument will be a 24 acre campus in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, site of the first off-reservation boarding school for American Indian children that was set up in 1879.” [03:30]

This monument acknowledges over a century of coercive education practices that affected around 7,800 Native children from more than 140 tribes. The designation follows Biden’s formal apology for these injustices and aims to educate the public about this critical chapter in American history.

“It's an important piece of our history that every single American should know about. It's a painful part of our history.” [03:54]

The initiative was significantly supported by advocates like Holland, who led a nationwide Road to Healing tour featuring survivors of the boarding schools, sharing their experiences to foster understanding and reconciliation.

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5. Franklin Wildfire Forces Evacuations in Malibu

Location: Malibu, California
Time: [04:14]

A rapidly spreading wildfire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, has prompted extensive evacuations in Malibu. The Franklin wildfire, which ignited the previous night, has already burned over 1,600 acres. The Los Angeles Fire Department is actively combating the blaze, with the cause currently under investigation.

Jeanine Herbst details the situation:

“Firefighters are battling the Franklin wildfire in Malibu, which is spreading fast, leading to evacuations.” [04:14]

Students at Pepperdine University have been instructed to shelter in place as conditions remain volatile. Authorities continue to monitor the fire’s progression, working to contain it and ensure the safety of residents in the affected areas.

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Market Update

U.S. futures are trading in mixed territory this morning:

• Dow Futures: Down a fraction
• Nasdaq Futures: Up 0.1%

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Stay informed with the latest updates from NPR News. For more detailed coverage, visit NPR News Now.

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This summary is based on the NPR News Now episode released on December 10, 2024.

Transcript

[Jeanine Herbst]

This message comes from Progressive Insurance, where drivers who switch could save hundreds on car insurance. Get your [e-mail] today. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In Israel, for the first time in the country's history, a sitting prime minister is testifying as a defendant in court. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking the witness stand in his own corruption trial in a fortified court courtroom underground, something he's repeatedly tried to delay because of his ongoing war with hamas in Gaza. NPR's Daniel Estrin is at the Tel Aviv courthouse.

[Daniel Estrin]

He did try to delay this day in court for several months. He and his lawyers argued because of the wars and the conflicts Israel is facing on multiple fronts, it should be delayed a couple months. In fact, he was unsuccessful. So he'll be testifying three days a week, six hours a day. It will last for many weeks. And he will be battling. He will be using this trial as part of this public battle to shape his image as a warrior for Israel in the middle of the war, surviving as Israel's longest serving prime Minister in history.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's Daniel Estrin reporting. The American journalist Austan Tice has been missing in Syria for more than 12 years, but his family and the Biden administration say they think he's still alive. Now that the country is in new hands following the ouster of the Assad regime, there is renewed hope. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz has more.

[Jacqueline Diaz]

Austin Tice was last seen in Syria in August 2012. The veteran Marine Corps officer turned freelance journalist was in the country covering the Syrian civil war when he was detained while reporting in a suburb of Damascus and never seen again. It's long been believed that Tice was being held by the Syrian government. This weekend, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad was ousted. With him gone, US Government officials said Tice's release is a top priority and that the country's new leadership might help locate Tice. Tice's parents said in a statement they remain hopeful their son will return home. Jacqueline Diaz, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

26 year old Luigi Mangione was charged late last night with murder in the killing of Brian Thompson. The United Healthcare CEO was gunned down last week in New York City. NPR's Brian Mann has more.

[Brian Mann]

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney says the big break in this case came when investigators found a surveillance camera that caught a phone photo of the alleged gunman's face.

[Jeanine Herbst]

We took that photograph and we asked for the public's help in identifying this subject and the public responded.

[Brian Mann]

Luigi Mangione was arrested in a McDonald's restaurant in central Pennsylvania after people reported him to police. Authorities say he shot and killed Brian Thompson, the 50 year old head of the nation's largest health insurance company. According to Kenny, Mangione was allegedly carrying a handwritten document that may explain his motives.

[Jeanine Herbst]

It does seem that he has some some illness will toward corporate America.

[Brian Mann]

When arrested, Mangione was allegedly carrying a gun, a silencer and other evidence police say linked him to Thompson's shooting. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York.

[Jeanine Herbst]

US Futures contracts are trading in mixed territory at this hour. Dow futures down a fraction. Nasdaq futures up 1/10 of a percent. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Biden has created a new national monument acknowledging America's troubled legacy of boarding schools for Native Americans. NPR's Kirk Ziegler reports. The designation follows his formal apology for the forced assimilation of Native children for more than a century.

[Kirk Ziegler]

The new Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument will be a 24 acre campus in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, site of the first off reservation boarding school for American Indian children that was set up in 1879. Over the next decades, some 7,800 native kids from more than 140 tribes would subsequently be subjected to what Secretary of the Interior Deb Haw has since called coercive education.

[Jeanine Herbst]

It's an important piece of our history that every single American should know about. It's a painful part of our history.

[Kirk Ziegler]

Holland was instrumental in getting the new monument designated last year. She invited survivors of abuses at boarding schools to tell their stories on a nationwide Road to Healing tour. Kirk Zigler, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In California, firefighters are battling the Franklin wildfire in Malibu, which is spreading fast, leading to evacuations. Students at Pepperdine University have been ordered to shelter in place, and most of the eastern half of Malibu is under evacuation orders. The fire is being fanned by strong Santa Ana winds. The Los Angeles Fire Department says the fire started last night and has already grown to more than 1600 acres. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from Jackson. Seek clarity in retirement [e-mail]. jackson is short for Jackson Financial, Inc. Jackson National Life Insurance Company, Lansing, Michigan, and Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York Purchase, New York.