NPR News: 12-11-2024 8PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 11, 2024, 8 PM EST – Detailed Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on December 12, 2024, covering significant developments in national security, public health policy, environmental challenges, financial markets, notable passings, and labor movements. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode.

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1. FBI Director Christopher Wray Announces Resignation

Presenter: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [00:19]

FBI Director Christopher Wray formally announced his intention to resign at the conclusion of President Joe Biden's term next month. This decision aims to "avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray and said the FBI needs to continue to focus on its mission."

Quote:
Christopher Wray stated, "When you look at where the threats are headed, it is clear that the importance of our work protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution will not change. And what absolutely, positively cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing in the right way every time."
[00:39]

This announcement follows President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of loyalist Cash Patel for the FBI Director position, despite Wray having three more years left in his term. Wray's tenure began in 2017 after President Trump dismissed his predecessor, James Comey. The resignation underscores the ongoing political dynamics surrounding the FBI's leadership and its mission continuity.

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2. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Criticizes Corn in Public Health Policy

Presenter: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [01:01]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the President-elect's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has been vocal about altering current health policies. He specifically targets cornstarch, asserting that it contributes to obesity and other health issues.

Expert Insight:
John Cawley, a professor of health economics at Cornell University, explained the complexities involved in addressing Kennedy's concerns:
"Corn is the most heavily subsidized crop in the United States, and import quotas keep the price of sugar artificially high. Changing the regulations might be difficult."
[01:33]

An unnamed expert further elaborated on the economic implications:
"The high price of sugar versus the low price of corn has led to substitution in sweetened products. Removing corn syrup and corn oil could save the federal government significant funds but would likely provoke a strong agribusiness lobby, making regulatory changes challenging."
[01:48]

Cawley added, "Going after corn syrup and corn oil would pit the incoming administration against major interests in the Midwest, the largest producer of corn in the U.S."
[02:06]

This discourse highlights the intricate balance between public health initiatives and entrenched agricultural and economic interests.

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3. Progress Report on the Franklin Fire in Southern California

Presenter: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [02:18]

Firefighters in Southern California are making headway against the rapidly spreading Franklin fire in Malibu. After enduring two consecutive nights of firefighting efforts, there is cautiously optimistic news regarding containment.

Report by: Steve Futterman
[02:26]

As of the morning, the Franklin fire is 7% contained, a figure deemed significant by LA County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney despite appearing modest.

Quote:
Chief Maroney commented, "7% is better than yesterday. Obviously, the weather is cooperating. That plays a huge role."
[02:36]

Futterman added, "Weather reports indicate the winds that have driven this fire are diminishing and the Red Flag wind alerts are ending."
[02:50]

This development reflects improved conditions aiding firefighting efforts, although the containment remains in its early stages.

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4. Stock Market Update Amid Inflation Concerns

Presenter: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [03:00]

California stocks generally saw gains on Wall Street, influenced by the latest inflation data suggesting a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut before the year's end. The Nasdaq Composite experienced a substantial increase of 347 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 99 points.

This fluctuation indicates investor optimism tempered by lingering economic uncertainties, particularly concerning inflation and monetary policy adjustments.

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5. Remembering the Amazing Kreskin

Presenter: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [03:00]

The renowned mentalist, The Amazing Kreskin, passed away at 89 years old in an assisted living facility in Wayne, New Jersey. His legacy includes captivating performances and memorable television appearances.

Remembrance by: Chloe Veltman
[03:32]

Kreskin, born George Kressley Jr. in 1935 to a Polish-Sicilian family in New Jersey, gained fame in the 1960s and 70s through shows like "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." He distinguished himself as a mentalist rather than a psychic, famously performing a trick where he accurately located a hidden paycheck in an auditorium. He described this feat in the 2005 documentary, "The Amazing Kreskin."

Quote:
Kreskin himself noted, "If I don't find my fee, I don't get paid."
[04:00]

His inspiration stemmed from Mandrake the Magician, a comic book hero known for using hypnotic techniques against adversaries. Kreskin's performances left a lasting impact on audiences and the field of mentalism.
[04:02]

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6. Volkswagen's Historic Unionization in Tennessee

Presenter: Jack Speier
Timestamp: [04:18]

Volkswagen has offered workers at its newly unionized Tennessee assembly plant a 14% wage increase over four years, along with profit-sharing initiatives. This development marks a significant victory for the United Auto Workers Union, which successfully won the unionization vote in April.

Significance:
This Chattanooga plant becomes the first to unionize in the Southern United States since the 1940s and the first Southern foreign-owned plant to achieve such a milestone. The agreement reflects a shifting labor landscape in regions traditionally resistant to union movements.

Economic Context:
Crude oil futures also saw a rise, with prices increasing by almost 2.5% to $70.29 a barrel, indicating broader economic trends influencing both the automotive and energy sectors.

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This comprehensive summary captures the pivotal moments and discussions from the NPR News Now episode aired on December 12, 2024. From high-level government appointments and public health debates to environmental challenges and notable cultural figures' legacies, the episode provided listeners with a thorough overview of pressing national and economic issues.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. FBI Director Christopher Wray made it official today, saying he intends to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term next month. Announcing his intention to step down, Wray saying he wanted to, quote, avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray and said the FBI needs to continue to focus on its mission.

[Christopher Wray]

When you look at where the threats are headed, it is clear that the importance of our work protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution will not change. And what absolutely, positively cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing in the right way every time.

[Jack Speier]

The announcement comes a week and a half after President elect Donald Trump announced he'll nominate loyalist Cash Patel for the job, despite the fact Wray has three more years left in his term. Wray stepped into the post in 2017 after then President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. President elect Trump's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services has been outspoken about a number of policies he would like to change if he's confirmed. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Is taking aim at cornstarch, arguing they promote obesity and a number of other health ailments.

[John Cawley]

Corn is the most heavily subsidized crop in the United States, and import quotas keep the price of sugar artificially high. John Cawley is a professor of health economics at Cornell University. He says changing the regs might be.

[Unnamed Expert]

Difficult between the high price of sugar and the low price of corn that has led to this substitution, where it's not sugar in a lot of our sweetened products. If you were to remove that, you'd save the federal government a lot of money. You'd have a very angry, powerful interest group, which is the agribusiness lobby.

[John Cawley]

Going after corn syrup and corn oil would pit the incoming administration against major interests in the Midwest, the largest producer of corn in the U.S. windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

In Southern California, fire crews are starting to make progress against the fast growing Franklin fire. Steve Futterman reports from Malibu.

[Steve Futterman]

After a second straight night of battling the fire, there was some encouraging news from Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

[Jack Speier]

As of this morning, The Franklin fire is 7% contained.

[Steve Futterman]

The containment figure may not seem like much, but for LA County Fire Chief Anthony Maroney, it is significant.

[Jack Speier]

7%. Is 7% better than yesterday. Obviously, the weather is cooperating. That plays a huge role.

[Steve Futterman]

Weather reports indicate the winds that have driven this fire are diminishing and the Red Flag wind alerts are ending. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Malibu.

[Jack Speier]

California stocks mostly gained ground on Wall street today after the latest inflation update would seem to clear the way for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates one more time before year's end. The Nasdaq was up 347 points. The Dow fell 99 points today. You're listening to NPR. The amazing Kreskin has died. The famous mentalist who dazzled audiences with his mind reading skills died yesterday at an assist living facility in Wayne, New Jersey, at the age of 89. Imperialist Clay Veltman has this remembrance.

[Chloe Veltman]

The Amazing Kreskin became hugely popular in the 1960s and 70s with his guest appearances on TV talk shows like the Tonight show with Johnny Carson.

[Christopher Wray]

Would you welcome the Amazing Crescent?

[Chloe Veltman]

He called himself a mentalist, not a psychic, best known for a theatrical trick in which he asked audience members to hide his paycheck somewhere in the auditorium while he went outside. Then he'd come back in and find it almost always successfully. He described the stunt in the 2005 documentary the Amazing Kreskin.

[Christopher Wray]

If I don't find my fee, I don't get paid.

[Chloe Veltman]

George Kressley, Jr. Was born into a Polish Sicilian family in New Jersey. In 1935. He picked up the mind reading bug from Mandrake the Magician, a comic book hero who used hypnotic techniques to ensnare his adversaries. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

German automaker Volkswagen says it's offering workers at its newly unionized Tennessee assembly plant a 14% wage increase over four years, along with profits. The automaker and the United Auto Workers Union, which won an election at the plant back in April, been engaged in contract talks for the past several months. It marks a major victory for the union. The plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the first to unionize in the South Vietnam election since the 1940s, the first foreign owned Southern plant ever to do so. Crude oil futures prices moved higher today, oil up almost 2.5% and the session at 70:29 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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