NPR News: 12-12-2024 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 13, 2024

Host: NPR
Release Date: December 13, 2024
Episode: NPR News: 12-12-2024 11PM EST

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1. Justice Department's Report on FBI's January 6th Intelligence Efforts

Presenter: Dan Ronan

The Justice Department's inspector general has unveiled a comprehensive report examining the FBI's intelligence operations leading up to the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The investigation highlights both proactive measures and significant oversights within the bureau.

Key Findings:

• The FBI actively worked to identify domestic extremists intending to gather in Washington, D.C., for the events on January 6th.
• Despite recognizing the potential for violence, the inspector general criticized the FBI for not adequately canvassing its field offices to gather intelligence related to threats against the electoral certification process.

Notable Quote:

"A basic step that was missed," stated the bureau's deputy director at [00:41], highlighting a critical lapse in the FBI's intelligence gathering process.

Additional Insights:

• The report revealed that while no undercover FBI agents were present in the protest crowd or inside the Capitol during the attack, there were 26 informants involved.
• Of these informants, four entered the Capitol premises alongside the rioters. However, none of the informants were authorized to engage in illegal activities, as per the watchdog's findings.

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2. Drone Sightings in New York and New Jersey Dismissed as Non-Threatening

Presenters: Dan Ronan and Tamara Keith

Recent drone sightings across New York and New Jersey have raised alarms among local and state officials. However, the White House has downplayed these incidents, suggesting that the perceived threats may not be as severe as initially thought.

Investigation Details:

• The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are actively investigating the drone reports that began in late November.
• White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby addressed the issue, indicating that federal and local investigators have yet to confirm the nature of these sightings.

Notable Quote:

"Many of the objects appear to be manned aircraft, not drones, and operated lawfully. We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat," Kirby stated at [01:32].

Further Information:

• Kirby emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing, with no current evidence linking the sightings to foreign threats or significant security concerns.

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3. Jake Sullivan Negotiates Potential Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange in Israel-Gaza Conflict

Presenter: Dan Ronan

President Biden's National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Diplomatic Efforts:

• Sullivan visited Israel to discuss the volatile situations in Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza war.
• He expressed optimism about nearing a ceasefire agreement and the possibility of a hostage settlement.

Notable Quote:

Sullivan mentioned, "Among the hostages still being held by Hamas are seven Americans, three of whom are presumed Al," at [02:27], underscoring the urgency of resolving the hostage crisis.

Hostage Negotiations:

• Sullivan is attempting to finalize a hostage deal within the month.
• He highlighted coordination efforts with the incoming Trump administration and outlined forthcoming trips to Egypt and Qatar, countries instrumental in mediating talks with Hamas.

Additional Commentary:

• Despite the optimistic outlook, Sullivan remained cautious, stating, "We've been close before and haven't gotten there, so I can't make any promises or predictions to you," at [02:40].

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4. Wall Street Experiences a Decline Across Major Indexes

Presenter: Dan Ronan

The stock market faced a downturn on Thursday, with all three major indexes closing in negative territory.

Market Performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Fell by 234 points, ending the session at 43,914.
• Nasdaq Composite: Dropped 132 points, closing at 19,902.

Market Sentiment:

• The decline reflects investor apprehension amidst various economic and geopolitical factors influencing market stability.

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5. Writers Guild of America Targets Hollywood Studios Over AI-Generated Scripts

Presenter: Dan Ronan and Mandalit del Barco

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is urging major Hollywood studios to take decisive action against the use of artificial intelligence in scriptwriting, citing concerns over intellectual property and authors' rights.

WGA's Stance:

• The union has officially addressed CEOs of leading studios, including Amazon, Disney, Universal, and others, demanding legal measures against companies that allegedly misuse writers' work to train AI tools without proper authorization or compensation.

Notable Quote:

"Tech companies have looted the studio's intellectual property," the WGA's letter states at [03:34], emphasizing the unauthorized use of creative content.

Contextual Background:

• This move by the WGA responds to reports, such as a recent article in The Atlantic, indicating that datasets used by companies like Apple and Meta incorporate subtitles from numerous Oscar-winning films and popular TV shows.
• The guild asserts that existing collective bargaining agreements mandate studios to protect writers' copyrights, a responsibility they believe is being neglected in the face of AI advancements.

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6. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker Announces Resignation

Presenter: Dan Ronan

Mike Whitaker, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has announced his resignation, effective at the conclusion of the Biden administration. This move is intended to allow the incoming Trump administration to appoint a new head for the Aviation Oversight Agency.

Whitaker's Tenure:

• Senators from both political parties have commended Whitaker for his leadership at the FAA.
• His administration was noted for enforcing stringent policies towards airlines and addressing safety concerns with major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing.

Notable Quote:

"[Senators] have praised Whitaker's tenure at the FAA," highlighting his role in managing safety issues, including incidents like the Alaska Airlines 737 door plug panel malfunction.

Impact of Resignation:

• Whitaker's departure marks a significant transition for the FAA, as the agency prepares for new leadership aligned with the incoming administration's policies and priorities.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed in the December 13, 2024, episode of NPR News Now, capturing essential details and notable statements for listeners seeking a detailed briefing.

Transcript

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[Dan Ronan]

Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The Justice Department's inspector general has released a long awaited report on the FBI's intelligence collection efforts ahead of the January 6th US Capitol attack in 2021. The watchdog group found the FBI recognized the potential for violence. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.

[Ryan Lucas]

The report found that the FBI worked to identify domestic extremists who planned to travel to Washington, D.C. for the events of January 6th. But the inspector general determined that the bureau failed to canvass its field offices for intelligence about potential threats to the electoral certification. The bureau's deputy director called that, quote, a basic step that was missed. The report also says that no FBI undercover employees were in the protest crowd or at the Capitol that day, but 26 FBI informants were. None of them were authorized to break the law, the watchdog says, although four of the informants did enter the Capitol with the rioters. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Dan Ronan]

The White House is downplaying the threat risk from mysterious drone sightings in the New York and New Jersey area, as NPR's Tamara Keith report. This comes as local officials and state officials are raising alarms.

[Tamara Keith]

The reported drone sightings, which began in late November, are being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and FBI. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said federal investigators as well as state and local law enforcement have not been able to corroborate the sightings. Upon review of available imagery, he said many of the objects appear to be manned aircraft, not drones, and operated lawfully. We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat.

[Dan Ronan]

Or have a foreign nexus.

[Tamara Keith]

Kirby says the investigation will continue. Tamara Keith, NPR News, the White House.

[Dan Ronan]

President Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan was in Israel on Thursday talking about Syria, Lebanon and the war in Gaza. He thinks Israel and Hamas are close to a ceasefire and a hostage deal. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

[Tamara Keith]

Among the hostages still being held by Hamas are seven Americans, three of whom are presumed to be Al. That's according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who says he's trying to close a hostage deal this month.

[NPR Sponsor]

We've been close before and haven't gotten there, so I can't make any promises or predictions to you, but I wouldn't be here today if I thought this thing was just waiting till after January 20th.

[Tamara Keith]

Sullivan says he's been coordinating with the incoming team for President Elect Trump and traveling next to Egypt and Qatar, the countries that have been talking to Hamas. Michelle Keleman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Dan Ronan]

It was a losing day on Wall Street Thursday. All three stock indexes closed down. The Dow lost 234 points, closing at 43,914. The Nasdaq dropped 132 points, closing at 19,902. You're listening to NPR. The Writers Guild of America is calling on Hollywood studios to take action against plagiarizing scripts reportedly written by artificial intelligence. NPR's Mandelit DeBarko reports. The Union histor sent a letter to the major studios.

[Mandalit del Barco]

The letter was addressed to the CEOs of Amazon, MGM Studios, Disney, Universal, Paramount, Netflix, Sony Pictures and Warner Brothers Discovery. In it, leaders of the Writers Guild called on the studios to take legal action against companies that reportedly plunder scriptwriters work to train their AI software tools. Quote, tech companies have looted the studio's intellectual property, they wrote, without permission or compensation. The WGA's letter comes in response to a recent story in the Atlantic alleging that a data set used by Apple, Meta and other companies is using subtitles from thousands of Oscar winning films and hit TV shows. The guild says the collective bargaining agreement with Hollywood studios requires them to defend their copyrights on behalf of writers. Mandalit del Barco, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

FAA administrator Mike Whitaker said he will resign at the end of the Biden administration, giving the incoming Trump administration the opportunity to sel their own head of the Aviation Oversight Agency. Senators from both parties have praised Whitaker's tenure at the FAA as he's led a tough reinforcement policy towards the airlines and the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which has been cited for a variety of safety problems, including having a door plug panel blow off of an Alaska Airlines 737 jetliner. From Washington, you're listening to NPR News.

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