NPR News: 12-12-2024 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 12, 2024

In the early hours of December 12, 2024, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest national and international events. Hosted by NPR, the five-minute episode covered significant developments ranging from high-level governmental changes to historical discoveries. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed, enriched with notable quotes and structured for ease of understanding.

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1. FBI Director Christopher Wray Announces Resignation

At the forefront of the episode, Dan Ronan reported on a major shift within the U.S. Department of Justice. FBI Director Christopher Wray declared his resignation, effective at the end of the Biden administration on January 20th. Despite having three years remaining on his decade-long tenure, Wray chose to step down, prompting swift reactions from political leaders.

President-elect Donald Trump lauded Wray’s decision, calling it “a great day for America” and expressing confusion over the reasons behind the resignation. In light of Wray’s departure, Trump nominated Kash Patel, a known loyalist, as the new FBI Director. Patel has been actively engaging with lawmakers, including meetings with Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.

Some Democrats voiced concerns that Patel might face intense scrutiny due to his past criticisms of the FBI and his comments regarding the January 6th Capitol attack. Ronan encapsulated the tension surrounding this nomination, highlighting the partisan divide and the potential implications for the FBI’s future direction.

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2. North Carolina Republicans Move to Shift State Powers

Moving to state-level politics, Ronan covered the actions of Republicans in North Carolina’s outgoing legislature, who are attempting to strip certain powers from the Governor and other state officers ahead of the new Democratic administration in January. This maneuver is part of a broader storm relief bill, as explained by Zachary Turner from member station WFAE.

Despite a veto from Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in November, the Republican-controlled House successfully overrode the veto, a move that Turner described as part of securing a supermajority. The bill not only addresses storm relief but also reallocates authority over the Utilities Commission and the Board of Elections from the incoming Democrat Governor Josh Stein to Republican-held offices.

House Democrat Robert Reeves criticized the bill, stating, “We need to help people get their lives back. That’s what we should have been doing today. That’s what I wish we would concentrate on.” This statement underscores the tension between immediate relief efforts and legislative power restructuring.

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3. U.S. Military Presence in Syria Amid Diplomatic Challenges

In an international update, Ronan relayed insights from Greg Myhre of NPR regarding the continued U.S. military presence in Syria. Approximately 900 U.S. military personnel remain stationed in remote areas to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State. However, the absence of a functional U.S. embassy in Syria since 2012 complicates diplomatic and intelligence operations.

Myhre elaborated on the challenges faced by the U.S. and its allies in identifying key players as Syria moves towards establishing a new government. The rebel faction HTS has emerged as the dominant force in Damascus, but the fragmented control among various factions presents hurdles to forming a stable and unified government. This geopolitical landscape remains a focal point for international relations and regional stability.

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4. International Relations and Tech Leadership: Trump’s Inauguration and Zuckerberg’s Donation

Ronan also touched upon the diplomatic and tech industry intersections affecting the upcoming inauguration. President-elect Trump has extended an invitation to China’s President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20th, though Xi’s acceptance remains uncertain, as reported by CBS News.

In a significant development, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, as confirmed by NPR and reported by the Wall Street Journal. Despite not endorsing Trump during the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg’s financial support marks a noteworthy alignment, especially considering his previous interactions with Trump, including a visit to Mar-a-Lago and dining together on Thanksgiving Eve.

Historically, Trump was removed from Facebook and Instagram in 2021 for his praise of individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol violence, but his access was reinstated in 2023. This reinstatement and subsequent donation highlight the evolving relationship between tech leaders and political figures.

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5. Discovery of Cemetery for Enslaved Individuals at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

A poignant historical revelation was shared by Cynthia Abrams from member station WPLN, focusing on a significant archaeological discovery near Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville. Researchers identified a cemetery likely used by enslaved people owned by the seventh U.S. President, uncovering 28 graves with the possibility of more.

The discovery was made possible through an anonymous donation that facilitated the use of radar imaging to locate the burial sites. Abrams reported, “The cemetery also shows rows of depressions and unnaturally placed pieces of limestone assumed to be grave markers,” highlighting the meticulous effort to honor and remember those who were enslaved.

The Hermitage plans to incorporate the cemetery into its tours and engage with descendants of the buried individuals, providing a space for reflection and education on this dark chapter of American history. Andrew Jackson himself is also interred at the Hermitage, where records indicate he enslaved over 300 people throughout his life.

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Conclusion

The December 12, 2024 episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a succinct yet thorough overview of pressing issues ranging from federal leadership changes and state political maneuvers to international military deployments and significant historical discoveries. By presenting these topics with clarity and including firsthand quotes, NPR ensured that even those who missed the live broadcast could stay informed on the key developments shaping the national and global landscape.

Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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[Dan Ronan]

In Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday he will resign effective at the end of the Biden administration January 20th. Ray had three more years left on his 10 year term. After the resignation, the incoming President Donald Trump, said Ray's decision was a great day for America. I just don't know what happened to him. Trump has nominated loyalist Kash Patel to be the new FBI director. He's been meeting on Capitol Hill with lawmakers, including Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri.

[Unnamed Speaker]

He promised me that he would put a stop to those abuses and he'd get the FBI back into the business of enforcing the law, which is just exactly what I want to hear. And I think that's what everybody should want.

[Dan Ronan]

Some Democrats have said Patel will face tough questioning over his previous comments critical of the FBI and the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. Republicans in North Carolina's outgoing legislature move to strip powers from the governor and other officers before the newly elected Democrats fill them. From member station wfae, Zachary Turner says the move was made as part of a storm relief bill.

[Zachary Turner]

Current Democratic Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the bill in November, but until a new legislature takes office in January, Republicans have a supermajority and the House overrode the veto following the Senate last week. The bill contains some helene relief, but also shifts some powers over the utilities commission and board of elections from the governor, soon to be Democrat Josh Stein to Republican held offices. House Democrat Robert Reeves spoke out against the bill.

[Robert Reeves]

We need to help people get their lives back. That's what we should have been doing today. That's what I wish we would concentrate on.

[Zachary Turner]

The bill also takes powers away from the attorney general and superintendent of public instruction positions with incoming Democrats. For NPR News, I'm Zachary Turner in Charlotte.

[Dan Ronan]

The US still has troops in Syria, though it has not had a working embassy there in more than a decade. NPR's Greg Myhrey reports.

[Greg Myhre]

The U.S. has some 900 military personnel in remote parts of Syria who are guarding against the reemergence of the Islamic state. But the US shut down its embassy back in 2012, making it much more difficult for diplomats and intelligence officials who are operating outside the country. The US and others are trying to figure out who will be the key players as a new government emerges. One rebel faction known as HTS is now the dominant group in Damascus. But a range of factions control various parts of Syria and will have to work together to form a stable government. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.

[Dan Ronan]

President elect Trump has invited China's President Xi Jinping to attend the January 20th inauguration, according to CBS News. It's not clear if the Chinese leader has accepted the invitation. You're listening to NPR News. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has donated $1 million to the President elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund, according to the Wall Street Journal and later confirmed by NPR. Zuckerberg did not make an endorsement in the 2024 campaign, but last month he visited Trump at his Mar a Lago home and had Thanksgiving eve dinner with him. In 2021, Trump was removed from Facebook and Instagram for what Meta called praising people involved in the January capital violence, But Trump's access to both platforms was restored in 2023. Researchers have discovered a cemetery for people enslaved by Andrew Jackson, the seventh US President who made his home in Nashville. Cynthia Abrams with member station WPLN reports those graves are located near the main home.

[Cynthia Abrams]

Until now, the hermitage has been unable to locate where people enslaved under Jackson had been buried. But an anonymous donation prompted the hermitage to utilize radar imaging to peer into the ground. The cemetery also shows rows of depressions and unnaturally placed pieces of limestone assumed to be grave markers. 28 graves have been identified, but researchers say there could still be more. The hermitage says they will incorporate the cemetery into a tour and will engage descendants of those buried there. Jackson is also buried at the hermitage. Over the course of his life, he enslaved more than 300. For NPR News, I'm Cynthia Abrams in.

[Dan Ronan]

Nashville and from Washington.

[NPR Announcer]

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