NPR News Now: December 12, 2024, 4PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh and Michelle Kellerman
Release Date: December 12, 2024

U.S. Efforts to Repatriate Americans from Syria

Lakshmi Singh opens the episode with a critical update on the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to bring two Americans back from Syria. The first individual is Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing since 2012, with his whereabouts still unknown. The second is Travis Timmerman, a self-described Christian pilgrim. According to local Syrian residents, Timmerman was discovered wandering barefoot in a suburb of Damascus [00:21-00:39].

Michelle Kellerman elaborates on Timmerman's situation, noting that he reported being detained for several months. His appearance in Syria coincided with the recent overthrow of the Assad authoritarian regime, suggesting a possible link between the political upheaval and his unexpected return [00:39-00:51].

Drone Sightings in New Jersey: National Security Implications

The conversation shifts to concerns over reported drone sightings in New Jersey. Lakshmi Singh reports that the White House has stated there is no evidence that these sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety [00:51-00:53]. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, emphasizes that while there is no known malicious activity, the incidents expose gaps in current authorities. He urges Congress to pass legislation to enhance and expand existing counter-drone measures [00:53-01:03].

Jake Sullivan and Hostage Negotiations with Hamas

President Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, is actively involved in diplomatic efforts concerning the war in Gaza and the broader Middle Eastern conflicts, including Syria and Lebanon [01:17-01:25]. Sullivan is optimistic about a potential ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, stating that they are close to reaching an agreement [01:25].

During the episode, Sullivan provides an update on the hostage situation, revealing that seven Americans are still being held by Hamas, with only three presumed alive [01:31]. He shares that he is working to finalize a hostage deal within the month, coordinating closely with the incoming administration led by President-Elect Trump. Sullivan mentions forthcoming travels to Egypt and Qatar, nations currently mediating talks with Hamas [01:53].

Michelle Kellerman highlights Sullivan’s cautious optimism, noting that while progress has been made before, there are no guarantees. Sullivan underscores the urgency by stating, “I wouldn't be here today if I thought this thing was just waiting till after January 20th” [01:44-01:53].

New York Mayor Eric Adams Meets with Incoming Border Czar

With the incoming Trump administration anticipated to implement large-scale deportations, New York City's Mayor Eric Adams held a meeting with Tom Homan, President-Elect Trump’s nominee for border czar [02:06-02:09]. The discussion focused on enhancing security and addressing the deportation of violent criminals [02:18-02:22].

Post-meeting, Mayor Adams expressed deep concerns about safeguarding law-abiding immigrants and the 500,000 undocumented children in the U.S., who he describes as victims of various crimes. Adams emphasized the potential risks these children face, including child labor and exploitation, stating, “We can't find them. We don't know if they're doing child labor we don't know if they're doing sex crimes. We don't know if they're being exploited” [02:34-02:52].

This stance has attracted criticism, with opponents accusing Adams of yielding to political pressure and compromising on stronger migrant protections [02:52-03:02].

Stock Market Declines

In financial news, all major stock indices closed lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 234 points (0.5%) to 43,914. The S&P 500 fell by 32 points, and the Nasdaq declined by 132 points [03:02-03:11]. These declines reflect broader market uncertainties and investor concerns.

DOJ Settles with Oroville Hospital Over False Claims

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Oroville Hospital, located in a small town in Northern California, agreed to pay over $10 million to resolve allegations of false claims [03:18-03:24]. The DOJ accuses the hospital of improperly seeking Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for ineligible medical services. These false claims include:

• Medically unnecessary inpatient admissions
• Use of erroneous diagnosis codes
• Kickback schemes
• Physician self-referrals [03:24-03:35]

The settlement underscores the DOJ's ongoing efforts to combat fraud within the healthcare system.

Neanderthal DNA and Human Origins

Closing the episode, Michelle Kellerman presents an intriguing segment on human genetics. Most people outside of Africa today possess a minor percentage of Neanderthal DNA, a result of interbreeding between early modern humans and Neanderthals tens of thousands of years ago [03:54-04:00].

Reporter Ari Daniels discusses recent research that has refined the understanding of when this interbreeding occurred [04:00-04:09]. Arav Sumer, a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute, explains that by analyzing well-preserved ancient genomes, they estimated that interbreeding took place between 45,000 and 49,000 years ago over multiple generations [04:09-04:33].

This research provides additional clarity to the complex narrative of human evolution, suggesting that the ancestors of modern humans dispersed globally shortly after these interbreeding events [04:33-04:39].

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive roundup of pressing international and domestic issues, from humanitarian efforts and national security concerns to significant legal settlements and groundbreaking scientific research. The hosts, Lakshmi Singh and Michelle Kellerman, ensure that listeners receive timely and insightful updates across a broad spectrum of topics.

Note: Advertisements and sponsor messages, including those from Carvana, have been excluded to focus solely on content-rich segments.