NPR News: 12-14-2024 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 14, 2024, 12 PM EST Summary

Hosted by Louise Schiavone

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Texas Attorney General Sues New York Doctor Over Abortion Pills

[00:18 - 01:18]

In a significant legal development, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated a lawsuit against a New York-based physician for prescribing abortion pills to a resident near Dallas. This case represents one of the earliest challenges to the newly established shield laws designed to protect medical professionals following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Key Points:

• Nature of the Lawsuit: The Texas AG alleges that the out-of-state doctor may be illegally and dangerously prescribing FDA-approved abortion medication to Texas residents.
• Doctor’s Background: The accused physician is a founding member of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, an organization advocating for the distribution of abortion pills via mail.
• Legal Conflict: This lawsuit highlights the clash between Texas’s stringent abortion bans and New York’s protective laws that shield their healthcare providers from such interstate legal actions.
• State Response: New York’s Attorney General and Governor have publicly committed to upholding their state’s shield laws, ensuring the protection of their medical professionals against Texas’s legal challenges.

Notable Quote:

“Out of state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion inducing drugs to Texas residents,” stated Ken Paxton, emphasizing the state’s stance on the matter. [00:38]

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Controversial Guest Accompanies Trump and Vance to Army Navy Game

[01:18 - 02:15]

President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are set to attend the annual Army Navy football game in Maryland. Their presence will include Daniel Penney, a figure recently acquitted of criminally negligent homicide, sparking controversy and debate.

Key Points:

• Daniel Penney’s Background: Penney, a former Marine, was acquitted by a New York City jury for the death of Jordan Mealy, a homeless man experiencing a mental health crisis, whom Penney had subdued using a chokehold.
• Public Reaction: The incident has intensified discussions surrounding race, mental health, and criminal justice reform.
• Political Implications: Vice President-elect Vance has publicly supported Penney, labeling him as “a good guy,” and has criticized New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg for pursuing the case. Notably, Bragg previously secured a conviction against Trump in his hush money trial.
• Event Details: Penney will be joining Trump and Vance in the presidential suite during the game, an event scheduled to take place in Maryland today.

Notable Quote:

"Vance also criticized the New York District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, for going after Penny. Bragg is the same DA who successfully prosecuted Trump in his hush money trial.” [01:30]

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New Jersey Governor Urges Federal Intervention on Drone Sightings

[02:15 - 02:54]

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey has called on the Biden administration to intensify investigations into unexplained drone sightings reported across the state. Local authorities express limitations in their capacity to address these incidents effectively.

Key Points:

• Governor’s Appeal: Murphy emphasizes the need for federal support to manage and investigate the increasing number of drone sightings.
• Local Authorities’ Challenges: Mayor Matthew Morello of Washington Township highlighted the restrictions faced by state and local law enforcement, noting the lack of authorization to engage or neutralize the drones.
• Public Concern: Residents express unease over the unidentified drones, which have been active in their skies without any clear indication of their purpose or origin.

Notable Quote:

“Until the federal government tells the state government to take action, they can do nothing but watch them. And I'm sorry, but that's just disconcerting to those of us that are living out here.” – Matthew Morello, Mayor of Washington Township. [02:40]

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Additional News Highlights

[02:54 - 04:46]

• Federal Agencies’ Stance on Drones: The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have stated that, as of now, there’s no evidence linking the drone sightings to national security threats, public safety risks, or foreign entities.

• South Korea Political Turmoil: The South Korean National Assembly has voted to impeach President Jung Sung Yeol, following the declaration of martial law by his administration 11 days prior, signaling significant political instability.

• Cyclone Cheeto Devastates Mayotte: The Indian Ocean cyclone, dubbed Cheeto, has caused unprecedented destruction in the French territory of Mayotte. With winds surpassing 136 mph, the cyclone is the most violent since 1934, leaving extensive damage and displacing numerous residents in this island nation of 300,000 people.

• Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Broadway Debut:

  [03:58 - 04:46]

  Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is making headlines with her one-night-only appearance in the Broadway musical And Juliet. This performance marks her debut on the Broadway stage, fulfilling a long-held personal aspiration.

  Key Points:

  • Background in Theater: Jackson, an alumna of Harvard University where she studied theater alongside her law degree, has a history of stage involvement, including acting alongside future Oscar winner Matt Damon.
  • Significance of the Role: The show offers a modern twist on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and Jackson was invited to participate in a role specifically created for her.
  • Post-Performance Engagement: Following her appearance, Justice Jackson will engage with the audience in a "Talk Back" segment, allowing for interaction and discussion.

  Notable Quote:

  “I told the Harvard admissions people that I needed to go there because I wanted to be the first black female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.” – Ketanji Brown Jackson. [04:16]

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TikTok Eyes Supreme Court Appeal

[04:46 - 04:57]

In the realm of digital privacy and regulatory scrutiny, TikTok is considering bringing its case before the Supreme Court. This follows a federal appeals court’s decision to uphold a mid-January deadline concerning TikTok’s operational status, heightening tensions between the platform and federal authorities.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and developments presented in the December 14, 2024, episode of NPR News Now. For the full details and additional context, tuning into the episode is recommended.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The Texas attorney general is suing a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas. It's one of the first legal challenges to shield laws in the US Meant to protect physicians after Roe v. Wade was overturned. NPR's Alyssa Nadworny reports.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

In a statement, Ken Paxton, the Texas ag, said, quote, out of state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion inducing drugs to Texas residents. Abortion medicine is approved by the fda. The doctor is one of the founders of an organization called Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine. They support providers sending abortion medication by mail. The case pits a state with a near total abortion ban against a state with laws that specifically protect doctors in the state from prescribing pills to people in other states. New York's attorney general and the governor both said they would uphold the state's shield law and protect their providers. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

President elect Donald Trump and Vice President Elect JD Vance are attending the Army Navy game this weekend in Maryland, and they're bringing a controversial guest, Daniel Penney. NPR's Deepa Shifaram has details.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Daniel Penney, Penny was acquitted this week by a New York City jury on a charge of criminally negligent homicide. Last year, Penny, who was white, put a chokehold on a homeless man who was having a mental health crisis and yelling at passengers on the subway train. Jordan Mealy, who was black, died. The incident and the trial stoked tensions over race, mental illness and criminal justice. Vice President Elect Vance has praised Penny and called him a good guy. Vance also criticized the New York District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, for going after Penny. Bragg is the same DA who successfully prosecuted Trump in his hush money trial. Penny, who is a former Marine, will join Vance and the president elect in Trump's suite at the Army Navy game, which takes place today in Maryland. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is asking the Biden administration to do more to investigate drone sightings reported in the state and elsewhere. Murphy says that state and local enforcement are limited in how much they can do. Mayor Matthew Morello of Washington Township, New Jersey, went to a New Jersey State Police briefing this week on the sightings. He said that federal authorities have not authorized local police to take down the drones that they see.

[Matthew Morello]

Until the federal government tells the state government to take action, they can do nothing but watch them. And I'm sorry, but that's just disconcerting to those of us that are living out here. And we're just watching these things up in the sky and have absolutely no idea what they're doing.

[Louise Schiavone]

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security say they have no evidence the sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus. South Korea's national assembly has voted to impeach South Korean President Jung Sung Yeol after Yoon's declaration of martial law 11 days ago. This is NPR News in Washington. In the Indian Ocean, Cyclone Cheeto has left extensive damage in the French territory of Mayotte. A local official in the territory called it the most violent and destructive cyclone since 1934, with many people losing everything. The territory has a population of 300,000. On two small islands, winds exceeded 136 miles an hour, tearing metal roofs off of houses before the storm moved on toward the east coast of Africa. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is making her Broadway debut tonight in the musical And Juliet, as NPR's Ava Puketch reports that justice is appearing in a one night only walk on role.

[Ava Pukatch]

Jackson isn't new to the stage. She studied theater at Harvard University while earning her law degree and even once had future Oscar winner Matt Damon as a scene partner. Speaking to NPR's Wait, Wait, don't tell me, Jackson said tonight fulfills a lifelong fantasy.

[Ketanji Brown Jackson]

I told the Harvard admissions people that I needed to go there because I wanted to be the first black female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.

[Ava Pukatch]

The show reimagines the ending of the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet. Jackson said she was invited for a walk on role specifically created for her. After the performance, the Supreme Court justice is participating in an audience. Talk back. Eva Pukach, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

TikTok could take its case to the Supreme Court after a federal appeals court let stand a mid January deadline for TikTok to be sought. Old I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News.

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