NPR News: 12-16-2024 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of December 16, 2024, 10AM EST Episode

Released on December 16, 2024

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Syrian President Assad Releases First Statement Since Regime Fall

Host: Korva Coleman introduces the segment on Syrian President Bashar al Assad's first statement following the fall of his regime a week prior, when rebel forces captured Damascus.

Reporter: Hadil Al Shalchi provides an in-depth overview of Assad's declaration.

Key Points:

• Assad claims his departure from Damascus was unplanned and not voluntary.
• He relocated to a military airbase in Latakia amid the rebel advance, coordinating with Russian allies.
• Upon arrival, he observed that his army had retreated, leading Moscow to arrange an immediate evacuation due to drone attacks.

Notable Quote:

"My departure from Damascus was neither planned nor did it occur,"
— Bashar al Assad [00:31]

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ABC News and Disney Settle Lawsuit with President-Elect Trump

Host: Korva Coleman reports on ABC News and its parent company, Disney, agreeing to a $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump.

Details:

• The lawsuit stemmed from ABC host George Stephanopoulos erroneously stating that Trump had been found liable for rape in an interview.
• In reality, a New York jury had found Trump liable for sexual abuse but not raping, with the judge noting the act met the general definition of rape but not the specific legal criteria under New York law.

Reporter: David Falkenflik explores the implications and reasons behind the settlement.

Insights:

• The decision to settle remains unclear, especially since Stephanopoulos and ABC did not issue a clarification during the trial.
• The substantial settlement amount is significant, particularly for a public figure like Trump.
• This move coincides with various news organizations and their leaders attempting to mend relations with Trump, including interactions between ABC News executives and incoming Trump administration officials.

Notable Quote:

"They say they're happy to be past it."
— David Falkenflik [01:46]

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Stock Market Reacts to Federal Reserve Forecasts and China's Economic Data

Host: Korva Coleman discusses the stock market's positive opening as investors anticipate the Federal Reserve's upcoming forecasts.

Reporter: Scott Horsley provides analysis on the financial developments.

Key Points:

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 80 points in early trading.
• The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a quarter-point interest rate cut, with discussions focusing on potential rate reductions for 2025.
• Future rate cuts may be adjusted based on inflation trends.
• China's economic indicators show sluggish growth, with declines in retail spending, home sales, and stagnant factory output.

Notable Quote:

"Those future rate cuts could be scaled back, however, if inflation turns out to be more stubborn than expected."
— Scott Horsley [02:32]

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France and Mozambique Respond to Devastating Cyclone; German Chancellor Faces No-Confidence Vote

Host: Korva Coleman covers two major international stories: France's emergency response to a powerful cyclone and the political turmoil in Germany.

Reporter 1: Reporting from Berlin, Rob Schmitz details the political crisis facing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Key Points:

• France is urgently dispatching teams and supplies to Mayotte, an Indian Ocean territory near Madagascar, after a severe cyclone caused at least 14 deaths, with fears the toll may rise.
• The cyclone has also impacted Mozambique, causing significant destruction.

Political Update:

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government has collapsed following his dismissal of the finance minister over economic revitalization disagreements.
• Without a majority in parliament, Scholz is expected to lose the upcoming no-confidence vote, paving the way for national elections scheduled for February 23.
• Polls indicate the center-right Christian Democratic Union Party holds a leading position as the election approaches.

Notable Quote:

"Schulz's fractious three-party coalition government collapsed in early November when the chancellor fired his finance minister."
— Rob Schmitz [03:50]

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Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Makes Broadway Debut

Host: Korva Coleman highlights a unique cultural moment involving U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Details:

• Justice Jackson took on a walk-on role in the Broadway musical "Juliet, Show Me," a modern retelling of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."
• She has long been passionate about theater, expressing her aspirations to become the first Black female Supreme Court justice to perform on Broadway during her college years.

Notable Quote:

"Writing in my college application, I had aspired to become the first Black female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage."
— Ketanji Brown Jackson [04:31]

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This episode of NPR News Now provided comprehensive coverage of significant global and national events, including political upheavals, economic updates, legal settlements, and unique cultural achievements. The inclusion of direct quotes and detailed reporting offers listeners a thorough understanding of each topic discussed.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Syrian President Bashar al Assad has released his first statement since the fall of his regime a week ago. That's when rebel forces storm the Syrian capital, Damascus. NPR's Hadil Al Shelj has more.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

In a statement posted on the Syrian presidency's telegram account, President Bashar al Assad said his departure from Damascus was, quote, neither planned nor did it occur. In the final hours of the battle, Assad said that as the rebel forces entered the capital on December 8, he moved to a military airbase in the port city of Latakia in coordination with Russian allies. Essad goes on to say that upon arrival at the base, it was clear that his army had withdrawn from all battle lines and all their positions had fallen. He said Moscow then arranged an immediate evacuation that evening as the base came under drone attacks. The statement was dated December 16. From Moscow, Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Damascus.

[Korva Coleman]

ABC News and its parent company, Disney, will pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit with President elect Trump. Earlier this year, ABC host George Stephanopoulos incorrectly asserted in an interview Trump had been found liable for rape. Last year, a New York jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, but not rape. The judge in the case said that what happened fit the commonly understood definition of rape, but not the narrow one under New York law. NPR's David Falkenflich says some would have expected Stephanopoulos and ABC to clarify the remarks at trial, but instead they settled.

[David Falkenflik]

Well, it remains a mystery why they didn't clarify, but why did they settle? They say they're happy to be past it. We don't know exactly, but this is a major amount of money, particularly for a public figure. It also comes at a time as a number of news organizations and a number of owners and leaders of news organizations appear trying to make peace with Trump. You think of the killed endorsements of Vice President Harrison, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post. You know, a top executive over ABC News was seen at Mar A Lago meeting with a key incoming figure in the new Trump administration.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's David Falkenflik reporting. Stocks opened higher this morning as investors wait for new forecasts from the Federal Reserve this week. NPR Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 80 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

Fed policymakers hold their last meeting of the year this week. Another quarter point cut in interest rates is considered a near certainty, but investors will be listening to what Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and his colleagues have to say about next year. On average, members of the Fed's Rate Setting Committee were projecting back in September that rates would drop by another full percentage point in 2025. Those future rate cuts could be scaled back, however, if inflation turns out to be more stubborn than expected. The latest economic news from China points to lackluster growth in the world's second largest economy. Retail spending in China slowed last month, while home sales declined and factory output was flat. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the Dow is now up 83 points. This is NPR. France is rushing teams and supplies to its territory in the Indian Ocean, the island of Mayotte. It's near Madagascar, and it was hit by a powerful cyclone over the weekend. The death toll is at least 14 people, but authorities fear that number could climb into the hundreds. The cyclone has since made landfall in the eastern African nation of Mozambique. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing a no confidence vote in the German parliament today. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports from Berlin. Schultz is expected to lose that vote.

[Rob Schmitz]

Shultz's fractious three party coalition government collapsed in early November when the chancellor fired his finance minister in a dispute over how to revitalize Germany's stagnant economy. That left the remaining two partners without a majority in parliament. Shultz is expected to lose the vote of confidence in this minority government, paving the way for a national election on February 23. Polls show the center right Christian Democratic Union Party with a firm lead going into a winter election season. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

[Korva Coleman]

U.S. supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson played a bit role on Broadway Saturday night. She appeared in a walk on role in the musical and Juliet, Show Me.

[Ketanji Brown Jackson]

The Meaning of Being Long.

[Korva Coleman]

It's a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Brown Jackson had previously expressed her love of theater, and she said that writing in her college application, she had aspired to become the first black female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage. I'm Korva Kuhlman, NPR News, in Washington.

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