NPR News: 12-16-2024 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 16, 2024 – Comprehensive Summary

Host: Dwalhsai Kowtow | Release Date: December 16, 2024

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Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth Under Scrutiny for Alleged Sexual Assault

NPR News in New York City’s Dwalhsai Kowtow reported that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s chosen candidate for Defense Secretary, is facing significant challenges ahead of his confirmation hearings. Central to the scrutiny is an allegation of sexual assault dating back to 2017.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina shared critical insights on [00:42], stating, “Hegseth promised to end his confidential settlement agreement with his accuser.” An unnamed source corroborated this by saying, “He told me he would release her from that agreement” [00:49]. Graham emphasized the potential implications of this move, suggesting it could encourage the accuser to publicly disclose her allegations: “Come forward and make it like they did in Kavanaugh” [00:57]. He further added, “We'll decide whether or not it's credible” [00:59], highlighting the Senate's role in assessing the validity of such claims.

A police report reveals that the unnamed woman accused Hegseth of non-consensual contact, which Hegseth has denied, asserting that the encounter was consensual [01:02]. Earlier in the month, Hegseth’s attorney informed CNN that the accuser had already violated the terms of their settlement agreement, complicating the situation further. NPR’s Luke Garrett provided continuous coverage from Washington on this developing story.

Senator Eric Schmidt Defends Tulsi Gabbard Amid Intelligence Director Nomination

In another significant political update, Republican Senator Eric Schmidt of Missouri expressed unwavering support for Tulsi Gabbard's nomination as Director of National Intelligence. Addressing concerns about Gabbard’s past associations, particularly her alleged ties to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Schmidt firmly defended her integrity.

During an interview with ABC News Sunday, Schmidt declared, “This smearing her as some sort of foreign asset is a slur against her, and I look forward to her opportunity to answer these questions in these Senate confirmation hearings” [01:38]. He continued to praise her commitment, labeling her as a patriot who “believes in the Constitution” [01:19].

Despite revelations that Gabbard had a secret meeting with Assad in 2017—following his use of chemical weapons against protesters—and her subsequent comments suggesting Assad was not a U.S. enemy [01:46], Schmidt remains confident in her qualifications. He dismissed the allegations as unfounded attacks, emphasizing the importance of her forthcoming Senate hearings to address and clarify these issues.

Rise in Unidentified Drone Sightings Over Northeastern United States and German Military Sites

National security concerns have been heightened due to a series of unidentified drone sightings across the northeastern United States and sensitive military installations in Germany. Reported by Dwalhsai Kowtow at [01:46], German authorities disclosed that drones were observed flying over the Ramstein U.S. Air Force Base and facilities belonging to arms manufacturer Rheinmetall on December 3rd and 4th, as initially reported by Der Spiegel magazine [02:15].

NPR’s Rob Schmitz noted, “A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force says its Ramstein base is unaffected,” alleviating immediate fears of a security breach [02:15]. Despite the widespread drone activity, U.S. officials have stated there is “no evidence the sightings posed a national security threat” [02:15]. However, the persistent presence of these drones over areas including New Jersey and other northeastern states continues to fuel speculation and concern among the public and security experts alike.

Devastating Impact of Tropical Cyclone Chito in Mayotte

The French island territory of Mayotte has been struck by Tropical Cyclone Chito, described by emergency officials as the worst storm to hit the region in a century. Dwalhsai Kowtow reported the catastrophic effects, with death toll estimates ranging from several hundred to potentially a thousand [02:50].

Francois Xavier Bouville, the top government official of Mayotte, conveyed the severity of the situation to a local broadcaster, highlighting the extensive loss of life and destruction caused by the cyclone. The international community and aid organizations are mobilizing to provide relief and support to the affected population, although precise figures remain uncertain due to the ongoing emergency response.

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva Released After Critical Brain Surgery

In a significant development from Rio de Janeiro, Julia Carneiru reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been discharged from the hospital following two critical surgeries aimed at stopping a brain hemorrhage. The surgeries were necessitated by a fall in October, which led to the brain bleed necessitating immediate medical intervention [03:33].

At his release press conference, President Lula appeared wearing a Panama hat, symbolizing his return to public life. He confidently stated, “I have returned to deliver a great government. I’m 79 with the drive of a 20-year-old and am back to take care of the country” [03:33]. While doctors have advised him to avoid travel and strenuous exercise for the coming month, Lula’s swift recovery signals his readiness to resume his presidential duties and continue his political agenda.

Tribute to Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain

The world of classical Indian music mourns the loss of Zakir Hussain, the renowned Tabla virtuoso, who passed away in San Francisco [04:13]. Born in Bombay, Hussain began performing Indian drums at the tender age of seven under the tutelage of his father, the esteemed tabla master Allah Rakha Hussain.

Hussain's illustrious career spanned over five decades, during which he captivated audiences worldwide with his mastery and innovation in percussion. Earlier this year, he achieved the remarkable feat of winning three Grammy Awards for his contemporary instrumental album, global music album, and global music performance. Reflecting on his legacy, Hussain once told NPR in 2015, “You come from India and you say, okay, I'm representing a 3,000-year-old history. So you think you're going to teach the world about rhythms and drums and so on. Then you arrive here, you're just one little dot in the painting that is the universe” [04:13]. His profound impact on music and cultural exchange will be deeply missed.

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This summary was prepared based on the NPR News Now episode released on December 16, 2024, providing an in-depth overview of the day’s most pressing news stories.

Transcript

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[Dwalhsai Kowtow]

NPR News in New York City. I'm Dwalhsai Kowtow. Pete Hegseth, President elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary has been meeting with senators ahead of his confirmat facing questions about an alleged sexual assault. Now Senator Lindsey Graham says Hegseth plans to release his accuser from a negotiated settlement. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Lindsey Graham]

The Republican senator from South Carolina told NBC News that Hegseth promised to end his confidential settlement agreement with his accuser.

[Unnamed Source]

He told me he would release her from that agreement.

[Lindsey Graham]

This action could lead Hegseth's accuser to come forward publicly with her allegations, something Graham encouraged.

[Unnamed Source]

Come forward and make it like they did in Kavanaugh.

We'll will decide whether or not it's credible.

[Lindsey Graham]

A police report shows an unnamed woman accused Hegseth of sexually assaulting her back in 2017, an encounter Hegseth says was consensual. Earlier this month, Hegseth's lawyer told CNN that his accuser had already violated the settlement agreement. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Dwalhsai Kowtow]

Republican Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt says he has no concerns about President elect Trump's pick Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. On ABC News Sunday, responding to a question about her close ties to former Syrian dict Bashar al Assad, Schmidt called Gabbard a patriot, saying she believes in the Constitution.

[Unnamed Source]

This smearing her as some sort of foreign asset is a slur against her, and I look forward to her opportunity to answer these questions in these Senate confirmation hearings.

[Dwalhsai Kowtow]

Gabbard had a secret meeting with then President Assad in 2017 after he used chemical weapons on protesters. And she later said Assad, who fled Syria last week for Russia, was not an enemy of the US Unidentified drones over the northeast have led to a lot of speculation and concern. Now German authorities say there have been sightings over sensitive military and industrial sites, including a U.S. air Force base. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports.

[Unnamed Source]

The sightings, first reported by Der Spiegel magazine, were made by German security authorities who reported several drones flying over the Ramstein US Air Force Base on December 3rd and 4th. The report also said unidentified drones were seen over facilities belonging to arms maker Rheinmetall. A spokesperson for the U.S. air Force says its Ramstein base is unaffected. Over the past few weeks, unidentified Drones have been seen over New Jersey and reported in other northeastern states. U.S. officials said there was no evidence the sightings posed a national security threat. Rob Schmitz, NPR News.

[Dwalhsai Kowtow]

The death toll in the French island territory of Mayotte in the southwestern Indian Ocean is so far unknown, following what emergency officials are describing as the worst storm there in a century. The top government official of Mayotte, Francois Xavier Bouville, speaking to a local broadcaster, estimated that Tropical Cyclone Chito has left several hundred dead, perhaps a thousand. This is NPR News from New York. Brazil's President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva has been discharged from a hospital after two surgeries this week to stop bleeding in his brain. Julia Carnera reports from Rio.

[Julia Carneiru]

Doctors were announcing President Luiz Inaso Lula da Silva's release from a hospital in so Paulo when the president appeared at the press conference in a Panama hat. Lula said he had returned to deliver a great government. Brazil's leftist leader said he was 79 with the drive of a 20 year old and was back to take care of the country. Doctors said Lula is to avoid travel and exercise in the coming month. He underwent emergency surgery last week to stop a brain bleed caused by a fall in October. Doctors performed a second operation to prevent future bleeding. For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiru in Rio.

[Dwalhsai Kowtow]

The Bombay born Tabla genius Zakir Hussain has died in San Francisco. The classical Indian artist has mesmerized audiences for more than five decades, performing Indian drums since he was about the age of seven. His father was tablet master Allah Raqa Hussein. Earlier this year won three Grammys for contemporary instrumental album, global music album and global music performance. He told NPR in 2015, you know, you come from India and you say, okay, I'm representing a 3,000 year old history. So you think you're going to teach the world about rhythms and drums and so on. Then you arrive here, you're just little one, one little dot in the painting that is the universe. This is npr.

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