NPR News: 12-17-2024 9AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 17, 2024, 9 AM EST

In today’s episode of NPR News Now, host Korva Coleman delivers a comprehensive update on the latest national and international events, spanning legal battles, political maneuvers, legislative deadlines, tragic incidents, groundbreaking medical advancements, natural disasters, and significant geopolitical developments. Below is a detailed summary of the key stories discussed.

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1. Trump’s Felony Convictions Upheld in Hush Money Trial

At the outset, Korva Coleman reports on a significant legal setback for President Elect Donald Trump. In a decision underscored by NPR reporter Ryan Lucas, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Mershon has denied Trump's attempt to overturn his 34-count felony convictions related to falsifying business records in his hush money payments case.

Justice Mershon dismissed Trump's argument that the evidence presented by prosecutors should be excluded based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity. "The evidence in question relates to Trump's unofficial conduct and thus is not covered by the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision," Mershon stated in his comprehensive 41-page ruling (00:29). This verdict marks a pivotal moment in Trump’s legal battles, reinforcing the judiciary's stance against allegations of misconduct during his presidency.

2. Trump’s Nominees Seek Senate Confirmation Amid Controversy

Moving to the political arena, President Elect Trump's nominees are actively engaging with senators to secure their confirmations. A focal point of this effort is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has been a controversial figure, known for disseminating falsehoods and conspiracy theories regarding vaccines.

During a meeting with Oklahoma Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullen, Kennedy assured that he would not attempt to eliminate the use of the polio vaccine. However, Senator Mullen expressed skepticism, noting, "I think he's going to question science and I'm glad he's going to question it" (01:37). This statement highlights the concerns among some GOP senators about Kennedy’s stance on various health issues, signaling potential challenges in his confirmation process.

3. Congressional Deadline Looms for Federal Spending Bill

Coleman also addresses the pressing legislative deadline facing Congress, with a looming Saturday night cutoff to pass a federal spending bill. Failure to agree would result in a partial government shutdown. A critical point of contention in these negotiations is the appropriations for the farm bill, a comprehensive measure that is passed only once every five years. The farm bill's future remains uncertain as lawmakers grapple with budgetary divisions, underscoring the fragility of the current fiscal negotiations.

4. Tragic School Shooting in Madison, Wisconsin

Tragedy struck in Madison, Wisconsin, where authorities are investigating a harrowing school shooting incident. According to Coleman, a 15-year-old girl fired a handgun at her Christian school, resulting in the deaths of a fellow student and a teacher, and injuring six others. The teenager subsequently took her own life. Madison police are actively seeking to determine how the young girl obtained the firearm, as communication disruptions hinder the full scope of the injury toll (01:40). This incident adds to the ongoing national discourse on gun control and school safety measures.

5. Medical Breakthrough: Genetically Modified Pig Kidney Transplant in New York City

In a groundbreaking advancement, NPR reporter Rob Stein shares exclusive insights into a pioneering medical procedure performed at NYU Langone Health in New York City. Surgeons successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig kidney into a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, Tawana Looney, after she faced a three-week wait for a human kidney donor (02:34). This experimental procedure aims to address the severe shortage of human organs available for transplant. While previous attempts with modified pig organs resulted in the patients not surviving beyond three months, Looney's current health status raises optimism for longer-term success and potentially transformative implications for transplant medicine.

6. Devastating Earthquake in Vanuatu and Assassination of Russian Lieutenant General

The episode also covers a powerful earthquake that struck the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The US Embassy in Vanuatu sustained significant damage, though fortunately, all personnel were evacuated safely. The full extent of casualties remains unclear due to limited communication across the island following the disaster (03:11).

In a separate international development, Russian Lieutenant General Igor Klov was killed in Moscow, marking the highest-profile assassination of a Russian military official away from the Ukrainian front lines since the invasion began. According to reporter Joanna Kakissis, an explosive device planted in a scooter near Klov’s residence resulted in his death and that of an aide (03:52). Ukraine has not officially commented on the killing, though Ukrainian prosecutors had previously charged Klov with the use of banned chemical weapons on the front lines. This event signifies heightened tensions and the volatile nature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

7. TikTok Appeals to Supreme Court Amid Federal Ban Efforts

Lastly, the episode discusses the ongoing legal battle involving TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance. Facing a federal ban set to take effect next month, TikTok has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in a bid to block the legislation. Lower courts have so far declined to intervene, leaving TikTok's appeal as potentially the final legal endeavor to maintain its operations in the United States. The outcome remains uncertain, particularly with the emergence of President Elect Trump, whose administration may influence the final decision (04:32).

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics covered in the December 17, 2024, episode of NPR News Now. For a more detailed account, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full broadcast.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A judge in New York has rejected an effort by President Elect Trump to toss out the 34 count felony convictions in his hush money trial. And NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.

[Ryan Lucas]

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchand rejected Trump's argument that prosecutors shouldn't have been allowed to offer certain evidence from Trump's time in office in light of the US Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. In his 41 page ruling, Mershon says that the evidence in question relates to Trump's unofficial conduct and thus is not covered by the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision. Trump was convicted In July of 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments he made to an adult film star. Trump's attorneys also have put forward other grounds as well for the case to be dismissed. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

President Elect Trump's nominees continued to visit senators in hopes of winning support in their confirmation hearings. That includes Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. He has spread falsehoods and conspiracy theories about vaccines. Kennedy met yesterday with Oklahoma Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullen. Mullen says Kennedy has told him he will not try to end the use of the polio vaccine. But the GOP senator said Kennedy is skeptical about several health issues.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

I think he's going to question science and I'm glad he's going to question it.

[Korva Coleman]

Some senators say they will question Kennedy about his views on vaccines and other health matters. Congress only has until late Saturday night to pass a spending bill for the federal government or it will partially shut down. One huge issue is appropriations for the sprawling farm bill. That measure is only passed once every five years. Authorities in Madison, Wisconsin, say they're trying to learn why a 15 year old girl fired a handgun at her Christian school yesterday. A fellow student and a teacher were killed. Six other people were injured. Officials say the teenager then took her own life. Madison police are also trying to find out how she got the gun. Doctors in New York City are reporting a medical first. Surgeons have transplanted a new kind of genetically modified pig kidney into a living person. NPR's Rob Stein got exclusive access to witness the procedure.

[Rob Stein]

Surgeons at NYU Langone Health in New York City transplanted the kidney into an Alabama woman. Three weeks ago, 53 year old Tawana Looney couldn't get a human kidney, so doctors did an experimental procedure using a pig kidney that was genetically modified to help her body accept the organ. Two other living patients have previously gotten other kinds of modified pig kidneys, and two men have received modified pig hearts. None of those patients survived more than three months, But Looney is healthier, raising hope she may fare better. Rob Stein, NPR News, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. There's been a huge earthquake on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. The US Embassy there says it has been significantly damaged, but all personnel evacuated safely. There's other catastrophic damage, but it's not clear how many people have been injured. Communication around the island is sharply limited. A Russian lieutenant general has been killed in Moscow. He was accused of overseeing chemical and biological warfare in Ukraine. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports from Kyiv. It's the highest profile killing of a Russian military official away from the front line since Russia invaded Ukraine.

[Joanna Kakissis]

Russian law enforcement authority said in a statement that Igor Klov and one of his aides were killed after an explosive device planted in a scooter was set off. The scooter was near the entrance to a residential building in southeastern Moscow, where Klov apparently lived. Ukraine's leadership has not publicly commented on the killing. However, Ukrainian prosecutors did charge Kov on Monday with the use of banned chemical weapons on the front line. Ukraine's security service says Russia has used chemical weapons nearly 5,000 times in the war. Joanna Kakissas, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Korva Coleman]

The video sharing app TikTok and its Chinese based parent company, ByteDance, are appealing to the US Supreme Court. They want the court to block a federal law that bans the app starting next month. Lower courts have refused to step in. This may be TikTok's last legal effort to save itself in the U.S. it's not clear if President Elect Trump may step in. This is npr.

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