NPR News: 12-18-2024 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 18, 2024, 2 PM EST

Hosted by Lakshmi Singh

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Supreme Court to Review TikTok Ban

Timestamp: [00:18]

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok's emergency motion challenging a federal law signed by President Biden in April. This law aims to ban TikTok nationwide unless the app is sold to a non-Chinese company, addressing national security concerns related to potential Chinese influence.

Bobby Allen reports:

"The Supreme Court has accepted TikTok's emergency motion to review a law President Biden signed in April. The law bans TikTok nationwide unless it is sold to a non Chinese company." [00:34]

A federal appeals court previously upheld the ban, arguing it safeguards free speech by preventing governmental censorship. However, TikTok's legal team contends that targeting a widely used app constitutes an unprecedented First Amendment violation. The High Court is set to hear arguments on January 10, just nine days before the law’s prospective enforcement.

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Federal Reserve Lowers Interest Rates

Timestamp: [01:12]

The Federal Reserve has reduced its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point, aligning with economists' forecasts. This marks the third rate cut since September, aimed at making borrowing more affordable for consumers and businesses alike.

Implications:

• Consumers may find it cheaper to finance car purchases or carry credit card balances.
• Businesses could benefit from lower costs for expansion loans.

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House Speaker Faces Republican Backlash Over Funding Bill

Timestamp: [01:12]

House Speaker Mike Johnson is under scrutiny from fellow Republican lawmakers for his support of a stopgap funding measure extending federal agency operations through mid-March. The bill aims to prevent a government shutdown but has sparked controversy within the party.

Notable Perspectives:

• Elon Musk, a mogul appointed by President-elect Trump to the government efficiency commission, expressed opposition:

  "The bill should not pass. That would lead to a government shutdown." [01:12]

• Congressman Tom Cole, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, defends the measure:

  "The bill would support President elect Trump's agenda when he returns to office." [01:12]

The disagreement highlights internal tensions among Republicans regarding fiscal strategies and alignment with the incoming administration.

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Syrian Rebels Announce Unification of Factions

Timestamp: [02:22]

In a significant development, the leader of the Syrian opposition, Hayat Hashem Hts, has declared the dissolution of all rebel factions in Syria. This move aims to unify the remaining forces under the Syrian Ministry of Defense following the recent ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

Hadil Al Shalchi reports from Damascus:

"The leader of Hayat Hashem Hts... said fighters from different factions will unite under the Syrian Ministry of Defense." [02:22]

Ahmad Al Sharra, also known as Abu Mohammad al Julani, made the announcement during a visit to the Druze community. The unified force is expected to streamline efforts for national reconstruction, although Sharra did not specify the methods for achieving this consolidation. Notably, the United States continues to designate Sharra as a terrorist.

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Market Updates and International Developments

Timestamp: [03:03]

Stock Market Performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up by 61 points
• S&P 500: Down by 4 points
• NASDAQ: Down by 8 points

International Affairs:

• CIA Director William Burns arrived in Qatar to engage in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. His visit includes meetings with Qatar's Prime Minister in Doha, emphasizing the U.S.'s active role in the Middle East amidst recent regional tensions.

• Ukraine-Russia Conflict:

  • The Russian security service attributed a recent deadly attack on a top general to an Uzbek national.
  • Conversely, Ukraine's security service confirmed that the attack was orchestrated by Ukrainian operatives.
  • Additionally, Ukraine has indicted Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov in absentia for allegedly utilizing banned chemical weapons during the ongoing invasion.

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Scientific Breakthrough: Hearing Regeneration Research

Timestamp: [04:10]

Breakthrough research from the University of Southern California has shed light on why certain animals, such as zebrafish and green anole lizards, can regenerate hearing cells—a capability absent in adult mammals, including humans.

Jessica Young reports:

"Scientists have identified the key parts of the DNA that give some animals this ability. Researchers say those key parts exist in mice and humans, too." [04:10]

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), involved a cross-species analysis comparing mice with species capable of regeneration. The findings suggest that with genetic modifications, it might be possible to restore hearing in humans, offering hope for reversing certain types of deafness.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of significant legal battles, economic changes, political tensions, international conflicts, and scientific advancements shaping the current global landscape. From the Supreme Court's decision on TikTok to groundbreaking research in hearing regeneration, listeners received a detailed briefing on events with immediate and far-reaching implications.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The U.S. supreme Court is stepping into the TikTok debate. NPR's Bobby Allen reports. The high court has agreed to review whether a law that could ban the app next month is constitutional.

[Bobby Allen]

The Supreme Court has accepted TikTok's emergency motion to review a law President Biden signed in April. The law bans TikTok nationwide unless it is sold to a non Chinese company. It is meant to address lawmakers national security concerns over possible Chinese influence. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court affirmed the ban law, saying saying it actually protects free speech by preventing an adversarial government from censoring content. But lawyers for TikTok say singling out an app for shutdown used by roughly half of America is an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment. The High Court will hear arguments on January 10, nine days before the law is set to take effect. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

We've just confirmed the Federal Reserve has lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point, as forecasters had expected. It's the central bank's third rate cut since September and should make it cheaper to borrow money to buy a car, expand a business or carry a balance on your credit card. House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing backlash from other Republican lawmakers for supporting the latest stopgap measure that keeps federal agencies funded through mid March. According to Politico. Mogul Elon Musk, whom President elect Trump recently appointed to help lead a government efficiency commission, wrote on X the bill should not pass. That would lead to a government shutdown. Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, defends the bill as one that would support President elect Trump's agenda when he returns to office. The leader of opposition forces in Syria says all rebel factions in the country are being dissolved. NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi reports from Damascus. The announcement follows the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al Assad by the rebels less than two weeks ago.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

The leader of Hayat Hashem Hts, which led the revolt against former President Bashar al Assad, said fighters from different factions will unite under the Syrian Ministry of Defense. Ahmad Al Sharra, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al Julani, made the comments while visiting the Druze community on Tuesday. The forces that toppled the regime were made up of a number of rebel groups, some backed by foreign countries like Turkey. Sharrar did not detail how this unification would be accomplished. He also called on all Syrians in the country and abroad to help rebuild Syria, all as, quote, team players. Shadow remains a designated terrorist by the United States. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Damascus.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks are trading lower this hour. The Dow is actually up at 61 points. The S&P is down 4 points, and the NASDAQ is down 8 points. You're listening to NPR News. The New York Times reports CIA Director William Burns had arrived in Qatar today as one of the major players in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. The agent intelligence chief was widely expected to meet with Qatar's prime minister in Doha. The US had dispatched multiple top envoys to the Middle east recently, citing key developments in the region. The Russian security service says an Uzbek national carried out this week's deadly attack on a top general. A source from Ukraine's security service confirmed to NPR that it was behind it. On Monday, Ukraine indicted the Russian lieutenant General Igor Kirilov in absentia for allegedly using banned chemical weapons during Russia's invasion. Researchers have learned more about why some fish and lizards can regenerate their hearing and why humans and other adult mammals cannot. NPR's Jessica Young has details.

[Jessica Young]

If an adult mammal damages its hearing, it will be lost forever. But if a zebrafish's hearing is damaged, it can regenerate the cells needed in the inner ear to bring that hearing back. Scientists at the University of Southern California have done one of the first cross species analyses of inner ear cells to understand why, comparing mice who cannot restore hearing to two species that can zebrafish and green anole lizards. In the paper published in pnas, researchers have identified the key parts of the DNA that give some animals this ability. Researchers say those key parts exist in mice and humans, too. And if they can be tweaked, the authors hope that one day they can eventually reverse some kinds of deafness in people. Jessica Young, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

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Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. Plus@plus npr.org that's plus npr.org.