NPR News: 12-18-2024 4AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 18, 2024 | 4AM EST

Hosted by Shea Stevens

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1. Preventing a Government Shutdown

Shea Stevens opens the episode with a report on the latest efforts to avert a partial government shutdown scheduled for midnight Friday. Giles Snyder provides in-depth coverage of the proposed legislative measure aimed at extending government funding.

• Proposal Details:
  • Funding Extension: The measure would maintain government operations through March 14, 2024, sustaining the current funding level exceeding $6 trillion.
  • Disaster Relief: Allocates over $100 billion for hurricane and wildfire disaster response.
  • Support for Farmers: Includes $10 billion to assist struggling farmers.

Giles Snyder notes, “[00:35] lawmakers are certain to act on the measure before current funding runs out,” highlighting the urgency as lawmakers seek to finalize the plan before the holiday adjournment.

2. Indictment in the Killing of United Healthcare CEO

A significant development in a high-profile criminal case is reported next. Shea Stevens announces the indictment of Luigi Mangione on multiple counts related to the assassination of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.

• Charges Filed:
  • Murder in the First Degree: With the intention to cause terror.
  • Furtherance of Terrorism: Emphasizing the political motives behind the act.

Sarah Ventri elaborates on the legal implications, stating, “[01:14] the murder was intended to cause shock and intimidation,” during a press conference held by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch adds, “[01:30] while some on social media have praised the attack, we shouldn't celebrate murders or lionize the killing of anyone,” addressing the public and social media reactions to the incident.

Shea Stevens concludes, “[01:39] The unsealing of today's indictment brings us one step closer to securing justice for Brian Thompson and his family and affirming the primacy of the rule of law in the city of New York.”

If convicted, Mangione faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, as mentioned by Sarah Ventri.

3. Increased Scrutiny on Health Insurers Amid Leadership Crisis

The episode shifts focus to the healthcare sector, where major insurers are facing heightened scrutiny, intensified by the tragic assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Shea Stevens introduces the segment, noting, “[02:00] Health insurers are drawing more scrutiny, including from President Elect Donald Trump.”

Maria Aspen reports on the financial repercussions and regulatory pressures facing big healthcare companies:

• Stock Market Impact: Shares of United Healthcare Group, CVS, and Cigna have fallen sharply.
• Industry Challenges: Investors are unsettled by the CEO’s killing and anticipate further governmental scrutiny.
• Political Response: Both Congress and President Elect Trump are contemplating breaking up major health insurers to address consumer frustrations over denied claims and high healthcare costs.

Maria Aspen highlights Trump's stance: “[02:45] We're going to knock out the middleman,” referring to pharmacy benefit managers responsible for processing a vast majority of U.S. prescriptions.

This potential crackdown would primarily target UnitedHealth, CVS, and Cigna, which collectively manage approximately 80% of all U.S. prescriptions, as Maria Aspen emphasizes.

4. Additional News Highlights

a. Accusations of Election Interference

Shea Stevens reports that President Elect Trump has accused the Des Moines Register and its pollster of interfering in the 2024 elections. The contention arises from a poll published by the newspaper indicating Democrat Kamala Harris leading by 3 percentage points in Iowa just days before the general election.

b. Appointment of Herschel Walker as U.S. Ambassador

In political appointments, Trump has selected former pro football player Herschel Walker to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas. Walker, who previously ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2022 but was defeated by Democrat Raphael Warnock, brings a high-profile name to the diplomatic position.

c. Russian Intelligence Agency's Arrest in High-Profile Assassination

The Russian FSB (Federal Security Service) has announced the detention of a suspect involved in the assassination of Senior Russian General Igor Kirillov. As Shea Stevens reports, Kirillov was killed by a bomb concealed in a scooter outside an apartment building in Moscow. The suspect is identified as an Uzbekistani citizen allegedly recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services.

d. Sesame Street's Future After HBO Partnership Ends

Shea Stevens covers the latest developments concerning the beloved children’s program, Sesame Street, which is seeking a new streaming platform after HBO decided to discontinue new episodes.

• Statements from Maxwell:
  • Polly Conway, Senior Editor for TV and Streaming at Common Sense Media, explains, “[04:08] a lot of Sesame Street's educational content is evergreen, but it's also known for talking about current issues in ways kids can understand and reaching underserved audiences.”
  • Max, the streaming platform, announced it will stop producing new episodes after the current season but will continue reruns until 2027.

Shea Stevens underscores the importance of Sesame Workshop finding a new distribution channel to continue creating relevant content and reaching essential audiences. Polly Conway adds, “[04:47] Sesame Workshop plans to announce new distribution plans in the coming months.”

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the December 18, 2024, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with an in-depth overview of pressing national issues, significant criminal proceedings, corporate challenges, and notable political appointments.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Congressional negotiators have unveiled a proposal to prevent a partial government shutdown this weekend. It's unclear when lawmakers will begin voting on the plan. As NPR's Giles Snyder reports, lawmakers seem.

[Giles Snyder]

Certain to act on the measure before current funding runs out. The deadline to avoid a shutdown is midnight Friday, and they'll want to get it done before adjourning for the holidays. The measure would keep the government running through March 14, likely at its current more than $6 trillion funding level. It also provides more than $100 billion in hurricane and wildfire disaster relief and 10 billion for struggling farmers.

[Shea Stevens]

Giles Snyder reporting. Luigi Mangione has been indicted on 11 counts related to the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The charges include murder in the first degree in furtherance of terrorism. Details from npr.

[Sarah Ventri]

Sarah bintre, In a press conference on Tuesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the murder was intended to cause shock and intimidation, and in its most basic terms, this was a killing that is.

[Advertiser Voice]

Intended to evoke terror.

[Sarah Ventri]

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch says while some on social media have praised the attack, we shouldn't celebrate murders or lionize the killing of anyone.

[Shea Stevens]

The unsealing of today's indictment brings us one step closer to securing justice for Brian Thompson and his family and affirming the primacy of the rule of law in in the city of New York.

[Sarah Ventri]

If found guilty, Mangione's charges could result in life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, New York.

[Shea Stevens]

Health insurers are drawing more scrutiny, including from President Elect Donald Trump. Shares in the United Healthcare Group, CBS and Cigna fell again on Tuesday. NPR's Maria Aspen has more.

[Maria Aspen]

It's been a bad month for big health care companies. Investors are spooked by the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. They're also bracing for more scrutiny of his industry. Thompson ran the largest US Health insurer. The apparent motive for his killing uncorked waves of consumer frustration over denied claims and the high cost of care in the United States. Now both Congress and President Elect Trump are talking about breaking up the behemoths. Trump threatened to go after the pharmacy benefit managers known to their critics as middlemen.

[Sarah Ventri]

We're going to knock out the middleman.

[Maria Aspen]

Any crackdown would likely target UnitedHealth, CVS and Cigna. Combined, they process 80% of all U.S. prescriptions. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Shea Stevens]

President Elect Trump is accusing the Des Moines Register newspaper and its pollster of election interference. Trump cites the newspaper's publication of a poll suggesting Democrat Kamala Harris was leading by 3 percentage points in Iowa days before the November general election. This is NPR News. President elect Trump has tapped former pro football player Herschel Walker to become U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Walker ran for a U.S. senate seat in 2022, but he lost to Democrat Raphael Warnock. The Russian intelligence agency FSB says it is holding a suspect in the slaying of a senior Russian general. Igor Kirillov was killed Tuesday when a bomb hidden in a scooter went off outside of an apartment building in Mosc. Suspect is described as a citizen of Uzbekistan who reportedly was recruited by intelligence services in Ukraine. First it was the move from PBS to hbo, and now Sesame street is again looking for a new home. HBO is ending its partnership with the venerable children's program, and NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports that Max will discontinue streaming new episodes after next season.

[Polly Conway]

In a statement, Max says that new episodes of Sesame street are no longer core to its strategy, but it will rerun on old episodes through 2027.

[Advertiser Voice]

Sunny days sweeping up clouds away.

[Polly Conway]

A lot of Sesame Street's educational content is evergreen, but it's also known for talking about current issues in ways kids can understand and reaching underserved audiences. Polly Conway is senior editor for TV and streaming at Common Sense Media.

[Shea Stevens]

Finding a new home is going to be integral to them, creating new content and really reaching the audiences that need to be reached.

[Polly Conway]

In a statement, Sesame Workshop says it plans to announce new distribution plans in the coming months.

[Shea Stevens]

Elizabeth Blair reporting. This is NPR News.

[Advertiser Voice]

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