NPR News: 12-19-2024 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – December 19, 2024 Episode Summary

Live from NPR News in Washington, Shea Stevens brings you the latest updates across politics, labor, legal affairs, and economic studies.

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1. Government Shutdown Avoidance Efforts

Congressional Maneuvers to Prevent Shutdown

Members of Congress are urgently working to avert a partial government shutdown expected this weekend. The primary issue revolves around the funding of government agencies.

President-Elect Donald Trump's Stance

President-elect Donald Trump is actively urging Republican lawmakers to reject a bipartisan proposal that aims to fund government operations through mid-March.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Bipartisan Agreement

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized the importance of the bipartisan deal, stating:

"We reached a bipartisan agreement to meet the needs of the American people and provide assistance to farmers, families, children, seniors, veterans, men and women in uniform and working class Americans."
(00:44)

Jeffries warns that rejecting the proposal would adversely affect ordinary Americans, potentially leading to significant hardships.

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2. Amazon Faces Strikes Ahead of Holiday Season

Teamsters Union Launches Strikes

The Teamsters union announced strikes at Amazon facilities nationwide, citing the company's failure to negotiate a new contract. This move comes less than a week before Christmas, potentially disrupting the crucial holiday supply chain.

Details of the Strikes

Patricia Campos Medina, Executive Director of the Worker Institute at Cornell, detailed the scope:

"The Teamsters say a mix of workers, including pickers and packers and third party delivery drivers, will be picketing seven Amazon facilities in and around Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago and New York City."
(01:20)

She also highlighted the potential for more pickets at other Amazon locations, emphasizing the timing's critical nature:

"Any disruption at this time of year could be damaging to the company. It is the holiday season."
(01:50)

Amazon has disputed the Teamsters' claims regarding representation, maintaining that negotiations are ongoing.

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3. Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

Legal Actions Against Ryan Ruth

Florida Attorney General is pressing attempted murder charges against Ryan Ruth, the individual accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf club in September. Ruth has remained in custody since the incident.

Details of the Incident and Charges

Hakeem Jeffries provided an overview of the event:

"Apparent assassination attempt on Trump, Ryan Ruth fled in his vehicle north on Interstate 95 because of concerns that he might have explosives. Law enforcement authorities stopped traffic in both directions in a multi vehicle accident. A short time later, a six year old girl received what are being described as life threatening injuries and remains in hospital care."
(02:20)

Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Energy Secretary, commented on the legal implications:

"Actions turn into an attempt to felony murder case."
(02:44)

Governor DeSantis' Concerns

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has criticized federal law enforcement for hindering the state’s investigation. He expressed hope that these "federal roadblocks will be removed" following Trump’s inauguration.

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4. Supreme Court to Hear TikTok Ban Case & CVS Pharmacy Under Scrutiny

TikTok Ban Constitutionality

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments challenging the U.S. government's ban on TikTok, which is slated to take effect next month unless the platform's China-based owner divests. TikTok contends that the ban infringes on constitutional rights.

DOJ's Civil Complaint Against CVS Pharmacy

The Justice Department has filed a civil complaint alleging that CVS Pharmacy and its subsidiaries unlawfully filled prescriptions, including opioids, violating the False Claims Act. CVS has denied these allegations and stated its cooperation with investigators.

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5. Biden Administration's Study on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Exports

Study Findings and Recommendations

A recent study by the Biden administration advises the incoming Trump administration to carefully evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of increasing U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Jennifer Granholm on Economic and Environmental Impacts

Jennifer Granholm highlighted key points from the study:

"The federal study shows that the US has already approved more than enough natural gas export plants to meet global demand."
(04:09)

"With more gas exported overseas, prices will be set according to the global market, leading to greater volatility and the likelihood that natural gas and electricity bills will increase here. That could hurt manufacturers and drive up the cost of consumer goods."
(04:17)

She also noted environmental concerns:

"The study also showed that some export facilities could have a bigger climate footprint than most of the world's countries."
(04:17)

Conclusion from PSA

Shea Stevens summarized the study's implications:

"The main takeaway is that a business as usual approach is neither sustainable nor advisable."
(04:09)

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6. Market Updates

US futures traded flat in after-hours sessions, while Asia Pacific markets experienced declines. These movements reflect ongoing economic uncertainties and investor caution.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on December 19, 2024. For detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Members of Congress are scrambling to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. President elect Donald Trump is pressing Republican lawmakers to reject a bipartisan proposal that would fund government agencies through mid March. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says ordinary Americans will suffer if GOP lawmakers back away from the negotiated proposal.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

We reached a bipartisan agreement to meet the needs of the American people and provide assistance to farmers, families, children, seniors, veterans, men and women in uniform and working class Americans.

[Shea Stevens]

The current temporary spending plan expires on Friday. The Teamsters union says it is launching strikes at Amazon facilities across the nation this morning, saying the online retailer has failed to bargain over a new contract. As NPR's Andrea Hsu reports, the strikes come less than one week before Christmas.

[Patricia Campos Medina]

The Teamsters say a mix of workers, including pickers and packers and third party delivery drivers, will be picketing seven Amazon facilities in and around Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago and New York City. Additionally, more pickets could form at other Amazon facilities where workers have not yet authorized strikes. Patricia Campos Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute at Cornell, says any disruption at this time of year could be damaging to the company. It is the holiday season.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

People are expecting deliveries. This is the moment that the workers.

[Shea Stevens]

Have influence over the supply chain.

[Patricia Campos Medina]

For its part, Amazon disputes the Teamsters claim that it represents thousands of their workers. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

Florida's attorney general is filing attempted murder charges against Ryan Ruth. That's the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump and a Florida golf club. Ruth has been in custody since the September incident. As NPR's Greg Allen reports, after the.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

Apparent assassination attempt on Trump, Ryan Ruth fled in his vehicle north on Interstate 95 because of concerns that he might have explosives. Law enforcement authorities stopped traffic in both directions in a multi vehicle accident. A short time later, a six year old girl received what are being described as life threatening injuries and remains in hospital care. Attorney General Ashley Moody says combined with Ruth's other alleged crimes, it turns his.

[Jennifer Granholm]

Actions into an attempt to felony murder case.

[Hakeem Jeffries]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has complained the federal law enforcement authorities have blocked the state investigation, but that after President elect Trump takes office, he expects the federal roadblocks will be removed. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

[Shea Stevens]

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments over the constitutionality of a US ban on TikTok. The ban is set to take effect next month unless TikTok's China based owner sells it off. TikTok says that would be unconstitutional. This is NPR News. The Justice Department has unsealed a civil complaint alleging CVS Pharmacy and various subsidiaries filled prescriptions that were not allowed by law, including opioids. The complaint accuses the pharmacy chain and the others of violating the False Claims Act. A CVS representative says the company disagrees with the allegations and has cooperated with investigators. A study released by the Biden administration suggests the incoming Trump administration should examine the pros and cons of increasing exports of liquefied natural gas. Hallie Parker with member station WWNO says the study warns a hike in gas exports would drive up costs in the United States.

[Jennifer Granholm]

With the study's release, U.S. energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the future administration should think twice before sending more American gas overseas.

[Shea Stevens]

The main takeaway is that a business as usual approach is neither sustainable nor advisable.

[Jennifer Granholm]

The federal study shows that the US has already approved more than enough natural gas export plants to meet global demand. It also found that with more gas exported overseas, prices will be set according to the global market, leading to greater volatility and the likelihood that natural gas and electricity bills will increase here. That could hurt manufacturers and drive up the cost of consumer goods. The study also showed that some export facilities could have a bigger climate footprint than most of the world's countries. For NPR News, I'm Hallie Parker in New Orleans.

[Shea Stevens]

US Futures are flat in after hours trading. Asia Pacific markets are lower. This is NPR News.

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