NPR News: 12-20-2024 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 20, 2024, 2PM EST

Hosted by Dwahlisai Kao Tao

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1. Threat of a Partial Government Shutdown

As the holiday travel season ramps up, federal employees, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, are preparing for a potential partial government shutdown starting at midnight. This looming crisis stems from House Republicans' rejection of a revised funding bill, primarily due to objections from President Elect Donald Trump.

White House's Stance: White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre emphasized that there is still an opportunity for Congress to avert the shutdown. She stated, "President Biden is getting regular updates from congressional members on the negotiations," highlighting ongoing efforts to resolve the impasse.

Democratic Response: Florida Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz criticized the Republicans' stance, asserting, "Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix" (00:47)—a clear call for bipartisan cooperation to maintain government operations during the busy travel period.

Republican Perspective: An unnamed Republican Speaker expressed frustration with external influences, including Elon Musk and Vivek, stating, "Nothing on a budgetary basis is going to pass here without the Democrats. So perhaps the next time they come to D.C. they should meet with us" (01:04). This remark underscores the internal challenges within the Republican party regarding budget negotiations.

2. Extended Drone Flight Restrictions in New York

In response to a surge of drone sightings across the Northeast, federal regulators have extended temporary flight restrictions to 30 locations in New York State. This move follows similar restrictions recently imposed in New Jersey.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s Assurance: New York Governor Kathy Hochul assured the public that the restrictions are precautionary, stating, "There are no threats to any of the sites across New York City and its suburbs" (01:45). She also addressed public concerns, noting that many reported objects were legitimate drones, commercial or private planes, and even stars.

Federal Response: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has received thousands of public tips regarding unidentified aerial objects. However, the majority have been identified as non-threatening entities, reducing immediate security concerns.

3. U.S. Diplomatic Engagement in Syria

A U.S. diplomatic delegation is currently in Damascus, Syria, engaging with the interim government that recently overthrew the Assad regime. This delegation's mission is multifaceted, focusing on governance and security.

Discussion Points: According to NPR's Hadil Al Shalqi, the delegation addressed transition principles with Hayed Tahrir al Sham (HTS), which constitutes the interim Syrian government. They also underscored the importance of combating ISIS, despite HTS's historical ties to extremist groups.

Concerns Over HTS: HTS is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. Representative Jared Moskowitz elaborated, "HTS has roots in al Qaeda and some factions... had ties to ISIS," highlighting the complexities of engaging with entities linked to terrorism (02:34).

Missing American Journalist: The State Department also inquired about the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice, seeking further details to ensure his safety (02:34).

4. President Biden’s Upcoming Visit to Vatican City

One of President Joe Biden's final international trips before his departure in January will take him to Italy's Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis. This visit marks their third in-person meeting since Biden assumed office in 2021.

Historical Context: Pope Francis previously visited Biden and his family in 2015 following the tragic loss of Biden's son, Beau, to brain cancer. This personal connection adds depth to their forthcoming discussions.

Additional Meetings: During the trip, Biden is also scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, indicating a focus on strengthening U.S.-Italy relations and addressing global concerns collaboratively (03:13).

5. Australia Implements Strict Social Media Age Verification

Australia has enacted a new law prohibiting children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. This legislation mandates tech companies to implement age verification systems, with substantial fines for non-compliance—up to $50 million.

Officials’ Perspective: Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, compared the regulation of social media to water safety measures, stating, "Social media should be treated in Australia like water safety" (04:02). She emphasized the importance of digital literacy, akin to teaching children to swim, to protect them from the addictive nature of social media platforms.

Exemptions and Goals: Certain applications, such as gaming and messaging platforms, are exempted from these regulations. The primary goal is to shield children from the "addictive design features of social media," promoting healthier online behaviors (04:28, 04:40).

6. Louisiana's New Vaccine Promotion Policy

Recent NPR reporting reveals that the Louisiana Department of Health is implementing a policy to curb the promotion of available vaccines. This measure aims to manage public health messaging and address vaccine uptake strategically (04:50).

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on December 20, 2024. Notable quotes and precise timestamps are included to provide a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the episode.

Transcript

[Carvana Representative]

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[Dwahlisai Kao Tao]

Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahlisai Kao Tao. It's one of the busiest travel times of the year, and federal employees, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, agents are bracing for a partial government shutdown at midnight. House Republicans rejected a revised funding bill because of criticism by President Elect Donald Trump. White House press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre says there's still time for Congress to prevent this.

[Jared Moskowitz]

Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix.

[Dwahlisai Kao Tao]

This period, she says. President Biden is getting regular updates from congressional members on the negotiations. Here's Florida Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz speaking to reporters earlier this morning.

[Unnamed Republican Speaker]

Elon Musk and Vivek have come up here and spent a lot of time talking to the Republicans, and these are very smart gentlemen. I think what they should take from yesterday is that nothing on a budgetary basis is going to pass here without the Democrats. So perhaps the next time they come to D.C. they should meet with us. Thank you.

[Dwahlisai Kao Tao]

Conservative Republicans said the latest bill simply did not reduce enough federal spending. Federal regulators are extending temporary flight restrictions on drones to 30 locations in New York State. The latest restrictions come amid a flurry of drone sightings across the Northeast that have raised concerns. As NPR's Jill Rose reports, the Federal.

[Kathy Hochul]

Aviation Administration is temporarily barring drone flights over critical infrastructure at 30 locations across New York. The move comes a day after the FAA announced similar restrictions at more than 20 locations in New Jersey. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the latest restrictions are purely precautionary and that there are no threats to any of the sites across New York City and its suburbs. Federal authorities say they've received thousands of tips from the public, but many of the objects that have been reported in the skies were actually legal drones, commercial or private planes, and in some cases, stars. Joel Rose, NPR news, Washington.

[Dwahlisai Kao Tao]

A U.S. diplomatic delegation is in the Syrian capital, Damascus, meeting with an interim government which overthrew the Assad regime just under two weeks ago. NPR's Hadil Al Shalqi has more.

[Jared Moskowitz]

The U.S. state Department says the diplomatic delegation discussed transition principles with Hayed Tahrir al Sham, or hts, which makes up the interim Syrian government. It said they also discussed the importance of fighting against isis. HTS has roots in al Qaeda and some factions that made up the rebel forces which toppled former President Bashar al Assad had ties to ISIS. HTS is a designated terrorist organization by the U.S. no additional information was given on what it would take for the US to drop that designation. The State Department also said the delegation sought more information about the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Damascus.

[Dwahlisai Kao Tao]

And you are listening to NPR News from New York City. One of President Joe Biden's last international trips before he leaves office in January will be to Italy's Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis. This will be their third in person visit since Biden took office in 2021. Francis first visited with Biden and his family in 2015 after the loss of Biden's son, Beau, who died of brain cancer at the age of 46. The President will also meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni. Australia recently banned children under age 16 from accessing social media. Now officials are advising tech companies to plan for an age verification law. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, Snapchat, TikTok.

[Julie Inman Grant]

Instagram and other social media apps now have to confirm a user's age. Under Australia's new law to Prevent children under 16 from logging on, violating companies can pay fines up to $50 million. The country's esafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, told NPR in an interview that social media should be treated in Australia like water safety. She says decades ago there was a spate of fatal drownings in swimming pools, so the country passed fencing requirements.

[Bobby Allen]

But we don't try and fence the ocean because that's futile. What do is we teach our children to swim at the youngest age, just like we need to teach them digital literacy.

[Julie Inman Grant]

Grant says the aim of the law is to keep children away from the addictive design features of social media. Some apps, like gaming and messaging platforms, will be exempted. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Dwahlisai Kao Tao]

New reporting by NPR indicates that the Louisiana Department of Health is quietly implementing a policy to stop promotions of available vaccines. This is npr.

[Carvana Representative]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.