NPR News: 12-22-2024 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 22, 2024, 5 PM EST

Hosted by NPR

On December 22, 2024, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive roundup of the day's most pressing stories, spanning international conflicts, political appointments, economic insights, climate impacts on agriculture, and entertainment industry updates. Below is a detailed summary of the key segments discussed in the episode.

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1. Friendly Fire Incident in the Red Sea

Timestamp: 00:17 – 01:14

Jeanine Herbst opened the episode with breaking news about a harrowing incident involving the U.S. Navy. Two Navy pilots were forced to eject from their fighter jet after it was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea. This event has been classified by the military as a case of friendly fire.

Reporter Amy Held provided further details:

"The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired on and hit an FA18, forcing two U.S. Navy pilots to eject safely" (00:33).

One of the pilots sustained minor injuries. The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened military activity in the region, where U.S. Navy warships have been actively engaging Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Over the past year, these engagements have aimed to protect international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, a critical artery for global commerce.

In addition to the friendly fire incident, CENTCOM reported that U.S. forces shot down drones and a guided missile operated by Houthi forces and conducted strikes on a Houthi missile storage facility in Yemen over the weekend.

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2. Trump's Nomination of Stephen Myron as Top Economic Adviser

Timestamp: 01:14 – 02:08

Transitioning to domestic politics, Jeanine Herbst reported on President-elect Donald Trump's announcement regarding his economic team. Trump plans to nominate Stephen Myron to serve as the White House's top economic adviser.

Reporter Scott Horsley elaborated:

"Myron is a Harvard-trained economist who previously worked at the Treasury Department during Trump's first term in office. He's also a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute" (01:27).

If confirmed by the Senate, Myron will lead the President's Council of Economic Advisers, playing a pivotal role in interpreting economic conditions and shaping policy. Trump emphasized Myron's role in fostering economic growth:

"He'll work with the rest of his economic team to deliver a great economic boom that lifts up all Americans" (01:27).

This nomination comes at a time when the U.S. economy exhibits solid growth, low unemployment rates, and cooling inflation. However, recent polls indicate that many Americans remain dissatisfied with the cumulative price increases over the past five years.

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3. Putin's Threats Following Drone Attack in Kazan

Timestamp: 02:08 – 03:03

In international news, tensions escalated as Russian President Vladimir Putin issued stern warnings following a drone attack on the Russian city of Kazan.

Jeanine Herbst introduced the story, with reporter Danny Eberhardt providing in-depth coverage:

"Kazan is a long way from the front lines, more than 900 km from the border with Ukraine. But video of drones smashing into luxury apartment blocks were a reminder to many Russians that the war could come to them" (02:29).

The drone strikes damaged high-rise apartment buildings and temporarily closed the local airport, though thankfully, no casualties were reported. Putin's response was unequivocal:

"Ukraine would regret such strikes and would face many times more destruction than it managed to inflict on Russia" (02:29).

Despite these ominous statements, experts suggest that Ukraine is unlikely to be deterred, having already endured nearly three years of conflict and destruction resulting from the full-scale Russian invasion.

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4. Wall Street's Holiday Trading Outlook

Timestamp: 03:03 – 03:34

Shifting focus to the financial sector, Danny Eberhardt discussed the current state of Wall Street. After a volatile week, investors are anticipating a quieter, holiday-shorted trading period ahead. This cautious sentiment is influenced by various economic indicators and the ongoing political developments.

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5. Climate Challenges for Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Growers

Timestamp: 03:34 – 04:17

Lauren Patterson of Northwest Public Broadcasting explored the impact of climate change on the Pacific Northwest's Christmas tree industry. As temperatures rise and drought conditions persist, traditional tree farms are grappling with unprecedented challenges.

Research plant pathologist Gary Chastagner from Washington State University shared insights from his latest experiments:

"We're finding that some of the Eurasian species, such as Northern Turkish and Trojan fir, have the ability to perform fairly well under these droughty conditions" (03:54).

These Eurasian conifer species not only exhibit resilience to drought but also show potential tolerance to tree diseases and problematic insects. Chastagner's research indicates that adopting these exotic aquatic Christmas tree species could be a viable strategy for growers facing the adverse effects of a changing climate.

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6. Weekend Box Office: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Tops the Charts

Timestamp: 04:17 – 04:56

Concluding the episode, Jeanine Herbst provided an update on the entertainment industry's latest developments. The weekend box office saw Sonic the Hedgehog 3 clinch the top spot with an estimated $62 million in ticket sales. This marks a substantial achievement for the franchise, which has collectively grossed over $700 million worldwide across its first two installments. Notably, this third installment was produced with a reported budget of $122 million.

In a surprising turn, Mufasa: The Lion King trailed in second place, earning $35 million—figures that fell short of expectations.

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This episode of NPR News Now offered listeners a swift yet thorough overview of significant global and domestic events, economic developments, environmental challenges, and entertainment news, all delivered with the hallmark clarity and precision of NPR journalism.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Two US Navy pilots ejected from their fighter jet after it was shot down this weekend over the Red Sea. The military is calling it a case of friendly fire. Amy Held has more.

[Amy Held]

The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired on and hit an FA18, forcing two U.S. navy pilots to eject safely, according to U.S. central Command. One pilot suffered from minor injuries. For more than a year, the US Military has been operating Navy warships in the region, conducting strikes on Iran backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who are targeting international ships in the Red Sea and disrupting commerce in one of the world's busiest waterways. Also this weekend, CENTCOM says they shot down drones and a guided missile operated by Houthis and conducted strikes on a Houthi missile storage facility in Yemen. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Stephen Myron to serve as top White House economic adviser, NPR Scott Horsley reports. Trump announced the pick in a social media post this morning.

[Scott Horsley]

Myron is a Harvard trained economist who previously worked at the Treasury Department during Trump's first term in office. He's also a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute. Trump plans to nominate Myron to lead the president's Council of Economic Advisers. If confirmed by the Senate, he'll help the White House to interpret economic conditions and have a hand in shaping policy. Trump said in a social media post that Myron will work with the rest of his economic team to deliver a great economic boom that lifts up all Americans. Trump returns to the White House at a time when the US Economy is already growing at a solid clip with low unemployment, unemployment and cooling inflation. Polls show many Americans are unhappy, though, about the cumulative price hikes over the last five years. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Russian President Vladimir Putin is threatening more destruction in Ukraine in retaliation for a drone attack on the Russian city of Kazan, which is hundreds of miles from the front line. The attacks yesterday damaged high rise apartment blocks there and closed the airport for a time, though no casualties have been reported. The BBC's Danny Eberhardt has more.

[Danny Eberhardt]

Kazan is a long way from the front lines, more than 900 km from the border with Ukraine. But video of drones smashing into luxury apartment blocks were a reminder to many Russians that the war could come to them hence Vladimir Putin's uncompromising warning. Ukraine, he said, would regret such strikes and would face many times more destruction than it managed to inflict on Russia. Ominous words, but they're unlikely to deter Ukraine. It has already faced nearly three years of destruction at Russian hands since the full scale invasion.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The BBC's Danny Aberhart reporting after a volatile week on Wall street, investors this week are looking for a quiet, holiday shortened trading period ahead. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Christmas trees are big business in the Pacific Northwest, but a hotter climate means challenges for tree growers. Lauren Patterson of Northwest Public Broadcasting reports on how exotic aquatic Christmas tree species are taking root in New Northwest trails.

[Lauren Patterson]

Tree farms in the Northwest are experiencing problems with the hot temperatures and drought conditions out west as the climate changes. That's according to Gary Chastagner, a research plant pathologist for Washington State University. In his latest experiment, Eurasian conifers are being grown at sites in Washington, Oregon and California.

[Gary Chastagner]

What we're finding is that some of the Eurasian species, such as Northern Turkish and Trojan fir, have the ability to perform fairly well under these droughty conditions.

[Lauren Patterson]

Chastagner says the Eurasian species also have potential tolerance to tree diseases and problematic insects. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Patterson in Pullman, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office, it's a holiday season battle of big budget family movies and Paramount Pictures. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 took the top spot, debuting with an estimated $62 million in ticket sales. The two previous Sonic Mov together grossed more than $700 million worldwide. This movie was made for a reported $122 million. In a distant second place, Mufasa the Lion king with just $35 million, and that is lower than expected. I'm Jeanine Hurst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Carvana Representative]

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