NPR News: 12-23-2024 6PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 23, 2024, 6 PM EST

1. House Ethics Committee Releases Report on Former Congressman Matt Gaetz

Timestamp: [00:20]

NPR’s Jack Speier opens the episode with a significant political development as the House Ethics Committee unveils its report on former Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz. The investigation centered around serious allegations including sexual misconduct and illegal drug use.

Barbara Sprent of NPR details the committee's findings, stating, “The committee found evidence that Gaetz violated House rules, state and federal laws and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use and obstruction of Congress” (00:39). Despite these violations, the panel did not determine that Gaetz breached the federal sex trafficking statute. Gaetz has since resigned his seat prior to the report's release and vehemently denies all allegations. In a legal move, he has sued the ethics panel, arguing that their jurisdiction no longer applies now that he is a private citizen.

2. Escalating Conflict in Gaza: Over 50 Killed in Israeli Airstrikes

Timestamp: [01:12]

Jack Speier transitions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, reporting on the recent surge in violence. More than 50 individuals have lost their lives due to Israeli airstrikes over the past three days, targeting areas where displaced families are seeking refuge.

Carrie Khan provides further insight, noting, “Gaza's Civil Defense Agency says a wave of Israeli airstrikes since Friday has killed dozens of people” (01:26). The strikes have included an attack on a school sheltering displaced families, resulting in the tragic deaths of two children. Israel asserts that these attacks are aimed at Hamas command centers located within the compound.

The intensity of Israel’s offensive in northern Gaza marks one of the fiercest phases of the conflict since October, aimed at dislodging Hamas militants. Khan reports on the dire situation in local hospitals, with hundreds of patients and civilians at risk due to relentless bombardment. Despite Israel's claims of operating in the vicinity of the hospital without targeting it, the World Health Organization has called for a cessation of attacks in the area. Negotiations for a ceasefire are ongoing, though specific details remain undisclosed.

3. Federal Lawsuit Alleges Walmart's Unlawful Handling of Delivery Drivers' Pay

Timestamp: [02:11]

In economic and labor news, Jack Speier highlights a federal lawsuit accusing Walmart of illicitly creating deposit accounts for over a million delivery drivers. These accounts purportedly used personal information such as Social Security numbers without the drivers' knowledge or consent.

Alina Seloukh of NPR elaborates, “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is suing Walmart and a payments platform called Branch Messenger” (02:27). The lawsuit alleges that Walmart mandated the use of Branch accounts for drivers, depositing wages into these accounts prior to drivers agreeing to any terms and conditions. Additionally, while Walmart promoted the benefits of instant access to earnings, the associated fees for instant transfers have reportedly cost drivers more than $10 million collectively.

In response, Walmart has criticized the bureau’s actions, claiming the investigation and lawsuit are “riddled with factual errors and contains exaggerations and blatant misstatements” (02:27).

4. Wall Street Gains Amid Holiday Overlaps and Interfaith Celebrations

Timestamp: [03:08]

Jack Speier provides an update on the financial markets, noting that all three major stock indices saw gains on Wall Street, with the Dow up by 66 points and the Nasdaq increasing by 192 points.

Shifting to cultural news, Speier also touches on the unique holiday overlap this year where the first night of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas, leading some to refer to it as “Christmakkah.”

Sarah Ventri of NPR explores how interfaith families are navigating and celebrating both holidays. At the Lieberman household in Morristown, New Jersey, families incorporate symbols from both Advent and Hanukkah traditions, such as Advent calendars and dreidels (03:29). Barbara Sprent emphasizes the importance of honoring family and heritage, stating, “It's about honoring family and that the traditions are really important because of our connections to our family and to our heritage” (03:45).

Reverend Emily Brewer shares her family's approach to celebrating both traditions separately, ensuring that each holiday is given its due significance while fostering an environment of mutual respect and joy (03:52). Families exchange greetings in both languages, saying “Merry Christmas” and “Hanukkah Sameach” on December 25th, highlighting the harmonious blending of their cultural and religious identities.

5. Innovations in Wildlife Conservation and Oil Market Movements

Timestamp: [04:14]

Concluding the episode, Jack Speier discusses the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in wildlife conservation. Researchers in Costa Rica are utilizing AI to monitor endangered spider monkeys by processing data from 350 audio monitors placed in rainforests to recognize monkey calls.

Tech giant Microsoft is set to enhance AI-assisted wildlife research by introducing solar-powered devices capable of capturing sounds, images, and other environmental data for up to a year without human intervention (04:14). This advancement promises to bolster conservation efforts through improved data collection and analysis.

In the energy sector, crude oil futures experienced a slight decline, closing down by 22 cents per barrel to settle at $69.24 per barrel. This minor dip reflects ongoing market fluctuations influenced by various geopolitical and economic factors (04:14).

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now offers a comprehensive overview of pressing political scandals, escalating international conflicts, significant legal battles in the corporate sector, financial market movements, and innovative strides in technology and conservation. Additionally, it highlights the cultural tapestry of interfaith celebrations during the holiday season, providing listeners with a well-rounded snapshot of current events as of December 23, 2024.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. The House Ethics Committee has released its report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz. The panel launched an investigation allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use by the Florida Republican. NPR's Bob Respond has details of the panel's findings.

[Barbara Sprent]

The committee found evidence that Gaetz violated House rules, state and federal laws and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use and obstruction of Congress. The panel did not find that Gates violated the federal sex trafficking statute. Gates resigned his seat before the panel voted on the report and denies the allegations against him. He sued the ethics panel in an attempt to block the report's release, arguing the committee no longer has jurisdiction over him as a private citizen. Barbara Sprent, NPR News, the capitol.

[Jack Speier]

More than 50 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza over the last three days. Health officials say the attacks targeted a school where displaced families were living. NPR's Carrie Khan reports. Israel says a Hamas command center was inside the compound.

[Carrie Khan]

Gaza's Civil Defense Agency says a wave of Israeli airstrikes since Friday has killed dozens of people. The agency says two children sheltering at a school were killed in a strike in northern Gaza. Israel has been fighting a focused offensive in north Gaza, one of the fiercest in the war since October, to drive out Hamas militants. The director of one of the last functioning hospitals there says hundreds of patients and civilians are in danger from the constant bombardment. Israel's military says it is operating in the vicinity, but denies targeting the hospital. The head of the World Health Organization called on Israel to stop attacks near the hospital. Cease fire, talks continue. Israeli and Hamas mediators are still negotiating. Details and timelines, though, are not public. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jack Speier]

A federal lawsuit is alleging Walmart illegally created deposit accounts for more than a million delivery drivers using Social Security and other personal information without their knowledge or consent. The accounts in question were for drivers to receive their pay. Npr, Selyuk reports.

[Sponsor Voice]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is suing Walmart and a payments platform called Branch Messenger. The lawsuit says Walmart told its delivery drivers they could not work without using branch accounts and in fact, created branch accounts using driver's personal information and even deposited drivers wages before they ever agreed to terms and conditions. The lawsuit also says Walmart suggested drivers could instantly access their earnings, but the accounts had fees for instant transfers that overall cost drivers more than $10 million. Walmart in turn, accuses the bureau of rushing its investigation and lawsuit, saying it's, quote, riddled with factual errors and contains exaggerations and blatant misstatements. Alina Seloukh, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Stocks gained ground on Wall street today. All three of the major stock market index is up. The Dow rose 66 points. The Nasdaq was up 192 points. This is NPR. This year, the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas. Some are even calling it Christmakkah. NPR's Sarah Ventri has more on how interfaith families are honoring both holidays.

[Sarah Ventri]

At the Lieberman's home in Morristown, New Jersey, you'll find an Advent calendar and dreidels. That's because Lance Lieberman is Jewish and his wife, Petra Weihe Lieberman, is Christian. And their family embraces both religions, not just for winter holidays, but throughout the year.

[Barbara Sprent]

It's about honoring family and that the traditions are really important because of our connections to our family and to our heritage.

[Sarah Ventri]

Many families embrace both holidays, but separately, Reverend Emily Brewer's husband is Jewish.

[Barbara Sprent]

We'll probably have our traditional Christmas lunch there and then at sundown we'll have packed some candles and we'll do Hanukkah there.

[Sarah Ventri]

And both families, like many others, will be saying both Merry Christmas and Hanukkah Sameach on the 20 25th. Sarah Ventri, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Artificial intelligence applications have potential for misuse. Wildlife researchers in Costa Rica are hoping to use the technology to help monitor endangered spider monkeys in the rainforest. In order to help protect them, a biologist hit 350 audio monitors, collect data, then used artificial intelligence to recognize monkey calls. Following up on that, tech giant Microsoft says it hopes to supercharge AI Assisted wildlife research with new solar powered devices that can capture sounds, images and other wilderness data for up to a year with no human intervention. Crude oil futures prices closed down slightly. Oil down 22 cents a barrel to settle at 69, 24 barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Barbara Sprent]

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