NPR News: 12-24-2024 7PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of December 24, 2024, 7 PM EST Episode

Host: NPR
Release Date: December 25, 2024
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. Ukraine's Struggle Against Russian Advances and the Rise of Drone Warfare

Reporter: Brian Mann
Timestamp: 00:17 - 01:16

Ukraine continues to face significant challenges as it attempts to halt Russia's military advance in the eastern regions, particularly in Pokrovsk. With a noticeable shortage of manpower, the Ukrainian army has increasingly relied on remote-controlled drones to bolster their defensive and offensive capabilities.

Brian Mann reports from a drone command post near the front lines, highlighting how Ukraine leverages these unmanned systems to counteract Russian advancements. Despite ongoing efforts, Russia has maintained its push in the Pokrovsk region by deploying additional troops and artillery.

A Ukrainian soldier, known by the call sign "pip," provides a firsthand account:

• Quote (00:52): "We doing this every day, nonstop 24 hours."

Military drone technician Yuri emphasizes the strategic impact of drone warfare:

• Quote (00:56): "We try to take out as many as we can before they reach our positions."

Yuri further explains that while drones haven't stopped Russia's momentum, they have inflicted substantial casualties:

• Quote (01:07): "Ukraine is making Russia pay a huge price in soldiers killed and wounded."

The fall of Pokrovsk would mark a significant victory for Russia, representing its largest success in months.

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2. Rising Stress Over Political Discussions During the Holidays

Reporter: Katie Riddle
Timestamp: 01:16 - 01:55

As the holiday season approaches, nearly 40% of adults express stress over the possibility of engaging in political discussions with family and friends. This tension is highlighted in a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Vail Wright, associated with the APA, comments on these findings:

• Quote (01:42): "It's not selfish and it doesn't mean you don't care about the issues."

The survey reveals a tendency among Americans to avoid political conversations to maintain harmonious relationships during the festive period. This avoidance sometimes extends to distancing oneself from family members who hold differing political views, indicating a deepening divide fueled by the current political climate.

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3. U.S. Federal Death Row Sentences: A Political Clash

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: 01:55 - 02:31

President Biden has announced a significant commutation of federal death row sentences, altering the fate of approximately 37 to 40 inmates by converting their sentences to life imprisonment. This decision, rooted in Biden's religious beliefs, aims to halt the momentum towards capital punishment.

In response, President Elect Donald Trump has vowed to aggressively pursue executions, criticizing Biden's move as a setback for justice and deterrence. The clash underscores the broader political debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States.

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4. Starbucks Workers Extend Strike Amidst Ongoing Negotiations

Reporter: Stephen Puzaha
Timestamp: 01:55 - 02:31

Starbucks employees across more than 300 stores in the United States have extended their strike, which was initially anticipated to conclude after five days. This prolonged labor action highlights the growing trend of extended work stoppages in the retail sector.

John Logan from San Francisco State University provides insight into this phenomenon:

• Quote (02:50): "They're just not going to be able to afford to go out on an open-ended, you know, long strike. The employer could easily replace them."

Logan explains that short-term strikes serve to maintain worker enthusiasm and bargaining power during protracted negotiations, which can stretch over months or even years. This strategy reflects the precarious balance low-wage workers must navigate between advocating for better conditions and the financial viability of prolonged strikes.

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5. Japanese Automakers Seek Merger to Compete in the Evolving EV Market

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: 03:11 - 03:53

In a strategic move to enhance competitiveness in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) market, Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to pursue an eventual merger. This consolidation aims to better position both companies against formidable competitors like Chinese manufacturers and Tesla.

The agreement includes integrating their business operations, with Mitsubishi, a smaller alliance member, also joining the discussions. The merger is seen as a necessary response to the significant shifts within the automotive industry, particularly the surge in demand for EVs and the associated technological advancements.

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6. Northern California's Tallest Living Christmas Tree Rivalry

Reporter: Alice Wolfley
Timestamp: 03:53 - 04:38

A spirited competition has emerged in Northern California over who possesses the tallest living decorated Christmas tree. In the remote coastal communities, both the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka and the historic Skunk Train in Willits are vying for the title.

Jim Campbell Spickler, director of the Sequoia Park Zoo, emphasizes the official nature of their tree measurements:

• Quote (03:53): "I would consider the measurements that we've completed to be official."

The zoo's decorated coast redwood stands at an impressive 174 feet, 9 inches. However, a challenge arises when representatives from the Skunk Train claim to have a tree nearly 50 feet taller. Upon reviewing video evidence, Campbell Spickler acknowledges the possibility of the rival tree being taller and proposes conducting an official measurement before next Christmas to settle the rivalry conclusively.

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7. Crude Oil Market Update: Prices Rebound

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: 04:38 - 04:56

Crude oil futures have experienced a positive shift, rising over 1% and reversing previous losses. The price of oil increased by 86 cents per barrel, settling at $70.10 a barrel. This rebound is attributed to a brighter outlook on the balance between supply and demand in the global oil markets.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a comprehensive overview of pressing international conflicts, domestic political tensions, labor movements, significant corporate maneuvers in the automotive industry, unique local stories, and updates on global commodity markets. Through insightful reporting and firsthand accounts, the episode painted a vivid picture of the multifaceted issues shaping the world as of December 2024.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Ukraine is struggling to stop Russia's advance in the eastern part of the country. The Facing a manpower shortage, the Ukrainian army is turning more and more to remote controlled drones. NPR's Brian Mann visited a drone command post near the front lines.

[Brian Mann]

Russia has been grinding forward in the Pokrovsk region, fielding more troops and artillery. Ukraine's smaller forces using drone units to fight back. NPR was able to watch live video feeds as attack drones bombed Russian units led by a soldier who goes by the call sign pip.

[Yuri]

We doing this every day, nonstop 24 hours.

[Brian Mann]

Drones haven't stopped Russia, but a military drone technician who gave his name as Yuri for security reasons said Ukraine is making Russia pay a huge price in soldiers killed and wounded.

[Yuri]

We try to take out as many as we can before they reach our positions.

[Brian Mann]

If Pokrovsk falls, it will be Russia's largest victory in months. Brian Mann, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Near Perkrovski, nearly 40% of adults say they are stressed about the possibility of political discussions coming up at the holidays. NPR's Katie Riddle has more.

[Dr. Vail Wright]

A recent report shows that most Americans plan to avoid political discussions over the holidays. Dr. Vail Wright is with the American Psychological Association. That's the group that conducted this survey. She says not talking about hard stuff at these moments is understandable. It's not selfish and it doesn't mean.

[Jack Spear]

You don't care about the issues.

[Dr. Vail Wright]

Possibly to evade these uncomfortable conversations, nearly 40% of adults said they were avoiding family members. They disagree with this holiday season altogether. Katie Arettle, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

After an announcement by President Biden he's commuting the bulk of federal census for individuals on death row, President Elect Donald Trump is vowing to vigorously pursue capital punishment. Trump criticizing Biden's decision to change the sentences of 37 to 40 federal death row inmates to life in prison. Biden, while citing his religious beliefs, also likely wanted to prevent Trump from pushing forward with executions. Starbucks workers are walking the picket lines in a number of US cities. A strike expected to wrap up tonight after five days has expanded to more than 300 stores across the nation. Stephen Puzaha of the Gulf States Newsroom says short term work stoppages have become more of the norm.

[Stephen Puzaha]

Five days on strike is actually kind of long by today's standards. Most strikes since at least 2021 have lasted four days or less, according to Cornell University. That's in part because missing more than a few days of pay just isn't realistic for many low wage workers, says John Logan with San Francisco State University.

[John Logan]

They're just not going to be able to afford to go out on an open ended, you know, long strike. The employer could easily replace them.

[Stephen Puzaha]

This also means less leverage for workers. Instead, Logan says short strikes are often about keeping workers excited while negotiations drag on for months or years. For NPR News, I'm Steven Besarha.

[Jack Spear]

On Wall street, the dow is up 390 points. This is NPR. Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda say they're planning to work towards an eventual merger deal, and they say it would better position both companies to deal with an industry that is undergoing major shifts. The two companies have signed an agreement integrating their businesses. Smaller alliance member Mitsubishi has also agreed to join those talks. With Japanese automakers facing challenges from both Chinese rivals and Tesla in terms producing electric vehicles, they hope an eventual merger will help them better compete. In the remote coastal communities of Northern California, there's a rivalry over who has the tallest living Christmas tree. Beerus Alice Wolfley reports.

[Jim Campbell Spickler]

Jim Campbell Spickler is the director of the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka and kind of an expert when it comes to measuring tall trees.

[Unnamed Expert]

I would consider the measurements that we've completed to be official.

[Jim Campbell Spickler]

He says the coast redwood he strung with lights is 174ft, 9 inches tall. The zoo announced that it had the tallest known living decorated tree. But soon after, Campbell Spickler got a call.

[Unnamed Expert]

Well, hey, the folks down in Mendocino county at the skunk train claim to have a taller tree.

[Jim Campbell Spickler]

The historic railroad in the town of Willits says it decorated a redwood nearly 50ft taller. After seeing video evidence, Campbell Spickler agrees the rivalry is taller. He's offered to do an official measurement before next Christmas. Alice Wolfley, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Crude oil futures prices rose more than 1% today, reversing prior losses amid a brightening outlook on supply and demand. Oil gained 86 cents a barrel to settle at 70, 10 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Greenlight]

This message is sponsored by Greenlight, the debit card and money app made for families where kids learn how to save, invest and spend wisely with parental controls built in. Sign up this holiday [e-mail] NPR.