NPR News: 12-28-2024 6PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – December 28, 2024, 6 PM EST

Hosted by NPR, "NPR News Now" delivers the latest updates in five minutes, refreshed hourly. This episode from December 28, 2024, covers a range of pressing issues from government actions against disinformation to the resilience of communities recovering from natural disasters, economic trends during the holiday season, environmental concerns, public health insights, and notable lottery news.

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1. Government Shutdown of Disinformation Tracking Office

Key Points:

• The U.S. State Department has officially closed the Global Engagement Center, an office dedicated to identifying and countering foreign disinformation from nations like Russia, China, and Iran.
• Funding for the center was removed by Republicans in Congress through the National Defense Authorization Act.
• The closure comes after three months of operation where the center actively reported on various international disinformation campaigns.

Notable Quote: Elon Musk, a Trump advisor and multi-billionaire, criticized the shutdown, stating it was “the worst offender in the U.S. government of censorship and media manipulation.”

Timestamp: [00:34]

Reporter: Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.

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2. Ongoing Recovery from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina

Key Points:

• Three months post-Hurricane Helene, over 5,000 residents remain displaced, still awaiting assistance to rebuild their homes.
• Winter weather conditions have significantly impeded repair and reconstruction efforts, prolonging the displacement.
• FEMA is exploring longer-term housing solutions amidst a regional shortage of affordable housing, necessitating rental assistance at up to twice the fair market value.

Notable Quote: Pinky Anderson, a 14-year-old daughter among the storm survivors, expressed the community’s frustration: “It's just gone on too long and we need some help. We are totally forgotten. We're not seen right now.”

Timestamp: [01:30]

Reporter: Jay Price, WUNC.

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3. Robust Holiday Spending Trends Amid Inflation Concerns

Key Points:

• Consumers increased their spending by 3.8% compared to the previous year, with expenditures surpassing inflation rates.
• Notably, restaurant spending saw a significant rise of over 6%, indicating higher consumer willingness to spend on dining experiences.
• Shoppers prioritized deals and discounts, contributing to a bustling holiday shopping season. The final five days before Christmas accounted for 10% of total holiday spending, highlighting a surge in last-minute purchases.

Notable Insight: Alina Selyuk reports that the increase in spending reflects not just higher prices but an actual growth in the quantity of goods and services purchased.

Timestamp: [02:31]

Reporter: Alina Selyuk, NPR News.

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4. Kilauea Volcano Eruption Prompts Safety Warnings in Hawaii

Key Points:

• Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted on December 23, marking its third eruption this year.
• The eruption has attracted visitors keen to witness the lava flows, but the National Park Service advises adherence to safety protocols.
• Authorities warn of potential re-eruptions and continue to monitor high levels of toxic gas emissions, urging visitors to remain on designated trails and avoid restricted areas.

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, Washington.

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5. Loneliness Resurges Among Older Adults to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Key Points:

• A study by the University of Michigan's National Poll on Healthy Aging reveals that one-third of older adults (ages 50 to 80) experience feelings of loneliness regularly.
• Chronic loneliness is linked to increased risks of cardiovascular diseases and dementia, framing it as a significant public health concern.
• Researchers advocate for proactive measures to foster human connections as a form of preventive healthcare.

Notable Quote: Preeti Malani, study author, emphasized actionable steps: “We can all walk across the street. We can knock on people's doors. We can make plans to visit.”

Timestamp: [04:24]

Reporter: Emily Kwong, ZNPR.

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6. Mega Millions Jackpot Wins $1.2 Billion in California

Key Points:

• After a three-month hiatus without a top prize winner, a $1.2 billion Mega Millions ticket was sold in California.
• This jackpot is recognized as the fifth highest unclaimed prize in the lottery’s history.
• As no winner has yet come forward, the prize remains available, awaiting the fortunate ticket holder to claim it.

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, Washington.

Timestamp: [04:37]

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Conclusion: This episode of "NPR News Now" encapsulates a snapshot of significant national and international events, highlighting governmental shifts, ongoing recovery from natural disasters, economic behaviors influenced by holiday seasons, environmental alerts, public health challenges, and noteworthy lottery outcomes. These stories collectively provide listeners with a comprehensive overview of the current socio-political and economic landscape.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded to focus solely on the newsworthy subjects discussed during the episode.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The State Department has shut down an office that was tracking disinformation efforts by Russia, China and others. Republicans in Congress had stripped the office of funding. As Peer's Michelle Kellerman reports, the Global.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Engagement center was set up to expose and counter foreign propaganda that could undermine stability in countries that are partners to the US Trump advisor multi billionaire Elon Musk called it the worst offender in the U.S. government of censorship and media manipulation. Its funding was stripped in the National Defense Authorization Act. The State Department says the Global Engagement center terminated operations on December 23, and the Department is consulting with Congress on next steps. The office had been reporting on Russian disinformation campaigns around the world, as well as exposing Iranian and Chinese propaganda. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Three months after Hurricane Helene hit mountain communities of western North Carolina, thousands are still out of their homes. Jay Price from member station WUNC reports. Winter weather is now slowing repair work.

[Jay Price]

Pinky Anderson and her 14 year old daughter are among more than 5,000 storm survivors FEMA still has in hotels. She's applied with FEMA and a charity group for money to fix their damaged house, but doesn't have any word yet. She says many of the 23 others in their small hotel in tiny Newland, North Carolina, are in the same fix.

[Pinky Anderson]

It's just gone on too long and we need some help. We are totally forgotten. We're not seen right now.

[Jay Price]

FEMA officials are trying to find longer term options for those who are displaced. It's put a few dozen so far into most and more than 500 into rental housing, but the area already had a shortage of affordable housing and FEMA is having to offer rent of up to twice the fair market value. For NPR News, I'm Jay Price.

[Jeanine Herbst]

During the busy holiday shopping seasons, people spent 3.8% more in stores and online as compared to last year. That's according to early results from MasterCard, which tracks payment transactions. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports.

[Alina Selyuk]

Holiday spending is roughly in line with what economists had expected, and it's largely surpassing inflation, meaning people are actually buying more things this year, not just paying higher prices for the same amount of stuff. This is particularly true about restaurant meals. MasterCard's data shows spending at restaurants growing more than 6% this year compared to last year, shoppers did pay particular attention to deals and discounts. Surveys suggest this was one of the reasons the holiday shopping season was quite busy, because people were hoping and waiting to snag things on sale. In fact, MasterCard says people waited a lot, with the last five days before Christmas accounting for 10% of all holiday season spending. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. The National Park Service is warning visitors to Hawaii's Kilauea volcano to heed warnings and safety precautions. Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, started erupting Monday, its third eruption this year. So far. The volcanic activity has drawn visitors to watch the lava flow, but park officials are telling people stay on the trails and out of the closed areas. The Park Service says the eruption could restart at any time and that toxic gas emissions are still high. Loneliness is back to pre pandemic levels in older adults. ZNPR's Emily Kwong reports a lot can be done to support lonely Americans this holiday season.

[Emily Kwong]

Among older adults ages 50 to 80, 1/3 say, yeah, I feel lonely at least some of the time. That's according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging run by the University of Michigan that has health risks. Chronic loneliness can lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. So study author Preeti Malani wants everyone to think of loneliness as a health problem that can be treated and prevented.

[Preeti Malani]

We can all walk across the street. We can knock on people's doors. We can make plans to visit.

[Emily Kwong]

Actively cultivating human connection is its own kind of medicine. For NPR News, I'm Emily Kwong.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The winning ticket for the $1.2 billion Mega Millions lottery jackpot was sold in California. This after three months without anyone winning the top prize in that lottery. Mega Millions says this jackpot was the fifth highest one no one so far has come forward to claim the prize. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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