NPR News: 12-29-2024 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 30, 2024 Episode Summary

Released: December 30, 2024

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1. Former President Jimmy Carter Passes Away

Host: Dale Willman

The podcast begins with the somber news of the passing of former President Jimmy Carter at the age of 100. Having spent the last two years in hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, Carter is recognized as the longest-lived American president.

President Joe Biden expressed his condolences, stating, “[Entire] Carter family, on behalf of the world, the whole nation, we send our whole heartfelt sympathies and gratitude, our gratitude for sharing President Carter with us for so many years. You know, Jimmy Carter stands as a model of what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose, life of principle, faith and humility, his life dedicated to others” ([00:42]).

Analysis of Carter’s Presidency: NPR's Stephen Fowler delves into Carter’s tenure, highlighting the myriad challenges he faced:

• Economic Struggles: Carter's administration grappled with an energy crisis and soaring inflation, contributing to his unpopularity.

• International Crises: The Iran hostage situation was a pivotal event that overshadowed his presidency and played a significant role in his defeat by Ronald Reagan after just one term ([01:27]).

Post-Presidency Contributions: After leaving office, Carter earned acclaim as a humanitarian and democracy advocate. His volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize underscore his lasting impact beyond his presidential legacy.

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2. Azerbaijan Accuses Russia of Downing Airliner

Host: Dale Willman

A tragic aviation incident has emerged as Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev holds Russia accountable for the recent crash of an Azerbaijani airliner. The plane, en route from Baku to a Russian city, crashed in Kazakhstan, resulting in 38 fatalities and leaving 29 survivors.

President Ilham Aliyev’s Statement: In an interview broadcasted on Azerbaijan television, Aliyev asserted, “we can say with complete clarity the plane was shot down by Russia” ([02:32]). While he mentioned there is no evidence Russia intended to strike the passenger liner, he criticized Russian officials for their initial denials and the dissemination of misleading information. Aliyev called on Russia to prosecute those responsible and to provide compensation to the affected families.

Details of the Incident: The aircraft began exhibiting erratic flight patterns before ultimately crashing. Aliyev has engaged in at least two discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the incident, although specific details of their exchanges remain undisclosed ([02:32]).

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3. Tragic Death of Sasquatch Hunters in Washington

Host: Dale Willman

In a heartbreaking story from Washington state, two men from Portland, Oregon, lost their lives while searching for the legendary creature known as Bigfoot.

Details of the Incident: Chandelyse Duster reports that a 37-year-old man and a 59-year-old man embarked on a three-day expedition in eastern Skamania County, within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, starting on Christmas Day. They were expected to return by Christmas Eve but were reported missing shortly thereafter.

Cause of Death: Authorities discovered the men deceased in a heavily wooded area, with initial reports indicating that their deaths were likely due to exposure, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions and insufficient preparation ([03:30]).

Bigfoot Context: The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization notes over 700 sightings in Washington state alone. Legal repercussions exist in Skamania County for harming the mythical creature, which can result in jail time.

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4. Box Office Highlights for the Weekend

Host: Dale Willman

Shifting to lighter news, the podcast covers the latest box office successes over the weekend:

• "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" emerged as the top-grossing family film, amassing $38 million from North American theaters ([04:19]).

• "Mufasa" closely followed with a $37.1 million take ([04:19]).

• In the horror genre, the R-rated "Nosferatu" had a robust opening weekend, earning $21.1 million ([04:19]).

• Thanksgiving release holdovers, "Wicked" and "Moana 2", continued to perform well, rounding out the weekend’s top five films ([04:19]).

These figures indicate a strong showing for both family-friendly and genre-specific films, highlighting diverse audience interests during the holiday season.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive roundup of significant events, from the passing of a revered statesman and international aviation tensions to a tragic local incident and notable entertainment industry updates. By presenting detailed reports and including poignant quotes from key figures, the summary offers listeners a thorough understanding of the day's major stories.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

From NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Former President Jimmy Carter has died. He had spent much of the last two years in hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, and his family says he died peacefully. Carter was 100 years old, making him the longest lived American president. President Joe Biden mourned Carter's death and says the world lost a remarkable leader, statesman and humanitarian with his passing, the.

[Joe Biden]

Entire Carter family, on behalf of the world, the whole nation, we send our whole heartfelt sympathies and gratitude, our gratitude for sharing President Carter with us for so many years. You know, Jimmy Carter stands as a model of what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose, life of principle, faith and humility, his life dedicated to others.

[Dale Willman]

And Biden said the world lost a friend when Carter died. Carter spent just one term in office before being defeated by Ronald Reagan. Carter's administration had many difficult issues to overcome, from an energy crisis and soaring inflation to the Iran hostage crisis. NPR's Stephen Fowler has more on the Carter presidency.

[Stephen Fowler]

Carter's time in office was a time of crisis. I mean, he's known now as a humanitarian waging peace. But when he was president, he had a difficult road. He helped broker a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. He tried to bring the nation together in the wake of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. But he was president during a major economic crisis, inflation. He was a deeply, deeply unpopular president, one of the most unpopular presidents in the last several decades. And at the end of this term, there was the Iran hostage crisis, which was ultimately part of what led to his loss.

[Dale Willman]

Once he left office, Carter built a reputation as a humanitarian and a champion of democracy. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, and he eventually earned a Nobel Peace Prize. The president of Azerbaijan says Russian anti aircraft weapons hit the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed this week, killing 38 people. Spe speaking on Azerbaijan television, Ilham Aliyev criticized Russian officials for initially denying any involvement. NPR's Brian Mann has more.

[Brian Mann]

President Aliyev said in the interview, we can say with complete clarity the plane was shot down by Russia. He added, there's no evidence Russia struck the passenger liner intentionally. But Aliyev accused Russia of trying to hush up the incident by giving what he described as delirious versions of the crash. He called for Russia to prosecute those involved and pay compensation. The plane was en route from Azerbaijan's capital, Bakut, a city in Russia, when it began to fly erratically, eventually crashing in nearby Kazakhstan. 29 people survived. In a statement, Aliyev's office said he has spoken a second time with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the downed plane. The statement offered no details about their exchange. Brian Mann, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Dale Willman]

This is NPR News. A pair of men from Portland, Oregon, have died while on a search for Sasquatch in Washington state. NPR's Chandelyse Duster has more on their death and their search for the mythical Sasquatch.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Police say a 37 year old man and a 59 year old man had been searching for the legendary creature known as Bigfoot in eastern Skamania County. They were supposed to return home on Christmas Eve and were reported missing by a family member after a three day search beginning on Christmas Day. Police say they found the men dead in a heavily wooded area of Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Police say their deaths appear to be caused by exposure based on weather conditions and ill preparedness. While the creature's existence is unclear, the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization says there have been more than 700 reports of Bigfoot sightings in Washington state alone. Harming the creature if found in Skamania county is considered a crime and can lead to jail time. Shondalyse Duster, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Two family films dominated the box office this weekend. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 took first place in ticket sales, bringing in $38 million from North American theaters. Mufasa was a close second with a take of $37.1 million. The R rated horror flick Nosferatu, meanwhile, had a surprisingly strong opening weekend. It brought in $21.1 million and the Thanksgiving release holdovers, Wicked and Moana 2 continued to show life in the theater as they came in and rounded out the weekend's top five. I'm Dale Willman and you're listening to NPR News.

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