NPR News: 12-30-2024 4PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: December 30, 2024, 4 PM EST Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the day's most pressing events, spanning national mourning, international diplomacy, legal battles, economic indicators, sports milestones, social policy shifts, and demographic trends. Below is a detailed summary of the episode released on December 30, 2024.

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National Mourning: Farewell to Former President Jimmy Carter

The episode opens with a poignant tribute to the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. Louise Schiavone reports that Carter died yesterday at the age of 100. A state funeral is scheduled for January 9th at the Washington National Cathedral. President Biden has declared the day a national day of mourning, reflecting on Carter's extensive impact.

Jason Carter, Jimmy Carter's grandson, shared insights into his grandfather's enduring legacy:

"I think my grandfather was really driven by his faith and his desire to do what he could to help others and particularly the most marginalized people in the world. And so for him, the Carter Center was really designed to be a place of peace and ultimately to be a place of fighting disease."
(00:54)

Carter's final resting place will be his hometown of Plains, Georgia, symbolizing his deep-rooted connection to the community he served.

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International Relations: Ukraine Engages with Syria

Shifting focus to global affairs, Dia Hadid reports on a significant diplomatic move as Ukraine seeks to build relationships with Syria, a country historically allied with Russia. This development marks a strategic pivot for Ukraine amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Syria's new leader, Ahmad al Shadar, expressed a desire to foster good relations with Western nations, including Ukraine. This initiative comes at a time when Russia's influence in the region appears to be diminishing. Highlighting the contrast in international support, the Ukrainian foreign minister stated:

"We have donated 500 tonnes of desperately needed flour to Syria, contrasting with Russia, which has only given Syria weapons and bombs."
(01:27)

Additionally, Ukraine has offered to share its expertise in conducting investigations to hold war criminals accountable, further solidifying its commitment to international justice and cooperation.

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Legal Developments: Trump’s Defamation Verdict Upheld

In a notable legal update, Samantha Max reports that a New York federal appeals court has upheld a $5 million verdict against former President Donald Trump. The jury found Trump liable for defaming and sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll.

Trump contested the verdict, arguing that the presiding judge erred by allowing testimony from two other women who accused him of sexual abuse and permitting a recording of him discussing inappropriate behavior. However, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled:

"Trump did not prove the judge made any errors that affected his rights."
(02:29)

Trump's legal team has dismissed the case as a "hoax," maintaining their stance against the court's decision.

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Economic Indicators: Wall Street Performance

As the financial markets approach the close of the day, Louise Schiavone provides a brief overview of Wall Street's performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Down 418 points
• NASDAQ: Down 235 points
• S&P 500: Lost 63 points

(03:09)

These declines reflect broader economic sentiments and may influence investor strategies moving into the new year.

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Sports Highlight: LeBron James’ Historic Milestone

Celebrating a significant sports achievement, Louise Schiavone highlights that LeBron James, playing for the LA Lakers, turns 40 today. James has become the first NBA player in history to compete in his teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s, showcasing remarkable longevity and dedication to the sport.

(03:09)

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Social Policy: Shifts in Abortion Rights Across the U.S.

The episode delves into the evolving landscape of abortion rights in the United States, with Alyssa Nadworny reporting on the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the federal right to abortion over two years ago. This ruling has left the issue to be determined by individual states, resulting in a patchwork of access across the nation.

Key points include:

• Regional Disparities: Limited access in southern states like Texas, Florida, and South Carolina, contrasted with protections in the Northeast and on the West Coast.
• Ballot Initiatives: This fall saw 10 states put abortion rights on the ballot, with most voters supporting protections despite Republican opposition within state legislatures.
• Federal Influence: The incoming Trump administration's stance remains ambiguous. Trump has stated he does not support a national abortion ban or restrictions on abortion medication. However, anti-abortion groups aligned with him are urging the use of existing laws to reduce nationwide access.

(03:51)

These developments highlight the ongoing contention and regional variations in abortion legislation.

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Demographic Insights: Population Growth Projections

Concluding the episode, Louise Schiavone presents demographic statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau:

• Global Population: Increased by more than 71 million in 2024, reaching an estimated 8.09 billion by New Year's Day.
• U.S. Population: Expected to be 341 million on New Year's Day, with projections indicating one birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds in January.

(04:35)

These figures underscore significant population growth and demographic shifts both globally and within the United States.

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NPR News Now continues to provide timely and in-depth coverage of critical issues, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the latest developments impacting the nation and the world.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. A state funeral is scheduled for January 9th at Washington National Cathedral for former President Jimmy Carter, who died yesterday at the age of 100. President Biden has declared that day to be a national day of mourning as the nation and the world recall the highs and lows of the late former president's life before, during and after his presidency. His grandson Jason Carter, offered this take on Jimmy Carter's legacy.

[Jason Carter]

I think my grandfather was really driven by his faith and his desire to do what he could to help others and particularly the most marginalized people in the world. And so for him, the Carter center was really designed to be a place of peace and ultimately to be a place of fighting disease.

[Louise Schiavone]

The late president will be buried in his hometown, Plains, Georgia. Ukraine's foreign minister has met with Syria's new ruler in Damascus. This as Kyiv tries to build relations with a country once allied with Russia. NPR's Dia Hadid reports.

[Dia Hadid]

Syria was once a close ally of Russia, so close that the former Syrian ruler Bashar al Assad, fled to Russia as rebels overran Damascus in early December. But Syria's new leader, Ahmad al Shadar, says he wants the country to have good relations with the west, including Ukraine. And Ukraine also wants to build ties with Syria as Russia's influence now wanes. That point was driven home when the Ukrainian foreign minister said they had donated 500 tonnes of desperately needed flour to Syria. The minister contrasted that with Russia, which he said had only given Syria weapons and bombs. The minister says his country is also ready to share its experience in conducting investigations to hold war criminals accountable. Dear Hadid, NPR News, Damascus.

[Louise Schiavone]

A New York federal appeals court has upheld a $5 million verdict finding Donald Trump liable for defaming and sexually abusing the writer E. Jean Carroll. Samantha Max of member station wnyc.

[Samantha Max]

A jury ordered Trump to pay advice columnist E. Jean Carroll after a civil trial last year. Trump argued the judge overseeing the case made errors and that he should get a new trial. He said the judge shouldn't have allowed testimony of two other women who accused him of sexual abuse. He also said the jury shouldn't have been allowed to hear a recording of him talking about grabbing women by the genitals. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump did didn't prove the judge made any errors that affected his rights. Trump's attorney called the case a hoax. For NPR News, I'm Samantha Max in New York.

[Louise Schiavone]

On Wall street approaching the close, the Dow Jones industrial average was off 418 points, the NASDAQ was down 235 points, and the S&P 500 lost 63. This is NPR News. In Washington, LeBron James of the LA Lakers is celebrating a milestone. He turns 40 today. He's now the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. 2024 brought more dramatic changes in abortion rights across the United States. It's been over two years since the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion, leaving the issue up to states. NPR's Alyssa Nadworny reports.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

The number of abortions in the U.S. continues to go up, despite the fact that access to it in the US Is really a patchwork. In the south, from Texas over to Florida up to South Carolina, there's very limited access. But then in the Northeast or on the west coast, there's protections. This fall, 10 states put abortion rights on the ballot, and for the most part, they voted in support of abortion rights. And yet many states have GOP opposition in legislatures. Meanwhile, it's unclear what the incoming Trump administration will do. Trump says he doesn't support a national abortion ban and he doesn't want to limit abortion medication, but but anti abortion groups who support him are urging him to use existing laws and regulations to make abortion less accessible nationwide. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

The U.S. census Bureau estimates the world population increased by more than 71 million people in 2024 and will be 8.09 billion people on New Year's Day. The U.S. population will be 341 million people on New Year's Day. The U.S. is expected to have one birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.4 seconds in January. I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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