NPR News: 12-31-2024 9AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – December 31, 2024

Host: Korva Coleman
Release Date: December 31, 2024
Duration: 5 Minutes
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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National Day of Mourning for Former President Jimmy Carter

Korva Coleman opens the episode by announcing a national day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, set for Thursday, January 9. Carter’s lying in state at the U.S. Capitol and his state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral mark significant milestones in civil rights history during his administration.

NPR's Kristen Wright delves into the legacy of the Carter administration, highlighting pivotal moments in the disability rights movement. She recounts a 1977 protest where activists occupied a federal building in San Francisco to pressure the Carter administration into enforcing regulations against discrimination towards people with disabilities.

Mary Lou Breslin, a representative from the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, reflects on the event:

"Expectation and joy and sort of appreciation for the fact that it was possible to take over a federal building in San Francisco and be supported in doing it by the community." [01:08]

After a 26-day sit-in and subsequent White House meeting, the administration issued Section 504 regulations, setting the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This action is recognized as a turning point in ensuring equal rights for individuals with disabilities.

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Ongoing War in Gaza and Ceasefire Negotiations

Korva Coleman transitions to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where no ceasefire has been achieved between Israel and Hamas. Emily Feng reports from Tel Aviv, outlining the complexities of the ceasefire talks this year.

Hamas has agreed to allow Israeli troops to remain temporarily in specific areas between Egypt and Gaza, as well as within Gaza itself. However, disagreements persist over the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for hostages held by Hamas. Additionally, Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire, while Israel seeks a temporary truce initially.

Jamal Zahaka, a former member of Israel's parliament, provides insight into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance:

"I think Netanyahu is waiting for Trump." [02:16]

Zahaka explains that Netanyahu anticipates securing more concessions if Donald Trump returns as U.S. President, viewing Trump as a closer political ally. This political dynamic adds another layer of complexity to the peace negotiations.

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New York City's First Congestion Toll

On the transportation front, Korva Coleman reports that New York City is set to implement the nation’s first congestion toll on Sunday. Drivers entering Manhattan may face fees up to $9, aimed at reducing traffic and pollution in the city’s core.

However, the initiative faces opposition from New Jersey, which has filed a federal lawsuit to block the toll. Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey criticizes the policy, citing environmental and traffic concerns:

"This is going to cause a massive amount of cancer causing pollution in northern N.J. It's going to mess up traffic further in the region." [02:55]

A federal judge has determined that federal authorities must weigh in on the matter. Nonetheless, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York insists that the congestion toll will proceed as planned, underscoring the city’s commitment to its traffic reduction goals.

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Widespread Power Outages in Puerto Rico

Korva Coleman updates listeners on a severe power outage affecting most of Puerto Rico. The island’s utility company, Luma, reports that approximately 1.3 million customers are without electricity. Officials estimate that power restoration could take up to two days, attributing the outage to a failure in an underground power line.

This incident highlights Puerto Rico's ongoing struggles with power infrastructure, compounded by the extensive damage from powerful hurricanes in 2017. The repeated outages reflect the challenges the island faces in maintaining and upgrading its crumbling power grid.

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Surge in Popularity of Spy-Themed TV Series

The podcast also touches on the entertainment industry's trends, specifically the rise of spy-themed television series. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans notes that shows like Apple TV’s “Slow Horses” and Netflix’s “Black Doves” have dominated the streaming landscape in 2024.

In Slow Horses, Gary Oldman stars as Jackson Lamb, a disheveled yet cunning spy who interacts with his team in his unique, abrasive style:

"You people are slows, bringing you up to speeds like trying to explain Norway to a dog." [04:11]

Deggans credits the popularity of such series to their high-quality storytelling and complex characters, listing other notable spy shows like Netflix's “The Diplomat” and Peacock's “The Day of the Jackal”. He praises the genre for filling a significant niche in television for 2024.

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New Year’s Celebrations Across the Globe

Concluding the episode, Korva Coleman provides a brief update on New Year’s celebrations worldwide. As the clock strikes midnight in Auckland, New Zealand, fireworks light up the sky. Simultaneously, revelers in Eastern Australia have already begun ushering in the new year, marking the beginning of 2025 in various parts of the world.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on December 31, 2024, providing listeners with a clear and engaging overview of the latest news across multiple domains.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. There will be a national day of mourning Thursday, January 9, for former President Jimmy Carter. He he will lie in state at the U.S. capitol, and his state funeral will be held at the Washington National Cathedral, a landmark moment in civil rights history played out during the Carter administration. NPR's Kristen Wright reports on how a mass sit in and nationwide protests are remembered as an important turning point of the disability rights movement.

[Kristen Wright]

In 1977, protesters occupied a federal building in San Francisco. They wanted to convince the Carter administration to finally enact regulations that would prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities by entities receiving federal funds. President Carter had made a campaign promise. Mary Lou Breslin, with a disability rights Education and defense Fund stayed for days.

[Mary Lou Breslin]

Expectation and joy and sort of appreciation for the fact that it was possible to take over a federal building in San Francisco and be supported in doing it by the community.

[Kristen Wright]

After 26 days of the sit in and a White House meeting, the regulations or section 504 were issued paving the way for the Americans with disabilities act in 1990. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The war in Gaza continues and no ceasefire has been struck between Israel and Hamas. NPR's Emily Feng reports from Tel Aviv that ceasefire talks this year have been rocky.

[Emily Feng]

After months of talks, Hamas conceded to Israel's demands to let their troops temporarily remain in a sliver of land in between Egypt and Gaza and in Gaza itself. But there's still disagreement about which Palestinian prisoners and detainees Israel release for surviving hostages in Gaza. Plus, Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire. Israel wants a temporary truce first. Jamal Zahaka, a former member of Israel's parliament who worked closely with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says he thinks the prime minister is no longer in a rush to secure a ceasefire.

[Jamal Zahaka]

I think Netanyahu is waiting for Trump, he says.

[Emily Feng]

Netanyahu believes he can get more concessions after Trump becomes US President again because he sees Trump as a closer political ally. Emily Feng, NPR News, Tel Aviv, Israel.

[Korva Coleman]

This Sunday, New York City is supposed to start imposing the country's first congestion toll on drivers. Motorists have to pay as much as $9 if they want to drive into the heart of Manhattan. Supporters say it will cut the number of cars there. But New York City's neighbor, New Jersey, filed a federal lawsuit to try to stop it. New Jersey Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer says the congestion tool creates problems.

[Josh Gottheimer]

This is going to cause a massive amount of cancer causing pollution in northern New J. It's going to mess up traffic further in the region.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal judge says that federal authorities will have to weigh in on the issue. But New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul insists the city toll is going to start on Sunday. This is npr. Most of Puerto Rico has been plunged into the dark. The island's utility company, Luma, says 1.3 million customers do not have electricity. Officials say it could take up to two days to restore power. Officials suggest the problem could be a failure in an underground power line. Puerto Rico is struggling with power outages and a crumbling power grid. The island was badly damaged after powerful Hurricanes raked the US territory in 2017. TV series with spies such as Slow Horses on Apple TV and Netflix's Black Doves were a huge trend this year. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans reports. They also topped his list of the best series in 2024.

[Eric Deggans]

In slow horses, Gary Oldman's Jackson Lamb is a slovenly but cunning spy with a unique way of talking to his staff.

[Gary Oldman]

You people are slows, bringing you up to speeds like trying to explain Norway to a dog.

[Eric Deggans]

Slow Horses is among a rush of programs centered on spies, which are the best shows on tv, including Black Doves, Netflix's the Diplomat and Peacock's the Day of the Jackal. Other shows like FX's Lush Shogun, also topped some critics best of lists. But Spies Negotiating Modern Life filled high quality TV in 2024. Eric Deggans, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

It is already New Year's Day 2025 in some parts of the world. People in Auckland, New Zealand, rang in the new Year with fireworks. Revelers have already started to ring in the new Year in Eastern Australia. This is npr.

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