Antisemitic Attacks In Amsterdam, Musk And Trump, Federal Judiciary Future

Summary

Up First from NPR: Detailed Summary

Episode: Antisemitic Attacks In Amsterdam, Musk And Trump, Federal Judiciary Future

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1. Antisemitic Attacks in Amsterdam

Overview: The episode opens with a harrowing account of recent antisemitic attacks in Amsterdam following a soccer match between Israel's Maccabee Tel Aviv team and Ajax Amsterdam. The city has responded by banning demonstrations for three days and increasing security measures to prevent further violence.

Key Points:

• Incident Details: After the match, supporters of the Israeli team were targeted in violent assaults. The Amsterdam mayor described Thursday as a "dark night," highlighting the severity of the attacks (Scott Simon, 03:11).
• Government Response: Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schof and King Willem Alexander have publicly condemned the violence. The King expressed shame over the attacks, referencing the Netherlands' tragic history during World War II when over 70% of its Jewish population was killed.
• Current Situation: Israeli fans were provided with special security and transport to the airport, and additional flights were arranged to ensure their safe return to Tel Aviv. Mayor Femke Halsema emphasized the city's determination to prevent such incidents, acknowledging the underlying tensions (Ayesha Rascoe, 04:04).
• Broader Implications: While the primary focus has been on condemning antisemitic acts, concerns have also been raised about the treatment of Palestinian protesters. Pro-Palestinian activists like Nadia Slimy have voiced fears of disproportionate violence against their communities, adding layers to the city's current climate of fear and anger (Terry Schultz, 06:04).

Notable Quotes:

• Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schof: “It's a terrible antisemitic attack and we will not tolerate and we will persecute the perpetrators. And I'm deeply ashamed that it would happen in the Netherlands in 2024.” (04:54)

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2. Elon Musk and Donald Trump's Relationship

Overview: The podcast delves into the burgeoning relationship between President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. This alliance has significant implications for both political dynamics and the strategic interests of Musk's various enterprises.

Key Points:

• Early Support: Elon Musk's support for Trump intensified in July following Trump's first assassination attempt. Musk's endorsement was visible through substantial campaign donations and pro-Trump messaging on his social media platform, X (07:48).
• Financial Contributions: Musk has donated over $100 million to Trump's campaign, solidifying a close bond between the two. This financial backing not only bolsters Trump's political standing but also positions Musk favorably within the incoming administration (09:31).
• Potential Benefits for Musk: Geeta Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School, highlights that Musk's companies—Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink—could significantly benefit from government contracts and reduced regulatory scrutiny under a Trump presidency. For instance, Tesla has received millions in government funding for EV charging stations, and SpaceX holds billion-dollar NASA contracts (08:44).
• Possible Government Roles: There are discussions about Trump appointing Musk to a government efficiency commission, which could grant Musk influence over federal agencies regulating his businesses. This potential appointment raises concerns about conflicts of interest, especially with ongoing federal investigations into Musk's companies (10:19).
• Shifts in Policy Stances: Trump's shifting stance on electric vehicles, previously critical, now aligns more closely with Musk's business interests, indicating a strategic alignment influenced by Musk's support (11:30).

Notable Quotes:

• Geeta Johar: “Both Musk and Trump have said they want to slash federal budgets. At rallies, Trump has hailed Musk as the 'secretary of Cost Cutting.'” (10:19)
• Trump (during a livestream interview): “I have to be, you know, because Elon endorsed me very strongly.” (11:33)

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3. Future of the Federal Judiciary Under Trump

Overview: The conversation shifts to the potential reshaping of the federal judiciary with Trump's anticipated return to office and a Republican-controlled Senate poised to influence judicial appointments.

Key Points:

• Judicial Landscape: During his first term, Trump appointed over 200 judges, significantly altering the federal courts' ideological balance. His appointments were noted for their willingness to engage in novel constitutional interpretations and less adherence to precedent (12:48).
• Supreme Court Implications: With two more potential appointments to the Supreme Court, the bench could solidify a conservative majority. Professor Stephen Vladek emphasizes that replacing older justices with younger, ideologically aligned ones could ensure decades of influence on the court's decisions (15:46).
• Potential Conflicts: While current justices maintain independence, there is speculation about how they might respond to aggressive policies from a second Trump administration, such as attempts to alter citizenship laws. The roles of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Barrett will be pivotal in such scenarios (15:46).
• Democratic Response: Despite Senatorial control, Democrats may push for swift confirmations of lower court nominees before the Senate turnover in January. However, strategic moves like encouraging retirements to expedite Democratic appointments are deemed risky and unlikely to succeed (16:54).

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Vladek: “The real impact… is how it will entrench those viewpoints for decades long.” (16:04)
• Professor Stephen Vladek: “Justice Sotomayor knows better than we do what kind of shape she's in and how her health is. And two, it's not clear to me that the Democrats would even be able to get a new nominee through in that period of time.” (17:22)

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Conclusion

The episode of Up First provides a comprehensive look into pressing international and national issues. From the distressing rise in antisemitic violence in Amsterdam to the intricate ties between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, the discussions highlight significant shifts in political and social landscapes. Additionally, the potential reshaping of the federal judiciary under a returning Trump administration underscores the long-term implications for American legal and political systems. Through in-depth reporting and expert insights, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of these complex topics.

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For more detailed coverage and updates, subscribe to NPR's Up First and support your local NPR station.

Transcript

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Hey, a quick word before today's up.

[Scott Simon]

First, the election's over. And as a new administration prepares to assume power, it is our job across the entire NPR network to report on what they do with that power.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

That's why we're here, because information is power, too.

[Scott Simon]

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[Ayesha Rascoe]

When you donate, you make a difference in our ability to continue doing this work.

[Scott Simon]

If you're already a supporter, we want to take this opportunity to say thank you.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

If you're not, go to donate.NPR.org to give donate.NPR.org and now, here's today's podcast.

[Scott Simon]

Amsterdam has banned demonstrations for three days and tightened security following attacks on Israeli soccer fans after a game.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

The city's mayor blamed anti Semitic hit and run squads.

[Scott Simon]

I'm Scott Simon.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

I'm Ayesha Rascoe. And this is up first from NPR News. President elect Donald Trump has certainly benefited from his relationship with billionaire Elon Musk.

[Scott Simon]

Musk donated millions of dollars to his campaign. He also posted lots of pro Trump messages on X.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

How could Musk benefit once Trump returns to the White House?

[Scott Simon]

Also, with the Senate under Republican control in the next Congress, what could that mean for the shape of the fact federal judiciary?

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend.

[Dara Kerr]

This message comes from HubSpot. Growing a business means a lot of audience attracting, lead scoring and long days. But with HubSpot, it's easier than ever for marketers to remix content, boost leads and score customers fast. Learn [e-mail] marketers this message comes from Noom.

[Terry Schultz]

Using psychology and biology to build personal meal plans to fit your lifestyle, taking into account dietary restrictions, medical issues and other personal needs with daily lessons that are personalized to you and your goals. Noom's flexible program focuses on progress instead of perfection to help you build new habits for a healthier lifestyle. Sign up for your trial [e-mail] this message comes from Bluehost. Make your ideas real with a website. Bluehost builds you a WordPress site in minutes with AI and optimizes growth with built in tools. So start building now. @bluehost.com this message comes from Progressive. What if comparing car insurance rates was as easy as putting on your favorite podcast? With Progressive, it is. Just visit their website to get a quote with all the coverages you want. You'll see Progressive's direct rate and their tools will provide options from other companies so you can compare then just choose the rate and coverage you like. Quote [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates comparison rates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.

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This message comes from Progressive Insurance where drivers who switch could save hundreds on car insurance. Get your [e-mail] today progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates this message comes from Wise, the app for doing things in other currencies. Send, spend or receive money internationally and always get the real time mid market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Download the Wise app today or visit wise.com Ts and Cs apply the violence.

[Scott Simon]

In Amsterdam broke out after a soccer match between Israel's Maccabee Tel Aviv team and Ajax Amsterdam Thursday night.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Israel's foreign affairs minister is in the Netherlands today to discuss the situation with his Dutch counterpart.

[Scott Simon]

Terry Schultz is in Amsterdam and joins us now. Thanks for being with us, Terry.

[Terry Schultz]

Hi Scott.

[Scott Simon]

Amsterdam's mayor called Thursday a dark night. What is it like there now?

[Terry Schultz]

Well, it's calm on the outside, but there's still plenty of tension under the surface. Right now I'm outside the Amsterdam Modern Orthodox Synagogue and the city said it was putting extra security in place around locations like this, which they feared could be targets. They're determined to prevent more incidents like we're seeing overnight Thursday, where supporters of the Israeli soccer team were, in the words of Dutch authorities themselves, hunted down and brutally beaten for being Jewish. All demonstrations have been banned in Amsterdam through the weekend and there are reports police are conducting home searches of people suspected in taking part in the attacks. The Israeli fans were given security and special transport to the airport Friday and extra flights were added to get them back to Tel Aviv quickly.

[Scott Simon]

Members of the Dutch government and even the king, I gather, have spoken out. What have they said?

[Terry Schultz]

That's right. There's been a lot of outrage from abroad and domestically. Here's Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schof.

[Scott Simon]

It's a terrible antisemitic attack and we will not tolerate and we will persecute the perpetrators. And I'm deeply ashamed that it would happen in the Netherlands in 2024. And of course, there's ugly history here, isn't there?

[Terry Schultz]

That's right. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Dutch King Willem Alexander called him Friday and said, quote, we failed the Jewish community of the Netherlands during World War II and last night we failed again. That's referring to the fact, as you mentioned, that the Netherlands is one of the countries which had the highest percentage of its Jewish population, over 70% killed during the Holocaust and beyond that, Scott, tonight will be the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, when Nazis and their supporters rampaged through Jewish synagogues and businesses and arrested tens of thousands of Jews. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema even referred to this tragic history in a press conference about the soccer incident. The survivors of the Holocaust, their children and grandchildren, she said, have admirably rebuilt their own communities after the war and made their city, which had failed them terribly during the war, flourish again. Hasima says she's ashamed of her city and furious.

[Scott Simon]

Terry Detro. Officials have confirmed reports that some Israeli soccer fans ripped up a Palestinian flag and shouted praise, sometimes using graphic language, for the destruction of Gaza. Is that being discussed?

[Terry Schultz]

Well, it is a bit on the authority side, they've really focused on condemning the anti Semitic attacks for now. But on social media and when talking to people in the streets, as I have, they also criticize the actions of the Israeli fans and soccer hooligans. What's seen as this imbalanced response is being called out by pro Palestinian activists like Nadia Slimy, a 28 year old woman who was present Thursday night at a planned protest that was kept away from the soccer stadium. The way that they treat us, the Palestinian protesters, with so much violence and we do not get escorts to our houses, we get escorts to jail or we get escorts too far outside of the city. Slimy told us she doesn't feel safe in Amsterdam and she's urging her parents to stay at home for fear they'll be attacked. So as I said at the beginning, on the surface things are calm here, but underneath there's a lot of fear and anger on all sides.

[Scott Simon]

Reporter Terry Schultz in Amsterdam. Terry, thanks so much for being with us.

[Terry Schultz]

You're welcome.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

President elect Donald Trump gave a special shout out during his victory speech this week to the billionaire with companies that make electric cars and shoot for the stars, Elon Musk.

[Scott Simon]

We have a new star. A star is born.

[Stephen Vladek]

Elon.

[Scott Simon]

Elon Musk is the richest man in the world and he owns several companies that could benefit from Trump's presidency. NPR's tech reporter Dara Kerr joins us. Dara, thanks for being with us.

[Geeta Johar]

Of course. Nice to be here.

[Scott Simon]

We've seen this relationship grow right in front of our eyes. How did it get started?

[Geeta Johar]

Elon Musk has been a supporter of Trump for a while, but it was really in July when things got revved up right after that first assassination attempt on almost immediately, Musk posted on his social media platform X. I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery. And that's when the bromance between the two of them really took off. Musk started deeply fundraising for Trump and posting more and more pro Trump content on X. At the same time, he was criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris. And in the last few weeks, Musk hit the campaign trail, speaking at Trump's rallies. In all, Musk has donated more than $100 million of money to the campaign. And this has really earned him what seems to be a very close relationship with the President Elect.

[Scott Simon]

And in addition to the benefits of friendship, what else could flow from this relationship?

[Geeta Johar]

It really boils down to all of the companies that Musk owns. Besides X. He has Tesla and SpaceX, the rocket company. He has Starlink, which is a satellite Internet company, and even more. And many of these companies rely on government GR and subsidies. Tesla, for example, has gotten millions in government funding to install EV charging stations. And SpaceX has been awarded billion dollar contracts from NASA for missions to the moon. And so now there are some fears that he can get more contracts or that he may face less government scrutiny. I spoke to Geeta Johar. She's a professor at the Columbia Business School.

[Dara Kerr]

I think the government contracts could be given without much oversight to Musk, whether it's for SpaceX or whether it is for his satellite links. And that's lack of regulation, lack of.

[Geeta Johar]

Oversight, all of which will serve to.

[Dara Kerr]

Benefit Musk, I should say.

[Geeta Johar]

The Trump campaign, representatives from Space X and X, and Musk himself did not respond to our request for comment. Just yesterday, Trump had a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. And several major news outlets have reported that Musk was also on the call, though NPR has not independently confirmed those reports. Musk's satellite company, Starlink, has played a big role in providing Internet access to Ukraine during the war.

[Scott Simon]

And of course, didn't Donald Trump mention that he might put Elon Musk on some government commission?

[Geeta Johar]

Yes. Yes, he did. This first came up in August when Musk interviewed Trump during a livestream conversation on X. Musk told Trump that he should create a, quote, government efficiency Commission. Shortly after that, Trump announced that he would create the commission and put Musk in charge, which is something that experts are saying could create a conflict of interest because Musk could have some sort of influence over the agencies that are tasked with policing his companies. And a lot of Musk companies are under some sort of federal investigation. We're talking inquiries by the Justice Department, the securities and Exchange Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and so on. And with this, quote, unquote efficiency commission. Both Musk and Trump have said they want to slash federal budgets. At rallies, Trump has hailed Musk as the, quote, secretary of Cost Cutting. And Musk has said he wants to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. That's nearly a third of the budget.

[Scott Simon]

Something that has puzzled me because of course, Elon Musk has a huge investment in electric vehicles.

[Geeta Johar]

Right.

[Scott Simon]

Donald Trump used to hate EVs, didn't he?

[Geeta Johar]

Yes, yes. But now he really seems to be on board with them. And Trump hasn't been giving Tesla real shout outs in his rallies in August, Trump said that he was all in for electric cars. And then he said, quote, I have to be, you know, because Elon endorsed me very strongly. So, Scott, it's really hard to tell what's going to happen come January, but there's no doubt that we are going to keep hearing about this very public relationship between the President of the United States and the world's richest man.

[Scott Simon]

Piers Derek Kerr, thanks so much.

[Geeta Johar]

Thank you.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Former President Donald Trump appointed more than 200 judges the first time he was in office.

[Scott Simon]

Now he's set to return next year. And with a Republican controlled Senate overseeing the appointment process for federal judges, how.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Could this further shape the federal judiciary? Stephen Vladek is a professor of law at Georgetown University and he joins us now. Welcome to the program.

[Stephen Vladek]

Thanks, Aisha. Great to be with you.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

So how different are federal courts today compared to when President elect Trump first assumed office eight years ago?

[Stephen Vladek]

Yeah, I mean, I think they're really quite different. And you know, one of the things that was a real hallmark of the judicial appointments during the first Trump administration wasn't just that they were Republican judges, Aisha, it was that they were a particular kind. Judges who were more willing, willing to entertain novel constitutional arguments, judges who might feel less beholden to precedent. You know, we saw a number of appointments like that across the Trump administration. You know, now with President Trump coming back into office next January, he'll have those four years of appointments plus, you know, dozens, if not hundreds of judges who will be able to appoint in his second term.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

But many of his policies during his first administration were stopped or delayed by federal judges. I'm thinking of the travel ban from majority Muslim countries, his effort to end DACA and others. Can we expect that this time around or is he more likely to face less resistance?

[Stephen Vladek]

I think what we'll see is Democratic states and left leaning interest groups trying to challenge Trump policies in those parts of the country where there might be a higher ratio of more sympathetic judges. I think the difference is that even if Democrats and other sort of critics of President Trump find some success in the lower courts, President Trump was able to put three justices on the Supreme Court, including Justice Barrett, right at the very end of his first term. That's a different majority for these policies than the 5 to 4 court that Trump had to deal with for almost all of his first term. I don't think he'll lose as many cases in the Supreme Court, and I think that's going to be a really interesting and important, you know, litmus test for just how much he's able to do in the second term.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Well, talk to me about the Supreme Court, you know, during a second Trump administration, as you mentioned, he'll have a 6 to 3 conservative majority. First, like, what's your assessment of how truly independent those six justices have been?

[Stephen Vladek]

Yeah, I mean, I think they've all been Ayesha. Independent in the sense that I don't think any of them feel especially beholden to President Trump. I think that the trickier question is, you know, how much do we expect any or all of those six justices to actually stand up to President Trump if he really does something crazy? I mean, if he carries through, for example, on his campaign promise to try to end birthright citizenship. And I think the most likely scenarios is that we see a bit of a split among the six Republican appointees. I think, at least with regard to the current composition of the court, the two most important figures in a second Trump term are absolutely going to be Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Barrett. And exactly where they're going to draw the lines in cases where, you know, the Trump administration really tries to reach out and set new precedents.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Let's turn to the future of the Supreme Court. The two most conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, are in their mid-70s. If Trump does get two more appointments, how far reaching would the effects of that be?

[Stephen Vladek]

I think what's interesting, Aisha, is if that were to come to pass overnight, it wouldn't change that much on the Supreme Court. The difference is it'll entrench that perspective and it'll entrench those viewpoints. You know, if you replace a justice who's in their late 70s with the justice who's in their mid-40s, that's another maybe 25 to 30 years of having one of the nine seats on the Supreme Court, you know, occupied by someone whose views are so far out of kilter. Right. From sort of most mainstream American thought. That's the real impact Right. That it'll be the decades long effect of those appointments, not the overnight effects.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

President Biden does still have two months left in office, over two months left in office and a Senate majority to go with it. What do you expect from him and the Democrats in the Senate?

[Stephen Vladek]

So, you know, there's already a whole bunch of pending nominees that are in the Senate as we speak for lower court judgeships. And I think there's going to be a real effort by the Democrats to push as many of Those through before January 3 when the Senate turns over. But I think for all of the talk that we've seen on social media about whether someone like a Justice Sotomayor should retire so that President Biden could fill that seat in the next six or seven weeks, I think that's a bit, I don't know, extreme in the sense that, one, you know, Justice Sotomayor knows better than we do what kind of shape she's in and how her health is. And two, you know, it's not clear to me that the Democrats would even be able to get a new nominee through in that period of time. It's quite a risk to run if you are the Democrats and you're worried about the possibility of actually having a Justice Sotomayor retirement, create a vacancy that a President Trump could fill.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

That's Professor Steven Vladek of Georgetown University. Thank you so much for being with us.

[Stephen Vladek]

Thank you.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And that's up first for Saturday, November 9th. I'm Ayesha Rascoe.

[Scott Simon]

And I'm Scott Simon. Michael Radcliffe produced today's podcast with help from Fernando Narrow and Martin Patience. Our director is Danny Hensel.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Our editors are Nick Spicer, Donald Clyde, Cara Platoni, Shannon Rhodes, Matthew Sherman, Ed McNulty and Melissa Grant.

[Scott Simon]

Hannah Gloveda is our technical director with engineering support from Neisha Hynes, Andy Huether and Arthur Halliday Laurent.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Evie Stone is our senior supervising editor. Sarah Lucy Oliver is our executive producer.

[Scott Simon]

And Jim Cain is our deputy managing editor.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Tomorrow on the Sunday story, what do the words of the US Constitution and its amendments really guarantee about the rights of Americans after more than 200 years and plenty of reinterpretation?

[Scott Simon]

And for more news, interviews, sports and music, you can listen to WEEKEND EDITION on your radio. Go to stations.NPR.org to find your local NPR station.

[Dara Kerr]

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