Government Shutdown Averted, German Christmas Market Attack, Netflix And The NFL

Summary

Up First from NPR: Government Shutdown Averted, German Christmas Market Attack, Netflix And The NFL

Release Date: December 21, 2024

In this episode of NPR’s Up First, hosts Scott Simon and Ayesha Rascoe delve into three major stories shaping the day: the narrowly averted U.S. government shutdown, a tragic attack at a German Christmas market, and Netflix’s ambitious venture into streaming NFL games. With insightful analysis and firsthand accounts, the episode provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of these pivotal events.

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1. Government Shutdown Averted

The episode opens with a critical update on the U.S. federal government’s near shutdown. As the clock ticked towards midnight, Congress ratified a bipartisan short-term spending plan, ensuring that government operations remain funded until mid-March.

Scott Simon announces at [00:02] that "The federal government will stay open at least until mid March," and Ayesha Rascoe adds at [00:06], "Congress ratifies a bipartisan short term spending plan to avert a government shutdown this weekend."

Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s insistence that any spending package should include a raise to the debt ceiling, Republicans opted to pass the deal without addressing the debt limit. Susan Davis, NPR’s political correspondent, explains at [03:50], “Musk and others helped drive opposition to the bill in part because it was initially 1500 pages long. Conservatives really don't like behemoth legislation like that. The new bill was just about 120 pages.”

The agreement includes approximately $100 billion for states recovering from natural disasters and extends farm programs for another year. However, cuts were made, such as the removal of pediatric cancer research funding and efforts to control prescription drug costs.

Susan Davis further elaborates at [04:01]: “Trump and his allies are going to point to things like the removal of a provision that would have given members of Congress their first pay raise in about 17 years. They didn't like the way that looked, especially at Christmas time for the party.”

The episode highlights the internal conflicts within the Republican party, notably the influence of Elon Musk, who opposed the original deal, leading to a slimmer, more manageable version being passed. Davis notes the political ramifications, suggesting that Trump’s maneuvering may expose his weaknesses, especially as House Republicans showed significant resistance to his demands.

2. German Christmas Market Attack

Transitioning to international news, the episode covers the harrowing incident at a German Christmas market in Magdeburg, where a man intentionally drove his vehicle into the crowd, resulting in at least five deaths and over 200 injuries.

Nancy Faser, a reporter, provides detailed coverage starting at [07:14], describing how the attacker, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor residing in Germany for two decades, managed to drive approximately 400 meters into the market before being stopped by authorities. Surveillance footage reveals the terrifying moments when the car barreled through the crowd at around 7 p.m. local time.

Faser discusses the suspect’s background and the prevailing uncertainty surrounding his motives. Initial reports suggest possible Islamophobic sentiments, drawing parallels to the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack claimed by the Islamic State. Faser shares insights from German Interior Minister Nancy Faser, stating at [07:56], “The suspect in this attack, this man of Saudi origin, was clearly Islamophobic.” However, the Minister refrains from detailing his political affiliations, keeping the investigation ongoing.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s response is also highlighted, emphasizing unity and solidarity in the face of tragedy. At [10:05], Faser recounts Scholz’s statements: “He talked about solidarity with the victims, solidarity with the city, solidarity with Germans as a whole.” Scholz also mentioned receiving international messages of support and stressed the importance of understanding the attack’s motivations as Germany approaches upcoming elections in February.

The episode underscores the heightened security measures across Germany’s Christmas markets and the broader political implications, especially with debates over immigration and security intensifying ahead of the elections.

3. Netflix and the NFL

Shifting focus to the realm of sports and entertainment, Up First explores Netflix’s latest endeavor to stream two NFL games on Christmas Day, complemented by a Beyoncé halftime show. John Oran, covering sports and business for Puck News, offers his perspective on this move.

At [11:14], Scott Simon introduces the topic: “Netflix will try to bring two live NFL games to viewers around the world.” Oran discusses the technical challenges Netflix might face, referencing past live events that experienced buffering issues. He remarks at [11:53], “There have been a couple of hiccups, particularly with the boxing match. The video wasn't as clear as people are expecting when they watch live events.”

Despite these challenges, Oran is optimistic about Netflix’s capabilities, drawing comparisons to Amazon’s successful streaming of millions of viewers without significant issues. He posits that while Netflix may encounter initial technical problems, their continuous advancements should mitigate these concerns over time.

The strategic implications for the NFL are significant. Oran explains at [13:03], “There's huge upside for the NFL. All of the sports leagues have been praying and trying to cajole Netflix into coming in and being a serious bidder for these rights.” Introducing Netflix into the bidding process could drive up prices and potentially lead to more lucrative deals for the league.

Moreover, Oran highlights the potential strain on viewers, who may need to subscribe to multiple streaming platforms to access all NFL games. He notes at [14:05], “Fans are getting disenfranchised by having these games going across so many different outlets.” Nonetheless, Netflix’s venture into live sports streaming signals a broader trend in the fragmentation of media consumption, pushing both networks and consumers to adapt to an increasingly digital landscape.

Looking ahead, Netflix’s acquisition of streaming rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cups indicates a long-term strategy to bolster its presence in sports broadcasting. Oran concludes at [15:03], “This is a step toward then to where we'll be looking to see if Netflix gets really serious or not.”

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First delivers a compelling blend of political maneuvering, international tragedy, and transformative shifts in the sports entertainment industry. By providing detailed analyses and expert insights, NPR ensures that listeners are well-informed about the critical issues shaping our world today.

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This summary is based on the transcript provided and adheres to NPR’s guidelines for content-focused recaps, excluding advertisements and non-relevant segments.

Transcript

[Scott Simon]

The federal government will stay open at least until mid March.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Congress ratifies a bipartisan short term spending plan to avert a government shutdown this weekend.

[Scott Simon]

I'm Scott Simon.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And I'm Ayesha Rascoe. And this is up first from NPR News. Republicans defy the demands of President elect Donald Trump and vote in favor of the deal.

[Scott Simon]

He wanted any spending package to also raise the debt ceiling, but the debt ceiling's gonna stay where it is for now.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

We'll have more on that story. Plus, a car plows into a busy Christmas market in Germany, killing at least five people and leaving more than 200 injured.

[Scott Simon]

And Netflix tries once more to stream major sports events, this time with two NFL games on Christmas Day.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

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

[John Oran]

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[Rebecca Collard]

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[Scott Simon]

Lawmakers voted late last night to approve the short term spending package just as the federal government was about to.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Shut down, but not until after Trump interfered with his own demands and threats.

[Scott Simon]

NPR political correspondent Susan Davis joins us. Sue, thanks for being with us.

[Susan Davis]

You're welcome.

[Scott Simon]

Just after midnight, renegotiated legislation was approved. What's in it?

[Susan Davis]

Well, it's a slimmed down version of the original bipartisan deal that was derailed earlier in the week after Trump and one of his newest top lieutenants, billionaire businessman Elon Musk, came out in opposition to it after it had been negotiated. It still keeps the government on autopilot until mid March. So don't worry, they get to do this all over again in the spring. It still includes about $100 billion for states still recovering from natural natural disasters like North Carolina and Hawaii, and it still extends farm programs for about a year. Speaker M. Johnson removed some previously agreed upon measures to cover things like pediatric cancer research funding, although I should note the Senate ultimately passed that last night as a standalone measure and a measure to try to control prescription drug costs because it was seen as too big of a giveaway to Democrats. One other thing, it's just shorter. Musk and others helped drive opposition to the bill in part because it was initially 1500 pages long. Conservatives really don't like behemoth legislation like that. The new bill was just about 120 pages.

[Scott Simon]

And this was something of a political aim for Donald Trump, who isn't, of course, not going to be president for another month. What did the president elect get out of this legislation?

[Susan Davis]

You know, I think Trump and his allies are going to point to things like the removal of a provision that would have given members of Congress their first pay raise in about 17 years. They didn't like the way that looked, especially at Christmas time for the party. But Scott, I think a lot of this episode this week potentially exposed more of Trump's political weaknesses. He tried to strong arm into the bill an unconditional increase in the debt ceiling. That's the nation's borrowing limit, because he wanted to do it on President Biden's watch to alleviate the political pressure on his administration to do it. When that vote happens, likely sometime next summer, not only is it not in the deal, but a failed second attempt to passage was rejected by 38 House Republicans. That's a pretty big number willing to directly defy Trump. And they did it even after he explicitly threatened to primary anyone who opposed opposed his plans in the 2026 midterms, saying simply, they don't seem to be afraid of that threat.

[Scott Simon]

Let me ask you about the status of Elon Musk following all this. Richest man in the world also now one of the most powerful men in politics.

[Susan Davis]

Absolutely. You know, Musk was really a central figure in killing this original deal. He used his social media platform X to drive public opposition to it. He was cheering on Republican lawmakers who were coming out in opposition to it. He and Vivek Ramaswamy are about to head up a new non governmental entity that was created by Trump. It's called the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk says they want to find about $2 trillion in spending cuts to the federal budget. That's a pretty big sum of money. And it's clear he intends to be a player here in these budgetary fights. And the next Congress is going to have a lot of them. Remember, Scott, the Trump tax cuts expire at the end of 2025. Republicans need to pass a budget first in order to extend them. They still need to pass all 12 spending bills from the last fiscal year and 12 more for this fiscal year. The other lesson this week is that Republicans can can't do any of it without Democrats. They need their votes in the House to pass anything spending related because there's always going to be a group of hardline conservatives who are going to oppose it. And Senate Democrats still have the filibuster. So they're still going to have a seat at the table in any spending talks in the next Congress as well.

[Scott Simon]

And House Speaker Mike Johnson up for reelection or replacement on January 3rd.

[Susan Davis]

Yeah.

[Scott Simon]

Are his prospects good?

[Susan Davis]

It's really hard to say, but they're not looking great. If for no other reason, he has almost no room for error. And it's unclear if Donald Trump's going to continue to back for the job. He's going to have to preside over one of the narrowest majorities in history and he can only lose 1, 2, maybe 3 votes and hold on to that gavel. So the new Congress could open on a fairly chaotic note. You know, remember, the House can't do a single thing until they elect a speaker. And we saw this happen just last fall when Republicans kicked out Speaker McCarthy. The House didn't operate for 21 days until Mike Johnson ultimately won that race. He and the House of Representatives could be facing a similar fate in just a few weeks.

[Scott Simon]

NPR political correspondent Susan Davis, thanks so much.

[Susan Davis]

You're welcome.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Authorities in Germany say a man intentionally drove a BMW into an outdoor Christmas market yesterday in the city of Magdeburg.

[Scott Simon]

They have identified the man as a Saudi doctor who has lived in the country for about two decades. His motive remains unclear. Reporter Rebecca Collard joins us. Thank you for being with us.

[Nancy Faser]

Hi.

[Scott Simon]

And begin, please, by telling us some of the details of yesterday's incident.

[Nancy Faser]

Yeah. So yesterday's attack took place about 7pm local time. And you can see in this security camera footage that's being run on German media that the incident looks really Terrifying. You can imagine for those that were inside this crowded market when this happened, just how scary this must have been. You can see this car barreling into the market through the crowd. And police say that the car traveled some 400 meters into the market before it was stopped. The official death toll was increased this morning and so was the number of people that are in serious condition. The police have also raided the home of the suspect, but really haven't provided more details about him. Scott, you know, what we know is that he's a 50 year old man of Saudi origin, a doctor, that he's been living in Germany since 2006. And we also know that he was living just south of where this attack took place. Police have also said that this man they think acted alone. But despite that, a number of Christmas markets and events have been cancele and security has been increased in a lot of locations across Germany.

[Scott Simon]

And nothing determined yet about any possible motive, I guess.

[Nancy Faser]

Yeah, you know, there's nothing official about the motive even though the suspect is in police custody. I will say, you know, yesterday as this news broke and police said this man was of Saudi origin, immediately there were comparisons to the Christmas market attack here in Berlin in 2016. And I think that is still, you know, very much etched in the mind, in the minds of Berliners. You know, then a man drove a truck through a crowded Christmas market killing 13 people. And that attack of course, was claimed by the Islamic State. Now, police have not released the suspect's name in this attack, which is normal here. But despite that, there's been an awful lot of speculation online and in the news media as to his identity, but also as to the motive of motive of this attack. German media are saying that the suspect has actually been sharing anti Islamic opinions online and even expressed support for the far right Alternative for Germany party, which is a party that wants to curb immigration. And some of the AfD Alternative for Germany party members have even been accused of racism and Islamophobia in the past. And then interestingly, Scott, after visiting the site today, German Interior Minister Nancy Faser told reporters that the suspect in this attack, this man of Saudi origin, was clearly Islamophobic. But the minister did not elaborate on his political affiliations. I do think that all of this speculation reflects a very intense political moment in Germany right now. Elections are scheduled for February and much of the debate here has really focused on both immigration and security.

[Scott Simon]

And I gather Chancellor Scholz visited the market earlier today. What did he have to say?

[Nancy Faser]

Yeah, I think a lot of the things that you would expect a chancellor to say in this position. So he talked about solidarity with the victims, solidarity with the city, solidarity with Germans as a whole. And he said, of course it's important that Germans not be divided by hate, but instead be united. You know, the chancellor said he also had received messages of support from around the world. And he said that an investigation is being carried out and that it is important to understand how this attack happened and also its motivation. And you know, Scott, just for a bit of context, Scholz lost a vote of confidence last week. And as I said, Germans are going to the polls in February and the future of Chancellor Scholz, his partners in this now broken political coalition is very uncertain. Scholz arrived at the market with the minister of Interior and then the minister of justice as well as the as the state premier who said that there will be a memorial service held this evening.

[Scott Simon]

Reporter Rebecca Collard in Berlin. Thanks so much.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Netflix has streamed live events before, but they are stepping up their game this Christmas Day.

[Scott Simon]

Netflix will try to bring two live NFL games to viewers around the world.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And a Beyonce halftime show to boot. Can Netflix handle that traffic? John Oran is here to tell us more. He covers sports and business for Puck News. Thank you for being with us.

[John Oran]

Thank you for having me, Asia.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Okay, so as I mentioned before, Netflix has hosted live events before. There was last month's boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, as well as a live reunion last year for the reality show Love is Blind. How have these live events gone in the past?

[John Oran]

Well, there have been a couple of hiccups, particularly with the boxing match. When people did get in, sometimes there were too many people that were watching so that the everything got buffered. The video wasn't as clear as people are expecting when they watch live events. So one of the main things I'm going to be watching for Christmas is to see whether people have problems coming in to watch the NFL games. And particularly, as you mentioned, when Beyonce ends up being the halftime show we know from the super bowl, the halftime show gets the highest ratings by far for the game because there's a crush of people that want to come in to see that. But really, this is a short term problem. Amazon has proved that it can get tens of millions of streams and still provide a quality broadcast with no buffering. I have no doubt that Netflix will get there. I do have some doubt whether they'll be able to get there next week or not.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

What's in it for the NFL? There is that risk of technical issues, even if that's just Short term, they're also competing against Christmas Day NBA games. So what is the upside for the NFL?

[John Oran]

Oh, there's huge upside for the NFL. The all of the sports leagues have been praying and trying to cajole Netflix into coming in and being a serious bidder for these rights. Because if Netflix comes in to be a serious bidder for these rights, it's like buying a house. If you get more than one bidder, the prices are going to go up. And what you have now is that you have NFL packages that all of the broadcast networks have that Amazon has. If they get one more bidder involved that will, that could say like, oh, you know what? I want to take Monday Night Football off of espn. And that better has deep pockets like Netflix. Sports rates are gonna continue to soar.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Are the viewers, the fans of these sports, are they making the jump to streaming? Like right now it seems like they need a cable package, Amazon Prime Video. They might need Peacock. Are they gonna have to add Netflix to the list? I mean, this could be a lot just for the fan to keep up.

[John Oran]

You know, you mentioned the NFL. Imagine being a New York Yankees fan and you need to get Roku, you need to get Apple tv. Plus you need to get Amazon prime. You need to get a cable subscription to watch it on yes network. All the leagues know that fans are getting disenfranchised by having these games going across so many different outlets like that right now. There's still a little bit of a testing mode. So yeah, you're gonna have to get a Netflix subscription if you want to watch every single NFL game. In addition to cable, in addition to Amazon, in addition to. There was an exclusive game on Peacock as well, there was an exclusive game on espn. That is going to change eventually, I would assume.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Netflix has secured the streaming rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cups. What does that tell you about the company's kind of longer term strategy when it comes to sports?

[John Oran]

There are going to be a lot of headlines about this deal saying here comes Netflix. But really this is still kind of dabbling in sports. To me. Netflix had the opportunity to get a significant NBA package and it declined to do that because that wasn't going to be a couple of hundred million dollars like the Women's World cup writes. That was going to be an investment in the billions of dollars. And they're not quite ready to make that sort of statement yet. But you certainly see where the trend line is going and when the next batch of rights are up by the end of this decade, which is when Major League Baseball rights are up. The NFL is going to potentially be up in 2029, 2030. This is a step toward then to where we'll be looking to see if Netflix gets really serious or not.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

That's Jon Ouran. He covers sports and business for Puck News. Thank you so much for joining us.

[John Oran]

That was fun. Thank you for having me.

[Scott Simon]

And that's up first for Saturday, December 21st, 2024. I'm Scott Simon.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And I'm Aisha Roscoe.

[Scott Simon]

Our producer is Martin Patience, who had help from Andrew Craig, Elena tuarek and Gabe O'Connor.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Our director is Danny Hensel.

[Scott Simon]

Our editors are Kelsey Snell, Nick Spicer, Shannon Rhodes, Will Jarvis and Matthew Sherman.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Andy Huether is our technical director, with engineering support from Zach Coleman, David Greenberg and Arthur Halliday Laurent.

[Scott Simon]

Evie Stone is our senior supervising editor. Sarah Lucy Oliver is our executive producer. And also along with us this week, Julia Redpath.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Luis Clemens is our deputy managing editor.

[Scott Simon]

Tomorrow on the Sunday story from up.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

First, the story of a young black man convicted for killing a white businessman and how he remained in prison even as witnesses recanted their testimony.

[Scott Simon]

And for more news, interviews, sports and music, you can tune into Weekend Edition on your radio. Just go to stations.NPR.org to find your local NPR station. They're looking for you.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

It'll be a holiday treatment. Foreign.

[Rebecca Collard]

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