Latest On New Orleans Attack; New Congress Comes Into Session; Carter's Funeral

Summary

NPR’s Up First: Comprehensive Summary of January 4, 2025 Episode

Host: Eric Deggans and Ayesha Rascoe
Episode Title: Latest On New Orleans Attack; New Congress Comes Into Session; Carter's Funeral
Release Date: January 4, 2025

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1. Deadly Attack in New Orleans: FBI Investigation and ISIS Connection

The episode opens with urgent updates on the tragic New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, where a pickup truck was driven into a celebratory crowd, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 individuals. Eric Deggans introduces the story by stating, “[...] the FBI continues to investigate the deadly attack in New Orleans” (00:03).

Ayesha Rascoe adds context by highlighting the search for potential connections between this incident and a separate cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas: “They've also been looking into a possible link between that attack and the cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas” (00:06).

NPR Justice Correspondent Ryan Lucas provides an in-depth analysis of the New Orleans attack. He identifies the perpetrator as Shamsuddin Jabbar, a Texas-born U.S. citizen and Army veteran with a background in human resources and IT. Jabbar’s personal struggles, including severe financial difficulties and multiple divorces, appear to have contributed to his radicalization. Lucas explains, “The FBI has said that Jabbar was inspired to carry out this attack by the Islamic State terrorist group” (02:12).

Jabbar had uploaded several videos shortly before the attack, expressing his allegiance to ISIS and detailing his motives. In one video, he stated he initially planned to harm his family but shifted his focus to the broader “war between the believers and the disbelievers” (02:12). Evidence such as an ISIS flag found on his truck corroborates these claims. The FBI currently believes Jabbar acted alone, dismissing initial speculations of accomplices.

Ryan Lucas further clarifies the distinction between directed and inspired terrorist attacks: “In a directed attack, a terrorist organization is in contact with a person or a cell of people [...] In an inspired attack, [...] an individual [...] can say, watch or read ISIS propaganda online [...] and then decide to carry out violence to act in the group's name on their own” (03:31). He emphasizes the challenges in preventing such lone-wolf attacks, noting their decentralized nature makes them difficult for agencies to intercept.

Lucas also touches upon the broader landscape of terrorism in the U.S., noting that while terrorism may not dominate headlines as it did post-9/11, the threat remains persistent. “FBI Director Christopher Ray has warned about the danger posed in particular by what the FBI calls homegrown violent extremists” (05:52). Recent years have seen the Justice Department foiling several ISIS-related plots, underscoring the ongoing vigilance required.

2. Separate Incident: Las Vegas Cybertruck Explosion

Transitioning to the cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, Lucas reports that authorities currently find “no evidence that those two incidents are linked in any way” (06:03). The driver, Matthew Leibelsberger, a decorated U.S. Army Green Beret, tragically died in the explosion, which appears to be a case of suicide intertwined with potential mental health struggles, including PTSD. Investigators cite Leibelsberger’s writings expressing a sense of America’s impending collapse and his desire to cleanse himself of past burdens as indicative of his mental state (06:03).

3. Congressional Leadership and New Session Dynamics

As Congress commenced its new session on Friday, significant tensions emerged within the Republican Party regarding the House Speaker position. Eric Deggans highlights that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson barely retained his position amidst a narrow majority.

NPR Congressional Correspondent Deirdre Walsh relays insights from Senator John Thune, who explains the political maneuvering that secured Johnson’s reelection:

“It took some heavy lobbying and critically, the help of President elect Donald Trump to get Johnson over the line. [...] Initially, there were two other Republicans, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas, who voted for people other than Johnson. [...] They both came back and dramatically changed their votes so he could win on the first ballot” (07:54).

John Thune underscores the pivotal role of former President Trump in preventing protracted delays in electing the Speaker, which was crucial for the House to proceed with other legislative business, including the certification of the 2024 election results.

Speaker Mike Johnson has declared his administration’s priorities, with a strong emphasis on border security:

“We will act quickly and we will start by defending our nation's borders” (09:06).

The House Republicans have outlined plans to address border security through legislative packages that include measures such as cutting federal funding for "sanctuary cities." With the Senate now also under Republican control, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is coordinating closely with Trump and Johnson to advance these priorities. He mentions:

“Thune is already hard at work drafting an initial legislative package he plans to move using special rules that get around a Democratic filibuster [...] He wants to do border security first” (10:34).

Thune’s legislative agenda includes energy policies and a separate tax bill slated for later in 2025, aligning closely with former President Trump’s objectives. This coordinated effort aims to leverage the unified Republican majority in both chambers to pass significant policy changes.

4. Farewell to Former President Jimmy Carter

The episode also covers the comprehensive funeral arrangements for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100. Deirdre Walsh provides detailed coverage of the events spearheaded by Grant Blankenship of Georgia Public Broadcasting:

The funeral begins with a motorcade in Americus, Georgia, moving to Plains, and culminating at Carter's family farm. Symbolism is deeply embedded in the proceedings, including the tolling of an iron farm bell 39 times, representing Carter’s connection to the community and his legacy as the 39th President of the United States:

“In the south, family farms typically had an iron bell. [...] on a farm, the bell was the signal that work was done and it was time to come home” (12:15).

Participants in the procession include members of the Carter family, former White House staff, and old friends. The route is expected to draw large crowds eager to pay their respects. Ben Gray, a Georgia photojournalist, is documenting the events, emphasizing the historical significance and choreographed nature of the funeral rites.

Following the motorcade, Carter’s body will lie in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta until Tuesday, after which it will be flown to Washington, D.C., to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol until Thursday. The state funeral will include dignitaries such as President Biden, members of Congress, and President-elect Donald Trump, symbolizing Carter’s enduring impact on both national and global stages.

The final farewell will take place at Carter’s home church, Maranatha Baptist, in Plains. This intimate ceremony will allow family and close friends to say their final goodbyes, concluding with his interment beside his wife, Rosalynn Carter.

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First from NPR provides a thorough overview of significant events shaping early January 2025. From the tragic New Orleans attack linked to ISIS-inspired lone-wolf terrorism and the separate cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas, to the fraught beginnings of a new Congressional session under Republican leadership, the podcast delivers timely and detailed news coverage. Additionally, the heartfelt coverage of former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral underscores the nation's reflection on his legacy. With engaging narratives and expert insights, this summary encapsulates the key discussions and developments presented in the episode.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Ryan Lucas on Shamsuddin Jabbar's Motivation:
  “[...] Jabbar was inspired to carry out this attack by the Islamic State terrorist group” (02:12)

• Ryan Lucas on Directed vs. Inspired Attacks:
  “In a directed attack, a terrorist organization is in contact with a person or a cell of people... In an inspired attack, [...] an individual [...] can [...] decide to carry out violence to act in the group's name on their own” (03:31)

• John Thune on Speaker Johnson's Reelection:
  “[...] they both came back and dramatically changed their votes so he could win on the first ballot” (07:54)

• Mike Johnson on Border Security Priority:
  “We will act quickly and we will start by defending our nation's borders” (09:06)

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Legislative Agenda:
  “[...] drafting an initial legislative package [...] He wants to do border security first” (10:34)

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This structured summary ensures that listeners, as well as those who did not tune in, can grasp the essential narratives and developments discussed in the episode. Notable quotes are highlighted with precise timestamps to provide additional context and reference points.

Transcript

[Eric Deggans]

The FBI continues to investigate the deadly attack in New Orleans.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

They've also been looking into a possible link between that attack and the cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas.

[Eric Deggans]

I'm Eric Deggans.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

I'm Ayesha Rascoe. And this is up first from NPR News. What made an American born veteran claim allegiance with ISIS and carry out a deadly attack?

[Eric Deggans]

We'll bring you the latest on that story. Plus, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson holds onto his job, but only just.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

So who changed their votes to help Johnson and how will he get things done With a very slim majority.

[Eric Deggans]

Plus, the planned events start to mark the passing of former President Jimmy Carter.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

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

[Eric Deggans]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.

[Ryan Lucas]

Wait, wait, don't tell me. Fresh Air up first, NPR News. Now, Planet Money TED Radio Hour Throughline the NPR Politics podcast Code Switch Embedded books we love WILDC are just some of the podcasts you can enjoy. Sponsor free with NPR. Get all sorts of perks across more than 20 podcasts with the bundle option. Learn more at plus.NPR.org Authorities are still.

[Eric Deggans]

Learning about what was behind the deadly attack in New Orleans. In the early hours of New Year's.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Day, at least 14 people were killed after a man drove his pickup truck into a crowd celebrating the start of the new year.

[Eric Deggans]

NPR justice correspondent Ryan Lucas joins us now with the latest on this investigation into what the FBI is calling a terrorist attack. Hi, Ryan. Hi there, Ryan. The driver has been identified as Shamsuddin Jabbar. He was a US Citizen. What else do we know about him and why he decided to carry out this attack?

[Ryan Lucas]

Right. Well, Jabbar was born in Texas. He grew up there. He served in the US army for many years as a human resource specialist as well as an IT guy. He also started a few businesses. Several of them appear to have had severe financial difficulties recently. He's been divorced several times. Now, the FBI has said that Jabbar was inspired to carry out this attack by the Islamic State terrorist group. He uploaded several videos to the Internet in the hours immediately leading up to the attack. Talking about this, here's the FBI's Christopher Raya. In the first video, Jabbar explains he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was concerned the news headlines would not focus on the, quote, war between the believers and the disbelievers, end quote. Additionally, he stated he had joined ISIS before this summer. He also provided a will and testimony. Now, in addition to those videos, investigators also recovered an ISIS flag from the back of Jabbar's truck. Now, the FBI says Jabbar appears to have acted alone. And that's important because the bureau originally said he might have had help accomplices. But after an initial investigation, chasing down leads, it says it does not appear that Jabbar did have any accomplices.

[Eric Deggans]

So what does the FBI mean when it says this attack was inspired by isis?

[Ryan Lucas]

Well, there's an important distinction here between an attack that is directed by a terrorist group and one that is inspired by a terrorist group. In a directed attack, a terrorist organization is in contact with a person or a cell of people, say, in the United States, and directs them, for example, to attack a specific target in an inspired attack. In contrast, there doesn't need to be any direct contact. An individual instead can say, watch or read ISIS propaganda online, come to sympathize with the group's ideology or its worldview, and then decide to carry out violence to act in the group's name on their own. And in the case of the Islamic State of isis, it has pushed this idea in its online propaganda. It's urged people to use whatever tools they have on hand, including cars, to attack soft targets, things such as public celebration like New Year's Eve. The FBI director told Congress this past summer, in fact, that this is the kind of threat that it's seen from foreign terrorist organizations now. And those sorts of attacks, U.S. counterterrorism officials often say, are incredibly hard to stop because there isn't a big operation that the FBI can penetrate beforehand to disrupt it.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Right.

[Eric Deggans]

And it seems terrorism doesn't necessarily dominate headlines in the US now like it did, say, a decade ago. For a lot of people, it seemed like the threat of a mass casualty terrorist attack in the US had kind of disappeared. You cover this stuff. What have you been hearing?

[Ryan Lucas]

Well, you're right. Terrorism is not a front page issue the way that it once was. Certainly not like we saw after 9, 11, and also not like a decade ago when the Islamic State was at its apex. But the Islamic State still has branches, affiliates around the world that are very much active. And as for the threat in the US What I would say is that counterterrorism officials here have been saying for a while that the threat may not be at the level that it once was, but it also most definitely has not disappeared. FBI Director Christopher Ray has warned about the danger posed in particular by what the FBI calls homegrown violent extremists, people who radicalize on their own and decide to carry out an attack here in the U.S. wray has also said that the threat level more broadly has really spiked after the Hamas attack on Israel in October of 2023. And I should note that the Justice Department has recently foiled what it says were plots on behalf of ISIS just in the past year, including one in Oklahoma and another in New York.

[Eric Deggans]

Well, I want to turn quickly to the other incident we saw on New Year's Day, the cybertruck explosion outside a Trump hotel in Las Vegas. Now, was that connected to what happened in New Orleans?

[Ryan Lucas]

Authorities say at this point in time, there is no evidence that those two incidents are linked in any way. Investigators have identified the driver of the cybertruck as Matthew Leibelsberger. He was a master sergeant in the US Army, a Green Beret, a decorated combat vet with multiple tours in Afghanistan. Authorities say that Leibelberger shot and killed himself in the cybertruck right before it exploded. As for the question of why, the FBI says Leibelsberger bore no animosity toward Trump, so it wasn't about that. It says their investigation so far suggests that Leibelberger was likely suffering from mental health issues and also had some other family issues. Here's FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans. It ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who is struggling with PTSD and other issues. Investigators also release experts of Leibelsberger's writings in which he says America is headed toward collapse, that this is a wake up call. And he also says in one that he needs to cleanse his mind of brothers that he lost and relieve himself of the burdens of lives that he took.

[Eric Deggans]

Well, that's NPR justice correspondent Ryan Lucas. Ryan, thanks so much for joining us.

[Ryan Lucas]

Thank you.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Congress just started its new session on Friday and there's drama already.

[Eric Deggans]

Oh, things got tense. Republican Mike Johnson had to fight attempts to oust him before he was reelected speaker of the House of Representatives. NPR congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh was at the Capitol for opening day and joins us now. Good morning.

[John Thune]

Good morning, Eric.

[Eric Deggans]

So we saw in real time the House Republicans narrow majority. How did Mike Johnson keep his party together to get a second term as speaker?

[John Thune]

Well, it took some heavy lobbying and critically, the help of President elect Donald Trump to get Johnson over the line. The speaker could only afford to lose one Republican going into this vote. And Kentucky Congressman Tom Massie made it clear he wasn't going to vote for him. He voted for the Republican whip in instead. Initially, there were two other Republicans, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas, who voted for people other than Johnson. I was in the chamber as this vote dragged on and on, and it was clear Johnson didn't have the votes, and we expected it to go a second round. But then I saw Johnson leave the floor with both Norman and Self, and they both came back and dramatically changed their votes so he could win on the first ballot. You know, it was very clear Trump did not want this to drag out. You know, no other business can happen until a speaker is elected in the House. And on Monday, they are slated to certify the 2024 election results. And that's something Trump did not want to delay at all.

[Eric Deggans]

So what did Johnson say will be his top priority?

[John Thune]

Well, addressing border security was a Republican's top priority in the 2024 campaign. And the speaker made it clear yesterday that this was an issue they would take up right out of the gate.

[Eric Deggans]

We will act quickly and we will.

[Ryan Lucas]

Start by defending our nation's borders.

[Eric Deggans]

That's the number one priority.

[John Thune]

The rules package the House passed yesterday that governs how the chamber is going to operate also included a rule to tee up several immigration bills. These are proposals that House Republicans have pushed through before, things like cutting off federal money for any cities that are dubbed so called sanctuary cities for undocumented migrants. The difference now is there's now a Senate Republican majority to help push through border security legislation.

[Eric Deggans]

So, speaking of the Senate, there's a new Senate Majority leader, John Thune. What are his plans?

[John Thune]

Well, it was definitely a smoother first day for John Thune. He now has a 53 seat Republican majority, and he's been coordinating very closely with President Elect Trump and Speaker Johnson. First, Thune is focused on getting Trump's Cabinet nominees confirmed in the Senate. Republicans need a simple majority to get these nominees through. So far, there's been no Republican senator who's come out publicly as a no for any nominee. But if any four Republicans did break, you know, one of Trump's nominees couldn't get confirmed. You know, there are some controversial nominees that we've talked about before, like Pete Hegseth to be the Defense Secretary, Tulsi Gabbard to serve as the Director of National Intelligence. And there's still some report Republican senators who want more details, things like the FBI background check. Other confirmation hearings are expected to start in mid January.

[Eric Deggans]

So what is Thune saying about what legislation he wants to move.

[John Thune]

You know, his plans track those of Trump's. Here's how Thune summed it up yesterday.

[Deirdre Walsh]

We have a lot to do this Congress. Border security, extending the tax relief Republicans delivered during the first Trump administration lifting burdensome and expensive government regulations to help American businesses families flourish.

[John Thune]

Thune is already hard at work drafting an initial legislative package he plans to move using special rules that get around a Democratic filibuster like Johnson. He wants to do border security first. That package initially in the Senate, will also include some energy policies. And then a separate tax bill is going to come later in 2025.

[Eric Deggans]

Well, that's NPR's Deirdre Walsh. Thanks so much for joining us, Deirdre.

[John Thune]

Happy to do it, Eric.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Today marks the start of nearly a week's worth of funereal events to honor former President Jimmy Carter. He passed away earlier this week at the age of 100.

[Eric Deggans]

Grant Blankenship of Georgia Public Broadcasting is covering those events, starting with a motorcade in the town of Americus, Georgia. Good morning, Grant.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Yeah, good morning.

[Eric Deggans]

So as I mentioned, the procession begins in the town of Americus at the medical center where Carter's body's been held. And then it heads to Plains.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Yeah, that's right. It heads to Plains. And downtown there in Plains, people are going to be lining the street to watch the procession. From there, it's going to go to the family farm where Carter grew up a few miles away, and then pause, and there the farm bell will toll 39 times.

[Eric Deggans]

Now, of course, it's ringing 39 times because Carter was the 39th president of the United States. And there's some symbolism in the tol.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, here in the south, family farms typically had an iron bell. My grandmother had one. She used to let me ring to call everybody in to eat when the whole family was together. You know, on a farm, the bell was the signal that work was done and it was time to come home.

[Eric Deggans]

So who will be part of this procession?

[Deirdre Walsh]

So, you know, there'll be members of the Carter family in the motorcade. There will be people Carter brought from Plains to the White House. There'll be old friends. They're going to drive for like five hours before arriving later in Atlanta. And it's pretty cold this morning. People are expected to line the roads in some of the towns that they pass through.

[Eric Deggans]

So there will be a lot of ceremony and a lot of symbolism along this route.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Yeah, absolutely. I spoke to Ben Gray. He's a longtime Georgia photojournalist He's been tapped by the Carter family to document every piece of the activity here in Georgia. And he'll be in the procession the whole way.

[Grant Blankenship]

Every step of it is important historically. It's obviously a very choreographed funeral, and it has many points, and each one of them has a deep significance to the Carters and to the people of Georgia and of the United States that, you know, knew him and grew to love him, both as a president and what he did afterwards.

[Deirdre Walsh]

And, you know, that afterwards was really his work at the Carter center in Atlanta, where he will lie in repose until Tuesday.

[Eric Deggans]

And what happens then?

[Deirdre Walsh]

Well, so then his body will be flown to Washington, D.C. for a ceremony at the U.S. capitol, where he'll lie in state until Thursday. And then there'll be an official state funeral attended by President Biden, members of Congress as well as President elect Donald Trump. But this will all circle back where Carter's life began, back to Plains with a family ceremony Thursday evening at Carter's home church, Maranatha Baptist. That's where photographer Ben Gray says he's going to be most attuned to capturing those important moments.

[Grant Blankenship]

It's the final goodbye, and it's going to be a chance, I think, for the family, you know, having been almost on display for some of this. Right. They're there, but it's the official choreographed funeral procession and those points. But back at the home church at Maranatha, it's smaller. You know, it's going to be just family and friends. They're going to actually get to be there and say goodbye to him.

[Deirdre Walsh]

And then Thursday evening, Carter will be laid to rest at his home in Plains next to his wife, Rosalynn.

[Eric Deggans]

That's Grant Blankenship of Georgia Public Broadcasting. Grant, thank you so much for those details about the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Yeah, thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.

[Eric Deggans]

That's up first for Saturday, January 4th, 2025. I'm Eric Deggans.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And I'm Aisha Roscoe.

[Eric Deggans]

Our producer is Michael Radcliffe with help from Gabe O'Connor and Andrew Craig, who's also our director today.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Our editors are Dee Parvaz, Martha Ann Overland, Kelsey Snell and Krishnadev Kalamer.

[Eric Deggans]

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

[Ayesha Rascoe]

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

[Eric Deggans]

Jim Cain is our deputy managing editor. Tomorrow on the Sunday story, does the US Military have an extremism problem? We look back at the January 6 Capitol riots and at the many participants who had a military background.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

And for the latest news, plus delightful conversations about books, movies and more, listen to WEEKEND edition. You can find us on the radio, your smartphone. Go to stations.NPR.org to find your local NPR station and listen to us, you know, on the weekends.

[Eric Deggans]

Yeah, it's always a good thing.

[Ayesha Rascoe]

Yeah.

[Eric Deggans]

Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to Up First Sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get up first [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.