Winter Storm Won’t Delay Certifying Trump’s Win

Summary

WSJ What's News - Episode: "Winter Storm Won’t Delay Certifying Trump’s Win"

Release Date: January 6, 2025
Host: The Wall Street Journal
Transcript Contributors: Luke Vargas, Ryan Reynolds, Brianna Abbott

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Winter Storm Causes Major Travel Disruptions

Timestamp: 00:33 – 01:06

A severe winter storm is wreaking havoc across the mid-Atlantic and parts of the East Coast, including Washington, D.C., and New England. The National Weather Service forecasts 6 to 12 inches of snow in affected areas, marking some of the heaviest snowfall in a decade.

• Impact on Travel:
  • Flight Cancellations: Over 1,200 flights have been canceled within, into, or out of the U.S., with Washington, D.C. area's airports experiencing the most significant disruptions. (00:33)
  • Road Conditions: Dangerous road conditions are expected, particularly in areas downwind of the Great Lakes, across the Central Appalachians, and the Ohio River Valley.

Notable Quote:
"Travelers across the mid-Atlantic should expect significant disruptions today as a winter storm generates 6 to 12 inches of snow across parts of the east coast, including the nation's capital." – Luke Vargas (00:33)

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Certification of Donald Trump’s Election Victory Proceeds Unhindered

Timestamp: 01:06 – 07:03

Despite the ongoing winter storm, the certification of former President Donald Trump’s electoral victory remains on schedule.

• Leadership Assurance:

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson: Reiterates that the storm will not delay the joint session of Congress to certify Trump's win. (00:55)

• Role of Vice President Kamala Harris:

  • Clarified Responsibilities: Post the 2021 Capitol attack, Harris’s role is confined to counting votes publicly without the authority to alter results. (00:55)

Notable Quote:
"The storm won't derail a joint session of Congress scheduled for midday to certify Donald Trump's electoral victory." – Luke Vargas (00:55)

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New York City Implements $9 Congestion Charge

Timestamp: 03:20 – 05:19

New York City has introduced a $9 congestion charge for vehicles entering central areas, effective yesterday after prolonged delays and opposition from neighboring New Jersey.

• Purpose of the Toll:

  • Traffic Reduction & Revenue Generation: Aimed at reducing traffic congestion and raising funds to upgrade public transit infrastructure, including subways, buses, and commuter railroads.

• Official Statements:

  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Jano Lieber: Anticipates initial resistance but emphasizes long-term benefits for both public transit users and drivers. (03:20)
    "Your time is worth real money, and that's why the business community has supported this so much, because time wasted in traffic is a huge drag on our economy." – Jano Lieber (04:10)

• Political Context:

  • President Trump’s Stance: Last year, Trump vowed to terminate the congestion pricing scheme, though its implementation now makes reversing the decision uncertain.

Notable Quote:
"If you do drive, if you have to drive, we want you to spend less time stuck in traffic." – Jano Lieber (04:10)

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Biden Administration to Adjust Humanitarian Aid to Syria

Timestamp: 05:19 – 06:04

The Biden administration is set to announce easing restrictions on humanitarian aid to Syria, aiming to expedite the delivery of essential supplies without lifting sanctions on the Damascus-led government, designated by the U.S. as a terror organization.

• Conditions for Aid:
  • Protection of Rights: Washington requires assurances that the new Syrian leadership will uphold the rights of women and religious and ethnic minorities before sanction relief is considered.

Notable Quote:
"The move would speed the delivery of basic supplies without lifting sanctions that block other assistance to the new government in Damascus." – Luke Vargas (05:19)

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$8 Billion Weapons Package for Israel Announced

Timestamp: 06:04 – 07:53

President Biden has notified Congress of an $8 billion weapons package intended for Israel, representing one of the largest arms sales sanctioned since the onset of the Gaza war in 2023.

• Components of the Deal:

  • Included Weapons: Thousands of bombs, air-to-air missiles, and precision munitions.

• Political Implications:

  • Congressional Approval Needed: The deal awaits congressional consent.
  • Democratic Concerns: Some Democrats may oppose the sale due to the high civilian casualties in Gaza, which Palestinian authorities estimate have exceeded 45,000.

Notable Quote:
"The planned sale includes thousands of bombs, air to air missiles and precision munitions." – Luke Vargas (06:04)

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Ukraine Intensifies Military Operations in Russia’s Kursk Region

Timestamp: 05:19 – 07:53

Ukraine has launched intensified military operations within Russia’s Kursk region, targeting key Russian towns and reclaiming several hundred square miles of territory.

• Strategic Significance:

  • Objective: Demonstrates Ukraine's resilience and capability to mount successful counteroffensives, aiming to garner further military support from allies as the U.S. administration approaches a transition.

• Expert Analysis:

  • James Marson: Highlights the lack of detailed success metrics but underscores the timing's importance for international support. (05:19)
  • Brianna Abbott: Suggests the offensive aims to showcase Ukraine’s ongoing fight and deter complacency from incoming President Trump, emphasizing the need for continued Western support.
    "The Ukrainians say the only way that this war is going to end is if Russia is stopped." – Brianna Abbott (05:19)

Notable Quote:
"This looks like an effort to retake some of the initiative by again making a push inside Russia to show to the west and now most clearly to incoming President Trump, that we're still in this fight." – Brianna Abbott (05:19)

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Business Spotlight: Foxconn's Record Revenue Boosts Shares

Timestamp: 06:04 – 07:03

Shares of Taiwan’s Foxconn surged following the company's announcement of record revenue in the fourth quarter, driven by robust demand for servers powering artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

• Future Growth Projections:
  • First Quarter Forecast: Foxconn anticipates significant growth in first-quarter sales, bolstering investor confidence.

Notable Quote:
"Shares in Taiwan's Foxconn have risen after the company posted record revenue for the fourth quarter thanks to strong demand for servers to power AI Technologies." – Luke Vargas (06:04)

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Health Segment: Rising Cancer Rates Among Young People

Timestamp: 07:53 – 11:54

Journal Health reporter Brianna Abbott delves into the alarming increase in cancer diagnoses among individuals under 50, exploring potential causes and ongoing research efforts.

• Generational Risk Increase:

  • Statistical Insights: Since the 1950s, each generation in the U.S. exhibits a slightly higher cancer risk than the preceding one. (07:53)

• Potential Factors Explored:

  • Lifestyle Changes:

    • Increased obesity rates, consumption of sugary drinks, and reduced physical activity are linked to higher colorectal cancer risks.
      "Higher excess body weight and obesity, consuming too many sugary sweetened drinks, a lack of physical activity." – Brianna Abbott (07:53)

  • Diet and Microbiome:

    • Research indicates diets high in sulfur (from alcohol and processed meats) and low in fruits and vegetables may disrupt the gut microbiome, increasing cancer risk via hydrogen sulfide production.
      "There is a specific gut bacteria that can take that and make hydrogen sulfide, which could inflame the colon and lead to cancer." – Brianna Abbott (10:24)

  • Environmental and Other Factors:

    • Antibiotic use affecting the microbiome, circadian rhythm disruptions from late-night device usage, exposure to forever chemicals, and microplastics are under investigation.
      "There might not be a singular answer here. It could actually be that all of these things are contributing in a subtle way that collectively raises everyone's risk." – Brianna Abbott (10:24)

• Research Efforts:

  • Washington University in St. Louis: An international team is examining differences between individuals who develop early-onset cancer and those who do not, including animal studies to identify causative factors.
    "They are also running clinical trials to see if something like weight loss, drugs, or even changing your diet can lower someone's risk." – Brianna Abbott (08:51)

Notable Quote:
"A lot of the things that do increase risks that have been noted about for older folks also apply to younger folks." – Brianna Abbott (07:53)

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Conclusion

The episode of WSJ's "What's News" on January 6, 2025, provided a comprehensive overview of significant events impacting politics, business, and public health. From enduring winter storms and their influence on critical political processes to international military operations and economic updates in the tech sector, the podcast delivered in-depth analysis and expert insights. Additionally, the health segment shed light on the pressing issue of rising cancer rates among younger populations, highlighting the complexity and multifaceted nature of modern health challenges.

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Produced by Daniel B. and Supervising Producer Christina Rocca. For more updates, tune in to the next episode of WSJ's What's News.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, I'm Ryan Reynolds.

[Luke Vargas]

Recently I asked Mint Mobile's legal team.

[Ryan Reynolds]

If big wireless companies are allowed to.

[Luke Vargas]

Raise prices due to inflation. They said yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And then when I asked if raising prices technically violates those onerous two year contracts, they said, what the are you.

[Luke Vargas]

Talking about, you insane Hollywood?

[Ryan Reynolds]

So to recap, we're cutting the price.

[Luke Vargas]

Of mint unlimited from $30 a month.

[Ryan Reynolds]

To just $15 a month. Give it a [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront payment equivalent to $15 per month New customers on first three month plan only Taxes and fees Extra Speed slower above 40 gigabytes. E details.

[Luke Vargas]

As a winter storm snarls travel plans across the U.S. lawmakers say it won't stop today's certification of Donald Trump's election victory. Plus, President Biden plans a major weapons sale to Israel in the closing weeks of his administration, and researchers zero in on the gut to try and explain rising cancer rates among younger people.

[Ryan Reynolds]

There's data that shows that at least in the US Each generation has a slightly higher risk than the one before it starting in the 1950s. And so the thought is what has changed?

[Luke Vargas]

It's Monday, January 6th. I'm Luke Vargas for the Wall Street Journal and here is the AM edition of what's news, the top headlines and business stories moving your world today. The National Weather Service says that travelers across the mid Atlantic should expect significant disruptions today as a winter storm generates 6 to 12 inches of snow across parts of the east coast, including the nation's capital. Snow is also in parts of New England areas downwind of the Great Lakes, across the Central Appalachians and the Ohio River Valley, with snowfall in some areas set to be the heaviest in a decade. In addition to potentially dangerous roads, more than 1200 flights within, into or out of the US have already been canceled today, according to flight tracking website FlightAware, with Washington, D.C. area airports seeing the most severe disruptions. Meanwhile in Washington, newly re elected House Speaker Mike Johnson says that the storm won't derail a joint session of Congress scheduled for midday to certify Donald Trump's electoral victory. Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the certification. But as a result of changes that were passed by Congress after the 2021 attack on the Capitol, her role has been clarified to only involve counting votes publicly. With no power to alter the results, some drivers in Manhattan today will be starting the work week with a new commute. That is after a $9 congestion charge for cars heading into central parts of the Big Apple entered effect yesterday after years of delays and a bid by neighboring New Jersey to stop it. The toll system is a first for the US and is meant to reduce traffic and raise revenue to upgrade the city's subways, buses and commuter railroads. At a press conference yesterday, heard here courtesy of the mta, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Jano Lieber said he expected the tolls would take some getting used to, but would ultimately benefit public transit users and drivers alike. If you do drive, if you have to drive, we want you to spend less time stuck in traffic. Your time is worth real money, and that's why the business community has supported this so much, because time wasted in traffic is a huge drag on our economy. President elect Donald Trump said last year he'd kill the congestion pricing scheme, but it's unclear whether he'll be able to stop it now that it's in operation. We are exclusively reporting that the Biden administration plans to announce today that it will ease restrictions on humanitarian aid for Syria. The move would speed the delivery of basic supplies without lifting sanctions that block other assistance to the new government in Damascus, which is led by a group that the US Labels a terror organization. Washington is looking for assurances from Syria's new leaders that they'll uphold promises to protect the rights of women and religious and ethnic minorities before making a decision on dropping sanctions. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has notified congress of an $8 billion weapons package for Israel, one of the largest arms sales that it's authorized since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023, according to officials familiar with the package. The planned sale includes thousands of bombs, air to air missiles and precision munitions. The deal still requires conc congressional approval. Some of the items it includes could draw objections from Democrats who've opposed selling large bombs to Israel over concern about the civilian toll of the war in Gaza, which has surpassed 45,000, according to Palestinian authorities. Turning to Europe now, Ukraine over the weekend intensified its military operations in Russia's Kursk region, where it staged a daring cross border offensive in August, capturing dozens of Russian towns and several hundred square miles of territor, Journal Ukraine coverage chief James Marson told me there are few available details about the operation's success, but that it comes at a sensitive time for Kyiv as it appeals to its allies for further military support ahead of a consequential change in US Administrations.

[Brianna Abbott]

This looks like an effort to retake some of the initiative by again making a push inside Russia to show to the west and now most clearly to incoming President Trump, that we're still in this fight. We're able to mount counteroffensives and we can claim territory within Russia. The Ukrainians say we need more military support in the form of air defense, ammunition. What they want to show the west is that will enable us not only to stop the Russians, but to do something with it. So you're not just feeding it, you know, into a battle that's going nowhere. Of course, President Elect Trump has repeatedly said he wants to bring peace. He wants an end to this war. The Ukrainians say the only way that this war is going to end is.

[Luke Vargas]

If Russia is stopped, while Kyiv could get a better sense of where its allies stand on that question when dozens of its supporters meet in Germany on Thursday and in markets today. Shares in Taiwan's Foxconn have risen after the company posted record revenue for the fourth quarter thanks to strong demand for servers to power AI Technologies. The assembler of Apple and Nvidia products also forecast significant, significant growth in first quarter sales. Coming up, Journal Health reporter Brianna Abbott joins us to break down what researchers are learning about a worrying rise in cancer among young people. After the break.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Taxi.

[Luke Vargas]

Imagine hailing a cab with no one in the driver's seat. Welcome. Please buckle your seatbelt and enjoy the ride. Self driving car company Waymo has spent billions developing its tech. What's changed is machine learning.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm not really thinking about who's driving.

[Luke Vargas]

But will this big bet pay off for Waymo and its parent, Google owner Alphabet? Find out in Driverless Waymo and the Robo Taxi Race, a new series in the WSJ's Future of Everything feed in the US and around the world, cancer is hitting an increasing number of people under 50. Journal health reporter Brianna Abbott wrote about that trend early last year as researchers raced to figure out the cause of what's making young people sick and to identify who could be at high risk. And now, a year later, Brianna is back with us today to share what some researchers think could be the culprit. Brianna, I don't want to delay the potential answer here any longer. Let's hear it then. What are researchers finding?

[Ryan Reynolds]

So if you are waiting for a full answer, I'm afraid my response is still going to be a little unsatisfying. But we are sort of making progr, especially sort of in the area of gastrointestinal cancers and colorectal cancer. There is data that shows that at least in the US Each generation has a slightly higher risk than the one before it starting in the 1950s. And so we're sort of seeing a stepwise increase. The thought is what has changed in the last 50 years or so to sort of contribute to this rise. And so far everything has been on the table. It seems that for colorectal cancer, at least a lot of the things that do increase risks that have been noted about for older folks also apply to younger folks. So it's things like higher excess body weight and obesity, Consuming too many sugary sweetened drinks, A lack of physical activity. Those things have all sort of been associated with early onset cancer now. And now researchers are starting to sort of take a deeper dive into that.

[Luke Vargas]

Including one particular research group at Washington University in St. Louis.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Right, correct. Washington University and St. Louis. And their co lead is at Mass General in Boston. That's sort of a big actually international team that's working on this problem. They are looking at the differences between folks who develop early onset cancer and those who don't to try and sort of identify some potential factors. And then they're also exposing mice to some of these potential factors to see if cancers grow from them. So you're trying to figure out if they're not only just linked, but if there is a direct cause there. They're also running clinical trials to see if something like weight loss, drugs, or even changing your diet can lower someone's risk. Our diets have changed in the last 50 years. Things like ultra processed foods. And in something I hear a lot that I think is really important from these researchers is that a lot of people have no obvious risk factors at all and are fairly healthy. So that sort of leads folks to believe that in addition to this lifestyle stuff, there is something else going on here.

[Luke Vargas]

And that to me, when I was reading through your reporting, is where I started to feel a little overwhelmed. On one hand, the fact that one research group thinks they may be looking in the right direction is a bit heartening, Especially if maybe excess alcohol consumption or processed food consumption might be a problem. Those are things that conceivably you could cut back on. But there are a lot of other research groups you profile where they're looking at an array of other potential causes here that are vast and seem like in a modern society are going to be hard to really fundamentally change.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Definitely people are looking at a range of things, including antibiotics, which can disrupt the microbiome, which is sort of the collection of bacteria and pathogens that sort of live in our gut and you know, they influence our health in a myriad of different ways and ways that we don't sort of fully understand still. But some of the research shows that what we eat or what we consume can interact with the gut microbiome, and therefore that can raise or lower your cancer risk. Researchers have found connections to a diet high in sulfur, which means high in liquor and processed meat, and low in fruits and vegetables. And there's a specific gut bacteria that can take that and make hydrogen sulfide, which could inflame the colon and lead to cancer. So the mechanisms are more complicated than just A to B. Like, there are lots of different steps in there, too. There are some folks that are looking at the circadian clock and the fact that we are on our devices late at night and not really sleeping. And then obviously there are all sorts of environmental factors that are new forever chemicals and microplastics. But we are in such early days of doing that sort of research that we don't have a lot of answers there yet. A lot of this research just takes takes time, and it does take a lot of resources. And I heard this from a lot of folks. There might not be a singular answer here. Right. It could actually be that all of these things are contributing in a subtle way that collectively raises everyone's risk. That's sort of what researchers are thinking at the moment.

[Luke Vargas]

I've been speaking to Wall Street Journal health reporter Brianna Abbott. Brianna, thank you so much for the update.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Of course. Thanks for having me.

[Luke Vargas]

And that's it for what's news for this Monday morning. We had additional sound in this episode from Reuters. Today's show was produced by Daniel B. Supervising producer Christina Rocca. And I'm Luke Vargas for the Wall Street Journal. We will be back tonight with a new show. Until then, thanks for listening.