NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2025 11PM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

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The Indicator is a podcast where daily economic news is about what matters to you. Workers have been feeling the sting of inflation. So as a new administration promises action on the cost of living, taxes, and home prices. The S&P 500 biggest post-election day spike ever. Follow all the big changes and what they mean for you. Make America affordable again. Listen to The Indicator, the daily economics podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.

Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson has been re-elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives. NPR's Deirdre Walsh reports. Johnson was narrowly re-elected speaker on the first ballot. Initially three Republicans voted against him, but he convinced two of them, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas, to change their votes. After he won, Johnson vowed to tackle a key priority his party focused on in the 2024 election. We will act quickly and we will start by defending our nation's borders. That's the number one priority. Because Republicans hold a narrow majority, Johnson could only afford one

defection. The House has to approve a package of rules for how the chamber will operate, and then is expected to turn to border security legislation later this month. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, the Capitol. Police have released notes from a phone found in the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Joe Shaneman, a member Member Station KNPR has more. In a note-taking app, Matthew Littlesberger, an active duty special forces sergeant,

complained about the country's leadership, said the explosion was not a terrorist attack, and wrote, quote, I needed to cleanse my mind of the brothers I've lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took. Las Vegas police sheriff Kevin McMayhill said Littlesberger appeared to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. So I think, A, we need to really pay attention to those individuals, pay attention to what

mental health in America looks like, and I think this is just one more incident that brings that to the forefront. Police, the FBI and ATF all said they're still working to learn more about Littlesburger's motivation. For NPR News, I'm Joe Shaneman in Las Vegas. President Joe Biden has blocked a bid by Japanese-owned Nippon Steel to purchase U.S. Steel. In making his decision, he's cited national security concerns, MPR's Scott Horsley has some background.

U.S. Steel is 124 years old. It's pretty much synonymous with the American steel industry and all the symbolism and nostalgia that comes with that. And significantly, the company is based in Pennsylvania, which we know was an important swing state in the November election. The Steelworkers Union opposed the company's sale of Nippon steel. The union worried it would provide a back door to bring cheap Japanese steel into the

U.S. market. What happens next is unclear. The companies could sue the US or Republicans who favor the deal could push incoming President Donald Trump to find a way to approve it. A New York judge says President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10th for his felony conviction in the so-called hush money case. Trump was found guilty last year but his sentencing has been delayed. Judge Juan Mirchan has indicated though that Trump will most likely be given what's known as an unconditional discharge which means

the case will be closed without jail time, a fine or probation. It was a strong finish for the week on Wall Street and you're listening to NPR News. The creator of the popular children's show Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends has died. NPR's Nita Ulby has this remembrance. The show, first known as Thomas and Friends, premiered in England in 1984. It was about a cheeky little moon-faced train engine with big, expressive eyes. Britt Alcroft did not invent the character. She based it on a British book series for kids from the 1940s.

But Alcroft made Thomas a worldwide phenomenon. Thomas began going faster and faster. Whee! He whistled as he rushed through Henry's tunnel. The original narrator was Ringo Starr. The show spun off into movies, toys, and more toys. The brand was bought by Mattel in 2012. Alcroft developed a number of children's shows for British television. Her death was announced on behalf of her family by a friend, Brandon Cardy, who'd spent years making a documentary about Thomas the Tank Engine's die-hard fans.

Neda Ulubi, NPR News. Britt Alcroft was 81 years old. The Transportation Department has fined JetBlue Airways $2 million because of delayed flights. Half of the money will be paid to affected customers while the rest will be paid to the federal government. The government found that JetBlue operated four chronically delayed flights at least 145 times over a period of 18 months. Under Transportation Department rules, a flight is considered to be chronically delayed if it's been flown at least 10 times a month and arrives more than 30 minutes late for

more than 50 percent of those flights.