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Episode Date: January 6, 2025

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What's in store for the music, TV, and film industries for 2025? We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold predictions for the new year. Listen now to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. Today, in one of his final acts as president, Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. It increases retirement payments to some 3 million beneficiaries, including public workers like teachers, firefighters, and police officers. Despite Social Security trust funds facing a looming insolvency crisis, Biden spoke from the White House. Bill I'm signing today is about a simple proposition.

Americans who have worked hard all their lives to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity. Travel is also on Biden's agenda in his closing days as president. Tomorrow he's scheduled to visit New Orleans where he will comfort grieving community members after the New Year's Day attack. Then he heads to Los Angeles and Thursday he goes to Rome to meet with the Pope and the Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney was at Mar-a-Lago this weekend visiting President-elect Trump who is set to take over from Biden January 20th Authorities say the man who killed 14 people in that New Year's Day attack in New Orleans visited Egypt and Canada in 2023 then he went to New Orleans in the months before his rampage.

Aidan McCahill with member station WWNO has more. The FBI says Shamsoud Din-Jabbar, an Army veteran from Houston, traveled to Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada. And authorities are trying to understand where he went, who he met with, and what it meant for the attack. During his two New Orleans visits last fall, Jabbar used a meta-smart glasses to record his videos of the French Quarter. Hours before driving his truck down Bourbon Street, Jabbar placed two remote-controlled

explosive devices in the area, which he intended to detonate during the attack. Joshua Jackson is with the ATF. So we believe that the transmitter would have function, but for a New Orleans PD, putting him down before he could get access to that transmitter. The FBI says so far their investigation has found the suspect did not have an accomplice in the U.S. or overseas. For NPR News, I'm Aidan McCahill in New Orleans. Thousands of flights into or out of the U.S. have been canceled or delayed and roadways have become treacherous in parts. canceled or delayed and roadways have become treacherous in parts. As dangerous winter weather moves from the Midwest toward the East Coast, Karen Czar with member station

WUKY has this report. Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on Saturday before the storm hit and urged Kentuckians to stay home, except for emergency travel over the next few days. Beshear also activated Kentucky National Guard units to assist the State Transportation Department. They're going to be in armories throughout Kentucky with heavy equipment to be ready to help in that backup or ready to help stranded motorists. The governor also activated the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center, which went live at midnight, and price gouging laws are now in effect. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Lexington.

And you're listening to NPR News. Flu cases are up across most of the U.S. The CDC says though emergency room and doctors visits are increasing, it's shaping up to be a pretty typical winter respiratory virus season. Norovirus outbreaks, however, are spiking. The CDC says they are exceeding numbers seen in recent years, even pre-pandemic. The fast-moving virus can present as a stomach bug. Hand washing is recommended to limit spread. Young children and older adults are most at risk from severe dehydration.

The Golden Globe Awards are being presented tonight in Los Angeles, and Piers Mandelit Del Barco reports the film's leading nominations could make transgender history. The Spanish language musical and drama Emilia Perez is the story of a Mexican drug cartel leader transitioning as a woman. It's up for 10 Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, Best Director for a Jacques Gaudillard and Best Original Score. Carla Sofia Gascon plays the title role and could become the first openly transgender actress to win a Golden Globe in the film category. Co-stars Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez are contenders for the Supporting Actress Award. Gomez also performed one of the film category. Co-stars Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez are contenders for the Supporting

Actress Award. Gomez also performed one of the film's nominated songs. The Golden Globes will be shown on CBS and Paramount Plus. Mandelita Del Barco, NPR News. 2025 is off to a good start for the film industry. Ticket sales this weekend up 20% from the same time last year. Wicked rounded out the top five films at the box office. It's up for several Golden Globe Awards. This is NPR News. 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.