NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-12-2024 1PM EST

Episode Date: November 12, 2024

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On Shortwave, we know the human body is this amazing singular thing. Capable of facing down all kinds of infection and disease, from managing UTIs to cancer to long COVID, our show is dedicated to destigmatizing our relationship to our bodies. Listen to the Shortwave podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Biden is hosting the Israeli president at the White House today, where he reaffirmed his commitment to Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza. Mr. President, welcome back to the Oval Office in the White House.

You've been a friend for a long time, a personal friend. And you know my commitment to Israel is ironclad and we share a deep friendship. And I want to thank you again for being here. Biden is trying to speed up progress toward a ceasefire in Gaza before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Israel has failed to meet a 30-day deadline implemented by the Biden administration to provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. NPR Scott Newman reports the White House had threatened to cut off weapons shipments to Israel if it didn't do more to address the imminent threat of famine in Gaza. For the first time in more than a month, two truckloads of food and water have managed

to reach northern Gaza, an area that has been under intense bombardment by Israel for weeks. But that falls far short of a U.S. demand outlined in an October letter, with a 30-day deadline for Israel to begin allowing at least 350 truckloads of aid a day to reach Gaza. In a scorecard published by aid groups such as Oxfam and Mercy Corps, Israel gets a failing grade. These groups say there should be significant consequences for Israel, including a suspension of arms shipments from the U.S. Israeli officials say they are working to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Scott Newman, NPR News, Tel Aviv. A judge in New York City has decided to postpone a decision on whether President-elect Donald Trump has immunity from prosecution in his criminal hush money trial. That decision now could come next week. Attorneys for Trump say prosecutors presented evidence during the trial that stemmed from Trump's time in office. NPR's Jimena Bustillo reports they argued that should not have been allowed. Lawyers for the Manhattan District Attorney over the weekend asked New York Judge Juan Marchand to delay his decision on immunity in order to review how the presidential election

would impact Trump's landmark criminal trial. Trump in May was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Mill Bovey, one of Trump's lawyers, agreed with the delay. Bovey said the stay and even a dismissal are necessary to avoid unconstitutional impediments to Trump's ability to govern. The New York judge was expected today to make a decision on whether some evidence brought in during Trump's trial violated the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts taken in office.

Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, New York. On Wall Street, the Dow was down 342 points. This is NPR News. A federal judge has temporarily blocked a law in Louisiana that required public schools and universities to display the Ten Commandments. The injunction is a victory for civil rights groups. They argue the law violates the First Amendment's provisions against the government from establishing or favoring one religion over another, and from interfering with the

right to practice a religion without government interference. The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned over his handling of a sex abuse scandal. NPR's Air of Entry reports an investigation found that Justin Welby failed to inform police about serial, physical, and sexual abuse. According to a report released last week, John Smythe abused more than 100 boys and young men beginning in the 1970s. Archbishop Justin Welby failed to report Smythe to authorities when he learned of the alleged abuse after becoming the head of the Church of England in 2013.

In a statement, Welby said he, quote, must take personal and institutional responsibility for failing to report the abuse. As Archbishop of Canterbury, Welby was the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, a global body of churches rooted in the Church of England. Andrew Morris, a survivor of Smythe's abuse, says that Welby's resignation is a chance for the Church to repair some of the damage with victims. Sarah Ventry, NPR News. Former Air National Guardsman Jack Deshara will be sentenced today in Massachusetts

for leaking classified U.S. military documents about the war in Ukraine. The 22-year-old is facing up to 17 years in prison. This is NPR News.