NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-12-2024 6PM EST

Episode Date: November 12, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President-elect Trump says he plans to nominate former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Israeli officials are welcoming the move as we hear from NPR's Michelle Kellerman. Mike Huckabee is an evangelical Christian who leads tour groups to Israel and defends Israeli settlements in the West Bank, calling them communities and neighborhoods and refusing to use the word occupation. President Trump says Hakebi loves Israel. The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Denny Denon, calls Hakebi a dear friend. I think he would be a great ambassador to Israel.

He is very familiar with the facts on the ground. I think he visited Israel dozens of times. You know, he had like a yearly visit to Israel and I had the honor to escort him. Hardline officials in Israel describe Trump's election as an opportunity for Israel to annex the West Bank. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. President-elect Trump has signaled there could be big changes coming to the Justice Department and the FBI. MPR's Carrie Johnson reports on the transition process.

The Attorney General is going to be the most important job after the Presidents and the next administration. That's according to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Trump's considering a number of candidates, including Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Eric Schmidt of Missouri. Longtime Washington lawyer Mark Paoletta, a close friend of Justice Clarence Thomas, is also in the mix to lead the Justice Department. FBI Director Chris Wray has more than two years left on his term, but he's had a tense

relationship with Trump who may want to replace him. An FBI official tells NPR Wray continues to oversee day-to-day operations and is actively planning to lead the Bureau into next year and beyond. Kari Johnson, NPR News, Washington. Under new Biden administration rules, oil and gas companies have to pay fees for releasing large amounts of climate warming methane. But as NPR's Jeff Brady explains, the oil industry wants a future Trump administration to repeal the fees.

Methane is the main component of natural gas, and it's a more potent climate warmer in the atmosphere than even carbon dioxide. The oil industry leaks methane across its operations. The EPA says the new fees would have the same effect as taking 8 million gas-powered cars off the road. While environmental groups praised the new fees, Mike Summers with the American Petroleum Institute did not. This is the wrong approach on methane policymaking and we look forward to working with the new administration and Congress on repealing the regulation as quickly as possible. The Trump campaign did not respond to NPR's request for a comment. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

Palestinian medical officials say at least 46 people have died in air strikes in Gaza over the past 24 hours. That includes 11 people killed at a makeshift cafeteria in an Israeli declared humanitarian zone. On Wall Street, the Dow fell 382 points. This is NPR. Veteran broadcaster Chris Wallace has announced he is leaving CNN, though at 77 it is apparently not to retire, but to go where quote, the action is.

According to Wallace, that is not in so-called legacy media. Wallace says he wants to follow fellow journalists who have gone independent, either in streaming media or podcasting. Wallace has also worked at ABC, CBS and Fox. The Songwriters Hall of Fame is announcing nominees for its Class of 2025. As NPR's Mendeley Dobarko reports, it's a neglected group of pop rock and hip hop pioneers.

On the ballot for the next Hall of Fame are the songwriters of this 1966 TV theme song. The Secret Agent Man. Songwriter Steve Bari and P.F. Sloan will be considered, along with the Beach Boys' Mike Love. And from the 70s, the Doobie Brothers and George Clinton. Plus 1980s songwriters such as Steve Winwood, Janet Jackson and the hip-hop crew N.W.A. Eligible voting members have until December 22nd a turn in ballots that also include 1990s nominees such as Alanis Morissette and Eminem from

the early 2000s. The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at a New York gala next year. Mandelita Albarco, NPR News. And new inductees into the toy hall of fame in Rochester New York. This year's inductees include My Little Pony, the phase 10 card game, and Transformers action figures among others. Experts have to vote them in looking at whether they inspire creative play. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.