NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-15-2024 3AM EST

Episode Date: November 15, 2024

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Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection Hotels, with over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotel brands. Find the unforgettable at autographcollection.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being tapped to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services. As NPR Stephen Fowler reports, Kennedy is a vaccine skeptic who's promoted conspiracy theories about mainstream health care policies.

If he's confirmed by the Senate, the role gives Kennedy the chance to actualize a vision that's often at odds with mainstream health and science, likely through a combination of scaling back existing programs and refocusing others to align with his quote, make America healthy again goals. He told NPR that the government isn't going to take away vaccines from anybody, but said the science on vaccine safety has huge deficits. Now, vaccine experts disagree with that assessment. NPR's Stephen Fowler reporting. Some Senate Republicans are seeking a House Ethics Committee report on the sex trafficking and illegal drug allegations against former U.S. Congressman Matt Gates. As NPR's Elena Moore reports, the House has ended its investigation of Gates, who resigned

on Wednesday shortly after being nominated. The House Ethics Committee can no longer pursue its investigation of Matt Gates, but its findings remain a variable in his nomination for attorney general. Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. He wants to see all relevant information when deciding on Gates. And that includes the report. I don't think any of us want to fly blind because that wouldn't be discharging our responsibilities. But again, part of this is to protect the president against information or surprises coming out later that he and his team weren't aware of. Cornyn added he's open to subpoenaing the investigation's findings if necessary.

Elena Moore, NPR News, The Capitol. The state of Florida is suing the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for alleged discrimination. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports that the federal lawsuit alleges FEMA officials discriminated against Florida hurricane victims who are supporters of President-elect Donald Trump. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell for violating the civil rights of Florida citizens in the response to hurricanes Helene and Milton. The suit also names former FEMA Supervisor Marnie Washington, who was fired after reports that she directed FEMA workers in Lake Placid to skip over houses

that displayed Trump campaign signs and flags. Criswell called Washington's behavior reprehensible, but the former supervisor has claimed she was following standard protocol to avoid hostility in the field. Criswell faces congressional scrutiny over the matter as well. She's scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee next week. Debbie Elliott, NPR News. US futures are lower in after-hours trading on Wall Street. Asia-Pacific markets are mixed down over 1 percent in Shanghai.

This is NPR. Ceterical news publication The Onion has won an auction to acquire Infowars. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was forced to sell the company as part of a $1 billion defamation judgment brought by the families of those killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Jones repeatedly told his listeners that the December 2012 attack was a hoax. He calls the sale of Infowars an attack on free speech. Two people are facing charges in connection with setting major fires in northern New Jersey

and New York City. Drought conditions have fueled a rash of blazes in the region, as NPR's Brian Mann reports. Crews have surrounded the Jennings Creek blaze with fire lines that appear to be holding, but there's still been no significant rain. That means fire departments across the entire northeast are scrambling to respond to hundreds of smaller brush and forest fires. New York City alone has seen more than 200 brush fires break out over the last two weeks in public parks and woodlands. Posting on social media, City Fire Department Commissioner Robert Tucker described the danger from wildfires as unprecedented.

We need the public to remain vigilant, Tucker said. Outdoor fires have been banned in much of the Northeast because of dry weather and fire risk. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York. A computer expert convicted of stealing and laundering a billion dollars worth of Bitcoin has been sentenced to five years in prison. Federal prosecutors say Ilja Liechtenstein masterminded one of the largest thefts ever of a virtual currency exchange.

A federal judge in Washington is set to sentence his wife, Rihanna Morgan, on Monday for her role in the scheme. This is NPR News.