NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-18-2024 8PM EST

Episode Date: November 19, 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 Jack Spear. While President-elect Donald Trump has been filling his cabinet with loyal supporters, one job seems to be a bit tougher to land on a finalist for, the position of Treasury Secretary has been seen as a race between two candidates, Candor Fitzgerald, CEO Howard

Lutnick and billionaire investor Scott Besant. While both candidates have their supporters, Trump seems to like Besant as MPR's Maria Aspin reports. He runs the hedge fund and he's been an economic advisor to the Trump campaign. Trump has talked a lot about how smart he is and also about how good looking he is, which matters a lot to Trump. Besant has silver hair and glasses and he wears suits. He looks like a baker out of central casting. MPR's Maria Aspin, still Lutnick, has expressed more support for broad tariffs and co-chairs Trump's transition operation. Of course, Trump could also go with someone else entirely. President Trump, meanwhile, has pegged a senior Republican to head the Federal Communications Commission,

Trump naming longtime commission member and previous FCC General Counsel Brendan Carr as his choice to run the FCC. Carr has been confirmed by the Senate three times. He commented critically about Kamala Harris's pre-election day appearance on Saturday Night Live. A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds one in five Americans get their news from social media influencers. As NPR's Bobby Allen explains, the researchers say influencers have become a key alternative

to traditional news outlets. Pew found that among young people, the trend was especially pronounced. For adults between 18 and 29, nearly 40% turned to personalities on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to understand the world. These influencers tend not to have journalism training, but many have amassed audiences that rival leading news outlets. Pew also found a clear ideological bent. On platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, the number of right-leaning influencers exceeds left-leaning ones. And the authors note that news influencers are more likely to be men than women. But across parties and gender, the survey found surging demand for influencers

to deliver and explain the news. Bobby Allen, NPR News. For the first time this year, people can take a test at home to find out if they have the flu or COVID-19. More from NPR's Rob Stein. The Food and Drug Administration has given the green light to nine tests that people can buy at a drug store without a prescription to test themselves at home to see if they have COVID or the flu.

Most of the tests work just like the home COVID tests people learn to use during the pandemic. But instead of just showing whether someone has COVID, the new tests can differentiate between COVID and the flu. The tests can even tell which kind of flu people have. That should help people decide with their doctors what precautions they should take and how to get treated. The tests cost about $15 each. Rob Stein, NPR News. A mixed close on Wall Street. The Dow was down 55 points.

The Nasdaq was up 111 points today. You're listening to NPR. President Biden has joined other world leaders at the Group of 20 Economic Summit in Brazil. Biden also traveling over the weekend to Brazil's Amazon rainforest. After the White House said the U.S. has made a $50 million contribution to the Amazon fund, the most significant international cooperation effort to save the rainforest. Brazil meanwhile has been pushing the G20 for concerted action to alleviate hunger amid the uncertainty over two wars and a new incoming administration. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in opening remarks at the summit

talking about the need to address global food insecurity. Many Americans are struggling with how to speak to each other in these bitterly divided times. One pastor has answered that question by preaching the golden rule, due unto others. MPR's Frank Lankford is more from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Pastor Chris Morgan leads Christ United Methodist Church, a politically divided congregation. Leading up to election day, he preached kindness, encouraging his flock to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If we hold to that, then we can actually hopefully become an example for society instead of mirroring society.

Some parishioners said the sermon series helped them talk to people they disagree with and remain calm doing so. Another parishioner, though, thought it brought election politics into the church, which he sees as a sanctuary from all that. Frank Langford, NPR News, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crude oil futures prices moved sharply higher today. Oil was up more than 3 percent amid concerns about possible escalation of the Russia-Ukraine NPR News, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.