NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-20-2024 7PM EST

Episode Date: November 21, 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. President-elect Donald Trump's lawyers are calling for an immediate dismissal of his New York criminal case. As NPR's Amada Bastille reports, the jury found him guilty of falsifying business records

to conceal a hush money payment to an adult film star. But Trump has yet to be sentenced. In a new court filing, Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanch and Emil Bovi, argue that continuing the case would be quote, uniquely destabilizing and a threat to the whole government. Trump's legal team has long said that they would challenge the verdict in the case. For months, his lawyers also argued that the evidence brought in a trial violated a summer Supreme Court ruling that presidents cannot be prosecuted for official acts taken while

in office. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a court filing earlier this week that his team is prepared to challenge any attempts to dismiss the case. He said the jury's verdict, which came before the Supreme Court's ruling and election, should have weight. Still, he suggests openness to pausing the case until Trump finishes his next presidential term. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News, New York. The House Ethics Committee has wrapped up its meeting in Washington with no decision yet on releasing its report on Matt Gaetz, the former congressman and current attorney general

nominee who was investigated for allegedly having sex with an underage girl and using illicit drugs. Ethics Committee Chair Michael Gass told reporters at this point there's been no agreement to release the report. Ranking Democrat Susan Wild of Pennsylvania went further though saying committee members voted but were deadlocked along party lines. The Justice Department, which Gates would lead if confirmed by the Senate, conducted its own three-year investigation. No charges were filed. Gates maintains he did nothing wrong. The president-elect has said a federal ban is off the table,

but anti-abortion groups still have goals for the next Trump administration, and PRC Sarah McCammon has more. Groups opposed to abortion rights say they have a list of objectives for the next four years. Carol Tobias with the National Right to Life Committee says a top goal is cutting federal funds

to groups like Planned Parenthood. I think to be realistic, what we are going to see and I think most likely accomplish is just getting government out of the abortion business. Existing federal law prohibits the use of federal funds for most abortions. Another group, Students for Life of America, recently released a plan called Make America Pro-Life Again, which includes pushing for new federal limits on abortion pills and new restrictions in states. Sarah McCammon, NPR News. The Venezuelan man accused of murdering nursing student Lackin Riley in Georgia

has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Jose Abarro had waived his right to a jury trial, meaning a judge heard the case. The killing of the young woman, who was out on a morning run has added fuel to the national debate on border enforcement. Since authorities contend, Abara entered the country illegally in 2022, was allowed to remain in the U.S. pending his immigration case. You're listening to NPR News in Washington.

President-elect Trump is vowing to repeal President Joe Biden's artificial intelligence policies when he returns to the White House to begin serving second term. The announcement comes as government AI experts from various countries are gathering this week in San Francisco to talk about guardrails for the rapidly emerging technology. The meeting, which features participation by the U.S., Canada, Singapore, the UK, and the EU, among others, is focusing on AI safety. It's not clear what Trump's plan to undo the current administration's work means for the future of AI. A leader among progressive evangelical Christians has

died. Tony Campolo was 89 years old. MPR's Jason DeRose reports. Jason DeRose Tony Campolo was a Baptist preacher, a sociologist, spiritual advisor to Bill Clinton, and one of the founders of Red Letter Christians. That group encourages evangelicals to take more seriously social justice issues, such as alleviating poverty and peacemaking. Campolo often tangled with others in progressive circles because of his opposition to abortion rights. For years, he preached and taught that same-sex relationships were sinful. He and his wife disagreed on the issue and even held public debates. Then in 2015, he released a statement saying he'd changed his mind.

Tony Campolo wrote that through meeting and spending time with gay Christian couples, he'd learned that their relationships were very much like his own. Jason DeRose, NPR News. Stocks went out to session on Wall Street with a mixed close. There were some notable declines, including big box retailer Target, which failed to meet Jason Derose, NPR News. Jack Spear, NPR News.