NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-21-2024 3AM EST

Episode Date: November 21, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. The House Ethics Committee is deadlocked on whether to release its report on Attorney General Matt Gaetz. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports. House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest told reporters after a closed-door meeting about their probe, At this point, there has been no agreement to release the report. The ethics panel investigated Gaetz for allegations of paying for sex, including with the minor,

and doing illegal drugs. He resigned his seat just before the committee was set to consider its report. The top Democrat on the panel, Congresswoman Susan Wilde, said after guests spoke to reporters she wanted to clarify there was a vote, no member crossed party lines, and there was no consensus. The members did agree to meet again on December 5th. Gates, who insists he's done nothing wrong, spent the day meeting with Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Panel, who will lead the confirmation process.

Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, The Capitol. A declaration by Speaker Mike Johnson orders House members to only use capital bathrooms that correspond to their biological sex. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls the move outrageous. What it inevitably results in are women and girls who are primed for assault because they want, because people are going to want to check their private parts in suspecting who is trans and who is cis and who's doing what. Ocasio-Cortez also says that a pending bathroom bill would allow the bullying of women in

Congress. In a motion filed last night, the Justice Department is asking the federal judge, who oversees the antitrust case against Google, to order the tech giant to sell his popular Chrome browser. DOJ also wants Google to divest from its Android phone business or have it undergo court supervision and stop making third-party payments that ensure its search engine is the default.

In a statement, Google called the proposal staggering and a threat to the security and privacy of its users. Australia's Parliament is considering a social media ban for children. As Christina Kukolpiam reports, tech companies could face multi-million dollar fines for breaches. The proposed changes, described by the Australian government as world-leading, could see social media companies fine the equivalent of up to 33 million US dollars for breaching rules to prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing their platforms. Reddit and Snapchat are also on the list. While YouTube, some

online gaming and messaging sites are exempt. Companies would have the responsibility to enforce the age restrictions, but the government has yet to explain how they'll be implemented. The legislation is expected to pass parliament with support from the main opposition coalition, but some online safety experts have questioned its effectiveness. For NPR News, Christina Kukoglia, Melbourne, Australia. You're listening to NPR. A federal judge has approved a $2.2 million settlement of a class action claiming property management firm, Safe Rent Solutions, used algorithms to score renters based on race and income.

The plaintiff accused the Texas-based company of unfairly discriminating against black and Latino applicants using housing vouchers. Safe Rent has agreed to roll back some of the screening services that it offers to landlords and management companies. The ceremony for this year's National Book Awards were held last night. The prizes are some of the most prestigious awards in American literature.

And Fer's Andrew Limbong has more on this year's winners. Perceval Everett won the Fiction Award for his book, James, which is a retelling of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, except from Jim's point of view. In his speech, Everett thanked the usual suspects, his wife, his agent, his two teenage sons, over in nonfiction Jason DeLeon, one for his book Soldiers and Kings about people who smuggle migrants over the southern U.S. border. He thanked the subjects in his book.

And everyone out there on the migrant show trying to make ends meet and trying to do the right thing, all keeping hope alive. And the Poetry Award went to Lena Khalaf-Tufaha, whose collection Something About Living is an expansive history of the Palestinian people. Angela Limbong and Pierre News. At the Country Music Awards last night, Chris Stapleton received four honors, including Album of the Year. His song White Horse received four honors, including Album of the Year. His song, White Horse, won Song of the Year and Single of the Year.

Laney Wilson, his female vocalist of the year, the event was held last night in Nashville. This is NPR News.