NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-21-2024 5AM EST

Episode Date: November 21, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee have voted not to release their findings into former Congressman Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Attorney General. The committee has been investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use by the four-term GOP congressman from Florida, former. Gaetz has denied the allegations. The committee did vote to meet again next month. Lawyers for Donald Trump are seeking the dismissal

of the hush money case against Trump in New York. Earlier this year, a jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records, but sentencing has yet to take place. NPR's Jimena Bustillo reports. 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 wait. Still, he suggests openness to pausing the case until Trump finishes his next presidential term. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News, New York. The FBI says a Florida man is under arrest in connection with an alleged plot to bomb

the New York Stock Exchange. The suspect is identified as Haroun Abdul Malik Yener. Court documents say he attempted to use an explosive to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce. The FBI investigation into the suspect began nine months ago. Authorities in Washington state are reporting two deaths as strong storm systems continue moving through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. The region has been hit with heavy rains and strong winds that have knocked down trees and power lines.

Natalie Newcomb with member station KUOW has more from Seattle. Utility and cleanup crews say it could take several days to fully restore service after more than half a million people lost power across western Washington. Winds reaching speeds of 74 miles per hour downed trees, which landed on power lines, buses, and homes. Several highways were shut down for hours. In the greater Seattle area, one person was killed when a tree fell into a home, and another person died when a tree fell into a homeless encampment. Officials are asking residents to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines. For NPR News, I'm Natalie Newcomb in Seattle.

This is NPR News from Washington. The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to force Google to sell off its Internet browser Chrome. This follows a previous court decision declaring Google to be an illegal monopoly. The DOJ says it's seeking more competition in the online search market. Google is opposed, saying the sale would hamper innovation. AI leader Nvidia is reporting record earnings in the latest quarter. The company says net income topped $19 billion. Sales for the quarter reached $35 billion, beating Wall Street forecasts.

Nvidia produces advanced computer chips, systems, and software for the artificial intelligence industry. The winners of this year's National Book Awards have been announced in New York. NPR's Andrew Limbong reports. 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, whose near complete apathy about my career helps me keep things in perspective. Over in nonfiction, Jason De Leon won 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 the Poetry Award went to Lena Khalaf-Tufaha, whose collection Something About Living is an expansive history of the Palestinian people. Andrew Limbong, Peer News. Chris Stapleton was the big winner at last night's Country Music Association Awards in Nashville.

He received four honors, including Entertainer of the Year. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.