NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-21-2024 6AM 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 Corva Coleman. The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to force big tech company, Google, to sell off its internet browser, Chrome. NPR's Bobby Allen reports earlier this year, a federal judge ruled Google was operating

an illegal monopoly. Lawyers for the Justice Department say Google should sell off its hit internet browser, Chrome, in order to introduce more competition into the online search market. It follows a court deciding in August that Google search operates as an illegal monopoly. About 90% of internet searches are done on Google, and Chrome is by far the most popular browser. So the Justice Department says the only way to make online search more competitive is to force Google's Chrome to be sold off.

The tech company's highly profitable advertising business is powered by data it harvests from user activity on Chrome and Google search. Google calls the Justice Department's request quote staggering saying if implemented it would hurt user privacy and security and hamper Google's innovation. Bobbi Allen, NPR News. The House Ethics Committee has not released its investigative report for now on former Congressman Matt Gaetz. The committee reviewed the matter yesterday. NPR's Lexi Schepittle reports that's while Gaetz talked with senators about his controversial

nomination to become attorney general. The House Ethics Committee investigated drug use and sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz when he was a member of the House. Now that he's President-elect, Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, senators from both parties have said they want to see the panel's report. But after the House committee met for two hours, Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi,

said there had been, quote, no agreement to release the report. The ranking Democrat on the committee, Congresswoman Susan Wilde, told reporters that members were divided along party lines but agreed to revisit the matter at another meeting on December 5th. Lexi Shapil and PR News, The Capital. There are more questions about President-elect Trump's choice to be defense secretary, former

Fox News host Pete Hegseth. His lawyer confirms Hegseth paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault to prevent her from filing a lawsuit that could damage his career. No charges were filed. Hegseth has denied the allegation. Hegseth served as an officer in the Army National Guard and was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. But some are questioning if he has the knowledge to lead the Pentagon. That includes Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, also an Iraq war veteran

and former assistant secretary of veterans affairs. He really doesn't understand modern warfare and is therefore not qualified to be secretary of defense. The Trump transition team says it's using an accelerated schedule to get key cabinet nominees confirmed quickly. Ukraine says Russia has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight targeting Dnipro city.

If confirmed, this would be the first time Russia has used an ICBM to hit Ukraine. This comes after Ukraine fired U.S.-made long-range missiles deep into Russian territory this week. It's NPR. A powerful storm system known as an atmospheric river is pouring heavy rain and snow on northern California. Some areas may get up to a foot of rain. The same system has left at least two people dead in Washington state and cut power there to nearly 350,000 customers.

The National Weather Service says more bad weather is coming. A new storm system is perched just off the coast of Oregon and Washington state. It will bring dangerously gusty winds to the region by tomorrow. Cable operator Comcast has announced plans to spin off most of its cable TV channels, including MSNBC, CNBC, and the USA Network. As NPR's David Falkenfleck reports, it's part of the media giant's response

to the age of cable cord cutting. One property that won't move is the Bravo Channel, home to a lot of reality programming. And that kind of demonstrates Comcast's strategy, dedicating news sports and big studio properties in service of its streaming and broadcast offerings. President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration appears eager to use the levers of government to ensure more favorable news coverage. This transaction does not appear to require specific antitrust review. Once it does go through, it'll separate Comcast from MSNBC, a network that has long been critical

of Trump. Comcast chairman Brian Roberts and his family will retain about a third of all voting shares but not have any leadership or board role in the new company. David Folk, NPR News. Federal wildlife officials say that some giraffe species should be moved to the endangered species list. They say the numbers of giraffes are falling so fast, quick action is needed to protect them. This is NPR.