NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-22-2024 6AM EST

Episode Date: November 22, 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, I'm Koriva Coleman. President-elect Donald Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be his U.S. Attorney General. The announcement came just hours after former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from

consideration. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. In a statement announcing his decision, Trump notes that Bondi was a local prosecutor in Florida before she served as the state's attorney general. Trump says Bondi is tough and smart and will refocus the Justice Department on fighting crime and making America safe. Trump has known Bondi for years. She spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2016

and later was an attorney on Trump's legal team during his first impeachment. Trump named Bondi as his choice for the top Justice Department job after his controversial first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew on Thursday. Gaetz said his confirmation was becoming a distraction for the Trump transition and that there was no time for a drawn-out battle over it, so he pulled his name from consideration. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

Pennsylvania incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey has conceded defeat to his Republican rival David McCormick. There were only about 16,000 votes separating them. The tight margin had triggered an automatic recount by Pennsylvania law. The National Weather Service says an atmospheric river is still pummeling the Pacific Northwest. More than 200,000 customers still don't have power, and most of them are around Seattle. The heavy rain is drenching northern California. From member station KQED, Suki Lewis reports the city of Eureka is worried about flooding.

Nearly 12 inches of rain fell in the nearby coastal mountains in just 24 hours. James White of the National Weather Service says the biggest area of concern is the Eel River south of Eureka, which is expected to keep rising overnight. As it reaches major flood stage, it's going to cut off a lot of roads and a lot of those farmers need to move their livestock as the river rises. And so that can always be a dangerous situation if people get trapped out there. Transportation officials say they're preparing in case the rising water cuts off the small northern California town of Ferndale.

As rain continues to fall on already saturated ground, there's also a greater risk of downed trees and mudslides. For NPR News, I'm Suki Lewis in Eureka. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says few people have been vaccinated against flu or COVID-19 as the holiday season approaches. NPR's Rob Stein has more. The CDC says only about one-third of adults have gotten this year's flu shot

and less than 18% have gotten one of the new COVID boosters. As for the new RSV vaccine, only 40% of adults ages 75 and older have gotten that recommended shot. There isn't a lot of flu or RSV right now, and the COVID numbers are still falling from this summer's big surge. But all those viruses could pick up quickly as people start to travel and gather for Thanksgiving in the winter holidays. Rob Stein, NPR News. You're listening to NPR. The Justice Department says agents have arrested a high-ranking member of a Mexican drug cartel on drug trafficking charges who was living in California.

Cristian Fernando Gutierrez Ochoa allegedly faked his own death and took up a false identity in the U.S. He was living in a luxury residence when he was detained. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has dismissed the possibility of further dialogue with the U.S. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul talks between the U.S. and North Korea broke down in 2019 and have not resumed. Kim said in a speech that North Korea had gone to every length in negotiations with the U.S. but it had only confirmed what Kim called the U.S.'s unchanging invasive and hostile policy towards the North. Kim spoke Thursday at an arms exhibition where North Korea's latest intercontinental ballistic and hypersonic missiles were on display.

North Korea's nuclear arsenal has grown since 2019 and it now has stronger backing from Russia. South Korea's national security adviser Shin Won-sik said Friday that Russia has provided North Korea with anti-aircraft missiles as payment for North Korea sending troops to Russia to help it fight Ukraine. Anthony Kuhn in PR News Seoul. Authorities in Brazil have indicted former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on charges that he allegedly planned to overthrow his government. Another 36 people are also accused of conspiracy in the coup scheme.

The overthrow was allegedly planned after Bolsonaro lost his presidential re-election bid in 2022. Brazil's Attorney General will now decide whether to pursue the charges. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing.