NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-22-2024 8PM EST

Episode Date: November 23, 2024

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This message comes from Indiana University. Indiana University is committed to moving the world forward, working to tackle some of society's biggest challenges, nine campuses, one purpose, creating tomorrow today. More at iu.edu. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. More key cabinet nominations tonight from President-elect Donald Trump

focusing on money, spending, and jobs. Trump is named billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Besen to be the next Treasury Secretary pending Senate confirmation. Besen has been a key economic advisor to the President-elect. Trump is also nominating Russell Vogt to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vogt served as Director of OMB during Trump's first term. He was a key contributor to Project 2025, of the Office of Management and Budget. Votes served as director of OMB during Trump's first term. He was a key contributor to Project 2025,

a conservative policy priority document. Also nominated for secretary of labor tonight is Congresswoman Lori Chavez Dreamer of Oregon. President Trump has also made another key cabinet nomination after his first nominee to be attorney general, former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz bowed out. Gaetz stepping down amid a furor over allegations he had sex with a minor and used illegal drugs, charges Gaetz denied.

MPR's Greg Allen says Trump quickly pivoted to another Floridian, former state attorney general and longtime loyalist, Pam Bondi. She was on his legal team in his first impeachment. She backed him after the 2020 election in claiming incorrectly that there was widespread fraud that cost him the election. She's been a frequent guest over the years on Fox News, where she's always been one of Trump's most steadfast defenders. Bondi was also one of those who went to New York during Trump's trial on charges that he paid hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, and appeared in the courtroom to show support for him at that time.

NPR's Greg Allen, the 59-year-old bondee, has been a staunch advocate for conservative positions. A judge in New York has indefinitely postponed Donald Trump's sentencing in his criminal hush money case. NPR's Windsor Johnson reports Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The sentencing hearing was scheduled to be held next week as Trump's attorneys continue their push

to dismiss the case altogether. The judge has also given Trump's legal team until December 2nd to file a motion to throw out the conviction, but the Manhattan District Attorney's Office says it will oppose the request. A jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to an adult film star ahead of the 2016 election. Mike Hichs, Reporting for the 2016 election. Americans are feeling better about the economy but as NPR Scott Horsley reports there's a sharp

difference between Democrats and Republicans. A survey by the University of Michigan shows consumer sentiment on the economy improved slightly in November for the fourth month in a row. The modest change in the overall index massed some big swings in partisan perspectives. Republicans are much more upbeat about future economic prospects now following the election of Donald Trump, while Democrats are considerably less hopeful about what lies ahead. That's a mirror image of what happened four years ago when Democrats outlook soared and Republicans soured following the election of Joe Biden. Survey

Director Joanne Shue notes there's still substantial uncertainty over how Trump's economic agenda will be implemented. She expects consumers to recalibrate their expectations in the coming months. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. You're listening to NPR News. Rapper Kendrick Lamar has had a big year and now he's topping it off with a new album that's out today, though he gave no hints it was coming. More from NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento. Kendrick Lamar is on a roll. In May, he was unofficially crowned the winner of an ongoing rap battle with Drake.

His diss track, Not Like Us, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart not once, but twice. He set the headline next year's Super Bowl halftime show, and earlier this month, he racked up more than half a dozen Grammy nominations. Now, he's dropping his sixth album, GNX, without warning. The new album follows two highly acclaimed records from Lamar, 2022's Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers and 2017's Damn, which won a Pulitzer Prize for music. GNX features performances from SZA and Deira Barrera.

Producers include Jack Cantanoff and Kamasi Washington. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News. The Texas Education Board has voted to allow what is being described as Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools. Today's approval follows other Republican-led states that are also pushing for an increased emphasis on religion in the classroom. While the religious-based curriculum will be optional, Texas schools that adopt it would receive additional funding. Parents who oppose the idea say the lessons will alienate students of other faith backgrounds.

Crude oil futures prices continue to move higher in part due to escalating tensions between Russia, which boosted oil's so-called risk premium, crude up $1.14 a barrel to $71.24 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. 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.

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