NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-26-2024 1PM EST

Episode Date: November 26, 2024

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Thanksgiving was a national holiday created in the middle of the Civil War to unify a country that was split in two. Learn about the origins of Thanksgiving and how the unity and division that we see at our Thanksgiving tables was there from the very beginning. Listen to the Throughline Singh, NPR News. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Laxmeen Singh. A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters could be close at hand. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It will make a big difference in creating the conditions that will allow people to return

to their homes safely in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon. And I also believe that by de-escalating tensions in the region, it can also help us to end the conflict in Gaza. Blinken, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to issue a televised speech this hour after he wrapped up his meeting with his cabinet. President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to hit America's three biggest trading partners with new tariffs,

as high as 25%, as part of an effort to crack down on illegal migration and fentanyl smuggling. NPR's Brian Mann reports some experts are skeptical the pressure will work. Writing on social media, Trump threatened 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico and a new 10 percent tariff on China after he takes office in January. Trump said the tariffs would remain in effect until quote drugs in particular fentanyl and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country. But drug policy experts

including Jonathan Culkins at Carnegie Mellon University, say the black market pipeline of drugs can't just be turned off. Unfortunately, it's quite difficult to control fentanyl because it's so easy for the illegal supply chains to produce and distribute it. Experts say there's also a risk a new trade war would end international cooperation aimed at targeting drug traffickers. Brian Mann, NPR News. After Trump said he had plans to impose a 25 percent tariffs on Mexican goods over the cross-border flow of migrants and drugs, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, is

suggesting her government might retaliate with its own tariffs. Russia has carried out a wave of drone attacks across Ukraine with Ukrainian authorities calling it the largest coordinated air assault since the start of the war. The attacks come as Russian forces continue to make significant territorial gains. Here's NPR's Charles Maines. Ukrainian officials said Russia launched 188 drones and four cruise missiles, the latest attack on the civilian power grid ahead of the winter months. Russia's defense ministry acknowledged it launched attacks on 135 regions of Ukraine, but said it struck military air bases, troops and technical hardware.

Meanwhile, independent analysts report significant Russian advances in Kherson, Donetsk and other areas along the current front line. The Russian advance comes amid signs of escalation from both sides. In recent days, Ukraine has used its access to more powerful Western weapons to strike deeper into Russia. In turn, the Kremlin struck Ukraine with a new hypersonic weapon it claims is invincible to Western air defenses. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.

From Washington, this is NPR News. Rivian Automotive's plans for a plant in Georgia are back on. Today, the Biden administration announced it was lending $6.6 billion to the electric vehicle maker. Two years ago, as a startup, Rivian was financially unable to meet production targets and was forced to halt construction of the Georgia plant in March. There are some record-setting milestones in this week's Billboard music charts, and Piero's Stephen Thompson with details.

Shaboosie's a bar song, Tipsy, has pulled into a tie for the longest run at number one of any song in the history of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, which dates back to 1958. The song has now sat atop the chart for 19 non-consecutive weeks, dating back to July. The other song that's held the top spot for 19 weeks, Old Town Road by Lil Nas X, which topped the chart for 19 consecutive weeks back in 2019. There's also a major milestone on the Billboard Albums Chart. For the first time ever, three K-pop acts hold down spots in the top 10, the boy bands Ateez and Enhypen,

as well as Jin of BTS. Stephen Thompson, NPR News. US stocks remain mixed this hour. The Dow Jones Industrial Average now down 52 points, a fraction of a percent at 44,684. The S&P has risen five points. It's up nearly half a percent at 6,011 and the NASDAQ is up 111 points, or more than half a percent. It's NPR News.