NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-02-2024 4PM EST

Episode Date: December 2, 2024

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You might have heard this song on TikTok blow up this summer. I'm looking for a man in finance. Trust fun. Six-five. Blue eyes. On It's Been A Minute, we're asking the big questions about dating. Like, is it okay to date with money in mind? And what are we really looking for from a man in finance? To find out, listen to the It's Been A Minute podcast from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Lakshmi Singh. Hunter Biden no longer faces the threat of going to prison for federal felony gun and tax convictions thanks to his father. Last night, President Biden pardoned his son, something he previously said he would not do. Today, White House Press Secretary Corrine Jean-Pierre, explained that Biden believes his son was unfairly targeted in the throes of election year politics. Well, many lawmakers on Capitol Hill are criticizing Biden over his decision. And Pierre's Elena Moore reports the decision has gotten pushback from both Republicans and Democrats. In a statement on X, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed the Biden family for eroding public trust in the justice system, adding that, quote, real reform cannot begin soon enough.

Johnson is one of a handful of prominent Republicans who have spoken out about this, and some Democrats have also come out against the pardon. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet wrote on X that Biden's decision puts quote, personal interest ahead of duty, adding that it further erodes Americans faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all. Elena Moore, NPR News. The list of controversial Trump nominees in line for Senate confirmations getting longer for the post of FBI director, the president-elect said he'd select attorney Cash Patel.

Patel is a close ally and former national security aide who has rebuked the Justice Department and the news media. As NPR's Kari Johnson reports, the current FBI director, Chris Wray, still has three years left on his 10-year term. It's been rare to fire an FBI director with time left on his term, but it has happened before. And now it's not clear whether Wray would stick around

to be fired in January or whether he might resign first. Over the weekend, the FBI said Chris Ray, the director, is focused on the FBI workforce and on protecting the American people from threats. NPR's Carrie Johnson reporting, the Syrian army and allied militias are regrouping after rebels seize the country's second most populous city, Aleppo. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports that Syria and Russia are intensifying airstrikes on opposition areas where dozens of people have been killed.

Regime forces have amassed north of Hama city in central Syria after rebel forces seized large swathes of territory. The regime's ally, Iran, says it will keep military personnel in Syria and videos posted online appear to show members of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq crossing the border into Syria to help bolster the Syrian regime. President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to force the rebels back, saying the quote, language of force is the only language the militias understand. But the regime has a lot of territory to regain. language the militias understand. But the regime has

a lot of territory to regain. In the space of a few days, the rebels have taken control of Aleppo city and also track to the highway, important for the economy in regime areas. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News. From Washington, this is NPR. A new study finds social drinkers who take obesity-fighting drugs are more likely to cut back on alcohol. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports research adds to evidence the medicines can have a significant impact on alcohol consumption.

The study included about 14,000 Weight Watchers members, mostly women. Study author Lisa Matero is a health psychologist and researcher at Henry Ford Health. So the main finding is that approximately 50 percent of patients who consumed alcohol at baseline reported decreased alcohol use after initiating their anti-obesity medication. Those who had the highest levels of drinking were about 19 times more likely to cut back compared to those who were categorized as light drinkers and many said their appetite for alcohol diminished. Alison Aubry, NPR News. The White House is decked out for the holidays.

At an event today as First Lady Jill Biden describes it, bells of various sizes, line archways, a twirling force of vintage ceramic trees, shines with the color of the holidays. The decorations, she says, a reflection of what matters to the Bidens as they celebrate the Christmas season in the White House one last time. We are guided by the values that we hold sacred, faith, family, and service to our country. Mrs. Biden thank volunteers from across the country who helped decorate the White House for the holidays. The Dow Jones industrial average has closed down 128 points to end the day at 44,782. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.