NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-11-2024 2PM EST

Episode Date: December 11, 2024

NPR News: 12-11-2024 2PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

52 years ago, the federal government launched a program to support the poorest elderly and disabled Americans. But an NPR investigation has discovered a very different reality. They come to me and say, you owe $20,000. How a program designed to help the most vulnerable is trapping them in poverty. Listen now on the Sunday story from the Up First podcast. Listen now on the Sunday story from the Up First Podcast. Lye from NPR News in Washington. I'm Lakshmi Singh. U.S. officials say locating American Austin Tice in Syria is a top priority. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports on efforts to find the reporter and Marine veteran who disappeared 12 years ago, now that rebels have toppled

the authoritarian government of President Bashar al-Assad. Tice had served at war as a Marine. He then studied law at Georgetown University, and in the summer of 2012 he traveled to Syria as a freelance journalist. He was detained at a checkpoint and was last seen a few weeks later in a video blindfolded and held by gunmen. American officials believe he was held by the Syrian government

that collapsed this month. National security spokesman John Kirby said much is still unknown. No indication that he isn't alive, but also no indication about where he is or what his condition is. The FBI is offering a million-dollar reward for information leading to Austin Tice's safe return. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. Investigators are digging deeper into the background of the 26-year-old man charged in New York with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week. Meanwhile, local media reporting the New York City police

are warning about threats to corporate executives after hit list targeting health industry chiefs popped up. And Piaz Odette Yousef has more. Piaz Odette Yousef, Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D.,

Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph extremist analysts that I spoke to, you know, this really kind of speaks to how Americans have over time become more open-minded toward political violence. And PR's Adet Yousef reporting. The newly created commission known as the Department of Government Efficiency or DOJ may renew the effort to make daylight saving time permanent in the United States. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports the Senate passed a bill in 2022 that would end the semi-annual changing of the clocks, but the legislation remains stalled in the House. The two sides make similar arguments

with opposite conclusions. John Cawley is a professor of health economics at Cornell University. He says studies show that making daylight saving time per minute could interrupt sleep patterns in the spring. It seems like the spring is just more disruptive because it's taking away light when you're waking up and that that's important for your circadian rhythms and so that's where you see the health consequences. But proponents of making daylight saving time permanent argue that it would reduce seasonal depression in the fall. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have renewed that effort in the House, but it's unclear whether the Doge subcommittee will move ahead with it.

Windsor-Johnston, NPR News, Washington. From Washington, this is NPR News. Security experts are warning about scammers targeting holiday shoppers. NPR's Jenna McLaughlin with details. Have you ever received a text message or email claiming that your package can't be delivered? An urgent missive pressing you to update your address or payment method to avoid shipping delays? Well, it turns out this kind

of message is an extremely popular kind of scam, aimed at stealing money or sensitive personal information. Antivirus company Norton says these kinds of scams are on the rise, especially during a busy time for online shopping. One of the most prevalent activities we do in our digital life actually is online shopping. That's Leyla Bilge, who directs spam research at Norton. Bilge says these fraudsters are only getting smarter. Now they're even spying on local post offices to steal information about people who are expecting packages to be delivered soon.

Jen McLaughlin, NPR News. The NFL and the sports apparel powerhouse Nike are extending their partnership with a new 10-year deal. The agreements aimed at growing the professional football league's reach around the world. Nike's been the exclusive supplier to all of the NFL's professional football teams for the last 12 years. Authorities say a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and apparently fled to Eastern Europe is back in the United States and expected to make a court appearance today.

They say Ryan Borgward returned on his own after he left his wife and children for four months. The 45-year-old was being held in county jail. The Nasdaq is up 341 points or 1.7%. This is NPR News.