NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-11-2024 6AM EST

Episode Date: December 11, 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 in Washington, on Corva Coleman, the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been denied bail in Washington. On Corva Coleman, the man accused of killing, United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson, has been denied bail in Pennsylvania. NPR's Maria Aspen reports a picture of Luigi Mangione is beginning to emerge. There are still many unanswered questions about how this smart and successful 26-year-old

turned into a man who allegedly killed in cold blood. Luigi Mangione grew up in a wealthy Baltimore County family. He was the valedictorian at his exclusive all-boys prep school and went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania. High school classmate Freddie Leatherberry describes Mangione as athletic, smart, and well-liked. I'm still just in disbelief that the kid that I knew has just taken his life in this direction.

But in recent years, Mangione was fighting back pain and spending time online where he expressed admiration for the writing of the Unabomber. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. Two separate courts have blocked a potential mega-merger between grocery store chains Kroger and Albertsons. A federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington have both rejected the deal. And Piazolina

Seljuk reports it would combine the two biggest supermarket chains in the U.S. Kroger bid almost $25 billion to buy Albertsons more than two years ago. Since then, the mergers faced three lawsuits filed by Colorado, by Washington, and by the Federal Trade Commission. The Colorado case is still pending, but the company's lost in the two others. A legal double whammy that could be the final straw for the merger. The companies say they're disappointed they disagree and they're evaluating their options. Kroger and Albertsons presented the merger as a matter of survival in a fight against giants, like Walmart and Costco.

But government lawyers argued combining two direct competitors would lead to fewer choices and higher prices. The companies can now appeal but may decide to abandon the deal. Alina Seluk, NPR News. A federal judge has overturned the sale of Infowars, the company owned by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The judge says the auction process that allowed the satirical news site, The Onion, to buy it was flawed.

Jones was forced to sell his assets to pay a $1.5 billion judgment to Sandy Hook families for lying about the deadly school shooting and saying it was a hoax that 26 children and educators were murdered. South Korea's former defense minister is in stable condition. He attempted suicide while he was being held in detention. And bears Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul he's being investigated for insurrection. Police at a detention center stopped Kim Yong-hyun when they discovered him trying to take his own life.

Kim is believed to have played a key role in last week's failed attempt to put the country under martial law. Police, meanwhile, raided President Yoon Sung-yeol's office in search of evidence, but were blocked by the president's security detail. And bears Anthony Kuhn reporting from Seoul. This is NPR. The Franklin fire burning northwest of Los Angeles has forced thousands of people in the city of Malibu to evacuate. None of the fire is contained. The powerful Santa Ana winds are forcing utility companies as far south as San Diego to cut power so falling wires don't spark new fires.

Supporters are redoubling their efforts in the House to pass a bill that protects children from harm when they're online. The Senate passed a bill that would require big tech and social media companies to take steps. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports opponents are citing free speech concerns. 19-year-old Matthew Allaire was among a group of young people and parents calling on the House to bring the bill to a vote. Spent a lot of time in online communities as I was younger. Really got to see the ug vote. Spent a lot of time in online community when I was younger. Really got to see the uglier side, what a lot of these services and platforms will do to young

people. Maureen Mollack lost her 16-year-old son David to suicide. She says parents have been trying to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson to find a path forward. We've been unsuccessful at being able to secure a meeting with him and it's been really tough for the parents. Those opposed to the bill include LGBTQ plus groups who say the legislation's vague wording could be used to quash a vital tool for providing and sharing information. Windsor-Johnston NPR News, The Capitol. South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace says she was accosted by a man last night on the Capitol grounds. Police have not released many details of the alleged assault, but they say they have arrested

a suspect. Mace wrote online, she has a brace on her arm, but will be fine. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.