NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-12-2024 5PM EST

Episode Date: December 12, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Justice Department's Inspector General has released a long awaited report on the FBI's intelligence collection efforts ahead of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The watchdog finding the FBI recognized the potential for violence that day, but failed to take a basic step that could have helped law enforcement prepare. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas. The report found that the FBI worked to identify domestic extremists who planned to travel to Washington DC for the events of January 6th. But the inspector general determined that the Bureau failed to canvas its field offices for intelligence about potential threats to the electoral certification.

The Bureau's deputy director called that, quote, a basic step that was missed. The report also says that no FBI undercover employees were in the protest crowd or at the Capitol that day, but 26 FBI informants were. None of them were authorized to break the law, the watchdog says, although four of the informants did enter the Capitol with the rioters. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. President Joe Biden today commuted the sentences of around 1,500 people. The White House saying the commutations were for those released from prison

and placed in home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden also pardoned 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes. The White House says it's the largest single day of clemency in modern history. Biden recently granted a blanket pardon to his son Hunter Biden who was prosecuted for attacks and gun crimes. In Urbana, Missouri, family and friends of Travis Timmerman are celebrating after learning he was found alive in Syria. As NPR's Bill Schappell reports, he was set free after insurgent rebels toppled the Syrian government. Pete, Travis Timmerman went missing in Budapest seven months ago. His family says the 29-year-old

had traveled there to write and explored his Christian faith. He eventually went to Lebanon, but Timmerman says he was put in a prison cell after walking into Syria on a pilgrimage. Days after the Assad regime fell, Timmerman was found wandering in a suburb of Damascus. His mother, Stacey Collins Gardner, says she knows what she'll do when she finally sees him. I'm gonna hug him.

I'll be excited and after I won't let him go. Bill Chappell, NPR News. A day after the release of November's consumer price data, the Labor Department has released the Producer Price Index. It tracks price changes the businesses see. NPR's Scott Horsey reports wholesale prices rose last month more than expected. Wholesale prices in November were up 3% from a year ago. That's the biggest

annual increase in 21 months and underscores the message that inflation is not yet fully tamed. Wholesale prices rose four-tenths of a percent between October and November. New applications for unemployment benefits jumped last week. 242,000 people applied for jobless aid. That's up 17,000 from the week before. Some applications may have been delayed by the Thanksgiving holiday. Scott Horsley in Peer News, Washington. The Dow fell 234 points. This is NPR. The National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against the producers of the reality television show, Love is Blind. Complaint argues the dating shows can test and should be classified as employees, not

merely participants. NPR's Andrea Shue reports it could lead to big changes for reality television. The difference between employees and participants is a meaningful one. Employees have rights under federal law to act collectively to improve their wages and working conditions. Participants do not. The complaint finds that the producers of Love is Blind

unlawfully classified contestants as participants, depriving them of basic protections under labor law. Love is Blind offers no cash prize, just a shot at true love. Cast members are paid a modest salary. Several former contestants have complained publicly about long hours and treatment they received while filming the show. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April. Andrea Hsu, NPR News. H.Y.K. Worried your teen spends an inordinate amount of time online based on a new Pew Research survey.

There may be basis for concern. According to a new report out today, it appears nearly half of U.S. teenagers say they are online constantly. Even as concerns have risen about the mental health effects of heavy consumption of social media and use of smartphones, as in past polls, YouTube remains the single most popular platform for teens. Used by 90 percent of those surveyed, TikTok and Snapchat were also popular. Crude oil futures prices mostly were flat today, oiled down 27 cents a barrel to 70.02 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.