NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-14-2024 8PM EST

Episode Date: December 15, 2024

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst. The White House says the drones that have been spotted over New Jersey, New York, and other Northeastern states for weeks now are still being investigated, but they have no known evidence of foreign activity or nefarious activity at this point. And here's Deepa Sivaram has more. Officials from the FBI, Homeland Security, and the FAA said Saturday that they share public concern about the drones, but also think there has been some overreaction from the public.

Officials said they're working with New Jersey State Police and other entities like the Coast Guard as they investigate. They also established a tip line that resulted in 5,000 tips, but less than 100 that they say was worth looking into. Officials could not say how long they expect the investigation to last. President-elect Donald Trump suggested on Friday in a post on Truth Social that the drones could be shot down, but officials did not speak to that possibility Deepa Sivaram, NPR News

Meanwhile, drone sightings at the Stewart International Airport about 60 miles north of New York City caused officials to close some of the runways for a short time last night Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.S., along with counterparts from eight Arab nations, Turkey, and officials from the EU and the UN, have been in direct contact with the rebel group HTS that overthrew the Assad regime in Syria. Blinken says he signed off on a set of principles meant to guide Syria toward a peaceful, non-sectarian, and inclusive country. What happens inside of Syria can have powerful consequences well beyond its borders, from

mass displacement to terrorism. And we know that we can't underestimate the challenges of this moment and in the weeks and months ahead. Blinken says the U.S.'s message to the Syrian people is that the U.S. wants them to succeed and is prepared to help them do so. His comments are the first public confirmation that Washington is in contact with the rebel group, HTS, that the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization six years ago. Blinken's wrapping up a three-nation tour of the region scheduled after the fall of the Assad regime. The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO has hired a high-profile former prosecutor

as his defense lawyer. And Pierce Juliana Kim reports. Karen Friedman-Egnifolo will represent Luigi Mangione in defending against murder charges related to the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. Friedman-Egnifolo was a prosecutor for much of her career. She was second in command at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office where she prosecuted violent crimes, including those that had a mental health component, according to her law firm's bio.

She currently works in private practice, and it happens to be the same law firm representing Sean Diddy Combs against criminal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Mangione is currently held in Pennsylvania without bail. He's scheduled to appear in a preliminary hearing in Pennsylvania on December 23rd. This is NPR News. Supreme Court Justice Katanji Brown Jackson is making her Broadway debut at this hour in the musical, and Juliet. As NPR's Ava Pukac reports, the justice is appearing in a one-night-only walk-on role.

Jackson isn't new to the stage. She studied theater at Harvard University while earning her law degree, and even once had future Oscar winner Matt Damon as a scene partner. Speaking to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, Jackson said tonight fulfills a lifelong fantasy. I told the Harvard admissions people that I needed to go there because I wanted to be the first black female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage. The show reimagines the ending of the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet. Jackson said she was invited for a walk-on role specifically created for her. After the performance, the Supreme Court Justice is participating in an audience talkback.

Ava Pukac and PR News. President-elect Donald Trump continues to fill out his incoming administration, announcing several new picks today, including Truth Social CEO, former Congressman Devin Nunes, as chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. He also tapped former Department of Homeland Security CFO Troy Edgar to serve as deputy secretary of the agency. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies, including Vice President J.D. Vance, attended the 125th Army-Navy College football game outside Washington today, which Navy won 31 to 13. The game

was first played in 1890. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things in other currencies. Send, spend spend or receive money internationally and always get the real-time mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. Download the Wyse app today or visit wyse.com, tease and seize apply.