NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-16-2024 6PM EST

Episode Date: December 16, 2024

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Every weekday, Up First gives you the news you need to start your day. On the Sunday story from Up First, we slow down. We bring you the best reporting from NPR journalists around the world, all in one major story, 30 minutes or less. Join me every Sunday on the Up First podcast to sit down with the biggest stories from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Hurst. A school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin has left three people dead, a teacher, a student,

and the teenaged shooter, who police say was also a student at the Abundant Life Christian School. Police say six others were injured and are hospitalized and two have life-threatening injuries. The shooter, whose name, age, and gender are being two have life-threatening injuries. The shooter, whose name, age and gender are being withheld, was found dead by police. There were no metal detectors or school resource officers on the campus of the small school. Madison Police Chief Sean Barnes says it's a sad day for Madison and the country. I think we can all agree that enough is enough. And we have to come together to do everything

we can to support our students, to prevent press conferences like these from happening again and again and again. He says the Shooter's family is cooperating with police and there's no other threat to the school or community. No word yet on a motive. TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, are asking the Supreme Court to block a law that would ban the app next month. As MPR's Bobby Allen reports, the Federal Appeals Court upheld the law earlier this month. Bobby Allen It's seen as TikTok's last legal shot. It has asked the Supreme Court to step in and halt a law that bans TikTok nationwide unless Beijing--based bite dance divests the app. In its application, TikTok says Congress has singled out TikTok,

saying banning the app would violate the First Amendment rights of 170 million American users. While the viral video app waits for a decision from the high court, President-elect Donald Trump has been indicating he may rescue TikTok. Trump once opposed TikTok, but he recently said it has a warm spot in his heart, but did not explain how he might step in to save the app. Analysts say there are many ways Trump can keep TikTok in business in the U.S., including instructing his administration to not enforce the law. Bobbi Allen, NPR News.

The White House's strategy to counter Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate is coming under criticism from some American Muslims. Empire's Jason Derose reports the Council on American-Islamic Relations calls the plan too little, too late. Jason Derose The strategy released last week details four priorities. Increase awareness of hatred against Muslims and Arabs, improve safety and security, tackle discrimination and bias while

accommodating Muslim religious practices, and build solidarity with Muslims and Arabs in broader society. The Council on American-Islamic Relations argues that President Biden should address bias on the federal terrorism watch list and cease support for Israel's war in Gaza. The strategy comes more than a year and a half after the Biden administration pledged to counter anti-Semitism. Jason DeRose, NPR News. Danielle Pletka Wall Street in mixed territory by the closing bell. The Dow was down 110 points. The Nasdaq up 247. That's up 1.2%. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence in parliament, triggering the dissolution of parliament and rare early elections, putting an end to his fractured government, just as Europe's biggest economy is faltering. Parliamentary snap elections are now scheduled for February. He will again run in that election for his job. ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has released his first statement since the fall of his regime just over a week ago. That's when rebel forces stormed the Syrian capital Damascus. And Piers Hadil al-Shalchi reports, said, claims that he fought beside his army

to the very end. In a statement posted on the Syrian presidency's Telegram account, President Bashar al-Assad said his departure from Damascus was, quote, neither planned nor did it occur in the final hours of the battle. Assad said that as the rebel forces entered the capital on December 8th, he moved to a military air base in the port city of Latakia in coordination with Russian allies. Assad goes on to say that upon arrival at the base, it was clear that his army had withdrawn from all battle lines and all their positions had fallen.

He said Moscow then arranged an immediate evacuation that evening as the base came under drone attacks. The statement was dated December 16th from Moscow. Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Damascus. Soon, people riding in the back of a passenger vehicle will get an audible warning if they haven't buckled up, similar to what drivers get now. The National Traffic Safety Administration says it finalized the rule. Takes effect in 2027.

The same rule for front seat passengers takes effect in 2026. This is NPR.