NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2024 7PM EST

Episode Date: December 18, 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, I'm Jack Spear. Israeli officials are in Qatar negotiating the terms of a ceasefire in Gaza. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv the ceasefire could begin before President Biden leaves office. An official familiar with the Gaza ceasefire negotiations says mediators are the closest they've been to finalizing a deal in more than a year.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, the official says the ceasefire would begin before President Biden leaves office and would last around six weeks. Israel would release Palestinian prisoners and detainees. In exchange, Hamas would release some of the Israeli hostages—all the women, men above the age of 50, and hostages with medical conditions. The official says Israeli troops would partially withdraw from areas of Gaza,

Israel would boost humanitarian aid, and both sides would continue talks to free the remaining hostages and end the war. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. President-elect Donald Trump is making good on his threat to Sutherland-Domoyne register over a poll showing he was trailing in Iowa close to election day.

He won by double digits. Sen. Piers David Folkenfolk explains the long shot suit is part of an accelerating and aggressive strategy in taking on the media. The case is reliant on consumer protections in Iowa state laws. Trump publicly attacked Ann Selzer of the Iowa poll as she conceded she got it wrong in early November and retired shortly after. His lawyers are now arguing in court that she sought to harm his chances.

Legal observers say it's a pretty flimsy case. Trump has taken CBS and the New York Times to court, as well as the Watergate icon Bob Woodward, and ABC News just agreed to pay him $15 million plus a million dollars in legal costs to settle a defamation suit involving anchor George Stephanopoulos. Usually, presidents take to the bully pulpit to challenge the press, Trump is taken to the courts and promises to use government agencies, too. David Folkenflick, NPR News. The Port of Los Angeles is expecting to handle record amounts of cargo this month. NPR's Scott Horstley reports some importers are racing to bring goods into the U.S. to avoid

potential tariffs under the new Trump administration. Cargo traffic at the LA port in November was up 16 percent from a year ago and December's volume looks to be even higher. Gene Soroka, the port's executive director, says shippers are trying to sidestep not only future tariffs but also a potential dock worker strike on the East Coast next month and the ongoing threat of Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea. All indications suggest that we're heading into our best December on record. Traditionally it's a softer month for volume but all those geopolitical issues I mentioned are continuing to shift some

additional cargo to Los Angeles. Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on imports from China which account for more than 40% of the cargo coming into the Port of LA. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Stocks lost ground on Wall Street ahead of the conclusion of a meeting by the Federal Reserve. The Dow was down 267 points today. You're listening to NPR News. Congressional leaders say they are nearing a deal on an agreement that would keep the

federal government running through March 14th. The stopgap spending measure would also provide $100 billion in emergency aid for states and local communities hard hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as other natural disasters. The stopgap spending measure would prevent a partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight Friday. The president of the NCAA was on Capitol Hill today answering senators questions about sports gambling. Charlie Baker says he supported elements of a new bill that will place federal regulations on the gaming industry. Becky Sullivan reports. The Safe Bet Act was introduced this fall by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

The bill would ban some gambling promotions, limit TV commercials and prevent bettors from using credit cards to make deposits. And at the hearing, there was support for a ban it would place on prop bets in college sports. Charlie Baker said those have led to harassment of student athletes both online and from classmates in person. They basically say, look, you're my friend. I'm not looking for you to lose a game. I just need you to miss the first two free throws. Sports gambling has swept the U.S. since a Supreme Court decision in 2018 paved the way for its legalization. Since then, problem gambling and bankruptcies have risen too. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Washington. You won't have to do anything in terms of changing your clocks, but you may want to

put the porch lights on a bit early this weekend. That's because Saturday marks the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. From there, though, the days steadily get longer until late June. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.