NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-17-2024 8PM 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. The man accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been indicted in New York on one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, including murder as an act of terrorism.

26-year-old Luigi Mangione also faces weapons charges for using a ghost gun to carry out the shooting. At a news conference today, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said the numerous counts are warranted. This was a frightening, well-planned targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation. It occurred in one of the most bustling parts of our city, threatening the safety of local residents

and tourists alike, commuters and business people just starting out on their day. Thompson was shot and killed as he walked to a Manhattan hotel days later. A tip resulted in Mangione's arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania. As a Manhattan judge has so far refused to dismiss President-elect Donald Trump's hush money conviction, it now appears Trump's lawyers are trying a new tact. Trump's legal team claiming the conviction was tainted by jury misconduct and asserting it in court papers made public today.

Judge Juan Roshon has been weighing a defense request to throw out the case in light of Trump's impending return to the White House. TikTok CEO Sho Chu met with President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago this week. As NPR's Bobby Allen explains, it comes just as TikTok asked the Supreme Court to block a law that would ban the app in the U.S. next month. TikTok's chief executive, Sho Chu, met with Trump as the hit video app's future hangs in the balance. A law that bans TikTok in the U.S. over national security concerns is slated to take effect January 19th.

That's the day before Trump will be sworn in, creating serious uncertainty since Trump, once against TikTok, now says he will save the app. TikTok recently lost a federal appeals court battle upholding the law. The court said TikTok's parent company being based in China, a foreign adversary, posed a security risk. Now TikTok's legal team has filed an emergency petition to the Supreme Court, arguing that silencing the voices of 170 million American users is a free speech violation.

Bobby Allen in PR News. Stocks fell with the Dow declining for a ninth consecutive session, its longest losing streak since 1978. Present Bureau's Rafael Nam reports it's not as worrisome as it sounds. After a strong rally in the wake of Donald Trump's election win in November, stocks began a downward slide last week. There are reasons for that. Healthcare stocks have not done well since the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO. And there's a natural pullback after weeks of strong gains. There's also some caution pending the outcome of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting this week.

But analysts say sentiment still remains positive and they describe the markets as hopeful about next year. Rafael Num, NPR News. The Dow was down 267 points. The Nasdaq fell 64 points. Today the S&P dropped 23 points. This is NPR. The New York band charged in a string of murders that have been dubbed the Gilgo Beach killings has now been charged in the death of a seventh woman. Rex Howerman was charged today with killing Valerie Mack, whose remains were first found on Long Island in 2000.

Mack was 24 when she was last seen by her family, but working as an escort. Police began investigating the killings in 2010. After 10 sets of human remains were found along a barrier island parkway, prompting fears of a serial killer. Two hit films, Wicked and Amelia Perez, are already on the shortlist for Oscars. NPR's main elite Del Barco reports that today the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

announced preliminary nominees in 10 awards categories. The film Amelia Perez is France's entry for international feature film at the Oscars. It's also on the shortlist for makeup and hair styling, sound, original score, and two original songs. Another buzzy film on the Oscars shortlist is Wicked, a musical about the witches of Oz. It's a contender for its visual effects, makeup and hair, sound, and its score. visual effects, makeup and hair, sound and its score. Among other films shortlisted for some Academy Awards categories are Dune, Part 2, Gladiator 2 and Blitz. The list will be whittled down next month, but the Oscars ceremony isn't until March 2nd. Mandelite Del Barco, NPR News.

Good old features prices eased today amid worries following the release of negative economic news from March 2nd. Mandelit Del Barco, NPR News. Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.