NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-18-2024 4PM EST

Episode Date: December 18, 2024

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Hi, it's Terri Gross from Fresh Air. I just interviewed Billie Eilish and Finneas about many things, including how Billie's signature baggy clothes came from watching hip hop videos. Instead of being jealous of the women who get to be around the hot men, I would be jealous of the hot men. And I wanted to dress like them and I wanted to be able to act like them. Find this Fresh Air interview wherever you listen to podcasts. to act like them. Find this fresh air interview wherever you listen to podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Dow's extending its losing streak to a tenth day for the first time since 1974.

At last check, it has fallen more than 1,100 points or more than 2.5%. It's at 42,326. This after the Federal Reserve signaled fewer rate cuts in 2025. For now, the Fed is delivering another break on borrowing costs. It ended its policymaking meeting today with another rate cut of a quarter percentage point. NPR's Scott Horsley has more. Scott Horsley This was the central bank's third rate cut of a quarter percentage point. NPR's Scott Horsley has more. This was the central bank's third rate cut since September, but with stubborn inflation still hovering above the feds target of 2 percent, policy makers may be cautious about

additional rate cuts in the new year. Forecast released this afternoon show on average, members of the feds rate setting committee now expect rates to fall by another half percentage point in 2025, down from the full point drop they were projecting back in September. Fed officials feel like they can afford to move cautiously since the overall economy and the job market have held up well in the face of high borrowing costs. Economists have also warned some of the policies of the incoming Trump administration, such as tariffs and mass deportation, could make it harder to bring inflation under control.

Scott Horsley in Peer News, Washington. Former Congressman Matt Gaetz is responding to reports that the House Ethics Committee is prepared to release the findings of its investigation into sexual misconduct and illicit drug use allegations. He has consistently denied the accusations and did so again today on his ex-social media account. He also says he has been given no opportunity to debate or rebut the allegations as a former member of the House.

NPR has not independently confirmed if or when the Ethics Committee plans to release its report. A group of former students has accused elite universities of secretly favoring applicants who come from wealthy backgrounds. The lawsuit dates back two years, but a new motion was filed this week. NPR's Janaki Mehta reports. New details have emerged in an ongoing case that accuses schools of cheating students out of millions of dollars in financial aid over two decades. The motion demands $685 million in damages and accuses elite universities, including

University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown, and Cornell of participating in quote, a price fixing cartel. The plaintiffs say the universities were meant to use a quote, need blind approach to admissions and that favoring applicants because of their family's donation potential violates the law. The schools deny the allegations and have attempted to get the case dismissed. Janaki Mehta, NPR News. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has closed down 1123 points or 2.5% to end the day at 42,326. S&P is down nearly 3%. From Washington, this is NPR News. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next month over the constitutionality of the

federal law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company sells it. U.S. national security agencies say they believe the Chinese government could gain access to sensitive data through TikTok. Tech industry advocates say those concerns are overblown. The man who led the revolt that overthrew Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad says all rebel factions need to dissolve. Ahmed al-Sharah says all fighters should join the Ministry of Defense. The Islamist rebel group, HTS, released a statement detailing its leaders' remarks during a meeting with a minority Druze community. For many, the holiday season can be a time of happiness and joy, but as NPR's Windsor Johnson reports, it can also be a difficult time of year for those who have lost loved

ones. Toni Philippon lost her partner Terry two years ago. She says the holidays were brutal then and are brutal now. It's like a snow globe. All your snow is shaking and all of the neural pathways and all of this stuff is like still trying to collect all the data on what happened. Talking to someone who's grieving during the holidays can be hard. Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb says it's about keeping it simple. I don't know what to say, but I'm thinking about you and I love you.

How can I help? Gottlieb says that can be anything from running an errand to sharing memories of the lost loved one. Bottom line, there's no right or wrong way to grieve during the holidays. But empathy and patience can go a long way. Windsor-Johnston, NPR News. This is NPR.