NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-20-2024 12PM EST

Episode Date: December 20, 2024

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There are celebrity interview shows and then there's Wild Card. It's a podcast from NPR that the New York Times just named as one of the 10 best of 2024. It's hosted by me, Rachel Martin. I ask guests like Issa Rae and Bo and Yang, revealing questions like, what's a place you consider sacred? Has ambition ever led you astray? And I'm telling you, it is such a good time. Listen to Wild Card wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahlees Ikaotow.

Federal funding is set to expire at midnight tonight unless Congress comes up with a solution before that. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican on Capitol Hill, addressed reporters this morning before heading into a meeting with Vice President elect JD Vance and Trump's pick to the head office of management and budget, OROMB. Johnson tells reporters they have a plan. We're expecting votes this morning, so y'all stay tuned. We've got a plan. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN today that, quote, extreme MAGA Republicans are marching America to a painful government shutdown

that will cross the economy and hurt working-class Americans because they would rather enact massive tax cuts for their billionaire donors than fund cancer research, she said. Amazon drivers nationwide are joining strikes against the online retailer just days before Hanukkah and Christmas, from Member Station KVCR Antony Victoria reports. Everywhere we go! The Teamsters' decision to strike follows what it calls Amazon's refusal to negotiate labor contracts and working conditions. Vanessa Valdez has worked as a driver at the company's facility in the city of industry for six years.

She says she's striking because while her workload is increasing, her pay isn't. I would love to have job security, to know that I have a place here in another six years and not be let go as I age. An Amazon spokesperson accused the Teamsters of misleading the public and using illegal tactics to pressure workers. Randy Corgan, the director of the Teamsters' Amazon division, says the union isn't doing anything illegal. For NPR News, I'm Anthony Victoria in the City of Industry.

The Food and Drug Administration has new rules on what foods can be labeled as healthy. NPR's Alison Arbery says the changes come at a time when diet-related diseases are a leading cause of disability and death in the U.S. If a food manufacturer wants to add a healthy claim on their label, the product must not contain too much saturated fat, added sugars, or sodium. In label, the product must not contain too much saturated fat, added sugars or sodium. In addition, the product must contain certain amounts of at least one of the food groups included in the dietary guidelines.

This includes beans, lean meats, fish, fruits and vegetables. The FDA's Claudine Kavanagh says the new definition may help foster a healthy food supply. The healthy claim can be a real quick signal to help empower consumers. The FDA says diet related conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease contribute to America's status of having the lowest life expectancy among large high-income countries. Alison Aubry, NPR News. Russia continued its assault on Ukraine overnight, launching at least five ballistic missiles toward that country's capital, Kiev. The military said anti-defense strikes took all

of them down, but missile debris fell across the city's districts, starting fires and killing at least one person. This is NPR News from New York City. In Brazil, lawmakers have passed a bill restricting the use of cell phones in schools. Julia Carnera reports from Rio de Janeiro. The bill bans the use of cell phones and tablets in schools all over Brazil. Students will only be able to use electronic devices if they're required for class activities, in cases of disability or in exceptional circumstances. Proponents argue excessive screen time is

detrimental to youth's learning, interaction and mental health. A UNESCO report says nearly one in every four countries have restricted the use of cell phones in schools. The Brazilian bill now awaits President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's signature. He's expected to sign it, putting the law on track to come into effect next semester. For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiro in Rio de Janeiro. Australia recently passed a law banning children under the age of 16 from accessing social media. The union representing Starbucks employees says baristas are on strike this morning through Christmas Eve in three cities,

Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. Starbucks Workers United, which represents more than 10,000 employees, said it expects more members at local locations across the country to participate. They want a minimum age, a minimum wage of $20, annual raises of 5% and better leave protocols among other requests. A Starbucks spokesperson told NPR they want union delegates to return to the bargaining table to continue negotiations that ended prematurely this week. This is NPR News.