NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-21-2024 11PM EST

Episode Date: December 22, 2024

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. While Congress passed a last-minute budget extension overnight to keep the government open, the vote was preceded by a week of chaos. President-elect Donald Trump and his adviser, Elon Musk, blew up the first two budget votes, demanding among other things an end to the debt ceiling. Despite those demands, the bill did not include that provision, and NPR's Rebecca Davis says that could be an important indication of Trump's power as he regains the presidency. A lot of this episode this week potentially exposed more of Trump's political weaknesses. He tried to strong-arm into

the bill an unconditional increase in the debt ceiling, that's the nation's borrowing limit, because he wanted to do it on President Biden's watch to alleviate the political pressure on his administration to do it when that vote happens likely sometime next summer. Not only is it not in the deal, but a failed second attempt to passage was rejected by 38 House Republicans. That's a pretty big number willing to directly defy Trump. That's NPR's Rebecca Davis reporting.

As Congress voted to temporarily keep the government open for a few more months, it also approved $100 billion in emergency funding for disaster aid overnight. Some of that money will go to rebuilding Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. Scott Massione from Member Station WYPR has more on that story. The federal government will pay for the replacement of the Key Bridge in full after Congress passed the emergency spending bill. The bridge was struck by a thousand foot long cargo ship in March, causing the collapse.

The rebuild efforts could cost as much as $2 billion. Maryland state officials say the plan is to have the replacement constructed and in use by the fall of 2028. Meanwhile, the state, the city of Baltimore and numerous businesses are suing the owner of the cargo ship for damages and cleanup costs. The owners of the ship already settled with the US Justice Department for more than 100 million dollars in October for costs to clear the channel to the port of Baltimore. For NPR News, I'm Scott Massioni in Baltimore. At least 16 people

were injured after a missile hit Tel Aviv early today. As NPR's Kerry Kahn reports, Israeli authorities say the projectile was fired from Yemen and the Israeli air defense system was unable to intercept it in time. This is the second time in the past week that missiles were fired into central Israel from Yemen's Houthi militants. Unlike those fired two days ago, the latest managed to pass through Israel's air defense system and landed in a Tel Aviv suburb. More than a dozen people suffered minor injuries from falling shrapnel, according to Israeli health officials. Yemen's armed forces said it had successfully hit a military target. The missile landed in an empty playground.

Houthi militants packed by Iran have fired missiles into Israel and attacked ships in the Red Sea for more than a year. Israeli officials have in return struck sites in Yemen. They recently warned Houthi leaders they will be targeted if strikes continue. Keri Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. And you're listening to NPR News. Church bells rang in Magdeburg, Germany on Saturday, exactly 24 hours after police say a man drove his car into a crowded Christmas market and killed at least five people. Some 200 other people were injured in that incident. The driver was a 50-year-old doctor who immigrated from Saudi Arabia in 2006. He was arrested at the scene.

Ricky Henderson, the Hall of Fame outfielder who stole more bases than anyone else has died. Suni Khaled from Member Station, KALW in San Francisco has more. A native Oaklander, the flamboyant Henderson went from playing on local sand lots to a 25-year career in the major leagues, which included two stints with his hometown Oakland A's. Regarded as one of the greatest leadoff hitters ever, Henderson held several major league records, including 1,406 stolen bases and

nearly 2,300 runs scored. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. Henderson's death was announced in a statement Saturday by his wife, Pamela. She said her husband would be remembered as a devoted son, dad, friend, grandfather, brother, uncle and a truly humble soul. He died just days before his 66th birthday on Christmas. For NPR News, I'm Sunni Khaled in San Francisco. Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas returned in receptions for touchdowns today as Penn State

dominated SMU in a 38-10 win. The six-seeded Nittany Lions will now play Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day. Jaden Blue ran for 146 yards as Texas beat Clemson 38 to 24, and in Columbus, Ohio State is leading Tennessee in the fourth quarter 35 to 10. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.