NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-21-2024 3PM EST

Episode Date: December 21, 2024

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Donald Trump promised to change Washington, D.C., a place where there's an old saying that personnel is policy. That's why we have created a new podcast called Trump's Terms, where you can follow NPR's coverage of the incoming Trump administration, from his cabinet secretaries to political advisors and top military leaders, to understand who they are, what they believe, and how they'll govern. Listen to Trump's Term terms from NPR. Live from NPR News in New York City,

I'm Dwahlai Saikoutou. The Senate has approved the House pass stop gap funding bill, avoiding a midnight shutdown and keeping the government running until March. The passage capped a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill, as NPR's Susan Davis reports. The slimmed-down agreement includes key provisions of the original bipartisan deal derailed by President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk.

It'll keep the government running until March 14th when Congress will have to do this all over again. The bill includes about $100 billion for natural disaster recovery efforts and a one-year extension of federal farm programs. House Republicans rejected Trump's attempt to strong-arm into the deal an unconditional increase in the debt ceiling, the nation's borrowing limit, although he did succeed in removing from the final agreement the first pay raise for lawmakers in 16 years. Susan Davis, NPR News, Washington. Ukraine launched drone attacks into Russia's

interior early today with Russian media and officials reporting damage to residential buildings in the city of Kazan. That's roughly 600 miles from the front lines. NPR's Brian Mann reports from Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Much of the grimmest fighting is happening along the front lines in Ukraine's east, but Kyiv and Moscow are also bringing the war deep into enemy territory. Ukraine's latest strike hit Kazan, where local officials said at least eight drones struck the city. There were no casualties, but explosions hit residential buildings and an industrial facility. Russia meanwhile sent more than a hundred drones into Ukrainian territory in the last

24 hours. All were shot down or crashed after being hit with electronic jammers. Russia did hit Kyiv with a heavy missile strike Friday, killing one civilian. In a statement, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, which he said must not be perceived by the world as something routine. Brian Mann, NPR News, Kyiv. Reports out of Russia say the airport in Kazan was closed immediately after the drone attacks, but Reuters now reports operations are back up and running again. In a complex ruling, a Missouri judge has struck down some laws blocking abortion,

but allowed some others to stand. The ruling comes weeks after Missouri voters backed abortion rights on the ballot. Noah Taborda of member station KCUR reports Planned Parenthood. Leaders say abortions are on hold for now. Missouri's overall abortion ban, one of the strictest in the country, remained on the books even after voters passed an abortion rights amendment to the state constitution. The judge found the ban is not enforceable. But she is allowing some abortion restrictions to stand. Those include some licensing requirements that Planned Parenthood says still block abortions

from taking place. Planned Parenthood says in a statement that it is evaluating its legal options before proceeding. For NPR News, I'm Noah Taborda in Kansas City, Missouri. And you are listening to NPR from New York City. Amanita muscaria, or the fly agaric mushroom, is known to surface under firs and spruce trees just before the winter solstice. The fungus usually has a dark red or orange cap with white spots on them and has long been associated to Christmas stories and winter rituals. It's

popular in some psychoactive edibles, but now the Food and Drug Administration says this mushroom no longer meets their standards for use in conventional foods. The FDA made this decision after reviewing scientific evidence determining the mushroom compounds may be harmful, even though Amanita muscaria isn't listed as a controlled substance. Each year the holiday season brings with it visions of snow on the ground on Christmas morning. And Perez Chandelier-Duster reports on who will likely see a white Christmas this year

and who likely will not. The National Weather Service says the majority of the United States will not wake up to a white Christmas this year. The agency also says the last time a large portion of the U not wake up to a white Christmas this year. The agency also says the last time a large portion of the U.S. experienced a white Christmas was nearly 15 years ago. Parts of Northern California and Utah are forecast to see a blanket of snow on the ground on Christmas Day. Areas around the Great Lakes, New York, and northern New England also have high chances of seeing snow. The National Weather Service says other parts of the country are expected to have temperatures that are milder than average on

Christmas Day. Climate experts warn we could see fewer white Christmases because of warming temperatures. This year has been the warmest year on record globally. Shandilyce Duster, NPR News. And I'm Dwahilisa Ikaotel in New York.