NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-21-2024 6AM EST

Episode Date: December 21, 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 Giles Snyder. After uncertainty on Capitol Hill over a stopgap funding measure to keep the government from shutting down heading into the Christmas holiday, the Senate worked last night to give the bill final passage and send it to President Biden.

Here's Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. After a chaotic few days in the House, it's good news that the bipartisan approach in the end prevailed. It's a good lesson for next year Both sides have to work together Schumer referring to House Republicans decision to back away from an initial deal Following criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and top advisor Elon Musk Trump wanted a debt limit increase Included in the final measure lawmakers dropped that demand from the bill that temporarily funds the government through March 14th. It also includes billions in disaster aid and money for farmers. Elon Musk is the billionaire owner of the social media site X and used the platform to speak out about Republican-backed plans. MPR Steven Fowler has more on Musk's influence.

Musk is not an elected official, but his proximity to President-elect Trump and high-profile posting helped sink a bipartisan funding bill announced earlier this week. He called it, quote, criminal, an attack language that went beyond spending to keep the government open. Musk also threatened to support primary challengers to anyone that voted against his wishes. The social media frenzy caused by the world's richest man has added more conflict to an already narrow Republican House majority that has had issues governing.

Stephen Fowler, NPR News. To Germany now where police are seeking answers following a violent attack on a Christmas market in the central city of Magdeburg. At least two people were killed, dozens more injured after a driver intentionally drove his vehicle into the crowd. Germany on high alert and Villa Marx has more on the suspect. The prime minister of the German state of Saxony, Anhalt, said the suspect was believed to be a 50-year-old originally from Saudi Arabia, with German broadcasters showing video of a man's arrest at gunpoint. Eyewitnesses told local news the scene was chaotic in the aftermath of a dark BMW ploughing

into a crowd around 7pm local time. Just last month the German Interior Minister had warned people to be vigilant at Christmas markets after a high-profile terrorist attack at one several years ago and a stabbing attack in a public square this August in the town of Solingen. For NPR News, I'm Balaam Marks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be in the central German city of Magdeburg today and a memorial service is set for this evening at the city's cathedral. The strike at Starbucks is expected to expand today.

The union representing Starbucks workers says the strike will expand to Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh. After members of the Starbucks union walked off the job yesterday in multiple cities, they joined Amazon delivery drivers. They began a strike at seven facilities on Thursday. The drivers are members of the Teamsters Union, workers at a prominent warehouse in New York were expected to join the strike at midnight last night.

This is NPR News. Pressure is mounting on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down following this week's resignation of Finance Minister, Christia Freeland. A key ally, Jagmeet Seet of the New Democratic Party, says he will present a formal motion of no confidence when Parliament returns late next month. Trudeau is said to be taking the Christmas break to consider his future. He's led Canada as Prime minister for more than nine years. A federal civil rights investigation has found that the Philadelphia school district

did not do enough to respond to alleged anti-Semitic behavior. The NPR's Jason DeRose reports that the inquiry came after numerous reports from parents and community groups. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights determined that school administrators in Philadelphia didn't adequately respond to complaints of harassment that included students allegedly performing Nazi salutes, drawing swastikas on school property, and making threats against Jewish students. A letter from the Department of Education also details a series of social media posts from a teacher that said, quote, Zionism and that she was quote taking the gloves off in response to parents complaining about her the Philadelphia school district has agreed to among other things training for faculty staff and

Administrators as well as anti-harassment programs for students Jason DeRose NPR news Lindsey Vaughn has returned to the World Cup ski racing. She's racing this weekend in Switzerland, six years after retiring due to a series of crashes and injuries. Who says she decided to return after knee replacement surgery, saying it feels better than it has in years. I'm Jyle Snyder, NPR News. This is Eric Glass. On This American Life, we like stories that surprise you. For instance, imagine finding a new hobby and realizing... To do this hobby right, according to the ways of the masters,

there's a pretty good chance that you're going to have to bend the law to get the materials that you need. If not break it. Yeah. To break international laws. Real life stories, really good ones. This American Life.