NPR News Now - NPR News: 12-24-2024 7PM EST

Episode Date: December 25, 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 Jack Spear. Ukraine is struggling to stop Russia's advance in the eastern part of the country. Facing a manpower shortage, the Ukrainian army is turning more and more to remote-controlled drones.

NPR's Brian Mann visited a drone command post near the front lines. Russia has been grinding forward in the Pokrovsk region, fielding more troops and artillery. Ukraine's smaller force is using drone units to fight back. NPR was able to watch live video feeds as attack drones bombed Russian units, led by a soldier who goes by the call sign PIP. We're doing this every day, nonstop, 24 hours. Drones haven't stopped Russia, but a military drone technician who gave his name as Yuri for security reasons said Ukraine is making Russia pay a huge price in soldiers killed and wounded.

We try to take out as many as we can before they reach our positions. If Pokrovsk falls, it will be Russia's largest victory in months. Brian Mann, NPR News, near Pokrovsk. Nearly 40 percent of adults say they are stressed about the possibility of political discussions coming up at the holidays. MPR's Katie Riddle is more. A recent report shows that most Americans plan to avoid political discussions over the holidays.

Dr. Vale Wright is with the American Psychological Association. That's the group that conducted the survey. She says not talking about hard stuff at these moments is understandable. It's not selfish and it doesn't mean you don't care about the issues. Possibly to evade these uncomfortable conversations, nearly 40% of adults said they were avoiding family members they disagree with this holiday season altogether. Katie O'Rettle, NPR News. After an announcement by President Biden, he's commuting the bulk of federal sentences

for individuals on death row. President-elect Donald Trump is vowing to vigorously pursue capital punishment. Trump criticizing Biden's decision to change the sentences of 37 to 40 federal death row inmates to life in prison. Biden will citing his religious beliefs also likely wanted to prevent Trump from pushing forward with executions. Starbucks workers are walking the picket lines in a number of U S cities. A strike expected to wrap up tonight after five days has expanded to more than 300 stores

across the nation. Steven Pesachov, the Gulf States newsroom, says short-term work stoppages have become more the norm. Five days on strike is actually kind of long by today's standards. Most strikes since at least 2021 have lasted four days or less, according to Cornell University. That's in part because missing more than a few days of pay just isn't realistic for many low wage workers, says John Logan with San Francisco State University. They're just not going to be able to afford to go out on an open ended,

you know, long strike. The employer could easily replace them. This also means less leverage for workers. Instead, Logan says short strikes are often about keeping workers excited while negotiations drag on for months, or years. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Basaha. On Wall Street, the Dow is up 390 points. This is NPR. Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda say they're planning to work towards an eventual merger deal and they say it would better position're planning to work towards an eventual merger deal,

and they say it would better position both companies to deal with an industry that is undergoing major shifts. The two companies have signed an agreement integrating their businesses. Smaller alliance member Mitsubishi has also agreed to join those talks. With Japanese automakers facing challenges from both Chinese rivals and Tesla, in terms of producing electric vehicles, they hope an eventual merger will help them better compete. In the remote coastal communities of Northern California there's a rivalry over who has the tallest living Christmas tree. Here's Alice Wolff Lee reports. Jim Campbell-Spickler is the director of the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka and kind of an

expert when it comes to measuring tall trees. I would consider the measurements that we've completed to be official. He says the coast redwood he strung with lights is 174 feet, 9 inches tall. The zoo announced that it had the tallest known living decorated tree. But soon after, Campbell Spickler got a call. Well hey, the folks down in Mendocino County at the skunk train claimed to have a taller tree. The historic railroad in the town of Willets says it decorated a redwood nearly 50 feet taller. After seeing video evidence, Campbell Spickler agrees the rival tree is taller. He's offered to do an official measurement before next Christmas. Alice Wolfley, NPR News.

Crude oil futures prices rose more than 1% today, reversing prior losses amid a brightening outlook on supply and demand. Oil gained 86 cents a barrel to settle at 70.10 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from Wondery Kids and the number one kids science podcast, Wow in the World. Be wowed by fascinating companion audio stories that come exclusively with each Wow in the World STEM toy. Shop the full collection today at Amazon.com slash Wondery Kids.