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

Author: NPR
Duration: 00:04:40

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Full Transcript

00:00:00 Speaker_04
All this year, NPR traveled the country, hearing from voters not just about the issues, but about their hopes for the country's future.

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We should be able to disagree with each other without bullying each other into submission.

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And what it means to be a part of a democracy. Invest in coverage that moves us forward together by giving today at donate.npr.org.

00:00:25 Speaker_06
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. 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.

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NPR's Brian Mamm visited a drone command post near the front lines.

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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.

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NPR was able to watch live video feeds as attack drones bombed Russian units led by a soldier who goes by the callsign Pip. We're doing this every day, non-stop, 24 hours.

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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.

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We try to take out as many as we can before they reach our positions.

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If Pokrovsk falls, it will be Russia's largest victory in months. Brian Mann, NPR News, near Pokrovsk.

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Nearly 40 percent of adults say they are stressed about the possibility of political discussions coming up at the holidays. NPR's Katie Riddle has more.

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A recent report shows that most Americans plan to avoid political discussions over the holidays. Dr. Vail Wright is with the American Psychological Association. That's the group that conducted this survey.

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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.

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Possibly to evade these uncomfortable conversations, nearly 40 percent of adults said they were avoiding family members they disagree with this holiday season altogether. Katie Riddle, NPR News.

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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.

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Trump criticizing Biden's decision to change the sentences of 37 of 40 federal death row inmates to life in prison. Biden, while citing his religious beliefs, also likely want to prevent Trump from pushing forward with executions.

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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.

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Stephen Pesahov of the Gulf States Newsroom says short-term work stoppages have become more of the norm.

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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.

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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 long strike.

00:03:04 Speaker_08
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 Bissaha.

00:03:19 Speaker_06
On Wall Street, the Dow was up 390 points. This is NPR.

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Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda say they're planning to work towards an eventual merger deal, and they say would better position both companies to deal with an industry that is undergoing major shifts.

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The two companies have signed an agreement integrating their businesses. Smaller alliance member Mitsubishi has also agreed to join those talks.

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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.

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In the remote coastal communities of Northern California, there's a rivalry over who has the tallest living Christmas tree. Paris Auswolf-Lee reports.

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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.

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I would consider the measurements that we've completed to be official.

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He says the Coast Redwood he strung with lights is 174 feet, nine inches tall. The zoo announced that it had the tallest known living decorated tree. But soon after, Campbell Spickler got a call.

00:04:25 Speaker_03
Well, hey, the folks down in Mendocino County, the skunk train claimed to have a taller tree.

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The Historic Railroad in the town of Willits says it decorated a redwood nearly 50 feet taller. After seeing video evidence, Campbell Spickler agrees the rivalry is taller. He's offered to do an official measurement before next Christmas.

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Alice Wolfley, NPR News.

00:04:47 Speaker_06
Crude oil futures prices rose more than one percent today, reversing prior losses amid a brightening outlook on supply and demand. Oil gained 86 cents a barrel to settle at 70 ten a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Speer, NPR News in Washington.