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Chapter 1: What is the focus of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me?
Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me.
Yes, that is what it is called, wherever you get your podcasts.
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Today's killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO targeted one of the country's largest and most powerful companies. Though shares in parent company UnitedHealth Group closed up slightly, NPR's Maria Aspen says it could be a show of support from investors.
Chapter 2: What happened to the CEO of UnitedHealthcare?
Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside the Manhattan Hotel where UnitedHealth Group was set to hold its annual investor meeting. Thompson ran an important arm of that company. His UnitedHealthcare unit is the largest U.S. health insurer, providing benefits to tens of millions of people and making close to $300 billion in revenue last year.
But that's just one part of this huge and influential company. UnitedHealth may not be a household name, but it's the fourth largest U.S. company by revenues, and it touches almost every part of the U.S. healthcare experience. It's even the country's largest employer of doctors. UnitedHealth said last year that it employs or is affiliated with 10 percent of all doctors in the U.S.
Chapter 3: How significant is UnitedHealth Group in the healthcare industry?
Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York.
Police have not yet established a motive for the shooting. Hundreds of people brave cold and wind in the nation's capital today to protest outside the Supreme Court. As NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports, the arguments the court was hearing concern Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for youth.
About half of states ban gender-affirming care for youth. This is the first time the Supreme Court has considered whether these kinds of laws discriminate on the basis of sex. As attorneys for the plaintiffs in Tennessee made their arguments before the justices, hundreds gathered for dueling protests outside.
Chapter 4: What are the implications of the Supreme Court's arguments on gender-affirming care?
Tennessee lawmakers, conservative groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom, and others gathered to defend the ban. There were more people on the trans rights side of the barricades. A decision in the case is expected by the summer. Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he's determined to keep a ceasefire in Lebanon on track. He would not publicly criticize Israel for continued strikes. As we hear from NPR's Michelle Kellman.
Israel's defense minister is warning Lebanon's army that if it doesn't do its job and push Hezbollah back from Israel's border, then there will be, quote, no immunity for the state of Lebanon. Despite that rhetoric, Secretary Blinken thinks Israel wants this ceasefire.
Chapter 5: What is Secretary Blinken's stance on the situation in Lebanon?
I think they are very mindful that the best way to having enduring security is through what we've established, a ceasefire, but we have to make sure that it's upheld, and we are determined to do that.
Under the deal negotiated by the U.S. and France, Israel has to withdraw from southern Lebanon by next month. The Lebanese army is supposed to move in and push Hezbollah further north. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
President-elect Donald Trump is to have former Senator Kelly Loeffler to head the Small Business Administration. He's chosen Billy Long, former congressman, to be commissioner of the IRS. You're listening to NPR. President-elect Trump's nominee to defense secretary says he's not backing down one bit.
The nominee for the top job at the Pentagon faces a slew of allegations, including sexual assault, excessive drinking, financial misconduct, and pursuing female subordinates. Pete Hegseth has denied those claims. However, even as Hegseth says he has the backing of the president-elect, there have been reports of Trump having conversation with others about the job.
including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Hicks said he plans to go back to Capitol Hill. The Education Department announced new guidance on one of the buzziest topics in schools, the use of cell phones in classrooms. This playbook release this week encourages schools and school districts that don't already have regulations to create a template that can work for their students.
Bureau's Janet Ujong-Lee reports.
The document outlines how teachers and school administrators could get a head start working with students and families on drafting regulations for the next academic year. This, the Ed Department says, would help schools better understand their students' needs and use of what they call student personal electronic devices. That includes smartphones, headphones, and smartwatches.
The Ed Department also suggests that schools keep this conversation going by getting feedback from students and families once these regulations are implemented. Janet Woo-Jung Lee, NPR News.
President-elect Trump is nominating yet another cryptocurrency advocate, this time to head up Wall Street's main watchdog agency, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trump pegging Paul Atkins, currently CEO of Panamax Partners and a former SEC commissioner. If confirmed, Atkins will replace Gary Gensler, who's been the leading U.S. government's crackdown on crypto. This is NPR.
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