Jack Spear

Under new federal rules that would take effect next year, mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be able to acquire so-called conforming single-family home loans of up to $806,500 in much of the country. That's according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which says the size of the loans the government guarantees would be rising by 5.2 percent from this year's level.

I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate hedge fund manager Scott Besson to serve as Treasury Secretary. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that would make Besson a key player in the incoming administration's economic team.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate hedge fund manager Scott Besson to serve as Treasury Secretary. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that would make Besson a key player in the incoming administration's economic team.

Trump tonight has also chosen former Texas State Representative Scott Turner to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former Florida Representative Dr. Dave Weldon to help the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With less than 60 days remaining in his final term, Joe Biden is a lame duck president, but that does not mean he has no power.

Trump tonight has also chosen former Texas State Representative Scott Turner to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former Florida Representative Dr. Dave Weldon to help the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With less than 60 days remaining in his final term, Joe Biden is a lame duck president, but that does not mean he has no power.

As White House correspondent Tamara Keith explains, Biden is telling his staff much work remains.

As White House correspondent Tamara Keith explains, Biden is telling his staff much work remains.

NPR's Tamara Keith, like most presidents, Biden may also deliver a farewell address. The German company Bosch, the world's largest car parts supplier, says it plans to cut up to 5,500 jobs. It's just the latest sign of struggle in Germany's once-thriving auto sector. More MenPR's Rob Schmitz.

NPR's Tamara Keith, like most presidents, Biden may also deliver a farewell address. The German company Bosch, the world's largest car parts supplier, says it plans to cut up to 5,500 jobs. It's just the latest sign of struggle in Germany's once-thriving auto sector. More MenPR's Rob Schmitz.

U.S. financial markets ended another trading week on an up note. The Dow rose 426 points. This is NPR. Japanese automaker Nissan has convinced a federal appeals court today to decertify 10 class action cases accusing the automaker of selling cars and SUVs with defective emergency braking systems.

U.S. financial markets ended another trading week on an up note. The Dow rose 426 points. This is NPR. Japanese automaker Nissan has convinced a federal appeals court today to decertify 10 class action cases accusing the automaker of selling cars and SUVs with defective emergency braking systems.

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati saying it was improper to let drivers of 14 different Nissan models sue in groups under the laws of 10 individual states as classes. Drivers of the vehicles claim they experienced phantom activations of braking systems. Pop star and artist Bjork has created a new art installation in Paris featuring the sounds of endangered and extinct animals.

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati saying it was improper to let drivers of 14 different Nissan models sue in groups under the laws of 10 individual states as classes. Drivers of the vehicles claim they experienced phantom activations of braking systems. Pop star and artist Bjork has created a new art installation in Paris featuring the sounds of endangered and extinct animals.

NPR's Chloe Veltman reports Nature Manifesto aims to highlight the impacts of human-caused climate change on the Earth.

NPR's Chloe Veltman reports Nature Manifesto aims to highlight the impacts of human-caused climate change on the Earth.

Archaeologists say they've discovered a series of ancient canals in what is now Belize that appear to have been used even before the Mayans built temples on the Yucatan Peninsula. They used drones and Google Earth imagery to confirm their findings. The research published in the journal Science Advances. This is NPR.

Archaeologists say they've discovered a series of ancient canals in what is now Belize that appear to have been used even before the Mayans built temples on the Yucatan Peninsula. They used drones and Google Earth imagery to confirm their findings. The research published in the journal Science Advances. This is NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Besson to be Treasury Secretary, one of the last major unfinished cabinet nominations of the incoming administration. Trump announced it moments ago on his social media platform. Besson has become a key economic advisor to Trump's team and has in the past advocated for both