Rob Schmitz
Appearances
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Nearly 40,000. That's the United Nations estimate for the number of children who have been killed or injured since Israel began its war with Hamas some 18 months ago.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
It's Consider This from NPR. A year ago, NPR Gaza producer Anas Baba and I reported a story about Nimr Saadi al-Nimr, an 11-year-old boy who had been shot five times by the Israeli military while he and his father were gathering food dropped by parachute outside Gaza City.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Israeli soldiers took Nimr across the border into Israel where doctors performed two surgeries on him, saving his life before returning Nimr to a refugee camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. That's where Anas Baba found Nimr a year ago. He was in a makeshift tent with his grandmother and uncle, crying out in pain from his wounds, as you can hear in our report from April of 2024. No, I can't!
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Nimmer is in pain. It comes in waves. He's just had surgery on his stomach, back, legs, and hand to remove bullets. Each left long incision wounds lined with stitches and dried pus. Flies are drawn to them. When he takes too deep of a breath, his skinny frame convulses uncontrollably like an electric shock shooting through him.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
He cries out for drugs that will numb the pain, but there are none here. After this story aired a year ago, we lost track of Nimr. We didn't know if he was alive or dead. But this past week, Anas Baba found Nimr, who is now 12, thankfully alive, but still suffering from his wounds and the toll of the war in Gaza. Anas joins me now from Gaza. Hello, Anas. How are you? Hello, Rob.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
That's pediatrician Seema Jalani in a voice memo she recorded while volunteering in an emergency room of a Gaza hospital in late 2023. She was talking about an 11-year-old girl burned in an explosion.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Anas, I want you to tell me about Nimr. Where is he now and how is he doing?
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Yeah, that is a miracle, given what Gaza has gone through in this past year. Here's a portion of your interview with Nimer about the lasting impact of his gunshot wounds a year ago. And Nimr is telling you here that after he had a surgical procedure to deaden his nerve endings, he still cannot run, he cannot play soccer or even walk very far.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
He says he still has an electric shock feeling when he accidentally bumps his leg and that it often makes him cry. He's saying here that he mostly stays inside. When he does go outside, he says he sees his friends playing and running, and he feels jealous. He says, I'm afraid they'll make fun of me for not being able to run. Anas, that is really sad to hear that.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
I remember Nimr's favorite sport is soccer. I remember Lionel Messi is his hero. So this must be particularly tough on him. It's been a year since you last saw Nimr. And I understand that he's been in and out of makeshift field hospitals there in Gaza, constantly on the move, trying to evade Israeli missile attacks. How did he manage to survive the past year? Yeah.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Honest, did you just say that he was at a house where a hostage extraction took place by the Israeli military?
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
My gosh. And Anas, we should mention here the Israeli Defense Forces maintained at the time that less than 100 Gazans were killed in its hostage extraction operation. And he saw that and he managed to survive that.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
I'm reminded here that when you found Nimer last year in that refugee tent in Rafah, he hadn't seen his parents since he was shot and nearly killed. Tell me about how he was able to be reunited with them.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Shortly after Dr. Jelani left Gaza, she spoke to NPR's Ari Shapiro about what it felt like to be a pediatrician in a war zone.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
So, Anas, let's go to your interview with Nimmer about the moment he was reunited with his family. And Nimr is saying here that the joy he felt when he saw his mother, father, and family again was beyond words. He says everyone was crying, and he hugged his mother tightly, not letting go. His entire extended family was there, too. Here's where Nimr's story takes a bit of a turn.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Anas, you've learned that Nimr's parents have since divorced. Tell me about that.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
So what you're saying here is that his family was saying, look, we were targeted because never you spoke to the media, including our outlet, NPR. And that was their belief of what happened, that they were targeted for this. Is that is that what you're saying?
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Wow. Honest, we should mention here, the human rights organization Mazan confirmed the details of this attack on the residents of the Nimr family. In a text to NPR, the Israel Defense Forces wrote, quote, the IDF follows international law and takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Honest, I think this illuminates at least the perception among people in Gaza, whether true or not, that media coverage can endanger the lives of citizens and it can lead to stress for families after family members speak to journalists, as we've seen in Nimra's case.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Anas, were people hurt or killed in that attack on the Nima residents?
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Wow. You know, there are many lessons that we can all learn from Nimer's story. You asked Nimer what lessons about life he's learned from the past year of trying to survive in Gaza, and here's what he said. I learned, said Nimr, that extreme hunger makes people do things they never thought they would ever do. Nimr says he, for example, ran to a very dangerous place just to find food.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
He says another lesson he's learned is that even if they shoot at us, whether we're young or old, we should never give up. Anas, you also asked Nimr about his future, his dreams, and if he sees a future for Gaza. And his answer was darker.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Gaza will never have a future. He goes on to say that he has dreams just like everyone else, but that the Israeli military has destroyed all of their dreams. He says nobody in his family has been untouched by this war. Anas, I think it's worth reminding our listeners that we are listening to the words of a 12-year-old child. What's going to happen to children like Nimer in the future?
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
The last thing I wanted to ask you on is, you know, because Nimr is still a child, I wanted you to ask him about his thoughts on school. You know, Nimr has not been to school since October of 2023. Here's what he told you. And he's saying here, I miss school so much. I miss my friends. I miss learning. I miss writing. I just want to see my friends again and to play with them again.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
But the war continues. What, he asks, can we do? Anas, I want to thank you for all of your reporting from Gaza. You've brought us so many stories like this one, and they're very, very important for all of us to hear. Thank you, Anas. Thank you, Rob. That's NPR Gaza producer Anas Baba joining us from Gaza. This episode was produced by Kira Wakim, Erica Ryan, and Anas Baba.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
It was edited by Adam Rainey, James Heider, and Courtney Dorney. Our executive producer is Sammy Yennegan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Rob Schmitz.
Consider This from NPR
Never give up - one Gaza boy's story of trying to survive in Gaza
Consider this. Gaza's children have been on the front lines of the war between Israel and Hamas. They have been killed, they have been injured, and their society has disintegrated under the weight of the conflict. Coming up, we hear from one young boy trying to recover from his wounds and find a way forward. From NPR, I'm Rob Schmitz.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 11-07-2024 4PM EST
The suspect, an American man whom prosecutors have identified simply as Martin D., keeping the German tradition of withholding a suspect's surname, had worked for the U.S. military in Germany up until recently. Prosecutors say that earlier this year he contacted Chinese officials and offered to give them sensitive information belonging to the U.S. military.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 11-07-2024 4PM EST
An investigation into the suspect's activities was conducted in close coordination with Germany's domestic intelligence agency, and the man was arrested in the city of Frankfurt while authorities searched his apartment. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-31-2025 3PM EST
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union Party, is cooperating with the Alternative for Germany Party, or AFD, on a parliamentary motion to restrict immigration into the country. The move is being criticized because the AFD is considered to be an extremist party that is under domestic surveillance for the threat it poses to Germany's democracy.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-31-2025 3PM EST
When the AFD first gained popularity a decade ago, Merz's party and Germany's other mainstream parties made a pact to never cooperate with the AFD. Merz insists he wouldn't govern with the AFD, but his move to cooperate legislatively with the party has attracted criticism from Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
Officials say they're close to getting a temporary truce between Israel and Hezbollah.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
Congress holds the power of the purse, but could the future president take that power?
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
President-elect Trump is promising big cuts in government spending.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
Or look at one way President-elect Trump could slash government spending.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices in his last term explicitly promising that they would overturn the federal right to abortion. And they did so at the first opportunity. So what do conservatives plan this time?
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
Yeah, both Israeli and Lebanese officials are set to hold meetings and vote on the proposal this week. Israel and Hezbollah had been fighting a low-level conflict for more than a year now. Then, in late September, Israel widened its airstrikes on Lebanon and sent in ground troops, killing most of Hezbollah's leadership and devastating the country.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
And I'm Leila Fadil. For your next listen, why not try Consider This from NPR. President-elect Trump has suggested that in his second term, he'll take on the news media with more than just words. How might he do it, and how will the press respond? Listen to Consider This from NPR.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
I just love Carly's name so much. I just feel like she's, you know, an investigator. A private eye. Exactly. Some type of, like, superhero. Carly Strange.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
Exactly.
Up First from NPR
Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, Trump's Spending Cuts, A Conservative Activist's Plan
The UN estimates a quarter of Lebanon's population has been displaced.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Hi, it's Rob Schmitz. A quick word this Thanksgiving morning. First off, thank you for spending it with us. Listeners like you make Up First and everything you hear from NPR possible. NPR is public media. That means we're here to serve you and we're here because of you. Thank you so much for joining us.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
More on the science behind the after-meal constitutional. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. Tens of thousands of Lebanese are returning to the country's south, where they're discovering entire villages that have been destroyed by the fighting with Israel. A ceasefire has halted the fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
And under the agreement, both sides now have 60 days to withdraw to their respective borders. So civilians are being warned to stay away from certain areas to avoid possible confrontations. With me now is NPR's Lauren Frayer, who visited some of those border areas yesterday and is now in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Good morning, Lauren.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
So first, we're a day into this ceasefire. I'm curious, were there any confrontations yet?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Okay, so remind us of what that agreement actually says. What are the terms of the ceasefire?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Well, I mean, what else did you see in southern Lebanon? This is an area that journalists have had difficulty reaching until yesterday because of Israeli airstrikes and ground fighting with Hezbollah.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
What's the situation on the Israeli side of the border?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
So finally, Lauren, what does a ceasefire with Lebanon mean for the other war that Israel is fighting in Gaza?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
That's NPR's Lauren Frayer in Beirut. Thanks, Lauren.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Happy Thanksgiving to you. This Thanksgiving holiday is expected to be the busiest ever for air travel. And that's not all that's different this year. There are also new rules in place about how airlines have to treat their customers. But it's not clear if those rules will survive or if the incoming Trump administration will try to roll them back. Joel Rose is NPR's transportation correspondent.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
He joins us now with more. Hey, Joel. Hey, Rob. So, Joel, I feel like we say busiest ever every year around this time of year. You know, put these numbers into context for us. How big is the Thanksgiving rush this year?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
And if you haven't made the leap to contributing yet, it's easier and more rewarding now than it's ever been. With the new NPR Plus bundle, you can support us and get perks like sponsor-free listening and bonus episodes across more than 25 NPR podcasts. Join us at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org. That link is in our episode notes. Okay, on to the show.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
So at the same time, there are some new rules that airlines have to follow. What are they?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
So what about the airlines? What are they saying?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
So Joel, I'm curious, how is the aviation system keeping up with this record demand?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
NPR's Joel Rose, thank you.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
It is Thanksgiving, which probably means a very big meal is in your immediate future. But when you've finished feasting, instead of rolling from the table to the television, consider taking a walk. NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy is here to explain why. Good morning, Maria.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Happy Thanksgiving to you. So a lot of people do the turkey trot before the big meal. So are you telling me we should be doing one after the big meal as well?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
I assume that refers to inner constitution, these constitutionals. What are the specific benefits of a constitutional diet?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
As a ceasefire to suspend fighting between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be holding, thousands of displaced Lebanese are returning home. But after months of devastating attacks, will they recognize what they find? I'm Rob Schmitz, and this is Up First from NPR News. Chances are you've heard this before.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
OK, you just said fart walk on NPR. In the spirit of moving this conversation forward, I'm going to ask you, tell us more, Maria.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
That's interesting. So how long do I have to walk before I can watch the big game?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Okay, I am reminded here that it is November and in a lot of places it's cold, dark, maybe even wet or snowy.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Yeah, because who doesn't march in place and wave their arms during commercials, right?
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
You do. All right. Well, that is NPR's health correspondent, Maria Godoy. Thanks, Maria, and happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving in my pleasure. And that's Up First for Thursday, November 28th. I'm Rob Schmitz. While I still have you, don't forget there's still time to take our audience survey. Your feedback will help us make this podcast better for you.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
It gives you a chance to tell us more about what you like or don't like. Go to npr.org slash upfirstsurvey. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Diedrich Skanky, Russell Lewis, Jane Greenhalgh, Lisa Thompson, and Mohamed El-Bardisi. It was produced by Adam Biern, Ziad Bach, Nia Dumas, and Lily Quiroz. We get engineering support from Ted Meebane, and our technical director is Carly Strange.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Join us again tomorrow, and happy Thanksgiving.
Up First from NPR
Displaced Lebanese Return Home, Thanksgiving Travel, Holiday Health Tips
Between new rules for airlines and long security lines, we've got you covered with what to keep in mind if you're heading to the airport. And whether or not you'll be hitting the pavement for a turkey trot, don't forget to also take a little post-turkey walk.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
Yeah. So in autumn of 2023, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist civic coalition had a surprise victory over the Law and Justice Party. But since then, Tusk's coalition has had a very difficult time undoing some of the damage that law and justice had done, especially on the country's judiciary. And that's because each time they've tried to pass new laws that aim to restore the courts,
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
Outgoing President Andrzej Duda, an ally of law and justice, has vetoed them, effectively becoming a barrier to Tusk's agenda. But now Duda is termed out as president, and the Civic Coalition has a chance here to win the presidency because their candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, The mayor of Warsaw has a commanding lead in the polls.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
Law and Justice's candidate, Karol Nawrocki, is trailing by around 5%. But because there are several other candidates in this election, we likely won't see any single candidate get a majority tomorrow. So it'll likely head to a runoff between two of the leading candidates in early June.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
Well, one reason is that we're seeing another resurgence, Scott, in this part of Europe of the far right. And even in Poland, the Law and Justice Party is gaining ground again, which makes analysts think that they could win the next parliamentary election in 2027. And that if there isn't a president to check their power, these observers say Poland's democracy could be in trouble.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
Here's political analyst Andrzej Bubinski.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
Well, since we're talking about the resurgence of the far right in Europe, Romania is a good example of that. Last November, a relative unknown far right pro-Kremlin candidate, Talin Gorgescu, surprisingly won.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
But a judge later annulled the election after state intelligence revealed that Russia had been involved in setting up almost 800 TikTok accounts supporting him, having undue influence over the electorate. Russia has denied these accusations. So now Romanian voters will decide between two candidates, a hard-right nationalist who's a fan of President Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
His name is George Simeon. And a pro-Western reformer, Nicosor Dan, who's also the mayor of Bucharest, Romania's capital. Political analysts are framing this election as one of East versus West.
Up First from NPR
Deadly Kentucky Storms, Supreme Court Ruling, European Presidential Elections
Well, unlike the Polish election, there is not a clear frontrunner in the Romanian election. The polls are all over the place. And given what happened last November, the outcome of this election could be unpredictable and full of controversy. Many Europeans are nervously watching this one.
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
President-elect Donald Trump's picks for cabinet nominees keep rolling in.
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
The report looks at femicide or gender-related killings, and it finds that the vast majority of killings were perpetrated by a partner or close relative.
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
I'm Rob Schmitz, that's Leila Fadal, and this is Up First from NPR News. Last year, a woman or girl was killed every 10 minutes.
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
That's according to a new U.N. report on femicide around the world. Why are women and girls' homes often the most dangerous places for them?
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
No. At one point, delegations from some of the most affected nations staged a walkout. But in the end, negotiators struck a deal to provide climate financing to developing nations to help cope with the effects of climate change.
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
And I'm Rob Schmitz. And don't forget, please take our audience survey. This will help us make this podcast better. And it will give you a chance to tell us more about what you like or don't like. Go to npr.org slash upfirstsurvey.
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
He's filling top positions for everything from the Department of Treasury and Labor to who will head up the CDC and the FDA. A Republican-controlled Senate is expected to consider these nominees early next year.
Up First from NPR
Trump's Cabinet Picks, UN Femicide Report, COP29 Deal
Yes, it is 10.30 in the morning.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
Well, for the most part, it was the struggling German economy. Scholz's government collapsed over a dispute about how to revive it. But it was also Scholz himself who's been the problem for voters. His slow, methodical approach to governing did not suit the chaotic times that Europe is in with a war on European soil and an economic downturn.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
You know, these challenges require decisive action, and his three-party coalition government had a difficult time rising to the occasion.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
Well, Scholz's center-left Social Democrats will likely remain in the government, but it's the center-right Christian Democrats under Friedrich Merz that will be in the driver's seat now, and Merz seems ready to move fast. He wants a government formed by mid-April, which is very quick for Germany, and he says he has big plans.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
He said last night that his number one priority is to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that it can achieve independence from the United States. He went on to say, I never thought I'd be saying this, but after Donald Trump's statements last week, it's clear the Americans, or at least this administration, is indifferent to the fate of Europe.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
I want to point out here that Germany has long considered the U.S. as its most important ally, so this is truly an astonishing statement from an incoming German chancellor.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
No, you know, Germany's parties in the political center have vowed never to govern with AFD, the party's acronym in German. The AFD is under domestic surveillance for the threat it poses to Germany's democracy, and its members routinely trivialize German atrocities in World War II.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
Last night, Merz derided the AFD, saying it was not interested in real solutions and that the AFD is happy to see Germany's problems get worse. He also criticized the AFD for its cozy relationship with Elon Musk.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
Well, the party's co-chair, Alice Weidel, said Merz's incoming government will not last long. Here's what she said. So she's saying here Merz won't be able to form a stable government without the AFD and that he will face the consequences when his government crashes and fails. But will Merz have a stable government? So I posed that question to the U.S. German Marshall Fund's Suda David Wilp.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
Here's what she said.
Up First from NPR
Federal Worker Confusion, European Leaders In DC, German Election, Greenpeace Lawsuit
So she said what this means is that Merz's incoming government will need to move toward the right to address voter concerns like migration and a slowing German economy. And it's clear Germans really care about these things because voter turnout was 84 percent. That is the highest turnout since Germany's reunification in 1990. That's NPR's Rob Schmitz. Rob, thanks.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
So this all started with a parliamentary motion to restrict immigration from Friedrich Merz. He's the head of the Christian Democratic Union, a center-right party that's ahead in the polls and will likely win the most votes in Germany's election next month. And that means Merz will likely be Germany's next chancellor.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
Well, he brought forth a motion to further restrict immigration to Germany, and this comes on the heels of recent deadly attacks committed by migrants. Now, on the face of it, there was nothing off about Merz's motion in Parliament about this, but it was how he was going to pass this motion that really upset much of Parliament and many Germans.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
Well, none of the mainstream parties were interested in voting with Merz's party on this proposal. But there was one party that was very keen to join him, and that's the AFD, the Alternative for Germany Party, which is considered by Germany's political establishment as an extremist right-wing party. The AFD has advocated deporting all Germans with a migration background.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
Some of its members use Nazi slogans. And the party is under domestic surveillance for the threat that it poses to Germany's democracy.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
Yeah, that's right. And since World War II, there's been a consensus among Germany's mainstream political parties that extremist parties must never be allowed in government again. And when the AfD first gained popularity a decade ago, Merz's party and Germany's other mainstream parties made a path to never cooperate with the AfD. This was called the firewall.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
But now Merz is signaling that he's open to cooperating with the AfD on this immigration motion. And here's how he defended his decision. And he's saying here that the right decision does not become wrong because the wrong people have made it. The decision, he said, is still right.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
Lots of anger. As Merz defended himself, a yelling match began in Parliament and Chancellor Olaf Scholz finally took the podium. Here's what he said. Schultz said that three weeks ago, Merz promised never to cooperate with the AFD and voters trusted him. What are these words worth now, he asked.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who's in the same party as Merz, also has criticized him for doing this.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
Well, there is an election in a few weeks and it's possible Merz is cooperating with the AFD on immigration because up to now, the AFD has owned this issue and it's led to high poll numbers. They're now in second place and Elon Musk has recently come out to support them.
Up First from NPR
Plane Crash Latest, German Far Right, Nuclear Testing
So the logic goes if Merz's party can steal some of that spotlight, perhaps he can chip into that support and take some of those voters to his party. But many are blaming him for playing a dangerous game with Germany's democracy on this.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
That sounds terrible. I mean, what do people have to protect themselves with?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
I'm Rob Schmitz, and this is Up First from NPR News. It's Black Friday. As more people say they're tightening their budgets, this is expected to be a record-breaking holiday shopping season. So what's motivating people to spend and who are they actually shopping for? And support for third parties declined in this year's election.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
So, Aya, why is it that people don't have proper shelter when aid groups have had months to prepare for winter?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
Aid groups warn lives will be lost in Gaza as winter settles in and people don't have protection against harsh elements and seasonal illnesses.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
This just sounds like a completely dismal situation. What else do you know about the attack on the aid truck that you just mentioned?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
That's NPR's Aya Batraoui. Aya, thank you so much for bringing this to us.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
We are officially in the busiest shopping season of the year. It is Black Friday, which can mean joy or chaos for shoppers and financial pressure and chaos for retailers. What's in store for our budgets and the U.S. economy? NPR's Alina Selyuk is here to tell us. Alina, good morning.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
So let's start with the big picture. How are shoppers feeling about the economy and holiday spending this year?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
That seems like a lot.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
So is that because the prices are higher? So, I mean, we're spending more, but we're buying less?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
So, deals. Are these deals expected to be really good this year?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
So what are people actually buying, Alina? What are the most popular things this year?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day. Israel and Lebanon agreed on a ceasefire this week to pause more than a year of fighting. But in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes continue to pound the territory, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry there. And now people in Gaza have this to contend with.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
Merry Christmas to me. That is NPR's Alina Selyuk. Alina, thank you.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
President-elect Donald Trump has run for president in the past three elections, and in 2024, third-party presidential candidates got fewer votes than at any other point in the Trump era of presidential politics. This is despite widespread dissatisfaction with Republican and Democratic nominees for much of the campaign cycle.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
NPR's Stephen Fowler has been covering third parties this year for us, and he reports Donald Trump himself is actually a big reason for that decline. Good morning, Stephen. Good morning. So Trump won the popular vote but did not clear 50%. How many votes did third-party campaigns earn in this election cycle?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
Wow. So that's a sharp decline since 2016 when the Libertarian Party earned 3% of the vote. What happened there?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
Hmm. I mean, so far, there are no libertarians in Trump's next cabinet, but there is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who's been tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Is his appointment a victory for voters interested in third party options moving forward?
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
That is NPR's Stephen Fowler in Atlanta. Stephen, thank you.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
Winter has arrived, and most families don't have a home or shelter. Joining us to discuss the latest in Gaza is NPR's international correspondent, Aya Batraoui, who's based in Dubai. Hey, Aya.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
And that's Up First for Friday, November 29th. I'm Rob Schmitz. And don't forget, Up First airs on the weekend, too. Ayesha Roscoe and Scott Simon have the news. It'll be here in this feed or wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode of Up First was edited by Diedrich Skanky, Emily Kopp, Megan Pratz, Lisa Thompson, and Mohamed El-Bardisi.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
It was produced by Ziad Bach, Nia Dumas, and Lalit Kiros. Our executive producer is Erika Aguilar. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, and our technical director is Nisha Hainas. Join us again tomorrow.
Up First from NPR
Winter In Gaza, Black Friday Shopping, Third Party Politics
So, Aya, temperatures dropped into the 40s Fahrenheit at night in Gaza this week, and it began to rain. How are people surviving?