Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.
Chapter 2: What tragic event was commemorated in West Virginia?
Memorial service was held in Webster Springs, West Virginia, Friday. That's the home of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom. The National Guard specialist was shot and killed on Wednesday. Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically injured in the same shooting in Washington, D.C. An Afghan national who was granted asylum in the U.S. has been arrested and is facing multiple charges, including murder.
West Virginia State Senator Robbie Morris spoke at the service, saying the tragedy is incomprehensible.
the loss that we are all feeling, the anger, the devastation. It's a lot. There's never a good time for something like this to happen. but it seems to hit harder around the holidays.
Congress returns next week to debate whether to extend healthcare subsidies that are expiring at the end of the year. NPR's Deirdre Walsh reports on the divide over the details.
As part of the deal to end the government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to hold a vote by mid-December on legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that phase out on December 31st. Some Republicans support renewing these subsidies, but want to add income caps to limit who can qualify.
Even if a bipartisan deal clears the Senate, it's unclear whether House Speaker Mike Johnson would allow a vote. Many conservatives oppose any extension. Unless Congress acts quickly, more than 20 million Americans will see spikes in health care premiums. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News.
Ukraine's president says his chief of staff has resigned as a corruption investigation involving prominent officials widens. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley has more on the controversy surrounding Andrei Yermak.
In a video posted to social media, Zelensky said Ukraine must be strong and unified as it heads into peace negotiations with the Trump administration in the coming days. For internal strength, there should be no reason to be distracted by anything other than the defense of Ukraine, he said.
Anti-corruption officials searched Yermak's house as part of their investigation into the siphoning off of $100 million from the state nuclear power agency. Yermak's experience dealing with the Trump administration will be missed, but he was becoming a liability. Russia wants Ukraine to make mistakes, said Zelensky. There will be no mistakes on our part. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv.
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Chapter 3: What healthcare subsidies are Congress debating?
She claims she thought the men were being sent to Russia to train as bodyguards and return to work for her political party. Earlier this month, the men contacted the South African government, saying they were on the front lines in Donbass, Ukraine, and begging to be repatriated.
The government says it's working with the Russians and Ukrainians to get the men back, and a police investigation has been launched. NPR has seen terrified WhatsApp messages from the men saying they had no idea they were going to be fighting in a war. Kate Bartlett, NPR News, Johannesburg.
Police in Paris say they now have all four people who robbed the Louvre Museum last month in custody after a fourth person was arrested early this week. The 39-year-old is facing charges of robbery by an organized crime and criminal conspiracy, and if convicted, could spend 15 years in prison. France's crown jewels were stolen in that robbery. I'm Dale Willman. NPR News.