--:-- Shea Stevens: This message comes from NPR sponsor Odoo. Some describe Odoo like a magic beanstalk because it scales with you and is magically affordable. Odoo, exactly what a business needs. Sign up at odoo.com. That's O-D-O-O dot com.
--:-- Shea Stevens: Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The Federal Aviation Administration is planning a 10% reduction in traffic at 40 major airports beginning Friday if the government shutdown is not over by then.
--:-- Transportation Secretary: [identified as Sean Duffy] Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the aim is to ensure air safety amidst staffing shortages. I've also offered air traffic controllers who are of the age of retirement a 20 percent upfront cash bonus to actually stay on. Some of the best controllers we have don't retire, keep working for us.
--:-- Shea Stevens: Duffy says many air traffic controllers working without pay during the shutdown have taken on second jobs to cover missed paychecks.
--:-- Shea Stevens: New York City Mayor-elect Zora Mondani has announced his transition team as he prepares to take office at the beginning of the year. The team includes people who've served in past city administrations, as NPR Sarah Bentry reports.
--:-- Sarah Bentry: The five team is made up entirely of women and includes a former Federal Trade Commission chair, former first deputy mayor, and the president and CEO of United Way of New York City. The team will be responsible for setting the stage for the new administration to enact an ambitious agenda. Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, campaigned heavily on promises to freeze the rent, make buses free, and create universal child care. In his acceptance speech on Tuesday night, he also promised to hire thousands more teachers, cut waste from a bloated bureaucracy, and work tirelessly to improve public housing.
--:-- Shea Stevens: The U.S. Supreme Court has heard nearly three hours of arguments over President Trump's wide-ranging tariffs. The court will decide if Trump can use an Emergency Powers Act unilaterally to impose taxes on imported goods.
--:-- Chief Justice John Roberts: [speaking] The law being used makes no mention of tariffs, which are central to Trump's economic and foreign policy agenda.
--:-- Shea Stevens: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is calling Venezuelan leader Lucas Maduro a threat to U.S. national security. This comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Maduro and sends more military assets to the Caribbean. NPR's Ryan Lucas has details.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: Speaking on Fox Friends, Bondi was asked about the million-dollar reward the U.S. government is offering for information leading to Maduro's arrest. Bondi said Maduro is not Venezuela's legitimate leader and that the reward money is well-deserved. We will catch him. This country will catch Maduro. Can't talk about the details, but he should be very frightened.
--:-- Shea Stevens: American officials accuse Maduro of narco-terrorism. He is facing an indictment in U.S. federal court for allegedly leading the Cartel de los Soles, as well as drug trafficking, U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, and President Trump's acknowledgement that he's authorized CIA covert action in Venezuela has fueled speculation that the Trump administration may take action to try to topple Maduro.
--:-- Ryan Lucas: U.S. futures are lower in after-hours trading.
--:-- Shea Stevens: This is NPR. On Wednesday, we reported on a listeria outbreak linked to prepared pasta meals. The report erroneously gave the impression that the current outbreak is linked to Texas-based wholesale food service Fresh Realm. An outbreak in June prompted Fresh Realm to test and voluntarily recall some of its products. The company's own investigation traced the listeria strain to Nate's Fine Foods, a company based in California. Nate, which supplies pasta used in various products and sold under multiple brands at grocers across the nation, also conducted its own voluntary recall.
--:-- Scott Mascione: The Maryland Transportation Department is preparing to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The collapse of the span last year has had a significant impact on the city's economy and traffic. From member station WYPR, I'm Scott Mascione.
--:-- Jim Harkness: We're testing these to 10 million pounds, so this is the support for the new bridge. It's a very large bridge. We need to make sure that we have competent foundations.
--:-- Scott Mascione: Tests will be conducted in the coming months to assess the soil's ability to hold the weight of the new bridge. The bridge's design is about 70 percent complete, and the state's hoping to have it fully rebuilt by fall of 2028.
--:-- Shea Stevens: For NPR News, I'm Scott Mascione in Baltimore. You're listening to NPR News.
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