What's in store for the music, TV, and film industries for 2025? We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold predictions for the new year. Listen now to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. A massive winter storms forecast to drop up to a foot of snow from the

central U.S. to Washington, D.C. That's where Congress is required by law to meet and formally

certify the presidential election results tomorrow. The D.C. government has declared a snow

emergency, but congressional leaders say they will not be delayed. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana tells Fox News, Mother Nature will not delay the certification of President-elect Donald Trump's victory.

The Electoral Count Act requires this on January 6th at 1 p.m. So whether we're in a blizzard or not, we are going to be in that chamber making sure this is done.

Ahead of the expected snowstorm, Johnson's message to fellow House members is clear.

We encourage all of our colleagues, do not leave town, stay here.

The House Speaker says he hopes for full attendance despite the storm.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says city resources will be used to help clear snow for members of Congress ahead of election certification. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. We are learning more about the lead-up

to the New Orleans New Year's Day attack when a man drove into people on Bourbon Street,

killing 14. Authorities say Shamsud Dean Jabbar had recently visited New Orleans twice prior, and he traveled abroad.

FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge, Lionel Murthel, spoke today.

We have also tracked that Jabbar traveled to Cairo Egypt from June 22nd until July 3rd of 2023.

The FBI says he was inspired by the terrorist group, ISIS. But the investigation so far shows he did not have an accomplice in the U.S. or overseas. It's unclear why he

targeted New Orleans. Commuting by car in parts of Manhattan will, starting to date, take a toll on drivers.

Congestion pricing gets underway. It could cost most drivers up to $9 to access the busiest parts of the Big Apple during peak hours.

Syria's foreign minister has called on the U.S. to lift sanctions imposed on the country to punish the former Assad regime.

He says those sanctions are now punishing Syrians, impoverished by years of war.

NPR's Dia Hadid reports from Damascus.

Syria's foreign minister, Asad Hassan Ashihabani, spoke during a visit to the Gulf State of Qatar,

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