NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-05-2025 7AM EST

Episode Date: February 5, 2025

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Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts. Perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more. So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump is suggesting that the United States take over the Gaza Strip after resettling displaced Palestinians to countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Trump added that he also imagines Palestinians living there. NPR's Lexi Schepittle reports Trump announced the idea at the White House yesterday following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a joint press conference with Netanyahu, Trump repeated his assertion that the Palestinians displaced in Gaza should be relocated to other countries. He also proposed that the United States should, quote, take over and own Gaza for an indefinite, long-term period of time. This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I've spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent. Trump did not respond to questions about what authority the US has to take over

the Palestinian territory. The president also didn't rule out sending US troops to Gaza to support the redevelopment. Lexi Shapidle, NPR News, Washington. The US Agency for International Development has announced that it's placing all of its employees on administrative leave. NPR's Fatima Tanis reports overseas workers have been

ordered to return to the U.S. within 30 days. I spoke to several officials of the agency who didn't want to be named because they're not authorized to speak publicly. And they said that this is effectively a shutdown of the agency and they call the process inhumane. Now for staff who are overseas, there are other concerns. People have kids in school, spouses who have jobs, they have pets. It's going to be hard to uproot their lives in 30 days.

And many are expecting the next step to be mass layoffs. That's NPR's Vant Matanis reporting. Democratic lawmakers are blasting tech billionaire Elon Musk, whose government efficiency team is cutting the size of federal agencies, including shutting down USAID. NPR's Elena Moore reports on how Democrats plan to use their limited power to push back against those efforts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats are sounding the alarm.

Whatever Doge is doing, it's not democracy. We know what democracy is like. It's out in the open. It's not secret. Democratic senators like Chris Murphy are speaking out. I worry that the American public is not going to rise up against this seizure of power if they see Democrats collaborating with Republicans on the floor of the Senate on a regular basis

to pass legislation or support nominees. Murphy says if Democrats can raise public sentiment, it could move some Republican lawmakers to oppose Trump-backed nominees or legislation. But that has yet to happen. Elena Moore, NPR News. On Wall Street, Delft futures are trading lower. This is NPR News in Washington. The U.S. Postal Service says it's temporarily suspending packages arriving to the United States from China and Hong Kong. The move comes a day after the Trump administration imposed 10 percent tariffs on Chinese products.

The suspension means customers could be waiting longer for packages to arrive from companies like Amazon and Sheen. Polar bears constantly move between ice-cold water and frigid air, but their fur doesn't freeze. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports on a new study that finds that specialized grease prevents ice from forming. Jonathan Lambert, NPR Specialist, USA Most mammalian fur freezes when it gets wet in cold temperatures. Think human beards on a frosty winter day. But polar bear fur

doesn't really freeze. That ability likely stems from high levels of ice resistant compounds in their fur grease, according to recent research in the journal Science Advances. The study also found that polar bears' greasy fur lacked a compound called squalene, which sticks to ice and is found on most other marine mammals. The researchers hope the work could lead to more environmentally friendly alternatives to some anti-ice materials in ski waxes, as well as new kinds of de-icing fluid for aircraft. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

Nearly 50 million Americans from the Midwest to the Northeast could be in the path of a severe winter storm starting tonight. Forecasters say the weather system is expected to bring ice and freezing rain that could make travel conditions dangerous in many regions. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington. Our long national nightmare is over. In Washington, NPR News.