NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-05-2025 5PM EST

Episode Date: March 5, 2025

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NPR informs and connects communities around the country, providing reliable information in times of crisis. Federal funding helps us fulfill our mission to create a more informed public and ensures that public radio remains available to everyone. Learn more about safeguarding the future of public media. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Trump administration published and then quickly removed a list of hundreds of federal properties it wants to sell. NPR's Shannon Bond reports real estate sales are the latest step in Trump's plans to slash the size and scope of government. On Tuesday, the General Services Administration, which manages federal real estate, released

a list of 443 properties targeted for sale. The agency said the buildings were deemed to quote, not core to government operations. It said getting rid of them could save hundreds of millions of dollars in annual operating costs. The list included courthouses, historic buildings, and even the headquarters of the Departments of Justice and Agriculture in Washington, D.C. But later in the day, GSA deleted some of those buildings from the list, and now it has removed the list from its website entirely. Shannon Bond, NPR News. The Department of Justice is charging 12 Chinese law enforcement officers and contract hackers

for their roles in a global hack-for-hire ecosystem. At least one of the people indicted was involved in the 2024 hack of the U.S. Treasury Department. NPR's Jen McLaughlin reports. Multiple U.S. government agencies coordinated an investigation into a global network of Chinese officials and hackers who work together to compromise computer systems all over the world. In newly unsealed indictments, the Justice Department identifies iSoon, a Chinese private sector cyber company, as one of the key pillars of this ecosystem.

iSoon's internal files were leaked in 2024, providing unique insights into the Chinese hack for hire industry. Su Bai, the head of the Justice Department's National Security Division, says in a press release that the government will quote, relentlessly pursue those who threaten our cybersecurity. Jen McLaughlin, NPR News. The nation's major automakers a one month reprieve from the steep tariffs put in place by the Trump administration against Canada and Mexico. The temporary exemption for vehicles covered under the US.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement

coming after the big three automakers argued such tariffs would significantly increase the cost of cars and trucks since in many instances they are assembled across borders and would be subject to tariffs once they return to the U.S. for sale. The Trump administration meanwhile is hinting at possible changes to his new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. More from MPR's Scott Horsley. The decision to impose steep taxes on imports is expected to raise prices in the U.S. and invite retaliation from trading partners. But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told

Fox Business News there could be some speedy modification of those tariffs, so investors are in wait-and-see mode. The IRS is reportedly considering deeper staffing cuts. The tax collection agency has already eliminated more than 6,000 jobs and the Associated Press reports tens of thousands more could be on the chopping block. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. The report of easing, possible easing of tensions enthused investors today that dials up 485 points. This is NPR. NASA's Voyager spacecraft has been added a long time. The twin spacecraft launched in 1977. But even as both are now more than 13 million miles from home,

they apparently still have some life left. NASA says it is switching off two instruments on the spacecraft to save power, one on Voyager 2. The measure is charged particles and cosmic rays, and an instrument on Voyager 1 designed to study cosmic rays as well. The instrument on Voyager 1, however, will be shut down more gradually. Each spacecraft still has three instruments to study the sun's perspective bubble and the space beyond.

Sesame Workshop has announced layoffs, as NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports. The news comes a day after about 200 of its employees said they wanted to form a union and a couple of months after the show's future came into question. In a statement Sesame Workshop says, amid the changing media and funding landscape we have made the difficult decision to reduce the size of our organization. A couple of months ago Warner Brothers Discovery announced that Max would no longer fund the production of new episodes of Sesame Street after 2025. Puppeteers and writers are already union members. This week, about 200 of Sesame Workshop's administrative colleagues announced their desire to form a union.

Sesame Workshop says production of the show's 56th season will begin next month, but the company still has not announced a new distributor. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News. Critical Features prices move lower, oil down $1.95 a barrel to $66.31 a barrel. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.