NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-06-2025 9PM EST

Episode Date: March 7, 2025

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This message comes from Wondery. Scam Factory, the explosive new podcast series, exposes a multi-billion dollar criminal empire where thousands are being forced to scam others under the threat of death. Follow Scam Factory wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Hurst. President Trump is again expressing doubts about NATO's mutual defense pact. And Piers Franco-Ordonez reports it's something he did in his first term, too. A week ago, Trump said he would support the key provision of NATO that requires members to come to the defense of another if attacked.

But now he's told reporters at the White House that the U.S. may not defend allies if they don't spend enough on their militaries. Well, I think it's common sense, right? If they don't pay, I'm not going to defend them. No, I'm not going to defend them. I got into a lot of heat when I said that. You said, oh, he's violating NATO. Trump has regularly sent mixed signals about US support for NATO.

He long pushed allies in the alliance to increase their spending on defense, charging that the US should not have to carry such a high financial burden of European security. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, The White House. The Trump administration is looking to sell hundreds of federal buildings and is firing the people who run them. As NPR's Chris Arnold reports, the cutbacks are to the Federal General Services Administration, or GSA. The Trump administration now has its cost-cutting sites

on the GSA, which is basically the largest landlord in the U.S. This week, it listed hundreds of buildings that it's looking to sell. Courthouses, historic buildings, and even the headquarters of the Departments of Justice, Agriculture, and the GSA itself. It then pulled some of those buildings off its list.

Sources tell NPR that the agency has also abruptly fired more than a thousand workers. That's just mind boggling. Michelle Berkovich is an employment attorney who represents federal workers. It seems to be doing an end run around Congress who has already dictated this agency's budget. The GSA in a statement says it is taking action

to reduce the deficit and increase efficiency. Chris Arnold, NPR News. An unvaccinated adult in New Mexico who tested positive for measles has died. It happened just over the border from Texas where a measles outbreak continues to grow. NPR's Maria Godoy has more. New Mexico health officials are still investigating

the individual's cause of death, but they confirmed that the person tested positive for measles. Last week, Texas health officials reported the death of an unvaccinated child. Doctors stress the best defense against measles is vaccination. Dr. Adam Ratner, an infectious disease specialist,

says misinformation online suggests vitamin A can prevent measles, but that's wrong. What is circulating online now are people who are giving vitamin A at high doses over long periods of time to try to prevent children from getting measles, and that can be quite dangerous. He says vitamin A can build up in the body and can be toxic to the liver. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

U.S. futures contracts are in positive territory. That's after Wall Street sharply lower by the closing bell. You're listening to NPR News. The Republican-controlled House today voted to censure Democratic Congressman Al Green after he disrupted President Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday, calling on Trump to cancel planned Medicaid cuts. Ten moderate Democrats voted with all the Republicans to censure Green, but today's action turned into a shouting match as some members gathered around Green to sing We Shall Overcome and that elicited shouting from Republicans

to stop singing. Censure is a formal way for the House to express disapproval of an action by a member, but it doesn't take away rights or privileges. Global aid organizations say their supply of food that's specially designed for malnourished children is dwindling. This comes after the Trump administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development and froze most foreign assistance. And Piers Gabriel-Emanuele has more. The International Rescue Committee typically feeds more than 600,000 malnourished kids

each year. Jeanette Bailey works for IRC. She says the Trump administration has cut off funding for many of their feeding programs. We are receiving word from our programs in the field in Mali, in Niger, in Nigeria, in Tanzania, in northeast Syria, that by the end of this month, we will have run out of food. A spokesperson for the State Department said in a statement, the goal is to align programs with the national interest and make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

Gabriella Emanuel, NPR News. U.S. futures contracts are trading positive. Dow futures up to tenths of a percent. NASDAQ futures are up about a half percent. You're listening to NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things in other currencies. Sending or spending money abroad? Hidden fees may be taking a cut. With WISE, you can convert between up to 40 currencies at the mid-market exchange rate. Visit WISE.com. TNCs apply.