NPR News: 04-03-2026 5PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Two U.S. Air Force combat planes were shot down today, according to an official not authorized to discuss the incident. A plane that went down near the Strait of Hormuz had one crew member who has been rescued by U.S. forces, and one crew member has been rescued from the other plane crash in southwestern Iran, but the search continues for its second crew member, as NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports. One crew member of the two-seater jet has been rescued, according to a U.S. official who is not authorized to discuss the situation. U.S. forces continue to search for the second crew member. Iranian state media has posted photos of debris along with what looks like an empty ejection seat. Numerous videos on social media show what appeared to be American helicopters and planes flying low over southwestern Iran. Two videos verified by NPR showed rescue aircraft deep inside the country around 150 miles from its border with Iraq, Jeff Brumfield, and P.R. News.

1:00South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mase says ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi must still testify before the House Oversight Committee later this month, on her handling of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. I'm not going to have my arm twisted on this. She was subpoenaed. She is required by law to show up to the Oversight Committee, and I will do everything that I can to work behind the scenes to ensure that that happens just because she's fired doesn't mean this goes away. Mase also expressed concern about comments made by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Blanche told Fox News yesterday that the Epstein files should not be part of anything going forward. Mase said, quote, it sounds like Todd Blanche needs to be replaced. The Trump administration wants to begin privatizing airport security operations that are currently handled by TSA and PR's Joel Rose reports that that proposal is part of the 2027 budget release today. President Trump's budget proposes cutting funding for the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, by more than $50 million.

2:03And it would require small airports to enroll in a program in which TSA pays for private contractors to staff security checkpoints. That program has existed for years, but only 20 airports are enrolled. The Trump administration argues that privatized screening would save taxpayers money. The critics, including the union that represents TSA officers, say it would undermine security. The budget request reflects the White House's priorities, but it's Congress that ultimately sets and approves spending levels, and lawmakers are still deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security in this year's budget. Joel Rose and PR News, Washington. President Trump is asking for one and a half trillion dollars in defense spending. That's the largest line item of its kind in decades. Trump had indicated even before the war against Iran that he wanted to increase defense spending to modernize the military. He's also calling for a 10% cut in non-defense discretionary spending. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Russian strikes on Ukraine have killed at least eight people across the country.

3:05Ukrainian officials claim the Kremlin is changing its tactics to increase civilian suffering. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled Kiev's openness to a potential Easter truce. The holiday is celebrated on April 12th in both Ukraine and Russia. Amazon has announced a fuel surcharge in response to higher oil prices brought on by the war in Iran. As NPR's address, shoe reports, the fee will be imposed on third-party sellers who use the company's warehouses and delivery systems. Starting April 17th, Amazon third-party sellers will see a 3.5% increase to their fulfillment fees. In a message to sellers, the company said that equates to an average of $0.17 per unit. A cost sellers could pass on the customers. Amazon said it had been absorbing increased fuel prices, but like other major carriers, it was hiking fees to recover a portion of its added costs. UPS and FedEx imposed new fuel surcharges last month, and the U.S. Postal Service says starting April 26th, it's adding an 8% surcharge to package and shipping services, including

4:10priority mail and parcel select. First-class stamps will not be affected. And reissue NPR News. Amazon is a financial supporter of NPR. Astronauts aboard the Artemis II are heading to the moon alongside Rise, a stuffed toy created by an 8-year-old Californian. The toy indicates when astronauts reach weightlessness, a tradition dating back to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's Vostok 1 mission in 1961. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.