Birthright Citizenship's Day in Court

SCOTUS

Birthright Citizenship's Day in Court

What’s going on: Yesterday, Supreme Court justices appeared to channel Pyrrho, questioning whether President Donald Trump’s order limiting birthright citizenship is constitutional. At the crux of the case: On day one back in office, Trump signed an executive order to end citizenship for babies born in the US to undocumented immigrants or temporary visitors. It was quickly blocked by lower courts, and never took effect. Critics and judges alike said the idea clashed with the country’s founding principles, specifically the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868. While conservative justices were skeptical of the administration’s arguments, they were also tough on the ACLU lawyer who challenged the order. Upping the ante, Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments, putting unprecedented pressure on a court he’s had a tense relationship with since the justices struck down his tariffs in February.

What it could mean: The Justices are expected to rule in June or July. While analysts say the court seemed ready to strike down this attempt from Trump, if it does side with him, the ripple effects would be astronomical — and expensive. Roughly 200,000 babies born each year could be denied citizenship going forward. One estimate suggests 6.4 million US-born kids could lack legal status by 2050. That would not only hurt those families, but carry an unknown toll — the loss of what they could contribute to the country, like immigrants before them. And while it would only impact future children, critics say it could cast new doubt on the status of millions of people. That’s the real human toll.

Related: In His Iran War Address, Trump Says “America Has Plenty of Gas” (CBS News)

The News in 5

🗞️ President Donald Trump says he’s actually not so concerned about the Strait of Hormuz blockade any more… 

🗞️ Clinics waiting on crucial federal reproductive health care funding are stuck in limbo. 

🗞️ A new video shows American journalist Shelly Kittleson being forced into the back of a car in Iraq by suspected Iranian militia members.

🗞️ The American Heart Association released its own dietary guidelines. They look very different from Health Secretary RFK Jr.’s inverted pyramid. 

🗞️ President Trump had plans for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and it seems like he’s dialing them back a bit.

Money

Is It Time To Pull the Plug on Your Gas Guzzler?

What's going on: We don’t need an accountant to tell us that we are paying too much for gas right now. The average cost of a gallon in the US is $4 — up 35% since the end of February. Not even the Etsy witches can make this one go away. President Donald Trump did say yesterday that the war with Iran could end in two or three weeks (but his timeline has shifted before). In the meantime, more Americans can’t help but wonder if it’s time to swap out their fossil fuel-loving car for an electric vehicle or hybrid. The Washington Post found that there was a 56% increase in Google searches for “most fuel-efficient gas cars” in March. Some looked for “best electric cars” and “hybrids for sale.”

If you’re ready to plug in: Ask yourself whether you actually need a new car right now: Is yours on its last tire, or do you only care about saving money at the pump? (Edmunds has a “Car Cost vs. Gas Mileage Calculator.”) Lower costs sound great, but it might not be worth spending thousands at the dealership or taking on a new loan, especially since auto loan interest rates are around 7%. If you are ready financially, mentally, and spiritually to make the switch, consider a used EV first. They often cost less than $30,000 and are still more affordable in the long run. Also, make sure you can charge your car at home. That can save you up to $2,000 a year, according to one study. But if you’ll need public chargers regularly, costs can rival a trip to the gas station. 

Related: Higher Fuel Costs Are Chipping Away at Your Tax Refund (Axios)

Tech

The New Corporate Buzzword We Were Afraid Of

What’s going on: “Deskilling” might sound like a cool new band you should check out (and for all we know, maybe it is), but it’s less fun in practice. AI can make your job easier — and, over time, make you a little worse at it, too. When Anthropic’s Claude briefly went down last  month, some developers said they struggled to complete basic tasks. One even confessed he’d have to “write code like a caveman.” While the developer was joking (we hope?), this showed how reliance on AI can boost productivity while chipping away at basic skills. Researchers warn this kind of “skill decay” could hit new hires the hardest because they have less time to build foundational skills before they outsource them. 

Tell me more: So are we all just a bit too dependent on technology that could eventually replace us? It’s possible, experts say, but not inevitable if we use AI with purpose and don’t become reliant on it. One tech leader’s main concern about the AI era: Users get polished answers and skip the thought process that helps it stick. Companies that recognize their AI enthusiasm might’ve gone too far could (if they were smart) create space for their employees to practice problem-solving without it. One way to avoid reliance on AI is to treat it like an assistant, not a decision-maker. Use it to handle administrative tasks so that you have more time for creativity and complex tasks. Yay?

Related: SpaceX Files for IPO Ahead of AI Rivals (The New York Times) 

Quick Hits

🥤  Regular water is apparently sooo last year. That’s why everyone is sipping on “stacked water.” 

🎂 Jenna Bush Hager’s April Fool’s prank intended for her cohost backfired in the best way. 

💪 Move over, pilates. Could classes that focus on this life stage be the next big fitness trend? We’re into it.

😯 John Hughes almost cast this 80’s movie star as Ferris Bueller. A very different day off. 

💇🏻‍♀️ Jamie Lee Curtis has changed her iconic haircut. She’s clearly paying attention to the spring trends. 

🎤 Sorry, Vanessa Hudgens. This celeb just took the top spot for Coachella outfit inspiration.

On Our Calendar

Things to jot down today…

🗓️ It’s World Autism Awareness Day, and this year's theme focuses on equal rights and inclusion.

🗓️ The Real Housewives of Rhode Island debuts on Bravo — with this franchise legend on board.

🗓️ Time to dig out your copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar: It’s International Children’s Book Day.

Psst…For more dates worth knowing this week, check out the Skimm+ calendar.

Extra Credit

Refresh

Spring means warmer temps, more daylight, and the sudden motivation to clean…everything. If you’re tackling spring cleaning, your finances might be due for a refresh too. 

Enter: Northwestern Mutual. Their financial advisors can help you create a financial plan that’ll move you closer to your goals — whether that’s buying a home, paying off your credit card bill, or opening your own business. It’s the right time to build yours. 

And it all starts with a simple conversation about what matters most to you. Ready, set, refresh.*

Know It All

Chocolatiers just created the "world’s largest" Cadbury Mini Egg. So how much does it actually weigh?

Skimm'd by: Rashaan Ayesh, Stephanie Gallman, Mallory Simon, Molly Longman, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.