Gas Prices Are Just the Start

Good morning.

I flung myself ahead yesterday — and while I love a later sunset as much as anyone, waking two kids (and, let’s be honest, myself) while it's still pitch-black outside is a tough sell. If you skipped our advice last week on how to prep for the time change, here's what you can do now. The extra daylight doesn’t come from this ritual alone. Another seasonal shift explains why March is so bright. No matter how you feel about the clocks, the week ahead wastes zero time. Voters in Georgia head to the polls to pick former US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's seat-filler for the remainder of the term. (Who can forget her very public break with President Donald Trump?) We’ll also get the latest inflation snapshot on Wednesday when the Consumer Price Index arrives, but it might already feel dated given the ripple effects of the war in Iran. More on that in our top story below.

— Marina Carver / Senior Editor / Brooklyn, NY

Iran War

Gas Prices Are Just the Start

What’s going on: As the US-Israeli strikes on Iran enter their second week, the economic ripple effects have started to show up at home. Even before Israel targeted Iran’s energy infrastructure on Saturday, AAA reported gas prices in the US jumped 16% in just one week. Diesel rose even faster, up 22%. That matters because diesel does far more than fill a minivan. Trucks and container ships rely on it to move goods nationwide. Some transport companies plan to increase rates and add fuel surcharges — costs retailers could pass on to consumers. The Strait of Hormuz’s closure could also trigger a supply chain nightmare for American farmers, who rely on fertilizer from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran. (Their equipment runs largely on diesel, too.) Still, Energy Secretary Chris Wright says fear — not an actual supply shortage — is behind the price spike and predicts it could last weeks, not months. 

Beyond the US: Europe and Asia have felt the financial fallout far faster than the US. Restricted air travel in the Middle East has already strained the global supply chain. Several major airports in the conflict zone — including Dubai’s — have halted operations and sidelined roughly 20% of global air cargo capacity. DHL estimates that for every week a shipment is delayed, it’ll take at least a week and a half to catch up. Several countries — including Italy, China, Belgium, South Korea, and India — rely on oil that moves through the Strait of Hormuz. If the conflict drags on, those countries could end up in a bidding war for energy supplies. For now, experts say the disruption resembles the early days of the pandemic.

Related: Iran Named Its Next Supreme Leader As the Price of Oil Barrels Hit a Historic High (AP)

The News in 6

🗞️ President Donald Trump says he won’t sign any legislation until Congress gets this one to his desk.

🗞️ NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is speaking out after explosive devices were found outside his home following anti-Islam protests.

🗞️ A controversial executive order saved a weedkiller called Roundup. There may be an ulterior motive.

🗞️ Could this White House adviser be the next to get the boot? Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) seems to think so.

🗞️ States are rushing to keep kids off social media, but age verification tools may be spying on adults in the process.

🗞️ The New York Times did a breakdown of the many gaudy presidential portraits that Trump peppered around the White House. Is that…his mugshot?

Health

A Presidential Side Effect

What’s going on: President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seem convinced there is a link between autism and taking Tylenol while pregnant. In September, the president told pregnant women, “Don’t take it. Fight like hell not to take it.” Some people listened. A new analysis found ER Tylenol prescriptions for pregnant women dropped 10% over the 11 weeks after Trump’s statement. By December, prescriptions returned to normal levels. No study has ever confirmed that acetaminophen causes autism. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says it remains the safest option for pregnant women who need to treat pain or a fever.

What it means: Despite years of medical research and expert guidance, political messaging now shapes personal health choices. One of the study’s authors said, “There are people who listen to our leaders, and they have an enormous responsibility to speak in a way that science reflects.” Another example surfaced in the same data. Prescriptions for leucovorin surged 71% among kids ages 5 to 17. If that drug sounds familiar, that’s because Trump has promoted it as a possible autism treatment, and the FDA signed off on it through an unconventional review process. Friendly reminder: It takes 11 years to become a doctor.

Related: Is There Actually 180g of Sugar in a Dunkin’ Drink Like RFK Jr. Claims? (USA Today)

Health

Bad Blood, Scientifically Speaking

What's going on: Most reasonable people agree that “Oh my gosh, look at your roots!” is not an appropriate greeting for a loved one — no matter how overdue your highlights may be. Yet some people lead with exactly that (we speak from experience). Now, scientists have an official name for these folks… and it’s not “annoying.” They’re “hasslers.”  Worse, a new study found spending time with them may speed up physical aging. Fantastic. Every hassler that a participant regularly dealt with corresponded with a 1.5% increase in aging. Women and people with health problems were most likely to have hasslers in their lives (add it to the pile, universe). Family members were the biggest culprits, followed by co-workers and roommates. Although the research showed an association, it couldn’t prove cause and effect. But, anecdotally speaking, it sure checks out to us. 

So, what now? Start with a quick audit. Who are your personal hasslers? Are they total menaces who bring no positives or do they just get on your nerves sometimes? Do they nag because they care, or for more malicious reasons? The answers can help you determine where to draw boundaries. Maybe you spend less time with them or remove them from your orbit altogether. And yes, this next part hurts a little: Show some empathy for the hassler. As hard as it is to deal with them, imagine being them. A little perspective can make their persnickety ways easier to tolerate. For those you keep around, bookend your interactions with self-care. Most importantly, prioritize the people who energize you. For every hassler who drains the tank, someone else can help refill it.

Related: These Books Are the Boundary-Setting Boons We Needed (NYT Gift Link)

On Our Calendar

A few things to jot down today…

🗓️ The House of Representatives is on recess. Members head home to court constituents, show face, and take the temperature of their districts. 

🗓️ It’s National Napping Day. Consider this your doctor’s note to disappear for 20 minutes (or three hours).

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

Know It All

What does Amanda Seyfried keep on her nightstand for midnight snacking, and why didn't we think of this earlier?

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