Thursday 03.27.25

Gun control groups earned a rare victory at the Supreme Court yesterday when the justices upheld Biden-era federal regulations on “ghost guns.” The court ruled that manufacturers must include serial numbers on the mail-order kits — which allow people to build untraceable weapons at home — and perform background checks on purchasers. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and on With Your Day.
 

By Jade Walker

(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Yemen group chat

The Atlantic published additional text messages on Wednesday that top Trump officials inadvertently shared with a reporter in a Signal group chat about a US military attack on Houthis in Yemen. The release of such sensitive information, which several members of the administration have claimed was not classified, underscored the extent of the breach in operational security. President Donald Trump and his aides have responded to the national security scandal by downplaying its severity, insulting the magazine and its editor-in-chief and calling it a “witch hunt.” And the likelihood of accountability is slim. Trump has already fired inspectors general from more than a dozen federal agencies and installed loyalists in the Department of Justice and the FBI. Republicans in Congress have also been loathe to serve as a check on the actions of the executive branch.

Health care funding

The Trump administration has decided to pull back more than $11 billion in grants that were allocated to state and community health departments during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the funds were originally used for Covid testing and vaccinations, states have since budgeted the money for projects that would help health care systems prepare for the next emergency, such as outbreaks of measles or bird flu. In a statement, the Department of Health and Human Services said it was taking the money back because the pandemic is over and now it wants to focus on President Trump’s mandate to "address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again." Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, a nonprofit that studies and supports the US public health workforce, described the decision to pull the funding as “a devastating blow to public health.”

Auto tariffs

In a major trade war escalation, President Trump on Wednesday announced 25% tariffs on all cars shipped to the US and on foreign-made car parts. In response to the announcement, General Motors' stock price plunged more than 7% in after-hours trading. Shares of Ford and Stellantis also dropped by more than 4%. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the tariffs and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called them a “direct attack” and a violation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Even if other countries decide not to retaliate with their own tariffs on US goods, car companies are likely to pass on the added costs from the tariffs to American consumers.

Social Security

The Social Security Administration has decided to backtrack on its plan to require all applicants filing for benefits to complete their claims in person or online. Now, only people applying for retirement, survivors or family benefits will have to do so after April 14. Those applying for disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income and Medicare will continue to have the option of filing claims by phone. At a time when the SSA is planning to eliminate 7,000 jobs — or about 12% of its staff — and close some local offices, this new policy could force people to travel long distances and wait longer for service or payments.

Are you worried about the changes at the Social Security Administration? Share your thoughts here.

Tufts student detained

An international student at Tufts University who co-wrote an op-ed in the school newspaper last year criticizing its response to the pro-Palestinian movement has been detained by immigration officers. Surveillance video captured the moment when six plainclothes officers surrounded Rumeysa Ozturk — a Turkish national — on the street near her apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. They then took her phone, restrained her hands behind her back and placed her into a waiting SUV. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Ozturk had “engaged in activities in support of Hamas.” But according to her attorney, no charges have been filed. Although a district judge ruled on Tuesday that Ozturk was not to be transferred out of the state without advance notice, Homeland Security moved her to an ICE processing center in Louisiana. 

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Extra security for tennis star Iga Świątek
Officials at the Miami Open tennis tournament have increased security for the five-time major champion after she received threats from a spectator.

‘Doomsday’ mega-cast announced
Marvel is going all out for the upcoming “Avengers” sequel by combining those superheroes with two other classic teams: the X-Men and the Fantastic Four.

Will Steph Curry become the baller of beverages?
The NBA star and former first lady Michelle Obama have joined forces to launch a new sugar-free sports drink.

Fan of the ‘The Office’? Head to Scranton.
Chili’s is opening a restaurant in the Pennsylvania city that will feature retro decor and menu items. You’ll even be able to drink a “Scranton Margarita,” just like Meredith Palmer.

Oh look, it’s 3 a.m. Time to pee, again.
If you keep waking up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, there may be a good reason. Here are a few to consider.

$27

That’s how much it'll cost to climb Japan's Mount Fuji, which is double the price from last year. Climbers will also have to book slots in advance and pass a short test about hiking safety and local rules. 

We can see with our own eyes how extreme heat and extreme weather are harming people’s health.

— Veena Singla, an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, in response to the NIH’s decision to halt all funding for studies about the health effects of climate change.

See rare images of moon orbiting Mars
The European Space Agency’s probe Hera recently captured unique views of a rarely seen side of a Martian moon.