This month's guide to the nexus between government and education

I IRAN WAR RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DRAFT

The U.S. is deploying at least 2,000 troops to the Middle East to assist in operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment has raised questions about “boots on the ground” in Iran and a possible military draft. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed rumors of a potential draft, saying that while a draft is “not part of the current plan,” President Trump is keeping all options on the table.

>> Gain insight into how the draft works and if President Trump can activate the draft without congressional approval here.

I HOW MILITARY CONFLICT DRIVES UP GAS PRICES

Since President Trump launched attacks on Iran, the price of oil has gone up, spiking at $120 per barrel last week. In response to rising oil prices, President Trump and leaders of several European countries announced they would release oil from their national strategic reserves into the general market to lower prices. The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve serves as an example of the tools Congress has given the president to manage the economy and protect consumers from price shocks. 

>> Learn how foreign policy actions, such as the Iran attacks and the Venezuela operation, have influenced oil prices here.

I AIRPORTS TELL SPRING BREAKERS TO EXPECT LONGER SECURITY LINES

Airport officials are encouraging people traveling for spring break to arrive two to three hours before their scheduled departure because of longer security lines. The warning comes as more than 300 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have quit amid a partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). TSA officers are also calling in sick after missing their most recent paycheck and receiving only a partial paycheck two weeks prior. The situation with airline wait times offers a tangible example of how government funding, and the lack of it, affects people’s day-to-day lives. The DHS shutdown is entering its fifth week, with Senate Democrats refusing to back a House-passed funding bill and congressional Republicans rejecting Democratic offers to pass narrow agency funding bills, including for the TSA. The shutdown began with congressional Democrats demanding reforms to ICE's immigration enforcement operations before agreeing to any new funding for DHS, the department that oversees ICE.

>> Watch Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) discuss the government’s funding process and the DHS shutdown here.

I SENATORS INTRODUCE CUBA WAR POWERS BILL

Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) have filed a bill that would block President Trump from attacking Cuba without congressional authorization. The senators cite President Trump’s operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the attack on Iran as the reason the bill is needed. After the attack on Iran, President Trump implied that Cuba could be his administration’s next target for military action. The bill was filed under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which would allow the senators to force an initial procedural vote on it 10 days after its introduction. The debate over congressional moves to constrain President Trump’s ability to launch attacks on other nations highlights questions about the separation of powers, specifically a president’s power to conduct foreign policy and the power the Constitution gives to Congress to declare war.

>> Understand what the Constitution and the law say about the president’s ability to use military force here.

I WASHINGTON IMPOSES A NEW WEALTH TAX.

Washington State passed a “millionaires tax,” imposing a 9.9% tax on personal earnings over $1 million. The tax will apply to about 20,000 households and comes as the state faces a $10-12 billion budget deficit. This is the first time the state of Washington has had any kind of income tax and highlights the different ways the federal and various state governments raise money for operations, as well as how elected representatives set government budgets. It also comes amid diverging movements within the states, with some seeking to implement new or higher taxes on high-earning residents, while others are moving away from income taxes entirely.

>> Dig deeper into the ways different states approach income taxes here.

When AI feels human, what are the consequences?⁠

A 76-year-old New Jersey man died as he traveled to meet a Meta AI character he believed was real, according to Reuters. The chatbot, designed to feel human and flirtatious, reportedly invited him to New York and reassured him, saying, “I’m real.”⁠

Here’s what happened and why the incident is fueling debate over AI regulation in this week's Reuters Recap.

In this new series, ASP recaps Reuters investigative coverage. Follow along on Instagram or TikTok.

Stay ahead of the stories driving national conversations