— One of the many wild items in this year's Oscars gift bags. Next best thing to a trophy?
US News
About Those Airport Lines...
What's going on: If you're typically on Team Last Minute when it comes to air travel (raises hand), you might want to consider swapping sides — at least for now. Airports across the country are reporting long security wait times due to TSA staffing issues tied to the partial government shutdown. Travelers shared videos on social media of lines that snaked outside the terminal and into a parking garage. More than 100,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees just missed a full paycheck (the third time in six months), and TSA agents are calling out at double the normal rate. That's in addition to 300 agents who have quit since February. Frustrated airline CEOs published a letter imploring the government to end the shutdown and ensure essential airline workers never go without pay again.
Is there any end in sight?: In a word… no. Both parties are locked in a familiar blame game, while negotiators keep potential compromises under wraps. Democrats want DHS to overhaul its immigration enforcement tactics and say they're willing to fund TSA separately from the rest of the department. Republicans have used procedural objections to block votes on several of those "piecemeal" funding bills, and the White House says it's waiting for Democrats to counter a proposal it sent two weeks ago. As for travelers — who could face up to 4% more airport traffic during spring and summer breaks and the World Cup — the usual advice applies (and yes, we admit it's not great): arrive early and pack extra patience.
🗞️ President Donald Trump's plan for the Strait of Hormuz has one big hiccup. Meanwhile, it's not just oil on the line — prescription drug supplies could be impacted, too.
🗞️ Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s changes to the childhood vaccine schedule just hit a major roadblock.
🗞️ White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. She says she's "encouraged by a strong prognosis" and will continue her work.
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Health Care
Sorry, What's Getting Bipartisan Support?
Obamacare: Yes, a red-and-blue coalition of states wants local businesses to help their employees sign up for health care through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The twist: They're leaning on a policy created during President Donald Trump's first term, the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). Here's the basic idea: When companies can't (or won't) offer a traditional employer health plan, they can give workers a tax-free subsidy to buy coverage on the ACA marketplace. Employers, including small businesses, get a tax write-off, and employees at least get some help with premiums. For many states, the program is turning into a pressure valve after Congress allowed enhanced ACA subsidies to expire last year. Since then, premiums have soared, and enrollment has already dropped by more than 1 million people — likely just the start.
Tell me more: As recently as last year, Trump was still calling the ACA the "Unaffordable Care Act." But ICHRA gives Republicans some political breathing room — and bipartisan support for the program comes at a critical time. A new Gallup survey found a whopping one-third of Americans have cut back on other expenses to afford health care, including skipping meals. Traditional employer plans are still typically the best bet — but for many workers, that option is getting harder to find. That's where ICHRA comes in, though it isn't a perfect fix. Employer stipends often don't cover the full cost of a plan. And depending on income, some workers would actually save more money by enrolling directly through the marketplace (KFF's insurance marketplace calculator can help you compare).
Summer Camp Sign-Ups Might Be the New Hunger Games
What's going on: For some working parents, the only thing worse than a meeting that could've been an email is securing a summer camp spot. While most people spend December making a list and checking it twice, many camps release their schedules — and that's when the real fun begins. Parents create spreadsheets in January to prepare for enrollment in February. It's a fight to the death, and the weapon of choice is a keyboard. One doctor told The Wall Street Journal that she paused patient rounds to enroll her daughter. Another father said he stepped out of a work dinner in Prague to put his kids in Lego camp. Safe to say the Europeans were confused.
What it means: It might look like parents have lost the plot, but there's a reason for the panic: child care. If the US had more reliable, affordable options, this whole summer-camp scramble probably wouldn't exist. What's worse is that many summer programs can cost thousands of dollars and end mid-afternoon — right around the time most parents are (shocker) still at work. Imagine enrolling them in something they don't even want, like basket weaving. Yikes. If you didn't plan your child's 2026 summer before they could walk, don't panic. Local community centers, museums, and libraries often run smaller programs. There are state-run options that don't cost a penny, but those fill up quickly. Another alternative? Shorter art classes or sports leagues. They may not cover the whole day, but they can help fill the gap. Maybe you'll get a nice woven basket out of it.
📓 These four "keystone habits" can anchor your day and help you stick to a routine. But will they do laundry?
On Our Calendar
A few things to jot down today…
🗓️ Happy St. Patrick's Day. Wear something festive. Keep an eye out for four-leaf clovers. Try a green beer or two — if that's your thing. Cheers.
🗓️ Get your brackets ready. Starting today, eight teams face off in Dayton, Ohio, to secure the four remaining spots in the NCAA March Madness men's tournament.
