Trump's Iran Endgame, War Economy, SCOTUS Birthright Citizenship Case

This episode of Up First from NPR covers three major developments: President Trump's abrupt shift in policy toward Iran, the economic fallout from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, and the Supreme Court's upcoming hearing on birthright citizenship. Trump declared the U.S. mission in Iran 'almost over,' claiming his sole goal—preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons—had been achieved, despite no verifiable evidence. He then reversed course, stating the U.S. would no longer care about Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint, even as gas prices soared to $4 a gallon and farmers, truckers, and brewers face rising costs. The war has already strained the economy, with inflation risks and job market concerns mounting. Meanwhile, Trump is making history by attending Supreme Court oral arguments—a first for a sitting president—as the court hears his challenge to birthright citizenship. He argues the 14th Amendment was meant only to grant citizenship to formerly enslaved people, but legal experts and historical precedent—including the 1898 Wang Kim Ark case—support the long-standing interpretation that all children born in the U.S. are citizens, regardless of their parents' immigration status. The case could reshape American identity and immigration law.