It's the End of an Education Era

What's Happening

Politics

It's the End of an Education Era

What's going on: President Donald Trump has spent years vowing to dismantle the Department of Education. Yesterday, surrounded by children at school desks, he officially began that process, signing an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to eliminate the agency “once and for all.” The Trump administration has accused the Education Department of spreading liberal ideology and undermining parental rights in schools. It has already taken smaller steps to paralyze the agency, cutting its workforce and funding. Now, Trump argues it’s time to hand full control back to the states, which already largely have the power to establish schools and set both curriculum and graduation requirements. The White House says a smaller Education Department 2.0 will keep “critical functions” running.

What it means: Shutting down the department entirely would require congressional approval, and Trump’s EO is already facing lawsuits. As legal challenges play out, the administration’s efforts will likely leave the department in a holding pattern, impacting America’s 50 million public school students. Experts warn there would be no federal oversight to ensure students get the help they need (think: special education and teachers’ aides). And states could be stuck trying to replace lost federal funding, and we’ve all watched Abbott Elementary. As for student loans, Pell grants, and civil protection in the classroom, those won’t magically disappear — but they could get shuffled to other agencies. Meanwhile, polls show that two-thirds of Americans don’t want to see the Education Department go.

Related: Also on the Syllabus: Trump’s War With Higher Education (The Guardian)

Sports

Hear That? That's Another Glass Ceiling Shattering 

What's going on: Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe just became the first woman and first African to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC). At 41, she’s also the youngest to ever hold the role. Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medalist, beat out six men in a Conclave-type race. She clinched the title within a single round of secret voting — prompting audible gasps when the results were revealed. Leading up to the vote, Coventry made her priorities clear: tackling inequality in sports, particularly “strengthening women’s sports by protecting female athletes and promoting equal opportunities for women at all levels of our movement.”

What it means: Coventry is now one of the most powerful figures in global sports. She’s taking the reins of an IOC that’s been rocked by controversy — from doping scandals to last year’s decision to strip Jordan Chiles of her medal. Her moves will likely determine how smoothly things run at the Summer Olympics (coming to LA in 2028), as well as how the IOC handles questions about transgender athletes and how best to protect athletes amid the climate crisis.

Related: Obama Just Revealed His March Madness Bracket (USA Today)

Business

Eat Now, Pay Later

What's going on: Few things kill a craving faster than a delivery fee. But Klarna and DoorDash might have found a way around that. The buy now, pay later (BNPL) lender announced a new partnership yesterday, giving DoorDash customers the option to pay in full at checkout, split their total into four equal interest-free installments, or schedule payments to match their payday. The move comes on the heels of Klarna securing an exclusive BNPL deal with Walmart, replacing Affirm. On the horizon: Wall Street. After a quiet stretch for big tech IPOs, Klarna’s market debut could be a must-watch.

What it means: BNPL’s rising popularity is raising red flags about Americans’ spending habits. According to NerdWallet, it’s now the second-most used form of credit in the US. Many shoppers see short-term financing plans as an easier alternative to credit cards or personal loans — they typically don’t require a formal application and often don’t appear on credit reports. But experts warn that this convenience can come at a cost. Research shows that installment buying may encourage impulse purchases that exceed a consumer’s budget, potentially leading to debt problems. As for the broader economic impact, experts say it’s still too early to tell. 

Related: Tesla’s Recalling Most Cybertrucks Over a Sticky Situation (AP)

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Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco may have a wedding on the horizon, but first, an album. After dropping teasers, two singles, and a retro-style music video inspired by their first date, I Said I Love You First is out now. The collaborative 14-track project — which chronicles the singer and Grammy-nominated producer’s love story — features friends like Gracie Abrams, Finneas, and Julia Michaels (who Gomez previously worked with on 2020’s Rare). “It was such a cathartic and therapeutic experience,” Blanco said, describing the songwriting process with his fiancée. Sounds like wedding planning will be a breeze.

Game Time

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