5 things to know for April 1: Artemis II mission, Birthright citizenship, Iran war, White House ballroom, Tiger Woods’ crash

Happy April Fools’ Day, readers. For the next several hours, your trust should be a bit more … negotiable. Stay sharp out there, and consider this your invitation to stir up a little harmless mischief of your own.

Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.

1️⃣ Artemis II mission

NASA appears to be on the cusp of sending a crew to the moon for the first time since the 1970s. The current target for Artemis II’s liftoff is a two-hour launch window that opens at 6:24 p.m. ET today. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will board the Orion spacecraft atop the Space Launch System rocket and accelerate to space from zero to 500 miles per hour in just two seconds. A few hours later, Orion will separate from the rocket, giving the crew a chance to pilot the spacecraft manually. During the 10-day mission, the astronauts will loop around the moon — but they won’t touch down on the lunar surface. Here’s why the landing will have to wait.

2️⃣ Birthright citizenship

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today on President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end automatic birthright citizenship — the constitutional guarantee that anyone born in the US is a citizen. The case comes more than a year after Trump signed the order. He has since repeatedly argued that the right was originally intended for the babies of slaves after the Civil War and should no longer apply. Political experts say this case will not be easy to win — a ruling for Trump would upend a long-standing tenet of constitutional law and have significant implications for US citizens, who could face new hurdles in documenting newborns.

3️⃣ Iran war

The White House says President Trump has an “important update” on the war with Iran and will address the nation tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Trump has said he foresees a conclusion to the war within two to three weeks and has emphasized that a deal could potentially be reached sooner. Iran, however, is prepared for “at least six months” of war, the country’s foreign minister said in an interview Tuesday. The minister also said Tehran is not in direct negotiations with Washington, pushing back on Trump’s claims that the US is in “serious discussions” with a “new, and more reasonable regime” in Iran.

4️⃣ White House ballroom

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that President Trump’s White House ballroom construction “has to stop,” temporarily halting the $400 million project. “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” Judge Richard Leon wrote. Leon, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, paused his ruling for two weeks to give the government time to appeal — a step the Trump administration said it would take immediately. Trump has argued that the project isn’t subject to oversight and that he should be able to proceed without any serious scrutiny. He has promised it will be complete in the summer of 2028, months before he leaves office.

5️⃣ Tiger Woods’ crash

Golf legend Tiger Woods says he is stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment following a rollover car crash in Florida late last week. The statement came hours after he pleaded not guilty Tuesday to DUI charges related to the incident near his home in Jupiter Island. Woods has been involved in four vehicle incidents since 2009. He was arrested once before for DUI but faced limited consequences. In his statement, Woods said he’s committed to healing, but his legal future after the latest crash is less certain, especially because of his alleged refusal to submit to a urine test.

Breakfast browse

Apple’s 50th anniversary

Apple today is celebrating 50 years since its founding. Its most iconic product surprised even the engineers who built it.

Gen Z’s love for retro watches has little to do with keeping time

Wristwatches are ticking back into style with the under-30 crowd. Just don’t ask them to tell the time.

This small city has the world’s worst air

Breathing is an act of endurance for 700,000 residents in this small city.

American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Baghdad

The US government is tracking her kidnapping and working with the Iraqis to secure her release.

Latin America’s generational shift

Birth rates in Latin America are falling at an unprecedented pace, ushering in a new era in which motherhood is no longer a presumed role.

And finally…

▶️ CNN Producer beats 1 in 2 billion odds of nailing final four bracket

A CNN booking producer just beat the odds to nail down the NCAA’s Final Four bracket. CNN’s Erin Burnett and Harry Enten talk about how rare this is, especially this year.

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