Plan for Stranded Ships, Spirit Shuts Down & School Phone Ban Study - Monday, May 04, 2026 - The NewsWorthy

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Today is Monday, May 4th. What to know about President Trump's new operation to guide ships in the Strait of Hormuz and his reaction to Iran's latest peace proposal. Also, why the US Is pulling thousands of American troops from Germany and the sudden airline shutdown that's left thousands of people stranded around the country. Plus, new study results about the impact of school cell phone bans. What was different about the Kentucky Derby winner that made history? And which new movie kicked off the summer movie season with a big win? Those stories and even more news to know coming up. Welcome to the Newsworthy. All the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica. Mandy, thanks so much for being here. Let's do this. The US Is launching what it's dubbed Project Freedom in the Middle East. It's a military mission to guide stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz starting today. 2,000 ships and 20,000 seafarers haven't been able to leave the strait since the US And Israel first launched the conflict in Iran. Reports say many ships are now running low on water, food and other supplies. So Trump says the mission is a humanitarian gesture. It will involve 15,000American service members, as well as guided missile destroyers and aircraft. Remember, the Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping lane for oil and gas tankers as well as container ships. And it's been effectively blocked for weeks by Iranian attacks, an issue that's taken a huge toll on global markets. Now, at least one senior Iranian lawmaker says Project Freedom amounts to a violation of the ceasefire. But President Trump seemed to suggest a longer lasting solution could be on the horizon. Specifically, he said his representatives are having talks with Iran. That could be very positive. Iran made a 14 point proposal to end the war on Friday. Reports say it calls for the US Lifting sanctions on Iran, ending the naval blockade on Iranian ports, withdrawing forces from the region and ending all hostilities. But it doesn't address the nuclear issue at all, which has been a red line for the U.S. the Trump administration still says the main point of this whole war has been to make sure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. The US did apparently respond to Iran's latest proposal through Pakistani mediators. The details of that response haven't been made public. The US military decided to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany. President Trump first talked about doing so last week on social media after the German chancellor made an off script remark while speaking to a group of high schoolers. Specifically, he said the US Went into the Iran war without any strategy and had been humiliated by Iranian leaders. Obviously, Trump didn't take kindly to that, but the Pentagon didn't mention that in its drawdown announcement, only that the decision had to do with conditions on the ground and other requirements. To be clear, Germany still hosts several US Military facilities and US Nuclear missiles are stationed there. And really, the drawdown just reflects about 14% of the American service members stationed there. But Trump says many more cuts are coming, and the decision drew pushback from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, including the two GOP heads of the Armed Services committees. They say the move will only benefit Russian President Putin and weaken American security interests. NATO says it's now working with the US to better understand the details of this decision. To be continued. Spirit Airlines has gone out of business after 34 years. The airline, known for its low cost and bright yellow planes, once operated hundreds of flights a day and employed about 17,000. It had gone bankrupt twice already in the last couple of years, but the company said high oil prices were the final straw. All flights were immediately canceled and customer service is no longer available, so passengers have been showing up for flights only to be left stranded. Spirit is still refunding customers who bought tickets directly from them, and other big airlines like United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest are offering $200 one way flights to help out. Passengers just need to show their Spirit confirmation numbers and proof of purchase. The airlines are also giving Spirit employees preference in the job application process. The Trump administration actually considered a government bailout to keep Spirit from going under. In fact, President Trump last mentioned it on Friday night. But a deal was not reached and by Saturday morning, everything had shut down. It's a good time to celebrate a couple of different everyday heroes in our lives. For for starters, it's Teacher Appreciation Week. The National Parent Teacher association has deemed this year's theme Teachers Create Magic, and the PTA has an online toolkit with ideas on how to thank the teachers in your life, including a simple thank you note and we'll link to more ideas in our episode notes. Teachers can also take advantage of a ton of deals this week from places like Adidas, HelloFresh, Stitch Fix, Sonic and more. And an early heads up. This Wednesday kicks off National Nurses Week, dedicated to celebrating the contributions of healthcare workers across the country. Nursejournal.org says if you want to get a present for a nurse in your life, think about self care gifts or quality scrubs or at the very least a thank you. Nurses can also get discounts and freebies this week at Outback Steakhouse, Lululemon, Brooks Stanley Home chef and more. If the nurse or teacher in your life happens to be a Star wars fan, even better. It's May 4th today, also known unofficially as Star Wars Day. For years now, fans have been taking advantage of this date to say May the Fourth be with you. You know, sort of how Jedis say may the Force be with you in the movies. But it is much more than just a saying. Star wars fans now use this day to hold themed parties or host community events and gatherings. Others simply use it as a time to rewatch all the old movies and shows from the franchise. And there are plenty of deals on merchandise, food and other Star wars themed sales. We have much more news for you still ahead, but first, this episode of the Newsworthy is brought to you by Delete Me Deleteme makes it easy, quick and safe to remove your personal data online. At a time when surveillance and data breaches are common enough to make everyone vulnerable, DeleteMe does all the hard work of wiping you and your family's personal information from data broker websites. And DeleteMe is not just a one time service, it's always working for you, constantly monitoring and removing the personal information you don't want on the Internet. The New York Times Wirecutter has even named Deleteme their top pick for data removal services. As someone with a public job, I feel like I have to be extra careful and Delete Me absolutely gives me that peace of mind. But really, most of us have some sort of online presence these days. So take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for Deleteme now at a special discount for our listeners. Get 20% off your Delete Me plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com Newsworthy and use the promo code Newsworthy at checkout. The only way to get 20% off is to go to JoinDeleteMe.com newsworthy and and enter the code newsworthy at checkout. That's JoinDeleteMe.com newsworthy code newsworthy now back to the news. A new study found mixed results when it comes to school cell phone bans across the country. Researchers at Stanford, Duke, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan just completed a landmark wide scale study evaluating more than 40,000 schools between 2019 and this year. They compared schools that actually locked up students phones with those that had less restrictive policies and they found the most restrictive schools did see a meaningful decline in students using their cell phones. So kids weren't widely able to get around the bans. But average test scores did not go up and neither did attendance. And at first the bans just led to more kids getting suspended, and it did not seem to do anything for online bullying. Still, researchers found some major upsides, too. Teachers reported fewer noticeable distractions in class, and over time, students in the schools with the strictest bans reported a greater sense of personal well being. So overall, one of the study authors called the research encouraging and said there might just be an adjustment period. And while it wasn't in the study, one Missouri school administrator told the New York Times he's noticed a major students talking to each other more at lunchtime. The idea of cell phone bans has already attracted rare bipartisan support. In fact, over the past three years, two thirds of states have passed laws restricting cell phones in schools, and even more are considering doing the same. If you want to hear more on the Phones in School debate, check out our Special Edition Saturday episode from back in August. We'll link to it in today's Episode notes on thenewsworthy.com Remember how the so called Big Beautiful Bill act included Medicaid work requirements? Well over the weekend, Nebraska became the first state in the country to actually impose them. Medicaid is the government health insurance program specifically for low income and disabled people, and the new rules say anyone aged 19 to 64 who's insured by Medicaid needs to work at least 80 hours a month or take part in other approved activities like school or volunteering. But there are exemptions for certain groups, like parents or guardians of kids younger than 14 and people with disabilities. Right away, tens of thousands of people in Nebraska are expected to lose coverage, and the Congressional Budget Office says nationwide about 5.2 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage by 2034, nearly that many people are expected to become uninsured. Republicans who supported the rule changes say they want to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Opponents say the vast majority of Medicaid recipients are working already, but they worry about people losing coverage because they might have trouble actually proving it, especially if they have multiple jobs, do gig work or don't speak English well. Either way, all 42 states that even partly expanded Medicaid under the Affordable care Act in 2010 are now expected to comply by next year. The legal fight over abortion pills is heading to the U.S. supreme Court. We're talking about mifepristone that's been approved for about 25 years, as well as a generic version of it. Both are approved for women to take during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy to end it. It's also used for miscarriage care. But a federal appeals court froze the rules that let the drugs be prescribed via telehealth and mailed to people around the country. It cited an ongoing safety review the Trump administration is doing. Now. The freeze lasts as long as that review does and it's supposed to take effect immediately. But some states have so called shield laws to protect providers who prescribe pills on telehealth and mail them to states with bans. So there's a lot of confusion for doctors and pharmacists right now, and the pill's manufacturers filed an emergency request for the high court to take up the case. Now Supreme Court justices could act anytime History was made at America's most celebrated horse race. Golden Tempo won this year's Kentucky Derby despite the fact that he wasn't considered a serious contender, and the horse's trainer, Cherie devoe, became the first woman to ever claim victory. In her post race interview, she said she was happy to represent women everywhere. Normally, the Derby winning horse would start training for the next leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes coming up in two weeks. But DeVoe hasn't committed to entering Golden Tempo in Prignus just yet. She says she's going to let the horse decide. This past weekend marked the start of Hollywood's summer movie season, and this year it kicked off in style. The Devil Wears Prada 2 topped the box office by earning $77 million in the US and Canada. Pretty good considering the first one opened to just 27 million. Of course, since then it's become a part of culture for its stars, its quotable lines and of course, the fashion. Speaking of which, some of the world's biggest real fashion icons are getting ready for what's known as the Oscars of the East Coast. We're talking about the world famous Met Gala. As always, it's going to be raising money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, but more people know about the event because of the iconic designs worn on the red carpet. The guest list typically includes celebrities, designers, philanthropists, athletes and so on. In fact, this year's Met Gala co chairs are Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. Bezos also spent $10 million to sponsor the gala. This year's theme is costume art and the dress code is Fashion is art. Of course, how the guests interpret that is anyone's guess. That's it for the Maine news. So now it's time for Money Monday when we talk about one interesting Money related news story but first, thanks to our sponsor Quints, I've been trying to be more intentional about what new clothes I buy and what I'm wearing day to day so my closet doesn't get overloaded and my decision fatigue doesn't start too early in the day. As a busy mom who also wants to feel and look my best, I'm leaning into pieces that feel effortless and comfortable yet still put together. And Quince has everything I need without needing to overthink it. I love that Quince uses premium materials like 100% European linen, organic cotton and ultra soft denim. I just ordered a new pair of jeans and a white linen shirt I'm so excited about and yet it's such a reasonable price. Their lightweight linen pants, dresses and tops start at $30 and are breathable and easy to wear on repeat. Everything at Quint is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands because they work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen so you're not paying for the brand markup. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.comnewsworthy for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U I n c e.com Newsworthy for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com Newsworthy now back to Money Monday. If you're in the market for a new vehicle, you may want to start shopping asap. President Trump announced a new round of tariffs that could soon lead to higher car and truck prices. He says tariffs on vehicles imported from the European Union will go from 15% to to 25%. Trump blamed the EU, saying the bloc of countries hasn't been complying with its trade deal with the US he didn't go into specifics, but the European lawmakers are still in the process of passing legislation to actually implement their side of the deal, and automakers usually pass these costs onto buyers. So European cars like BMWs, Audis and Porsches are expected to become more expensive by several thousand dollars per vehicle. Even non European cars could end up getting pricier because less competition typically lets all brands raise costs. And there's also a chance the EU imposes retaliatory tariffs, making other imports more expensive for Americans. But Trump says it's all worth it since this move will motivate more automakers to move production to the US since vehicles made here will be exempt from new tariffs. Stay tuned. Well, thank you so much for joining us today. We'll be back with even more news to know tomorrow. For now, have a great day.

Summary5 min read

The NewsWorthy Podcast Episode Summary
Host: Erica Mandy
Episode: Plan for Stranded Ships, Spirit Shuts Down & School Phone Ban Study - Monday, May 4, 2026
Date: May 4, 2026

Episode Overview

In under 15 minutes, Erica Mandy covers the day’s top stories spanning global politics, breaking business news, major social studies, and pop culture. Key themes include the U.S. military’s new operation in the Middle East, the shutdown of Spirit Airlines, a new landmark study on school cell phone bans, the introduction of Medicaid work requirements in Nebraska, and big cultural moments from the Kentucky Derby to the Met Gala.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Launches 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz

(00:41) The United States initiates a large-scale military operation to guide 2,000 stranded ships and 20,000 seafarers out of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane blockaded by Iranian forces for weeks, impacting global markets.
- “Trump says the mission is a humanitarian gesture. It will involve 15,000 American service members, as well as guided missile destroyers and aircraft.” (01:09)
Iran labels this operation a "violation of the ceasefire," yet ongoing U.S.-Iran talks are noted as “very positive.”
Iran’s 14-point peace proposal: Lifts sanctions, ends the blockade, withdraws U.S. forces, but omits the nuclear issue—a nonstarter for the Trump administration.
The U.S. response, via Pakistani mediators, remains undisclosed.
- Notable Quote: “The Trump administration still says the main point of this whole war has been to make sure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.” (02:10)

2. U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Germany

(02:25) 5,000 American troops to be withdrawn from Germany, roughly 14% of the total stationed there.
The move follows German Chancellor’s criticism of U.S. strategy in Iran; however, the Pentagon denies it is related.
The bipartisan pushback in Congress warns it could weaken U.S. and NATO security, benefitting Russia.
- “They say the move will only benefit Russian President Putin and weaken American security interests.” (03:05)

3. Spirit Airlines Shuts Down

(03:25) Spirit Airlines ceases operations after 34 years due to high oil prices, stranding thousands nationwide.
Immediate flight cancellations, job losses for 17,000 employees, and limited refunds offered.
Major airlines provide $200 one-way tickets to help stranded customers and job application preference for Spirit workers.
- “Passengers just need to show their Spirit confirmation numbers and proof of purchase.” (04:01)
Despite talk of a bailout, the Trump administration and Spirit couldn’t finalize a deal.

4. Appreciation Weeks: Teachers & Nurses

(04:42) It's Teacher Appreciation Week (“Teachers Create Magic”) and upcoming National Nurses Week.
Both groups are acknowledged with discounts and gifts—especially notable for Star Wars fans ("May the 4th be with you!").
- Memorable moment: “If the nurse or teacher in your life happens to be a Star Wars fan, even better. It's May 4th today, also known unofficially as Star Wars Day.” (05:39)

5. Landmark Study on School Cell Phone Bans

(07:20) Researchers evaluated over 40,000 schools between 2019-2026 on the impact of strict cell phone bans.
- Strict bans decreased phone use and classroom distractions, and improved student well-being over time.
- However, no improvement in test scores, attendance, or bullying rates; bans initially caused increased suspensions.
- “One of the study authors called the research encouraging and said there might just be an adjustment period.” (08:12)
Noteworthy: Two-thirds of U.S. states have enacted or are considering bans, receiving rare bipartisan support.
- Memorable quote (school administrator): “He’s noticed major students talking to each other more at lunchtime.” (08:45)

6. Nebraska Imposes Medicaid Work Requirements

(09:00) First state to require Medicaid recipients (ages 19-64) to work 80 hours/month or do approved activities.
Immediate loss of coverage expected for tens of thousands; projected 5.2 million could lose Medicaid nationwide by 2034.
Supporters seek to “reduce waste, fraud and abuse,” while critics worry about administrative burdens on the working poor.

7. Abortion Pill Legal Fight Heads to Supreme Court

(09:50) Mifepristone (approved for 25 years) faces new restrictions: no telehealth prescriptions or mail delivery during an ongoing Trump administration safety review.
Some states employ "shield laws"; the Supreme Court's decision could have nationwide impact.

8. Kentucky Derby & Cultural Headlines

(10:33) Kentucky Derby win for underdog Golden Tempo, making Cherie DeVoe the first female trainer to claim victory.
- “She says she's going to let the horse decide” on racing the next leg of the Triple Crown. (11:06)
Box office: "The Devil Wears Prada 2" launches summer movie season, topping with $77 million—nearly triple the original’s opening.
Met Gala: High-profile co-chairs (Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, Anna Wintour, Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez); theme: "Fashion is art."
Jeff Bezos spends $10 million sponsoring the gala.

9. Money Monday: Car Tariffs Incoming

(14:10) President Trump announces tariffs on EU vehicle imports rising from 15% to 25%, citing the EU’s noncompliance with trade agreements.
Buyers can expect several-thousand-dollar increases on European vehicles like BMW and Porsche; other car prices may also rise due to less competition.
Potential for EU retaliatory tariffs, further impacting American consumers.
- “Trump says it's all worth it since this move will motivate more automakers to move production to the US.” (14:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Project Freedom:
“Trump says the mission is a humanitarian gesture.” (01:09)
On Spirit Airlines:
“Passengers have been showing up for flights only to be left stranded.” (03:44)
On Cell Phone Bans in Schools:
“Teachers reported fewer noticeable distractions in class, and over time, students... reported a greater sense of personal well being." (08:02)
On Medicaid Work Requirements:
“Republicans who supported the rule changes say they want to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Opponents say the vast majority of Medicaid recipients are working already, but they worry about people losing coverage because they might have trouble actually proving it.” (09:38)
On Kentucky Derby History:
“Cherie devoe became the first woman to ever claim victory.” (10:53)
On the Met Gala:
“This year's Met Gala co chairs are Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. Bezos also spent $10 million to sponsor the gala.” (11:44)

Important Timestamps

Project Freedom Stranded Ships: 00:41 – 03:25
U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Germany: 02:25 – 03:25
Spirit Airlines Shutdown: 03:25 – 04:42
Teacher & Nurses Appreciation / Star Wars Day: 04:42 – 06:21
School Cell Phone Ban Study: 07:20 – 09:00
Nebraska’s Medicaid Work Rules: 09:00 – 09:50
Abortion Pill Supreme Court Case: 09:50 – 10:33
Kentucky Derby & Pop Culture Headlines: 10:33 – 12:51
Money Monday (EU Car Tariffs): 14:10 – 15:15

Conclusion

This episode of The NewsWorthy delivers a rapid-fire but comprehensive sweep of major issues: U.S. foreign policy moves, consumer-impacting corporate closures, education and healthcare reforms, plus uplifting stories and pop culture milestones. Erica Mandy’s balanced, conversational delivery makes complex news accessible and engaging for listeners seeking a fast yet thorough daily update.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
Today is Monday, May 4th. What to know about President Trump's new operation to guide ships in the Strait of Hormuz and his reaction to Iran's latest peace proposal. Also, why the US Is pulling thousands of American troops from Germany and the sudden airline shutdown that's left thousands of people stranded around the country. Plus, new study results about the impact of school cell phone bans. What was different about the Kentucky Derby winner that made history? And which new movie kicked off the summer movie season with a big win? Those stories and even more news to know coming up. Welcome to the Newsworthy. All the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica. Mandy, thanks so much for being here. Let's do this. The US Is launching what it's dubbed Project Freedom in the Middle East. It's a military mission to guide stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz starting today. 2,000 ships and 20,000 seafarers haven't been able to leave the strait since the US And Israel first launched the conflict in Iran. Reports say many ships are now running low on water, food and other supplies. So Trump says the mission is a humanitarian gesture. It will involve 15,000American service members, as well as guided missile destroyers and aircraft. Remember, the Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping lane for oil and gas tankers as well as container ships. And it's been effectively blocked for weeks by Iranian attacks, an issue that's taken a huge toll on global markets. Now, at least one senior Iranian lawmaker says Project Freedom amounts to a violation of the ceasefire. But President Trump seemed to suggest a longer lasting solution could be on the horizon. Specifically, he said his representatives are having talks with Iran. That could be very positive. Iran made a 14 point proposal to end the war on Friday. Reports say it calls for the US Lifting sanctions on Iran, ending the naval blockade on Iranian ports, withdrawing forces from the region and ending all hostilities. But it doesn't address the nuclear issue at all, which has been a red line for the U.S. the Trump administration still says the main point of this whole war has been to make sure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. The US did apparently respond to Iran's latest proposal through Pakistani mediators. The details of that response haven't been made public. The US military decided to withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany. President Trump first talked about doing so last week on social media after the German chancellor made an off script remark while speaking to a group of high schoolers. Specifically, he said the US Went into the Iran war without any strategy and had been humiliated by Iranian leaders. Obviously, Trump didn't take kindly to that, but the Pentagon didn't mention that in its drawdown announcement, only that the decision had to do with conditions on the ground and other requirements. To be clear, Germany still hosts several US Military facilities and US Nuclear missiles are stationed there. And really, the drawdown just reflects about 14% of the American service members stationed there. But Trump says many more cuts are coming, and the decision drew pushback from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, including the two GOP heads of the Armed Services committees. They say the move will only benefit Russian President Putin and weaken American security interests. NATO says it's now working with the US to better understand the details of this decision. To be continued. Spirit Airlines has gone out of business after 34 years. The airline, known for its low cost and bright yellow planes, once operated hundreds of flights a day and employed about 17,000. It had gone bankrupt twice already in the last couple of years, but the company said high oil prices were the final straw. All flights were immediately canceled and customer service is no longer available, so passengers have been showing up for flights only to be left stranded. Spirit is still refunding customers who bought tickets directly from them, and other big airlines like United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest are offering $200 one way flights to help out. Passengers just need to show their Spirit confirmation numbers and proof of purchase. The airlines are also giving Spirit employees preference in the job application process. The Trump administration actually considered a government bailout to keep Spirit from going under. In fact, President Trump last mentioned it on Friday night. But a deal was not reached and by Saturday morning, everything had shut down. It's a good time to celebrate a couple of different everyday heroes in our lives. For for starters, it's Teacher Appreciation Week. The National Parent Teacher association has deemed this year's theme Teachers Create Magic, and the PTA has an online toolkit with ideas on how to thank the teachers in your life, including a simple thank you note and we'll link to more ideas in our episode notes. Teachers can also take advantage of a ton of deals this week from places like Adidas, HelloFresh, Stitch Fix, Sonic and more. And an early heads up. This Wednesday kicks off National Nurses Week, dedicated to celebrating the contributions of healthcare workers across the country. Nursejournal.org says if you want to get a present for a nurse in your life, think about self care gifts or quality scrubs or at the very least a thank you. Nurses can also get discounts and freebies this week at Outback Steakhouse, Lululemon, Brooks Stanley Home chef and more. If the nurse or teacher in your life happens to be a Star wars fan, even better. It's May 4th today, also known unofficially as Star Wars Day. For years now, fans have been taking advantage of this date to say May the Fourth be with you. You know, sort of how Jedis say may the Force be with you in the movies. But it is much more than just a saying. Star wars fans now use this day to hold themed parties or host community events and gatherings. Others simply use it as a time to rewatch all the old movies and shows from the franchise. And there are plenty of deals on merchandise, food and other Star wars themed sales. We have much more news for you still ahead, but first, this episode of the Newsworthy is brought to you by Delete Me Deleteme makes it easy, quick and safe to remove your personal data online. At a time when surveillance and data breaches are common enough to make everyone vulnerable, DeleteMe does all the hard work of wiping you and your family's personal information from data broker websites. And DeleteMe is not just a one time service, it's always working for you, constantly monitoring and removing the personal information you don't want on the Internet. The New York Times Wirecutter has even named Deleteme their top pick for data removal services. As someone with a public job, I feel like I have to be extra careful and Delete Me absolutely gives me that peace of mind. But really, most of us have some sort of online presence these days. So take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for Deleteme now at a special discount for our listeners. Get 20% off your Delete Me plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com Newsworthy and use the promo code Newsworthy at checkout. The only way to get 20% off is to go to JoinDeleteMe.com newsworthy and and enter the code newsworthy at checkout. That's JoinDeleteMe.com newsworthy code newsworthy now back to the news. A new study found mixed results when it comes to school cell phone bans across the country. Researchers at Stanford, Duke, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan just completed a landmark wide scale study evaluating more than 40,000 schools between 2019 and this year. They compared schools that actually locked up students phones with those that had less restrictive policies and they found the most restrictive schools did see a meaningful decline in students using their cell phones. So kids weren't widely able to get around the bans. But average test scores did not go up and neither did attendance. And at first the bans just led to more kids getting suspended, and it did not seem to do anything for online bullying. Still, researchers found some major upsides, too. Teachers reported fewer noticeable distractions in class, and over time, students in the schools with the strictest bans reported a greater sense of personal well being. So overall, one of the study authors called the research encouraging and said there might just be an adjustment period. And while it wasn't in the study, one Missouri school administrator told the New York Times he's noticed a major students talking to each other more at lunchtime. The idea of cell phone bans has already attracted rare bipartisan support. In fact, over the past three years, two thirds of states have passed laws restricting cell phones in schools, and even more are considering doing the same. If you want to hear more on the Phones in School debate, check out our Special Edition Saturday episode from back in August. We'll link to it in today's Episode notes on thenewsworthy.com Remember how the so called Big Beautiful Bill act included Medicaid work requirements? Well over the weekend, Nebraska became the first state in the country to actually impose them. Medicaid is the government health insurance program specifically for low income and disabled people, and the new rules say anyone aged 19 to 64 who's insured by Medicaid needs to work at least 80 hours a month or take part in other approved activities like school or volunteering. But there are exemptions for certain groups, like parents or guardians of kids younger than 14 and people with disabilities. Right away, tens of thousands of people in Nebraska are expected to lose coverage, and the Congressional Budget Office says nationwide about 5.2 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage by 2034, nearly that many people are expected to become uninsured. Republicans who supported the rule changes say they want to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Opponents say the vast majority of Medicaid recipients are working already, but they worry about people losing coverage because they might have trouble actually proving it, especially if they have multiple jobs, do gig work or don't speak English well. Either way, all 42 states that even partly expanded Medicaid under the Affordable care Act in 2010 are now expected to comply by next year. The legal fight over abortion pills is heading to the U.S. supreme Court. We're talking about mifepristone that's been approved for about 25 years, as well as a generic version of it. Both are approved for women to take during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy to end it. It's also used for miscarriage care. But a federal appeals court froze the rules that let the drugs be prescribed via telehealth and mailed to people around the country. It cited an ongoing safety review the Trump administration is doing. Now. The freeze lasts as long as that review does and it's supposed to take effect immediately. But some states have so called shield laws to protect providers who prescribe pills on telehealth and mail them to states with bans. So there's a lot of confusion for doctors and pharmacists right now, and the pill's manufacturers filed an emergency request for the high court to take up the case. Now Supreme Court justices could act anytime History was made at America's most celebrated horse race. Golden Tempo won this year's Kentucky Derby despite the fact that he wasn't considered a serious contender, and the horse's trainer, Cherie devoe, became the first woman to ever claim victory. In her post race interview, she said she was happy to represent women everywhere. Normally, the Derby winning horse would start training for the next leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes coming up in two weeks. But DeVoe hasn't committed to entering Golden Tempo in Prignus just yet. She says she's going to let the horse decide. This past weekend marked the start of Hollywood's summer movie season, and this year it kicked off in style. The Devil Wears Prada 2 topped the box office by earning $77 million in the US and Canada. Pretty good considering the first one opened to just 27 million. Of course, since then it's become a part of culture for its stars, its quotable lines and of course, the fashion. Speaking of which, some of the world's biggest real fashion icons are getting ready for what's known as the Oscars of the East Coast. We're talking about the world famous Met Gala. As always, it's going to be raising money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, but more people know about the event because of the iconic designs worn on the red carpet. The guest list typically includes celebrities, designers, philanthropists, athletes and so on. In fact, this year's Met Gala co chairs are Beyonce, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and Anna Wintour, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. Bezos also spent $10 million to sponsor the gala. This year's theme is costume art and the dress code is Fashion is art. Of course, how the guests interpret that is anyone's guess. That's it for the Maine news. So now it's time for Money Monday when we talk about one interesting Money related news story but first, thanks to our sponsor Quints, I've been trying to be more intentional about what new clothes I buy and what I'm wearing day to day so my closet doesn't get overloaded and my decision fatigue doesn't start too early in the day. As a busy mom who also wants to feel and look my best, I'm leaning into pieces that feel effortless and comfortable yet still put together. And Quince has everything I need without needing to overthink it. I love that Quince uses premium materials like 100% European linen, organic cotton and ultra soft denim. I just ordered a new pair of jeans and a white linen shirt I'm so excited about and yet it's such a reasonable price. Their lightweight linen pants, dresses and tops start at $30 and are breathable and easy to wear on repeat. Everything at Quint is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands because they work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen so you're not paying for the brand markup. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to quince.comnewsworthy for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q U I n c e.com Newsworthy for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com Newsworthy now back to Money Monday. If you're in the market for a new vehicle, you may want to start shopping asap. President Trump announced a new round of tariffs that could soon lead to higher car and truck prices. He says tariffs on vehicles imported from the European Union will go from 15% to to 25%. Trump blamed the EU, saying the bloc of countries hasn't been complying with its trade deal with the US he didn't go into specifics, but the European lawmakers are still in the process of passing legislation to actually implement their side of the deal, and automakers usually pass these costs onto buyers. So European cars like BMWs, Audis and Porsches are expected to become more expensive by several thousand dollars per vehicle. Even non European cars could end up getting pricier because less competition typically lets all brands raise costs. And there's also a chance the EU imposes retaliatory tariffs, making other imports more expensive for Americans. But Trump says it's all worth it since this move will motivate more automakers to move production to the US since vehicles made here will be exempt from new tariffs. Stay tuned. Well, thank you so much for joining us today. We'll be back with even more news to know tomorrow. For now, have a great day.