This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

I COACHELLA COSTS SPARK PAYMENT PLAN SURGE

Nearly 60% of Coachella festivalgoers used a buy now, pay later (BNPL) plan this year, up from 18% when the option was first introduced in 2009, reflecting a growing trend towards financing entertainment purchases. Weekend one tickets started at $649, not including hotel or shuttle costs, compared to $429 in 2020, and $50 at the festival’s debut in 1999. BNPL spending has increased about 20% since 2021, reaching an estimated $70 billion in 2025, though that’s still only about 1.1% of credit card spending. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that about 62% of BNPL users take out multiple loans simultaneously. 

>> Find out more about how the rise of BNPL plans here.  

I WISCONSIN APPROVES SPORTS BETTING

Online sports betting is now legal in Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers (D) signed a bill to legalize online sports betting in the state as long as bets are made on servers located on lands belonging to one of the 11 federally recognized native tribes in the state. Overall, 39 states and Washington, D.C. allow some form of legalized sports betting. Of those 39, 30 offer sports betting within smartphone apps or websites. 

>> Dig deeper into the different ways state governments are handling sports betting here. 

 I CONGRESS TO VOTE ON RESTRICTING TRUMP IN IRAN

The Senate will vote this week on a war powers resolution aimed at constraining President Donald Trump’s actions in Iran. The vote comes after a failed attempt by Democrats in the House to pass a similar resolution last Thursday and ahead of an April 29 deadline under the War Powers resolution of 1973, which requires the president to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities within 60 days without congressional authorization. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Pakistan over the weekend for talks with Iranian officials as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz grow despite a two-week ceasefire agreement. The talks ended without reaching an agreement, prompting President Trump to order the U.S. Navy to begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz.

>> Find out everything you need to know about presidential war powers here. 

I JUDGE RULES AGAINST PENTAGON IN PRESS DISPUTE, AGAIN

The Pentagon is violating a court order requiring it to restore access to credentialed reporters, a federal judge ruled last week. Judge Paul Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had previously found a Pentagon policy restricting certain journalistic activities unconstitutional. The New York Times argued that the updated policy, which bars credentialed reporters from entering the building without an escort and limits when anonymity can be granted to sources, was an attempt to circumvent the prior order. In his ruling, Judge Friedman wrote, "The Department cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking 'new' action and expect the Court to look the other way," calling the policy a "blatant attempt to circumvent a lawful order of the Court." 

>> Understand Constitutional press freedoms here. 

I DON’T FORGET, WEDNESDAY IS TAX DAY

Income tax returns are due this Wednesday, April 15. This is the first round of taxes after President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” passed last year, which included tax reforms like an increase in how much people can deduct for paying state and local taxes, deductions for interest on loans for certain new cars, a modification to the different income tax brackets, and changes to what businesses can deduct. 

>> Check out the new income tax brackets here.

Can you guess how the price of pantry staples has changed over the years? See how much Gen-Z thinks these common items cost.

Stay ahead of the stories driving national conversations