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The Supreme Court ended its latest term with a bang. As expected, the justices blocked Donald Trump’s effort to overturn birthright citizenship, the long-standing constitutional guarantee that people born in the U.S. are citizens. But four Republican appointees dissented at least in part, which means the vote upholding birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds was really only 5–4—shockingly close for a case many legal observers considered a layup. Here’s more on the decision, and the court’s other final rulings.

Remind me: Why was Trump gunning for birthright citizenship in the first place?

Birthright citizenship comes from the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, in part, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” Trump’s effort to overturn it links back to his harsh immigration policies. On his first day back in office, the president issued an executive order saying that American-born babies whose parents lack permanent legal status aren’t automatically citizens. Restricting citizenship is so core to Trump’s political project that he even attended the SCOTUS arguments over it in person.

OK, but birthright citizenship looks to be clearly spelled out there. How did four justices manage not to see it?

Great question. Three conservatives—Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil........

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