Is this our last time setting our clocks back?

This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps readers understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. Happy Friday! Upcoming events include Halloween and the New York Marathon, along with the end of daylight saving time on Sunday at 2 am. The switch to standard time will return most of the United States to earlier sunrises and sunsets for the next four and a half months.

Advocates argue that more daylight in the evening provides leisure time and may positively impact crime rates and the economy. However, critics note that the US has previously tried permanent daylight saving time, which received mixed approval initially and caused issues for winter school commutes. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports permanent standard time, as it aligns better with our circadian rhythms.

Meanwhile, the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill to establish permanent daylight saving time, is currently stalled in the Senate after passing the House. Nineteen states have also proposed similar legislation, awaiting Congressional action. Ultimately, the decision to continue the current system of biannual time changes remains politically challenging, and we may have to persist with resetting clocks on Sunday morning.