Today's Legal Pulse
Biden sues DOJ to block release of interview audio
President Biden filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from publishing an audio interview, arguing the release would be improper. The action has sparked political commentary, including remarks from former President Trump.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader clear final merger hurdles
White House Plan To Bail Out Spirit Airlines Is Illegal
The White House is preparing to purchase 90% of Spirit Airlines for roughly $500 million, using the Defense Production Act (DPA) as the legal justification. The plan involves a loan that would place the Treasury as the senior creditor in Spirit’s bankruptcy and issue warrants that could later convert to majority ownership. Critics argue the DPA does not apply because Spirit’s narrow‑body fleet does not meet military transport needs and private financing is still available. If approved, the bailout could set a precedent for executive‑only bailouts without congressional approval.
Soldier's Arrest over Polymarket Bet on Maduro Raid Fuels Insider Trading Concerns
A U.S. Special Forces soldier who helped plan the January raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was indicted for allegedly using classified details to place bets on the prediction‑market platform Polymarket. The indictment alleges he netted more than $400,000 from...
Colorado Mask-Prohibition Proposal Hits Snag After California ‘Vigilante’ Ruling
Durango, Colorado, is asking a state court to decide if a citizen‑driven petition to ban police officers from wearing masks can appear on the ballot. The No Secret Police Citizens Initiative, formed by about 60 residents, submitted the proposal after...
Nearly One-Third of Faculty in Red States Say They've Censored Their Research
A new Ithaka S+R survey of 4,000 U.S. faculty finds that nearly one‑third of researchers in states with “divisive concepts” legislation have altered or censored their work. Twenty‑nine percent reported self‑censorship, and 10 percent are actively seeking jobs elsewhere. The...
GCI Defends Employment Policies to FCC Critical of DEI
GCI Communication Corp. filed a response with the FCC asserting that it no longer runs formal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, after reassessing its policies in early 2025. The filing comes amid heightened scrutiny from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr,...
How Poland’s Business Investor Visa Quietly Opens a Back Door to EU Residency
Poland’s Business Investor Visa offers a residency route that hinges on establishing or investing in a Polish company that meets income or employment thresholds, rather than paying a fixed fee. Applicants must generate roughly €13,000‑€15,000 (about $14,000‑$16,500) annually or employ...
‘Glassdoor for Judges’ Celebrates Its Second Birthday
The Legal Accountability Project (LAP) marked the second anniversary of its Clerkships Database, a crowdsourced platform often dubbed the "Glassdoor for Judges." The database now hosts over 2,000 anonymous clerkship reviews covering more than 1,200 federal and state judges, making...
CMS Proposes Electronic Prior Authorization for Drugs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule to extend electronic prior authorization (e‑PA) to pharmaceuticals covered under both medical and pharmacy benefits. The rule mandates the use of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) APIs...
CFTC Sues New York Gaming Regulators over Prediction Markets Crackdown
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a civil lawsuit against New York, challenging the state’s crackdown on online prediction markets such as Kalshi and Coinbase. The CFTC argues that the Commodity Exchange Act gives it exclusive jurisdiction over futures, swaps...
Attorneys Often Clog eFiling Systems With Unnecessary Filings
The article warns that many attorneys are abusing electronic filing (e‑filing) platforms by submitting documents that do not require court involvement, such as letters to opposing counsel, routine discovery responses, and redundant affirmations of service. These superfluous filings clog dockets,...
Daily Bulletin...
The Department of Justice has closed its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, removing a major political hurdle for a leadership transition at the central bank. Analysts now view former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as the front‑runner to succeed...
Federal Action Needed to Mirror Colorado’s Cannabis Reform
It’s time for the federal government to catch up to states like Colorado on safe, regulated cannabis. Expanding research and reducing barriers moves policy in a more rational direction and improves public safety. There’s more to do, but this is...
Trump’s Own Judge Just Sided Against His Asylum Crackdown—White House Blames ‘Political Lens’
A three‑judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked President Trump’s executive order that suspended asylum access at the southern border, ruling that the Immigration and Nationality Act guarantees a right to apply for asylum that the president...
The ‘Lasting Damage’ of Pirro’s Investigation of the Federal Reserve and Powell
The Justice Department’s criminal probe of the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell has been closed without any charges, ending a months‑long political showdown. The investigation began after President Trump’s surprise visit to the Fed’s Washington headquarters and his criticism...
Firing Squads Are Back: Trump’s DOJ Revives Rarely Used Execution Method Once Limited to Five States
The Justice Department announced it will add firing squads to the roster of federally authorized execution methods and re‑authorize the single‑drug pentobarbital lethal injection protocol first used during the Trump administration. The policy shift follows a Biden‑era moratorium and comes...
Judge Torres' Decision Could Trigger Nationwide Disgorgement
USA v. New York Likely will be assigned to Judge Analisa Torres, who suddenly becomes the most important judge in the US hearing a PM case. If she denies Kalshi’s PI motion, the New York AG will be free to pursue nationwide...
Amazon Leo Routers Exempt From FCC Ban
The FCC granted a conditional exemption to Amazon subsidiary Eero, allowing its routers for the Amazon Leo satellite broadband service to bypass the agency’s ban on foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers. The exemption, the third of its kind after Adtran and Netgear,...
How the Supreme Court Should Respond to Trump’s Fed Probe Surrender
The Justice Department dropped its criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after a federal judge ruled the investigation was a pretext to pressure the Fed on interest rates. The case underscores a broader clash between President Donald Trump...
WGA Members Ratify New 4-Year Deal with Film and TV Studios
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) ratified a four‑year contract effective May 2, 2026 through May 1, 2030, with over 90 percent of voting members in favor. Studios will contribute $280 million to the guild’s health...
Justice Department’s SPLC Indictment Just Got Dumber, Which Seemed Impossible
The Justice Department announced an 11‑count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, accusing it of bank fraud for using shell‑company accounts to protect informants. Legal analysts flagged a critical flaw: the indictment omits the required intent element under 18 U.S.C. §1014,...
The Passenger Who Disappears From the System: How Missing Trip Data Changes Rideshare Injury Claims in New York
Rideshare accident claims in New York are increasingly complicated by gaps in app‑generated trip data. Small delays or glitches can cause the system to misrecord a passenger’s presence, leaving insurers to question whether coverage applies. Lawyers must therefore reconstruct the...
Lawsuit Aims to Reverse New York's Decade-Old Fracking Ban
A coalition of oil and gas companies has filed a lawsuit in Albany seeking to overturn New York's 2014 ban on hydraulic fracturing. The plaintiffs argue the ban infringes on constitutional property rights and stifles economic development. State officials maintain...
Litigation Trends to Watch: FTC Unleashes Wave of Consumer and Antitrust Actions. Plus, Pacific Trial Attorneys Advocates for Consumers in...
The FTC is rolling out a new rule to clarify joint‑employer status as part of a broader wave of consumer and antitrust actions, signaling heightened scrutiny of staffing, outsourcing, and franchise arrangements. At the same time, Palantir tied its chief...
US Tribe Holds up Magnesium Project in Canada
West High Yield Resources' Record Ridge magnesium mine in British Columbia remains stalled after the BC Court of Appeal upheld a temporary injunction pending judicial review of its environmental permits. The injunction, driven by the Sinixt Confederacy’s demand for formal...
Will Polymarket Refund Users After Soldier’s Insider Trading Arrest?
Polymarket and rival Kalshi disclosed multiple insider‑trading incidents, the most notable involving U.S. special‑forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who allegedly earned about $400,000 by betting $33,000 on Venezuelan‑related events. Both platforms said they are cooperating with regulators but have...
First‑Time Founders Need Legal Guidance—Watch My Startup Channel
What I hear from first time founders: I don’t know what I don’t know Most founders want to work with me because of my 10+ years of experience working with startups. Well, did you know I have a YouTube channel where I post...
McCann Leads Legal‑Sports Nexus on New Podcast
Again, there is nobody better on the nexus of legal and sports than McCann. Really interesting stuff, which we cited on the next Sports Media Podcast (w. @paulsen_smw, @Armand_Broady and @derekfutterman) coming out tomorrow.
Lawmakers Pass Amusement Tax Reductions
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan approved amendments to the Amusement Tax Act, eliminating taxes on cinema tickets, live performances and sports events. Previously, rates reached 60% for cinemas, 30% for concerts and 10% for sports. The reforms also cut the maximum tax...
Amicus Filing Deadline Today; Supreme Court Argument May 4
Today is the amicus filing deadline in the Massachusetts Supreme Court appeal. Oral argument is on May 4th.
Justices Appear Skeptical of Investor-Harm Requirement in Sripetch SEC Disgorgement Case
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 20, 2026 in Sripetch v. SEC, focusing on whether the SEC must demonstrate pecuniary harm to investors before a court can order disgorgement. The case follows a Ninth Circuit decision that allowed a...
Alberta Establishes New Office to Spur on IP Development
Alberta announced the creation of the Alberta Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), a nonprofit hub funded with $8 million CAD (about $5.8 million USD). Operated by Alberta Innovates, the office will provide legal, market and educational support to help researchers and startups protect...
Wisconsin Sues 5 Prediction Markets, Alleging Illegal Sports Betting
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed lawsuits against five prediction‑market platforms—Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket and Crypto.com—accusing them of illegal sports betting disguised as event contracts. The state seeks a declaration of public nuisance and both preliminary and permanent injunctions to...
Saks Settles Fight With Simon Property, Cuts Deal With Creditors
Bankrupt luxury retailer Saks Global Enterprises reached settlements with landlord Simon Property Group and its main creditor groups, clearing key hurdles in its Chapter 11 case. The Simon agreement resolves unpaid‑rent claims and averts closure of two flagship stores, while the...
Demand Grows for Comprehensive, Citable Law API
people really want the law to be available by API. historical, current, up to date. published cases, unpublished cases. citable.
Some Brands Are Safe From The US' Foreign Router Ban, But No One Seems To Know Why
On March 23 2026 the FCC added foreign‑made consumer routers to its Covered List, effectively banning any new router not manufactured in the United States. Approximately 60 % of U.S. routers are sourced from China, so the rule sent shockwaves through the market....
Well-Known Genus, Novel Method: A Post-Amgen Framework for Written Description & Enablement
A recent Federal Circuit panel clarified that patents claiming a well‑known chemical genus as a mere input for a novel therapeutic method face a lighter written‑description and enablement hurdle than patents that claim the genus itself as the invention. The...
Thaler V. Perlmutter: Human Authorship Remains a Cornerstone Requirement for Copyright Registration
The D.C. Circuit affirmed that copyright protection hinges on meaningful human authorship, ruling that works generated entirely by autonomous AI are ineligible. The Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari on March 2, 2026 leaves that holding in effect nationwide. The decision underscores that...
U.S. Issues Guidance for American Space Nuclear Power Initiative
On April 14, 2026 the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued National Security and Technology Memorandum‑3, launching the National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power. The program tasks NASA, the Department of War, the Department of Energy...
Banks Can’t Outsource Judgment to Algorithms
Regulators including the OCC, FDIC and the Federal Reserve have issued revised inter‑agency model risk management guidance that moves compliance from periodic reviews to a continuous, embedded function. The new framework demands ongoing validation, governance and real‑time monitoring of both...
OIG Reiterates a Core Message: Stark Compliance and Fair Market Value Alone Do Not Shield Against Anti-Kickback Statute Risk
On April 23, 2026 the HHS Office of Inspector General added two FAQs clarifying that compliance with Stark law or reliance on a fair‑market‑value analysis does not automatically shield a transaction from the federal Anti‑Kickback Statute. FAQ #4 warns that even...
DeSantis Signs Florida ADS-B Fee Bill
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 422, prohibiting airports from using automatic dependent surveillance‑broadcast (ADS‑B) data to assess landing, departure or airspace entry fees for aircraft weighing 12,499 pounds or less under Part 91. The law, which passed both chambers...
CMMC Won’t Fail on Controls. It Will Fail on Proof.
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is evolving from a checklist of controls to a verification regime that demands provable evidence. Contractors often have the right technical safeguards but lack the ability to produce continuous, defensible proof on demand. This...
The Most Prestigious Biglaw Firms In Boston (2027)
Vault’s 2027 regional rankings, compiled from associate‑rated prestige scores, reveal the most coveted biglaw firms in Boston. Ropes & Gray tops the list, followed by Goodwin and WilmerHale, with Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis also in the upper...
DOJ Gives Up
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it is dropping its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The probe, which began in early 2025 amid allegations of potential misconduct related to monetary policy communications, concluded without any charges. DOJ officials...
Injured by a Defective Product? Smart Steps to Take Right Away
A consumer injured by a defective product should act quickly, starting with prompt medical treatment and thorough documentation. Preserving the product, its packaging, receipts, and any related materials is crucial for building a strong claim. Detailed notes, photos, and witness...
Nashville Mayor Signs East Bend Rezoning, Paving Way for Higher‑Density Housing
Mayor Freddie O’Connell signed the East Bend rezoning bill into law, turning a long‑standing riverfront scrapyard into a mixed‑use, higher‑density residential district. The legislation adds new parks, greenways and transit links, aiming to address Nashville’s housing shortage and reconnect downtown...
Coffee Giants Deploy Satellite‑AI System to Meet EU Deforestation Rules
JDE Peet’s, Tchibo, Louis Dreyfus, Neumann Kaffee, Touton and Sucafina have formed the Coffee Canopy Partnership, using Airbus satellite imagery and AI to map coffee farms and avoid EU deforestation penalties. The rollout begins in East Africa with a goal of global coverage...
Planet Labs Halts Middle East Imagery, Disrupting Data‑Driven Industries
Planet Labs announced on April 5 that, at the request of the U.S. government, it will withhold satellite imagery for Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf states retroactive to March 9. The move forces CTOs and analytics firms to replace...
Inspire Legal Group Integrates Qanooni AI with Actionstep, First UK Firm to Do So
Inspire Legal Group announced that it has integrated Qanooni's native AI engine with the Actionstep practice‑management platform, making it the first UK firm to embed AI directly into daily legal workflows. The move aims to cut administrative time, boost drafting...
ICC Pre‑Trial Chamber Confirms Charges, Sets Path for Rodrigo Duterte Crimes‑Against‑Humanity Trial
The International Criminal Court’s three‑member Pre‑Trial Chamber I unanimously confirmed murder and attempted‑murder charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, citing 49 killings involving 78 victims. The decision clears the way for a full trial on crimes against humanity, a...