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
Is AI-IP Software Just Expensive Wrapping Paper?
The market now hosts more than 70 AI‑assisted IP software firms, most younger than two years. These companies do not build their own large language models; instead they wrap existing frontier LLMs such as Gemini, Claude, or GPT with domain‑specific interfaces. While this enables rapid deployment, it raises confidentiality, security, and quality concerns for patent practitioners. Firms risk vendor lock‑in and may receive lower‑tier model performance hidden behind opaque pricing.
Courts Target Platform Design, Threatening Big Tech Immunity
For the first time, courts aren’t just looking at what’s posted on social media—they’re looking at how platforms are engineered to influence behavior. That shift could mean lawsuits, regulation, and major changes to how feeds work—especially for teens. This might be the...
Comedian Lawsuits Fizzle: Jokes Aren’t Defamation
We’re seeing a rise in lawsuits against comedians—but most aren’t real defamation cases. Defamation requires a false statement presented as fact that harms reputation. Jokes, parody, and commentary don’t qualify. If people don’t take it as truth, there’s no claim....
China’s Supreme People’s Court Releases Sixth Batch of Typical Cases of Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in the Seed...
On March 26, 2026, China’s Supreme People’s Court issued its sixth batch of typical seed‑industry IP cases, covering ten landmark disputes over plant variety rights. The rulings affirmed that core‑loci molecular tests are decisive, expanded joint and several liability to storage and...
The Civil Service After the Demise of Humphrey’s Executor
A draft paper titled “Article II and the Civil Service,” soon to appear in the Virginia Law Review, examines how recent Supreme Court trends threaten the traditional insulation of the federal bureaucracy. The authors argue that a unitary‑executive view, a...
Seminole Nation Becomes First Indigenous Group to Ban Planet-Cooking Data Centers From Its Land
The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma became the first Indigenous nation to ban data center construction on its sovereign lands. The Tribal Council voted unanimously (24‑0) to impose a moratorium on generative‑AI and hyperscale data‑center development after a tech startup sought...
Florida Judge Faces Discipline After Asking Black Defendant “You Ever Chopped Cotton Before?”
Florida Judge John E. Jordan is set to receive an official reprimand after the state Judicial Qualifications Commission found his courtroom conduct unacceptable. The commission cited two incidents: the judge telling attorneys to “shut up” and asking a Black defendant...
As a Court Rules that Social Media Platforms Are Harmful and Addictive, New Bans Are Considered, and VPN Use Is...
A U.S. jury has ruled that Meta and YouTube knowingly created addictive products, marking the first major legal finding of platform liability for mental‑health harm. In the United Kingdom, the House of Lords is pushing a ban on social‑media access...
Lessons From CalPrivacy PlayOn Order
California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) fined PlayOn Sports $1.1 million for illegal tracking of student data between January 2023 and December 2024. The company sold personal information to third parties without a functional opt‑out, used a cookie banner that forced consent, and ignored...
Decision of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in the TriZetto Re-Trial
On March 27, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a pre‑judgment decision in the long‑running dispute between Syntel and Cognizant’s subsidiary TriZetto. The court ordered Syntel to pay a total of $236.9 million, comprising...
Indiana Prohibits Virtual Currency Kiosks
Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed House Bill 1116 on March 9, 2026, banning the operation of virtual‑currency kiosks across the state. The statute defines a kiosk broadly as any electronic terminal that facilitates cryptocurrency transactions for a third party in exchange...
Justices Spar over Statutory Text as Asylum Metering Policy Reaches Supreme Court — SCOTUS Dispatch
The Supreme Court heard Noem v. Al Otro Lado, challenging the Trump administration’s asylum‑metering policy that turned away migrants before they crossed the U.S.‑Mexico border. The dispute hinges on the statutory phrase “arrives in” in the Immigration and Nationality Act,...
Canada Moves to Ban Crypto Donations for Election Campaigns Following UK
Canada’s government introduced Bill C‑25, the Strong and Free Elections Act, to prohibit cryptocurrency donations and other hard‑to‑trace contributions to political campaigns. The legislation, now at first reading, extends the ban to registered parties, candidates, riding associations and third‑party advertisers,...
The Doctor Is In—Breach: Five Pitfalls in Physician Employment Agreements
The article outlines five common pitfalls in physician employment agreements, ranging from overbroad restrictive covenants to vague compensation formulas, misclassification of physicians, unclear termination terms, and insufficient regulatory clauses. State-by-state limits on non‑competes—such as bans in Alabama and Rhode Island...
Live with Immigration Jason
In this episode, the host breaks down how to build a compelling EB‑1A (and related O‑1/NIW) immigration case by focusing on demonstrating that you’ve risen to the top of a clearly defined field, rather than merely checking off as many...
Confused by Case Style, Not Litigating the Same Case
Your honor I keep having to look at the case style because there is just no way counsel and I are litigating the same case.
Trump Administration Seeks ESA Exemption to Boost Gulf Oil Drilling
The Trump administration has asked the Endangered Species Committee, nicknamed the “God Squad,” to grant a national‑security exemption that would suspend Endangered Species Act protections for all offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The move comes...
Florida Senate Bill on Data Center Power Costs Lacks Public Details
The Florida Senate reportedly passed legislation forcing hyper‑scale data centers to shoulder their own electricity expenses, but none of the supplied source articles contain details on the bill, its sponsors, financial impact, or implementation timeline.
Fannie Mae Greenlights Crypto-Backed Mortgages, Letting Buyers Pledge Bitcoin and USDC
Fannie Mae has approved a groundbreaking mortgage product that lets borrowers pledge Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for a down‑payment loan, partnering with digital lender Better Home and Finance and Coinbase. The two‑tier structure offers a way for crypto‑rich, cash‑poor...
Senator Whitehouse Exposes Republican SAVE America Voter Suppression Bill
NEW EPISODE: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joins me to expose the SAVE America Act — a Republican voter suppression bill that would hand disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of American citizens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TVaZYRF6f8
AI Surveillance and ID Laws Threaten Online Speech Freedom
It’s only going to get worse as mass ID verification/AI surveillance laws pass & the govt hunts down and prosecutes more and more ppl for online speech. The anti screen time industrial complex is also extremely lucrative and they’re already...
Paul & Shark’s, Aspesi’s Judicial Administration Procedures Rejected by Judge
A Milan court dismissed prosecutors' request to place Paul & Shark’s parent Dama SpA and Aspesi’s Alberto Aspesi & C. SpA under judicial administration, citing insufficient proof that their executives acted in concert. The case stems from labor‑abuse allegations involving Chinese‑owned subcontractors Gmax 365 Srl and M&G Confezioni Srl,...
Fraudulent Xavier McKinney Scam Nets $4M, Broker Implicated
I wrote about this crazy lawsuit which revealed that someone posing as Xavier McKinney scammed an athlete lender out of over $4 million, and a well-known loan broker is in the middle of it. For the https://t.co/s9R3HZ23BM https://t.co/d6otyu08G8
Jury Defies Judge, Highlights Class Bias in Justice
Here’s the class divide in America. A judge tried to force a jury to find that Afroman had defamed cops who ransacked his house and robbed him. A jury let him off.
I Was Sexually Harassed at Work and Fear Silenced Me — Now I Fight For Safer Workplaces For Everyone
A former attorney recounts personal sexual harassment at a law firm and now runs a consultancy that helps victims. She argues that most companies mistake a written policy and annual training for genuine workplace safety. The piece stresses that leaders...
Kalshi and Polymarket Face Growing Insider Trading Risks
This is a very informative look at how Kalshi and Polymarket are entangled with the insider trading problem. https://t.co/MNC9ECLZqO https://t.co/CXr175X8eD
Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Masks Censorship Agenda
Kat Tenbarge and I discuss the “social media addiction” lawsuit and why the verdict is absolutely not about “holding big tech accountable”, and how media addiction claims are being used to censor annual LGBTQ ppl, immigrants, and all of us....
He Helped Write the Clean Air Act. He Fears for Its Future.
Thomas Jorling, one of the original architects of the 1970 Clean Air Act, argues the law was deliberately written to cover future pollutants, including greenhouse gases. He disputes the Trump administration’s claim that the Act does not apply to climate‑changing...
Indonesia Adopts Feature‑based Age Limits for Apps
As countries follow Australia's lead, they are innovating. Indonesia's law doesn't define SM APPS; it applies age restrictions based on the risky FEATURES of any app, including chatbots. At After Babel, From Anindito Aditomo & other advisors on the law https://t.co/lSroGS5Q2Q
The MATCH Monopoly and What It Actually Means for Health Tech
Congressional scrutiny of the National Resident Matching Program’s (NRMP) antitrust exemption intensified after a May 2025 hearing, highlighting wage suppression and a persistent residency bottleneck. In 2025, 52,498 medical students competed for 43,237 slots, leaving roughly 9,000 unmatched, while average...
Supplement Industry Presses FDA to Approve Peptides, Probiotics
The Natural Products Association led a coordinated push for the FDA to expand its definition of dietary supplement ingredients, targeting peptides, probiotics and other novel compounds. A public meeting on Friday brought industry executives, consumer advocates and academics together, highlighting...
Mississippi Advances Bill to Make 50‑50 Custody the Default in Divorces
Mississippi lawmakers moved HB 1662, a bill that would automatically start every divorce custody case with a 50‑50 split and require judges to justify any deviation. The measure, now headed to a conference committee, could reshape father‑child relationships and child‑support...
Senator Elizabeth Warren Revives 2% Wealth Tax on Fortunes over $50 Million
Sen. Elizabeth Warren and more than four dozen Democrats have reintroduced the Ultra‑Millionaire Tax Act, imposing a 2% annual levy on net worth above $50 million and an extra 1% surtax on assets over $1 billion. The bill, backed by 10 Senate...
FCC Chair Warns NFL Could Lose Antitrust Exemption if Games Shift to Streaming Paywalls
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr told the New York Post that the NFL could lose its long‑standing antitrust exemption under the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act if the league pushes an increasing share of live games onto subscription streaming platforms. The warning...
U.S. Government Bans Foreign‑Made Wi‑Fi Routers Over Security Concerns
The United States announced a ban on the sale and distribution of foreign‑manufactured Wi‑Fi routers, citing national‑security concerns. The move targets equipment from several Asian vendors and could force a rapid shift toward domestically produced networking gear.
Burford Capital Shares Plunge 47% After US Appeals Court Overturns $16.1B YPF Judgment
Burford Capital reported that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a $16.1 billion judgment against Argentina over the 2012 YPF expropriation, wiping out a potential $18 billion payout. The decision sent Burford’s U.S. shares down 47% and revives questions about...
Judge Blocks Pentagon’s Attempt to Label Anthropic a Supply‑Chain Risk
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Defense Department from designating AI startup Anthropic as a national‑security supply‑chain risk. The ruling calls the move an unlawful First Amendment retaliation and leaves the Pentagon’s use of Claude...
Judge Pauses $6.2B Nexstar‑Tegna Merger Over Antitrust Challenge
U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley ordered a temporary halt to Nexstar Media Group's $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna Inc., citing antitrust objections raised by DirecTV and several state attorneys general. The pause gives regulators time to assess whether the combined...
Echoworx Rolls Out Multi‑Cloud Secure Communications Platform for Regulated Enterprises
Echoworx announced a new secure‑communications suite that natively integrates with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, aiming to meet the “sovereign‑first” compliance demands of regulated enterprises. The move reflects a broader shift from fragmented encryption to cloud‑native, jurisdiction‑aware...
Kansas Legislature Pushes Tax Breaks for Christian‑Only Health Plans, Veto Overridden
The Kansas Senate voted 30-9 to override Governor Laura Kelly’s veto, allowing participants in Christian‑only health‑care sharing ministries to deduct up to $5,000 per individual or $10,000 per couple from state taxes. The fiscal note estimates 11,000 Kansans will benefit,...
Texas Man Sentenced to 12 Years for $61.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
Robert “Bobby” Leon Smith III was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $30 million in restitution for leading a $61.5 million Medicare and wire‑fraud conspiracy. The case, investigated by HHS‑OIG and the FBI, highlights vulnerabilities...
Fannie Mae Pilots Crypto‑backed Mortgages with Better Home, Coinbase
Fannie Mae has approved a pilot that lets homebuyers pledge Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for a down‑payment loan, partnering with digital lender Better Home and Finance and Coinbase. The two‑tier structure lets borrowers keep their crypto while borrowing against...
Rights Group Raises Alarm over EU Expanded Detention and Deportation Rules
Amnesty International condemned the European Parliament’s approval of a revised EU Return Regulation that dramatically expands detention and deportation powers. The new framework broadens the use of immigration detention, accelerates deportations, and imposes heightened surveillance and data‑sharing obligations on member...
Beijing Tightens Drone Rules, Citing ‘Low-Altitude Security’ Concerns
Beijing will enforce strict controls on drone sales, storage and transport starting May 1, requiring public‑security approval for any UAV or 17 core components. The city bans new drones and components from entering its sixth‑ring‑road area, except for those already registered...
Brother Jailed for Contempt, Not Pronoun Refusal
Your brother is in prison for contempt of court, not "refusing to use they/them pronouns". He persistently turned up at his former school despite a High Court order requiring him to stay away. https://t.co/EG4Llei3SH
IRS Issues Dirty Dozen Alert as AI-Powered Tax Refund Scams Surge
The Internal Revenue Service released its 2026 "Dirty Dozen" list, flagging 12 tax‑refund scams—including AI‑generated robocalls and sophisticated phishing—targeting millions of filers. The agency logged over 600 social‑media impersonators in FY 2025 and warned that the scams are more aggressive...
Lawyers Caught Using AI‑Generated Fake Citations Highlight Risks of Legal AI
A column exposing attorneys who inadvertently inserted AI‑generated fake legal citations into court filings underscores growing worries about AI hallucinations, ethical duties, and the urgent need for verification tools in modern law practice.
Bilt’s Rent‑Rewards Card Faces Scrutiny as New Fees Trigger Backlash
Bilt’s rent‑rewards credit card has drawn regulatory attention after the company rolled out a $500‑a‑year premium tier and a tiered rewards structure that forces users to spend heavily on non‑housing purchases. The changes have sparked a wave of consumer complaints...
MAN v Rolls-Royce – How Not to Advertise Your Mark
The EU General Court upheld the invalidation of MAN Truck & Bus’s “V12X” trademark, finding the mark descriptive for marine engines. The court accepted Rolls‑Royce’s evidence, including screenshots and MAN’s own marketing claims that “X” meant next‑generation, extra displacement, and excellent...
UN Experts Call for Transparency in Appointment Process of Attorney General and Ombudsperson in Venezuela
UN human‑rights experts urged Venezuela to appoint its Attorney General and Ombudsperson on merit, warning that opaque selections undermine rule of law. The recent resignations of Tarek William Saab and Alfredo Ruiz triggered interim appointments by a Nomination Evaluation Committee...