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
Webinar Summary: US Supreme Court Ruling Triggers Major Shifts in US Trade Enforcement Strategy
The U.S. Supreme Court’s February 20 decision declared all tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) illegal, immediately halting collection and creating uncertainty for importers. In response, the administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act, imposing a temporary 10% tariff on all imports that will expire on July 24, 2026 unless extended. While Sections 232 and 301 remain intact as the core enforcement mechanisms, the ruling casts doubt on the durability of recent bilateral agreements and places the upcoming USMCA renewal at the center of trade strategy discussions.
House Passes Bill To Speed Up Mortgage Processes on Tribal Lands—And To Extend Leases to 99 Years
The House approved S.728, mandating the Bureau of Indian Affairs to screen tribal mortgage applications within 10 days and decide on leasehold mortgages in 20 days, with a 30‑day window for right‑of‑way loans. It also passed H.R.5910, extending the ability...
Court Rules Inova Not Joint Employer of Nurses Fired over Vaccine Refusal
A Fourth Circuit appeals court ruled that Inova Health Care Services is not a joint employer of two nurse anesthetists who were terminated after refusing a COVID‑19 vaccine. The nurses, employed by NAPA’s subsidiary, argued Inova’s oversight made it a...
Missed ERISA Deadline Strips Disability Insurer of over $233,000
A federal appeals court ruled that Reliance Standard Life missed the ERISA‑mandated 45‑day deadline to decide a long‑term disability appeal, forcing the insurer to forfeit deference and pay $210,769.49 in past‑due benefits plus $22,544.95 in interest, totaling over $233,000. The...
Section 117 Is Not a Disclosure Problem
The Department of Education launched a public Section 117 transparency dashboard in February 2026, publishing over $60 billion in cumulative foreign‑funding disclosures from U.S. universities. By making gift and contract data searchable, flagging country‑of‑concern entities, and allowing direct institutional comparisons, the...
GOP Rule Change Leaves Texas Voters Lost at Polls
Texans in two counties struggled to find their polling locations for primary voting Tuesday after a GOP-driven change. The secretary of state’s office failed to provide accurate information. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/in-ominous-sign-texas-republicans-changed-voting-rules-then-blocked-efforts-to-protect-voters/
2025 USTR Notorious Markets List Issued
The U.S. Trade Representative released its 2025 Notorious Markets List, spotlighting online and physical venues that facilitate large‑scale piracy and counterfeiting. The Association of American Publishers praised the report, emphasizing its role in protecting authors and publishers. The list again...
California Trial Set in Rate-Rigging VRDO Case Against Banks
A California judge set a June 8 trial for a False Claims Act case accusing major Wall Street banks of conspiring to rig interest rates on variable‑rate demand bonds (VRDOs). The lawsuit, filed by municipal advisor Johan Rosenberg on behalf of...
Foreign Entity Rules Are Throwing a Wrench in Energy Storage Financing
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules now tie clean‑energy tax credits to the origin of battery materials, demanding at least 60% of value from non‑prohibited countries and increasing this share each year. Compliance pushes...
Lawmakers Question Intel’s Use of Tools From Blacklisted Chinese Firm
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators sent a letter to Intel CEO Lip‑Bu Tan questioning the chipmaker’s use of semiconductor tools from ACM Research, a Chinese subsidiary on the U.S. blacklist. The inquiry underscores national‑security concerns, especially after the U.S....
DOJ Pushes Rule to Shield Attorneys From Bar Probes
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is attempting to short-circuit state bar ethics investigations into department attorneys through a new and unexpected proposed rule. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/justice-department-attorneys-state-bar-investigations-newrule/
What Builders Need to Know About E-Verify in 2026
Builders face a new compliance landscape as E-Verify becomes a prerequisite for most federal construction contracts in 2026. While the system can streamline hiring by confirming employee eligibility, it also exposes firms to government scrutiny of their workforce data. Errors...
NYC's Expanded Leave Law Goes Into Effect
Mayor Brad Lander’s administration has enacted an expansion of New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act, raising the mandatory paid leave entitlement to 80 hours per year. The rule, effective immediately, applies to private employers with five or...
Who Owns AI‑Created Works? Copyright Law Struggles
AI and Copyright: Who Owns Content Created by Machines? In this episode of Artificial Intelligence: Papers and Concepts, we explore the growing debate around AI and copyright-one of the most important legal questions emerging in the age of generative AI. As...
Court Dismisses Discrimination Claims Against Northwestern Over Alleged Post-Oct. 7 Anti-Semitism
A federal judge dismissed a group of Title VI discrimination lawsuits against Northwestern University alleging a hostile environment for Jewish students after the October 7 Hamas attacks. The court held that plaintiffs failed to show that university officials had actual knowledge of...
AI-Powered Search Is Fueling a Wave of Epstein Files Transparency Projects
The DOJ’s Epstein Files release, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, provides millions of pages, images, and videos but suffers from rudimentary search functionality. Volunteer engineers and newsrooms have deployed AI‑driven tools—such as Jmail’s Gmail‑style inbox and Google Pinpoint...
California Senator Aims To Ban ‘Predatory’ Investors From Buying Lots After Disasters
Senator Adam Schiff introduced S.3961, a bill that would prohibit institutional investors—defined as companies owning 75 or more homes—from purchasing lots, parcels, or homes in federally declared disaster zones for six months after a catastrophe. The measure targets the surge...
Trust, Transparency, and Structure Outshine Flashy Returns
Bridger Pennington isn’t just talking capital. He’s built credibility where it counts, showing investors that trust, structure, and operational rigor matter more than flashy returns. In this power-packed episode, we cover: - Why trust and transparency beat pitch decks every time. - The...
CEO Claims Espionage Amid New Layoffs at Rocket Boy
Sad to see the layoffs happen again, but there's more to this story. Build A Rocket Boy's CEO alleges criminal actions and espionage against the company are being litigated. https://t.co/oF7JqdMa2c
Over-The-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA)
The FDA’s Over‑The‑Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA) will assess an annual facility fee of $36.467 million for FY 2025, payable by June 2, 2025. All owners of OTC monograph drug facilities, including contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), are subject to the fee, with...
CBP Admits Delay, Conditional Refunds on Illegal Tariffs
Here's CBP in a new filing admitting: 1) They're not voluntarily refunding IEEPA tariffs illegally collected last year 2) They're in no rush 3) They'll pay interest on "validated" refunds but will review everything for "violations" (that might allow them to deny refunds?)...
US Must Pay Interest on All Tariff Refunds
"US to Pay Interest If Ordered to Pay Importers Tariff Refunds" https://t.co/An3drmGJ4F It is the law, after all. Question is: how many refunds actually get issued after a lengthy court/administrative battle. The answer should be: all, now. But... https://t.co/xGmrydPr1P
Freedom of Choice with Brian Kelley of CloudNine on the Technocat Podcast: EDiscovery Trends
CloudNine announced an on‑premise version of its CloudNine Review platform slated for a 2026 launch, responding to client demand for cost control, data sovereignty, and workflow autonomy. The move follows the market exit of competing on‑premise eDiscovery tools, positioning CloudNine...
Lawmakers Threaten Free Speech, TikTok Silences Critics
Appalling. I want people to understand how much worse it will get if these lawmakers are able to ram through bills like KOSA or chip away at Section 230.
City’s First Use of Eminent Domain Revealed
Where this hole exists is the first time I have seen the city use eminent domain to obtain a property https://t.co/Zfy8HrAEcZ
Supreme Court Unanimously Backs Immigration Agencies in Row over 'Persecution' Standards
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that immigration courts must defer to executive agencies by applying the substantial‑evidence standard when reviewing an agency’s finding that undisputed facts do not constitute persecution. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that the lower court...
Former NJ Attorney General Launches Firm, Keeps Public Focus
The Very Model Of A Modern Attorney General: Matt Platkin Former New Jersey AG @MattPlatkin has returned to private practice, with the launch of @PlatkinLLP—but he remains committed to advancing important public interests. LINK: https://t.co/pkREXJKXpw https://t.co/g9riNwrr1K
War Sparks Force Majeure Across Energy, Shipping, Sourcing Contracts
Middle East. Force Majeure. Will that be the result of the war? Energy contracts? Shipping contracts? Sourcing contracts? More.
Michigan House Committee Hears Proposal to Restrict State Drone Purchases
Michigan’s House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reviewed a bipartisan package of five bills (HB 5328‑5332) aimed at tightening drone regulations for state agencies. The core provisions ban the use of state funds to purchase or operate drones manufactured by companies...
Supercell Aids US Review of Tencent's US Gaming Investments
New: Supercell is cooperating with a US government review of Tencent's investment in US game companies https://t.co/8zCijY6p4C
NAHB Warns Congressional Housing Bill Will Curb Supply
National Association of Home Builders: The Congressional housing package being pushed through right now would HURT housing supply NAHB: The latest version of the bill would 'undermine' build-to-rent construction The @NAHBhome email obtained by @PunchbowlNews/@BrendanPedersen 👇
Kroger Hit with 2 Lawsuits over E-Commerce Role Classification
Kroger is confronting two newly filed class‑action lawsuits alleging it misclassified e‑commerce manager roles as exempt from overtime. The suits, filed by Morgan & Morgan in Colorado and Washington, claim the positions involve order‑fulfillment duties rather than supervisory functions, violating...
AI's Future Lies in In‑House Legal Teams, Not Firms
The right place for AI in law is the enterprise, not law firms which are conflicted if the cost of legal services goes down rapidly. AI makes it possible to dramatically reduce this business overhead.
FERC Scrutinizes PSE&G Rates After Faulty PJM Data
I filed a comment @FERC in a proceeding about PSE&G's transmission rates. In 2024, FERC found that PSE&G provided faulty info to PJM in a process that led PJM to designate PSE&G as developer of a $546M transmission project. FERC decide...
AICPA Asks IRS to Give Tax Penalty Relief to Farmers Impacted by Form 8995 Changes
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has asked the IRS to grant penalty relief to qualified farmers affected by recent changes to Form 8995 instructions. The IRS delayed the revised form until February 23, 2026, compressing the window to file by the...
NASA Launch Procurement Cap Removed From Reauthorization Bill
The proposed language to cap NASA's launch procurement at 50 percent from any one company has been dropped from the final NASA reauthorization bill. I wrote about this issue on Monday: https://t.co/x4jDOwadVr
Trump’s Retreat Proves IEEPA Bans, Not Taxes
Assuming Trump backs off his Spanish Embargo threat (a safe assumption, IMO), it won't just be another TACO. It'll perfectly prove @ATabarrok's point here about why an emergency wartime law like IEEPA would allow a presidential import ban but not...
SCOTUS Resolves Two-Way State Court Split About New Jersey Transit
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that New Jersey Transit is not an arm of the state, stripping it of sovereign immunity and overturning the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s contrary ruling. The decision affirms the New York Court of Appeals’ view,...
Warshaw: Soros Fund Hid Verbal Audacy Deal
Jeff Warshaw, CEO of Connoisseur Media, filed a 37‑page opposition to Soros Fund Management’s motion to strike, alleging a verbal agreement that would have granted him a 5% profit share or the CEO role at Audacy. Warshaw contends the fund...
Labor Advocates Try to Put the Brakes on Unregulated, Self-Driving Waymo Cars
Minnesota labor advocates are urging state lawmakers to halt the deployment of Waymo’s autonomous vehicles until clear safety and regulatory frameworks are established. Waymo currently operates driver‑assisted cars in Minneapolis to map streets, while the state lacks specific autonomous‑vehicle legislation....
Barangay Skilled Workers Registry Act Gets Penultimate House Nod
The Barangay Skilled Workers Registry Act (HB 7719) cleared its second reading in the House, mandating every barangay to maintain a voluntary, free registry of local skilled workers. Championed by Rep. Jolo Revilla, the bill seeks to make community‑level labor...
Fraud First: Why ‘Broker Transparency’ Misses the Mark
The article contends that the FMCSA’s push to tighten broker transparency under 49 CFR 371.3 misses the larger problem of freight fraud, which has generated over 80,000 complaints. It traces the rule’s origins to a 1949 ICC mandate and its...
Congressional Policymakers Reintroduce Railway Safety Act
Senators Maria Cantwell and Jon Husted have reintroduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act, a bill first proposed in 2023 after the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The legislation mandates deployment of defect‑detection technologies, two‑person train crews, stricter emergency‑response...
Rising Sanctions, Compliance Complexity Increase Global Shipping Risks
Maritime firms are confronting a surge in sanctions and compliance complexity as regulators demand pre‑emptive risk detection, according to Marcura’s new report. Divergent US, EU and other sanctions regimes, expanding secondary sanctions, and an opaque shadow fleet are amplifying exposure...
CCCA Seeks New Path to Passage
Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall are seeking to attach their Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) to the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing bill, hoping to secure a Senate vote. The CCCA would require banks to provide merchants with...
Sovereign Wealth Funds and Broadcast Licenses: 310(a) Implications?
Looking for the collective wisdom of the platform. Has there ever been a case where a sovereign wealth fund has taken an interest (passive or active) in a bcast license? And did it trigger 310(a)?
DHL Express Workers Threaten Strike if No Contract by March 31
Teamsters members at DHL Express voted 96% to authorize a strike if the national master agreement isn’t renewed by March 31, 2026. The contract, covering thousands of drivers and warehouse workers across 16 states, is set to expire and the union is...
Government Launches Gender Pay Gap and Menopause Action Plans
The UK government has launched voluntary equality action plans requiring firms with 250 or more staff to detail how they will close gender pay gaps and support menopausal employees, with a dedicated portal for publication. From spring 2027 the measures...
Another Holladay Property Sought, With Waiver Needed
The FCC is poised to modernize its local ownership limits for broadcast stations, prompting a wave of waiver requests from existing licensees. Broadcasters argue they are the only logical buyers for stations in markets where they have already reached current...
The SCOTUS Attorney Switcheroo
A new empirical study of the 2023‑24 Supreme Court term shows that in 79% of cases the counsel changes as the dispute moves from the circuit courts to the high court. The shift is driven by a small, elite group...