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
Major Crypto Bill Slated for May 14 Senate Banking Committee Vote
On May 14, the Senate Banking Committee will hold its first vote on a landmark cryptocurrency bill that seeks to set federal rules for stablecoins and related reward mechanisms. The proposal limits the ability of stablecoins to earn interest, a move banks argue could threaten traditional deposit products, while many Republicans appear unified in support and Democrats remain divided. A bipartisan compromise introduced by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks offers a way for crypto firms to provide non‑competing rewards, but banking groups say the language still falls short of protecting deposits. The outcome will shape the regulatory landscape for digital assets and influence the relationship between the banking sector and the crypto industry.
Super Micro’s Export Control Issues: Compliance and Financial Reporting Implications
The U.S. Department of Justice indicted three individuals linked to Super Micro Computer on March 19, 2026 for allegedly diverting advanced AI servers to China, though the company itself was not charged. In the wake of the indictment, Super Micro appointed DeAnna Luna as...
Congress Narrowed the GUARD Act, But Serious Problems Remain
Congress has narrowed the GUARD Act, limiting its scope to AI companions that simulate emotional interactions rather than all AI chatbots. The revised bill still mandates intrusive, identity‑linked age verification and raises penalties to $250,000 per violation. Critics argue the...
Senate Banking Committee Plans to Hold Key Market Structure Hearing on Thursday
The Senate Banking Committee scheduled a markup hearing for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025 on May 14, marking a pivotal step toward legislation. The hearing follows a compromise text from Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks that prohibits...
Debt Deal Could Push Connoisseur Past Foreign Ownership Cap
Connoisseur Media has filed an FCC petition to permit up to 100% indirect foreign ownership of its broadcast radio licenses, shifting majority equity to Cayman Islands‑registered entities while CEO Jeff Warshaw keeps full voting control. Two pending transactions—a debt‑to‑equity conversion...
Ben Sperry: The FCC’s Digital-Discrimination Detour Hits a Dead End
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the FCC’s sweeping digital‑discrimination rule, ruling that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act does not grant the agency authority to impose disparate‑impact liability beyond broadband providers. The court limited the FCC’s...
Alabama Asks Supreme Court to Clear the Way for It to Use Congressional Map Struck as Diluting Black Votes
Alabama has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to allow use of its 2023 congressional map, which contains only one majority‑Black district, arguing the court‑ordered map with two such districts violates the Constitution. The request follows the Court’s April 29 decision...
Laid-Off Oracle Workers Tried to Negotiate Better Severance. Oracle Said No.
Oracle announced layoffs affecting an estimated 20,000‑30,000 employees on March 31, offering a severance package of four weeks’ pay plus one additional week per year of service, capped at 26 weeks, and one month of COBRA. The company did not accelerate...
Alabama Lobbies High Court for OK on Racially Gerrymandered Voter Map
Alabama Republicans filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking that the 2023 congressional map—declared an illegal racial gerrymander by lower courts—be reinstated for upcoming elections. The state argues the recent *Louisiana v. Callais* decision, which rejected race‑based...
Judge to Review Musk, SEC Settlement Deal in Twitter Stake Case
Elon Musk agreed to a $1.5 million payment to settle the SEC’s claim that he delayed disclosing his growing Twitter stake. The settlement, filed in federal court, now faces judicial review by U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, who will assess its...
American Conversations: Georgia Supreme Court Candidates Jen Jordan & Miracle Rankin
The Georgia Supreme Court race pits incumbent Justice Jen Jordan, seeking a full six‑year term, against former state judge Miracle Rankin, who is mounting a conservative challenge. Both candidates have highlighted divergent priorities—Jordan on progressive criminal‑justice reform and Rankin on...
Seventh Circuit Resets Illinois Swipe-Fee Fight as July 1 Deadline Looms
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated a February district‑court ruling upholding Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act and remanded the case to the Northern District of Illinois. The decision cancels scheduled oral arguments and returns the dispute...
Crypto Exchanges Pushed US Lawmakers to Bar Provision on Risky Tokens: Report
In early 2026, Coinbase, Kraken and Gemini urged Senate lawmakers to strip a provision from the CLARITY Act that would restrict trading to digital assets "not readily susceptible to manipulation." The firms argued the language could block listings of smaller,...
Fox Slams Newsmax over Reoccurring Antitrust Claims
Fox News filed a motion to dismiss Newsmax’s renewed antitrust lawsuit, arguing the claim lacks evidence of market injury. A federal judge in Florida previously dismissed the case as a “shotgun pleading,” and a Wisconsin judge later sent it back,...
NewJeans Members and HYBE Sued Over ‘How Sweet’: Songwriters Claim ‘Blatant Copying’
South Korea’s HYBE and its K‑pop act NewJeans have been sued in a U.S. federal court over alleged copying of a demo titled “One of a Kind” in the group’s May 2024 single “How Sweet.” The complaint, filed May 7, claims...
Southern Voting Rights Groups Unite Against GOP Gerrymanders
Voting rights organizations across the South Friday pledged to oppose the GOP’s efforts to rig congressional maps in its favor after the Supreme Court gutted a key part of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) last week. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/south-voting-rights-groups-fight-republican-gerrymanders-callais/
US Imposes Sanctions on 10 Individuals, Companies for Aiding Iran's Weapons Sector
The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on ten individuals and companies, including entities in China and Hong Kong, for supporting Iran’s military‑industrial base and the production of Shahed drones. The measures target suppliers of raw materials and financial intermediaries that facilitate illicit...
Colorado Passes Bipartisan Bill Recognizing Pets' Health Benefits
Pets aren’t just companions — they help improve our health, reduce stress and loneliness, and encourage healthier, more active lives. Today, I signed a bipartisan bill recognizing the health benefits of responsible pet ownership and strengthening support for organizations focused on...
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Understanding Agents: Definitions, Types, and Real-World Examples
The article explains that an agent is a legally authorized representative who acts on behalf of a principal across industries such as finance, law, and real estate. It distinguishes universal agents, who have broad authority, from general and special agents,...
Estonia's FSA Issues Investor Warning About Zondacrypto
Estonia’s Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority (FSA) issued an investor warning to BB Trade Estonia OÜ, the operator of the Zondacrypto exchange, for failing to publish a white paper for the TeamPL token, a breach of the EU’s MiCA rules....
Register by May 14 to Block Industry Fraud
The FMCSA is doing God’s work and trying to get rid of the riff raff, but needs your help. If you are on active motor carrier, be sure to preregister your information in the portal before May 14th. MOTUS comes out...
Lawmakers Force Stablecoin Yields to Stay with Issuers
Politicians are proactively drafting legislation that basically mandates stablecoin issuers keep all of the yield generated from reserve assets… Instead of sharing that yield w/ stablecoin holders. Stablecoin issuers print $$$. Tradfi banks are protected. You get nothing.
Five Documents Every California Employer Should Have Pre-Approved by Counsel
California employers must act quickly on HR matters, but routine decisions can trigger costly litigation without proper documentation. A core set of five counsel‑approved templates—performance‑improvement plan, arbitration agreement, offer letter and new‑hire packet, short‑form release, and separation packet—provides a defensible...
Payward Seeks Federal Bank Charter for Crypto Custody
Kraken's parent company, Payward, applies to become a Federal Bank, offering Bitcoin and crypto custody services https://t.co/hKVxGVLfFY
Law Firm Disrupted: Are Associate Ranks Headed for a 'Course Correction'?
Big‑law firms are confronting a potential shift in associate roles as major corporate clients increasingly demand partner‑level service. Recent layoffs at an Am Law 100 firm highlight how rising energy costs, inflation and slower bill payments are prompting firms to trim associate...
FDA Under Gottlieb Proposed Menthol and Flavored E‑cigarette Ban
In Trump's first term, the FDA under @ScottGottliebMD proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes and most flavored electronic cigarettes
Today on Lawfare: May 8, 2026
Lawfare’s May 8 2026 roundup highlights the Trump administration’s aggressive legal posture across several fronts. It details how the White House argues a cease‑fire in the Iran conflict resets the War Powers Resolution’s 60‑day limit, while the Justice Department’s fraud indictment of...
Sometimes Lawyers Should Wait To Send Invoices To Clients
Law firms often rush to bill clients, assuming faster invoices accelerate payment, but strategic delays can strengthen relationships and improve cash flow. Small balances may appear impersonal, so aggregating them into larger invoices can reduce friction. Sending bills around holidays...
Trump’s Second-Wave Tariffs Were Ruled Unlawful, But Importers Shouldn’t Count on Refunds
The U.S. Court of International Trade declared the Trump administration's Section 122 10 percent tariffs unlawful, but the ruling applies only to the plaintiffs, not to all importers. The Department of Justice has already filed an appeal, signaling a protracted legal battle...
Talking Local Law 97 with DOB Head Ahmed Tigani
New York’s Local Law 97, which caps greenhouse‑gas emissions for buildings over 25,000 sq ft, saw a 91% compliance rate in its first phase that began in 2024. The Department of Buildings, led by Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, is now reaching out to the remaining...
Lawsuit Accuses Lucky Strike of Building a Bowling Monopoly
Lucky Strike Entertainment, formerly Bowlero, operates more than 360 bowling alleys across North America and now faces a lawsuit alleging it built a monopoly through predatory acquisitions. Plaintiffs, a group of regular bowlers, claim the chain’s takeover of independent centers...
The Taliban Owes $15 Million For Airport Security — So The Dubai Firm Tried To Seize Airline Overflight Fees
Olive Group, a Dubai security firm, was awarded $15.3 million in arbitration after the Afghan Civil Aviation Authority terminated its airport‑security contract in 2020. The firm seeks to collect the judgment by garnishing overflight fees that IATA holds in a Swiss...
Linklaters Launches New Practice to Build Matter-Specific AI Solutions
Linklaters has launched an Applied Intelligence practice that blends lawyers with data scientists to develop custom AI solutions for specific legal matters. The new unit will create bespoke tools and automated workflows tailored to complex cases, offering clients a fixed‑fee...
Title Agent Accused of Rebranding to Evade Fraud Penalty
First American Title Insurance has filed a lawsuit in New York federal court to recover more than $600,000 owed by former agent Patricia Stein‑Oliva. The suit alleges Stein‑Oliva renamed her original firm, Liberty National Title, as Consumer Direct Title Agency...
Court Hears Maitama Property Bought in Dollars in Yahaya Bello Trial
A prosecution witness testified that a Maitama property was bought for the naira equivalent of N950 million—about $2 million—paid in U.S. dollars. The purchase was routed through White Tree Nigeria Limited, allegedly at the direction of Ali Bello. The case is part...
Lawsuit Alleging Supervisor Slapped and Tried to Kiss Employee Can Go to Trial, Court Says
A federal judge denied summary judgment for Helia Healthcare of Salem, allowing the EEOC’s lawsuit alleging a hostile work environment and retaliation to proceed to trial. The case centers on a supervisor who allegedly slapped and attempted to kiss a...
Tech Bills of the Week: Limiting Data Harvesting; AI for Financial Fraud Prevention; and More
Congress introduced four bills targeting emerging technology risks. The YODA Act would bar companies from forcing users to surrender data or accept tracking cookies without explicit permission and lets the FTC and state attorneys general sue firms with $50 million+ revenue...
Nobel Prize-Winning Economist Alvin Roth on Organ Markets
Nobel laureate Alvin Roth argues in a Washington Post op‑ed that the United States should legalize payments for kidney donors. He cites roughly 130,000 new kidney‑failure cases each year, a $55 billion Medicare burden, and a waiting list of 90,000 patients...
Wealth Advisors Turn to AI as Regulators Draft New Rules Ahead of ET Alpha Summit
Wealth‑management firms are accelerating AI adoption, but upcoming regulatory frameworks could shape how tools are deployed. The ET Alpha Wealth Summit in Mumbai on June 4 will bring together market veterans to debate AI’s impact, while UK regulator consultations signal...
Pennsylvania GOP Pushes Crackdown on Illegal Immigrant Truck Drivers After CDL Violations
Pennsylvania Republicans are urging the state legislature to tighten commercial driver’s license rules after several illegal‑immigrant drivers with Pennsylvania CDLs were linked to dangerous incidents. The GOP‑backed bills aim to shut down “CDL mills,” require English proficiency and improve verification,...
Court Orders Full Hearing in Deadly Angwan Rukuba Killings Case
The Plateau State High Court in Jos scheduled a substantive hearing for July 1‑2, 2026, in the Angwan Rukuba killings case. The attack on Easter Sunday left multiple fatalities and injuries, prompting the arrest of five suspects. Those suspects face charges ranging from...
U.S. Sanctions Cuba's Moa Nickel Venture, Threatening China‑Linked Battery Supply
The United States, via Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sanctioned Moa Nickel SA—a joint venture between Canada’s Sherritt International and Cuba’s General Nickel Company—prompting Sherritt to halt operations and see three directors resign. The move targets a key source of...
Litigation Trends to Watch: Cases Center on Multilevel Marketing, Supplement Serving Sizes and OnlyFans Disputes
A wave of litigation across diverse sectors is reshaping risk management for businesses. Recent cases spotlight supplement makers accused of inflating serving sizes, a Prevagen dementia‑aid class action surviving limited claims, and a surge in successful ERISA lawsuits. Meanwhile, the...
Haryana Launches India's First Fully Digital Advocate General Office
Haryana’s Advocate General office has become India’s first fully digital legal department, deploying the Pro Case Management System (PCMS) to handle all litigation workflows electronically. The move aims to cut delays, boost transparency and showcase a technology‑led model for state...
NY Governor Hochul’s $268 B Budget Touts Auto‑Insurance Reforms Amid Legislative Dispute
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $268 billion 2026‑27 budget that includes auto‑insurance reforms aimed at lowering premiums, capping excess profits and ending rating by zip code. The proposal faces pushback from Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who says a final deal has...
Judge Rules ICE’s Warrantless Arrest Guidance Violates Probable‑Cause Standard
U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell held that ICE’s internal memo authorizing warrantless civil arrests does not satisfy the Fourth Amendment probable‑cause requirement. The ruling narrows the agency’s ability to detain non‑citizens without a warrant and reinforces plaintiffs’ challenge to...
Atkins Pushes Congress for Bitcoin Market Structure Bill
WOW WE ARE GETTING CLARITY WOW Atkins appeals Congress to pass Bitcoin and Crypto market structure bill. I think Paul Atkins is so much better than Gensler and you should be thankful. https://t.co/Lz1KF2A0uP
DOJ Accuses UCLA Medical School of Racial Preference for Black and Hispanic Applicants
The U.S. Justice Department says UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine intentionally discriminated in favor of Black and Hispanic candidates for the 2023‑2025 classes, violating Title VI after the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling. The department seeks a voluntary settlement, while the...
Justice Department Moves to Strip 12 Americans of Their Citizenship
The Justice Department filed denaturalization lawsuits in federal courts against 12 naturalized Americans accused of lying about serious crimes during their citizenship process. The defendants range from a former U.S. ambassador who spied for Cuba to individuals alleged to have...
United Airlines Gets FAA Nod for Starlink-Enabled Embraer 175 Jets
United Airlines has secured FAA approval to outfit its Embraer 175 regional jets with SpaceX's Starlink low‑latency satellite broadband. The airline plans to launch passenger flights using the system in May and will install the hardware on dozens of aircraft...