Shutdown Showdown (Podcast)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a cooperative framework for interagency information sharing...

A federal district court in California ruled that the U.S. government violated Anthropic’s free speech and due process rights when it labeled Anthropic a supply chain risk in response to Anthropic speaking out about AI...

The Trump administration has released a comprehensive 165-page legislative proposal aimed at revitalizing America's maritime industry through new funding mechanisms, tax incentives, and cargo-preference requirements.

The Department of Justice has issued a stark reminder that both criminal and civil penalties await those who fail to disclose their activities on behalf of foreign interests to the U.S. government. This announcement signals that enforcement of foreign transparency laws, particularly FARA and Section 951, remains a top DOJ priority and may indicate an uptick in foreign agent-related enforcement actions in the near future. Individuals and organizations engaged in political activities on behalf of foreign prin

Congressional leaders are pressing federal agencies to demonstrate how they balance advancing U.S. biotechnology research with protecting against emerging biosecurity threats. The inquiry focuses on whether agencies have implemented key recommendations from a national security commission and what additional resources they need to maintain American leadership in this rapidly evolving field.

The Senate Banking Committee has scheduled a crucial executive session to vote on Brian Johnson's nomination as CFPB Director, along with the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and several other key appointments. If approved, Johnson's nomination will advance to the full Senate for consideration, with a narrow two-week window before the pre-election recess that could determine the timing of his potential confirmation. The process involves multiple procedural steps including committee appro

Expands Defense Production Act (DPA; P.L. 81-774) authorities over energy by giving the Secretaries of the Interior and Energy independent authority, alongside the Secretary of Commerce...

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has adopted sweeping amendments to its procedural rules to implement the accelerated ratemaking framework under House Bill 15. These changes introduce strict time limits for cross-examination, compressed discovery deadlines, and tighter briefing requirements that will fundamentally alter how rate cases are litigated before the PUCO.

On July 13, a divided Ninth Circuit panel upheld a lower court order that barred enforcement of FinCEN’s border Geographic Targeting Order (“GTO”). The GTO would have forced money services businesses (“MSBs”) in 30 ZIP codes along the U.S.-Mexico border to report cash transactions of just over $200, a dramatic reduction from the longstanding $10,000 reporting threshold.

President Trump's executive order directs multiple federal agencies to comprehensively review policies affecting American cattle ranchers, including potential wolf delisting under the Endangered Species Act and mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef products. The order aims to develop actionable recommendations to enhance rancher profitability and expand market access for domestic beef producers.

The No Surprises Act's Independent Dispute Resolution process is undergoing a major technology transformation with a new centralized portal for open negotiations. This development introduces standardized procedures for billing disputes between healthcare providers and payers, but also raises critical questions about compliance, system capacity, and whether the portal adequately addresses persistent challenges in payment collection and claim eligibility determination.

President Trump's Executive Order 14421 establishes a comprehensive framework for screening foreign-produced equipment in the U.S. bulk-power system, potentially affecting transformers, inverters, battery storage, and control systems tied to certain foreign entities. The Department of Energy has 120 days to issue implementing regulations and is seeking stakeholder input through a Request for Information to balance grid security concerns with reliability, supply chain constraints, and economic impacts across

The US Army Corps of Engineers and EPA have released a supplemental proposal that further refines the regulatory definition of "waters of the United States" under the Clean Water Act. The proposed changes introduce bright-line tests for determining jurisdictional waters, requiring perennial flow and continuous surface connections rather than seasonal standards. These revisions aim to align federal regulations more closely with the Supreme Court's Sackett v. EPA decision while potentially narrowing the scope

Electric generation projects rarely get built, let alone financed, without a long-term contract locking in revenue. That contract, referred to as an offtake agreement, determines whether a project can attract limited-recourse debt and whether investors are willing to commit capital to construction.

The Treasury Department and IRS have released proposed regulations that would revoke Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for private schools engaging in race-based admissions or diversity programs, fundamentally reshaping how educational institutions approach affirmative action and DEI initiatives.

The Department of Justice announced a landmark $250 million settlement with KKR & Co. for allegedly submitting deficient Hart-Scott-Rodino Act notification forms across at least 16 transactions. This unprecedented penalty, the largest ever for HSR violations, raises critical questions about merger notification compliance obligations and the consequences of systemic noncompliance with federal antitrust review requirements.

European and UK authorities are dramatically escalating sanctions enforcement against Russia-related violations, marking an unprecedented shift from policy development to aggressive prosecution. Recent actions span criminal convictions with multi-year prison sentences, substantial asset seizures, maritime interdictions of shadow fleet vessels, and penalties targeting both physical goods and digital infrastructure networks.

KCAB International has unveiled sweeping changes to its arbitration framework, introducing a new International Arbitration Court, revised cost structures, and streamlined procedures for fast-track and expedited cases. Can Seoul leverage these reforms to position itself as Asia's third major arbitration hub alongside Singapore and Hong Kong?

The Trump administration's Operation Economic Outcast represents an unprecedented escalation in Iran sanctions enforcement, threatening secondary sanctions against entire countries while expanding sectoral restrictions and targeting financial institutions globally. Two weeks into implementation, the campaign reveals a complex geopolitical landscape where major powers like China and Russia openly defy US demands, while European allies navigate conflicting legal obligations between supporting American

When can contractors successfully challenge an employer's call on a performance bond? The Technology and Construction Court's recent decision in TTSJV v BapCo demonstrates just how narrow the grounds for intervention really are, even where the contractor has strong arguments on the merits of the underlying dispute.