American lawyer and politician, serving as New York Attorney General since 2019
Cornell University has acknowledged a troubling sexual assault case involving fraternity members in 2024. The university has described the week as among its most difficult, while Gov. Hochul pledges to close a gap in New York’s voluntary intoxication law. Lawmakers are forming a working group to propose reforms for the 2027 session, and advocates say stronger accountability and transparency are needed.
A coalition of 25 US states has filed suit in the US Court of International Trade to stop 10–12.5% tariffs that took effect in July on goods from about 60 trading partners. Plaintiffs say the administration has used forced‑labour claims to recreate broad levies courts have already struck down; the White House says the duties are lawful under Section 301.
Australia’s under‑16 social-media ban shows limited early success. A regulator’s three‑month follow‑up finds most youths retain or recreate accounts; age-checks remain weak and offline activity has shifted little. Governments may tighten enforcement and penalties.
New York state officials have filed a state Supreme Court lawsuit against Kalshi, alleging the prediction market platform operates illegally without a Gaming Commission license, endangers consumers, and should forfeit gains and pay restitution and penalties. The action adds to a broader clash over how prediction markets are regulated between states and the federal government.
Todd Blanche has been confirmed as attorney general in a 50-49 vote, ending weeks of Republican opposition surrounding the handling of Epstein documents and an anti-weaponization fund. Cassidy voted in favor; Collins and Murkowski opposed. Blanche will lead the DOJ, continuing the department’s alignment with the White House while facing scrutiny from survivors and critics.
A coalition of states has filed suit in Washington to block a federal rule that would let the Administration share SNAP recipients’ immigration status and other personal data. The move follows prior disputes over TANF funding and questions about fraud in antipoverty programs.
The United States has faced a wave of double-digit tariffs on 59 countries and the EU, arguing they curb forced-labor imports. Courts are being asked to halt the tariffs, with states seeking refunds while White House officials defend the measures as lawful responses to unfair practices. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that cast doubt on broader authority.
The Northern District of New York has ruled that New York’s face-covering and identification measures in its law enforcement policy, enacted in the state budget, are likely unconstitutional because they conflict with the supremacy clause. The ruling follows California’s earlier block of a similar law.
The Trump administration has refunded about $100 billion of pre-cut tariff revenue after a Supreme Court ruling invalidated much of the IEEPA-based tariff regime. Refunds are continuing as trade authorities review remaining claims and importers provide banking details, while lawsuits challenge new duties.
State prosecutors allege Kalshi has offered prediction markets without a license, exposing New York residents to financial risk and evading taxes. The suit seeks to block operations in New York and restitution for affected customers, as regulators clash over federal preemption and state authority.
RWE has relinquished its offshore wind leases in the US after a settlement with the Trump administration. The company will reinvest about $1.2 billion into a Louisiana LNG terminal and 15 natural gas peaker plants, while winding down projects on New York, California and Louisiana coasts. The move follows a pattern of government buybacks of offshore wind leases.
Paramount has signalled willingness to engage with California and other states over the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. The company is preparing for possible relocation if settlement talks fail, while regulators press to block the deal on antitrust grounds. A March trial remains in focus, with ticking fees looming as the company seeks a path forward.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to spend up to $20 million to outfit ICE officers and agents with CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E. gloves that deliver electrical shocks to gain quick compliance. The devices, produced by Compliant Technologies, are intended as a non-lethal de-escalation tool but have drawn civil rights concerns and questions about misuse. Training and policy work are ongoing, with some jurisdictions already using similar devices.
Washington state has obtained a preliminary injunction against Kalshi, barring most wagers on sports, elections, and related topics. Kalshi must implement geofencing by Sept. 2 and faces penalties if it fails. The case highlights a clash between state regulators and federal oversight over prediction markets, with the CFTC declaring a market emergency amid pressure from New York’s lawsuit.
The NYPD says two hate-crime incidents at Orthodox synagogues are under investigation after bags of motor oil were thrown at two Brooklyn/Queens temples. Authorities are ramping up security as antisemitic incidents rise; a Bronx suspect has been linked to a separate deli shooting and a wider spree is under review.
California and 11 other states have filed suit to block Paramount's $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing it would reduce competition and raise prices. A new round of talks has been underway, with a focus on structural remedies; state officials say robust concessions are required, while Paramount warns of ticking fees and potential relocation pressures.
Chief Justice John Roberts has issued a temporary order allowing construction on the White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers an emergency appeal. Lower courts had ordered a halt, finding the project requires congressional approval. The administration argues the work is vital to national security; preservationists say Trump acted without legal authority.
The FTC and five states have reached a settlement with Zillow and Redfin over their rental-listing partnership. The deal allows Redfin to resume rental advertising and keeps Zillow-Redfin cooperation, while boosting competition and aiming to lower listing costs for landlords and renters. The settlement covers ads and a staged return to rentals through 2030.
The FTC has filed a proposed order requiring Redfin to restart its standalone rental listings and to resume competing for property-management customers, following a settlement with Zillow and state AGs. The agreement preserves a rental partnership but allows Redfin to pursue its own rental business and ad sales. The settlement resolves litigation in five states and follows an antitrust case that claimed higher rents and lower listing quality.
Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and to change Facebook and Instagram defaults for US users under 18. The deal ends a federal trial and requires age verification, a two-hour daily cap, night blocks, muted school-hour notifications, removal of visible like counts and limits on cosmetic filters.
Courts have blocked a White House plan to require voter lists and standardized envelopes for mail ballots, delaying implementation as midterm ballots approach. The rules have been challenged as unconstitutional, with lawsuits arguing only states and Congress can set election procedures.
A draft proposal from the Trump administration would exclude undocumented immigrants and non-permanent residents from the 2030 U.S. census, potentially shrinking official counts used to allocate seats and federal funds. Race and ethnicity questions may be dropped; the plan opens for public comment before final policy.
A US federal judge has blocked the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing a new rule that would cap visa durations for foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists. The ruling preserves the longstanding “duration of status” system as litigation continues. The decision follows lawsuits by a coalition of unions and higher education groups and concerns about potential impacts on universities and the US economy.
Paramount Skydance faces antitrust litigation blocking its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. A California-led legal challenge threatens to push Paramount’s headquarters and thousands of jobs out of California, triggering a potential $10.6–$21.2 billion hit to state output and hundreds of millions in tax losses. The LAEDC warns the move could reshape Hollywood’s economic center.
California and New York attorneys general have filed lawsuits over the Trump administration's plan to buy back offshore wind leases, arguing the deals divert taxpayer money to fossil-fuel projects and raise electricity costs while hindering clean-energy progress. The actions involve Invenergy and Bluepoint Wind, with multiple states joining New York in blocking the moves.
New York State has filed a lawsuit against Polymarket, alleging the platform operates illegal gambling without a license and targets underage users. The suit seeks penalties, restitution, and an order to halt unlicensed operations, following similar actions against Kalshi and other platforms. Polymarket defends its business, saying it engages with regulators and aims to protect consumers.
A civil suit alleging drugging and rape at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity has prompted Tompkins County DA to reopen the criminal investigation and present evidence to a grand jury. Cornell has sanctioned students and supported the grand jury process as questions about campus culture and accountability intensify.
The Speaker is campaigning across multiple states to defend Republican-held seats while pursuing a broader message on cost of living and reform. The push follows a six-week sprint across 20 states, with a focus on key battlegrounds as November nears.
Survivors, students and advocates protested across the US as a civil suit accusing seven Cornell fraternity members of drugging and assaulting a woman in 2024 reopened the case. New York’s attorney general will decide whether to pursue charges after external investigators examine Cornell’s handling of the investigation.
The case surrounding a 2024 gang-rape allegation at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity has intensified. Gov. Hochul has appointed Letitia James as special prosecutor, following questions about the Tompkins County DA’s handling. The AG will oversee the investigation and may present evidence to a grand jury if warranted.
The Pentagon has announced the creation of a new Office of Religious Affairs. Reporting directly to the defense secretary, the ORA will coordinate religious support for service members and chaplain resources, while pledging not to compel participation or privilege any faith. Critics warn the move could entrench Christian nationalist influence.
The Cornell fraternity rape case has prompted Gov. Hochul to appoint Attorney General Letitia James to lead the reopened investigation, with lawmakers pressing to close a loophole that allows prosecutions to fail when victims choose voluntary intoxication.
The civil lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe over alleged drugging and rape by members of a Cornell fraternity has drawn threats against the plaintiff and her counsel. Cornell University says it will review Greek life on campus, while New York officials have appointed a special prosecutor; former President Donald Trump has criticized that appointment.
The NFL has filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to let states regulate sports-prediction markets, arguing such contracts are gambling rather than financial swaps. The league cites $1.8 billion in prediction-market activity on the season’s first Sunday and calls for stronger safeguards, including a 21-year age minimum for bettors.