4/12/18  //  Daily Update

Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg concluded two days of testimony on Capitol Hill. The Justice Department will temporarily suspend the Vera Institute of Justice’s Legal Orientation Program, which provides legal assistance to detained immigrants facing deportation, as it audits the program’s cost-effectiveness. White House deputy national security adviser for strategy Nadia Schadlow has resigned, making her the third senior National Security Council official to leave since John Bolton was appointed national security adviser. The FBI raid on the office of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, sought records related to the “Access Hollywood” tape in addition to records related to payments to Stormy Daniels. A bipartisan group of senators introduced a new bill to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from termination by President Trump, and the Judiciary Committee will likely hold a vote within the next week.

4/11/18  //  Daily Update

The Justice Department is investigating whether colleges and universities are violating antitrust laws by sharing information about applicants who have applied early decision. The Postal Service’s governing board has remained empty since December 2016, and the vacancies are hurting operations. Trade groups are challenging the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s payday loan rule. The goal of the FBI raid of Michael Cohen’s office was to find records related to payments made to women claiming to have had affairs with President Trump. A Ukrainian steel mogul’s payment during the 2016 presidential campaign to the Trump Organization in exchange for an appearance by then-candidate Donald Trump is a new focus of the special counsel’s investigation.

12/15/17  //  Daily Update

On a 3-2 party line vote, the Federal Communications Commission repealed Obama-era “net neutrality” regulations. After the Senate confirmed two Trump appointees to the National Labor Relations Board, the Board overturned an Obama-era ruling on joint employer status on a 3-2 party line vote. California sued the Department of Education over its failure to process student debt relief claims for students defrauded by for-profit colleges. Faith-based leaders have written an open letter warning President Trump that his anti-Muslim tweets threaten the First Amendment.

10/4/17  //  In-Depth Analysis

Anti-Muslim animus on the face of the second travel ban requires clear proof that the third one is free of such bigotry.

9/5/17  //  In-Depth Analysis

Analysis of the Ninth Circuit's latest travel ban argument (and some personal reflections).

8/25/17  //  Daily Update

President Trump might pardon former Maricopa County sheriff, Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt of court for defying an injunction prohibiting racially discriminatory policing policies. DOJ's involvement in a challenge to Harvard's affirmative action policy would threaten the very foundation of race conscious admissions programs. The Superior Court of D.C. ruled that DOJ can issue an amended search warrant to Dreamhost, demanding data pertaining to a website used to organize protests against President Trump around Inauguration Day. Secretary of Interior Zinke has recommended major changes to public lands management.

8/21/17  //  Daily Update

The events in Charlottesville may have implications for various Trump brands. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has refused to resign. DOJ continues to support the position that websites are covered by Title III of the American Disabilities Act. And President Trump has decided on a new strategy regarding Afghanistan.

8/14/17  //  Daily Update

President Trump’s rebuke of the violence in Charlottesville on Saturday, where a white supremacist killed a counter-protester and injured 19 others, contained no specific condemnation of white supremacy, the alt-right, or neo-Nazism. The ACLU has filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that the Trump Administration has unconstitutionally detained immigrant teens based on false allegations of gang affiliations. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt is implementing an anti-regulatory agenda with extraordinary secrecy. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is seeking to interview current and former White House staff as part of his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

8/7/17  //  Daily Update

Civil rights groups are suing the State Department for refusing to process visa applications for winners of a federal visa lottery program from the countries included in President Trump’s travel ban. Lambda Legal reacts to reported guidance on the transgender military ban by saying "See you in court, President Trump." Betsy DeVos declined to answer a question about whether she would intervene if states offered vouchers to private schools that discriminated against LGBTQ students. The Trump administration issued a formal notice announcing the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris climate deal. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has asked the White House for documents related to Michael Flynn.

7/24/17  //  Daily Update

Commentators continue to criticize the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. The Department of Justice will prosecute an al-Qaeda suspect in Philadelphia. The White House will likely accept Congress’ Russia sanctions bill. President Trump has targeted the Robert Mueller investigation and has considered pardoning himself and those in his immediate circle.

7/21/17  //  Daily Update

The Senate has confirmed John Bush to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The ACLU has filed suit against the Trump administration to get details on plans to roll back civil rights in the name of religious freedom. Attorney General Jeff Sessions plans to remain in his position, despite criticism from President Trump about his recusal from the Russia investigation. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has expanded his investigation to include a range of business transactions involving the President and his associates.

7/20/17  //  Daily Update

In litigation over the revised travel ban, the Supreme Court stayed portions of Judge Watson’s order granting relief to refugees, but declined to block relief to relatives. President Trump regrets appointing Attorney General Jeff Sessions given Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Jared Kushner will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on ties to Russia. President Trump is working to transform the judiciary.

7/20/17  //  Daily Update

In litigation over the revised travel ban, the Supreme Court stayed portions of Judge Watson’s order granting relief to refugees, but declined to block relief concerning relatives. President Trump regrets appointing Attorney General Jeff Sessions given Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Jared Kushner will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on ties to Russia. President Trump is working to transform the judiciary.

7/17/17  //  Daily Update

The government has asked the Supreme Court to clarify its June 26th ruling partially blocking the revised entry ban after a Hawaii district court issued a revised injunction in the case. The Presidential Commission on Election Integrity has published comments critical of its work, as well as the names and contact information of their authors, and Commission Vice Chair Kris Kobach was revealed to have proposed revisions to the National Voter Registration Act requiring proof of citizenship from all registrants. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has published an op-ed defending the DOJ policy requiring prosecutors to seek the most serious charges possible. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has asked the Senate to roll back rules to allow the DOJ to impose a federal ban on medical marijuana.

4/27/17  //  Daily Update

President Trump proposed drastic reductions in individual and corporate tax rates in a one-page tax plan. President Trump also vowed on Twitter to appeal decisions enjoining both his travel ban and sanctuary cities executive orders and indicated a desire to break up the Ninth Circuit. The Department of Homeland Security announced the launch of the Victims of Illegal Immigrant Crime Engagement Office. The House Freedom Caucus announced its support of a new bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. And President Trump may sign an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the U.S. from NAFTA.