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Minimum Competence

Minimum Competence is your daily companion for legal news, designed to bring you up to speed on the day’s major legal stories during your commute home. Each episode is short, clear, and informative—just enough to make you minimally competent on the key developments in law, policy, and regulation. Whether you’re a lawyer, law student, journalist, or just legal-curious, you’ll get a smart summary without the fluff. A full transcript of each episode is available via the companion newsletter at www.minimumcomp.com. www.minimumcomp.com

Mon 11/6 - Stroock Goes Kaboom, SCOTUS Case Pits DV and Gun Rights, "X" Restructuring Hampers Misinformation Research

6 mins; November 06, 2023

Fri 11/3 - SBF Guilty, Eastman Culpable, NASCAR Biased Against White Men (??), Eric Trump to Face More Tough Questions and Giuliani Wants His License Back

12 mins; November 03, 2023

Thurs 11/2 - DJTJ Says He Didn't Do Nuttin', Judges Defeat Misconduct Claim, Dunkin' Settles Vapin' Donuts Case and Tesla Wins its First Autopilot Suit

9 mins; November 02, 2023

Weds 11/1 - "Trump Too Small," SBF Closing Arguments, DJTJ to Testify, and New Bar Exam Catches on

10 mins; November 01, 2023

Tues 10/31 - Montana's Privacy Law Irks 23andMe, JetBlue's Acquisition of Spirit Faces Antitrust Challenge and Column Tuesday on AI Tax Preparation

8 mins; October 31, 2023

Mon 10/30 - SCOTUS Considering who can be Blocked, Biden Exec. Order on AI, Trump Ballot Disqual. in CO, CA Assault Rifle ban Upheld and UAW Wins big

10 mins; October 30, 2023

Fri 10/27 - Big Law Bonuses, CA Crypto Regulation, Clarence Thomas Ethics, ABA Micromanages Law Schools and Judge Newman Fights Back

10 mins; October 27, 2023

Thurs 10/26 - Ford Strikes Tentative Deal with Striking Workers, New NLRB Rule on Joint Employers and the Next Gen Bar Exam’s Debut is Delayed

9 mins; October 26, 2023

Weds 10/25 - Trump and Cohen 👀, Eastman Fights for Law License, States Back Subjecting MLB to Antitrust Law, NLRB Case on College Athlete Employee Status and my Drexel Kline Undergraduate Tax Class

10 mins; October 25, 2023

Tues 10/23 - Menendez Pleads Not Guilty, CO Can't Bar Anti-LGBTQ School from State Program, Biden Judicial Nominations Profiled, BK in Radiology and Banks vs. CFPB

12 mins; October 24, 2023

Mon 10/23 - Google Liable for $1m in Gender Bias Damages, AFL Sues NYU, SBF Defense Doesn't Like his Cartoon Villain Image and Sen. Menendez to Enter New Plea

10 mins; October 23, 2023

Fri 10/20 - Alex Jones Owes $1.1b, Term Limits for SCOTUS, Jim Jordan Picks up SALT, Trump is not Immune, Powell has Flipped and no More Logic Games on the LSAT

10 mins; October 20, 2023

Thurs 10/19 - MLBPA Files Amicus Brief on MLB Antitrust Exemption, H-1B Visa Changes may be Coming, Bankruptcy Judge Resignation Leads to 3,500 Case Reassignments and Eastman's Excuses

8 mins; October 19, 2023

Weds 10/18 - SALT Cap Political Salience, SEC Distances from ESG, Google Defends Against Web-Scraping for Bard, SBF Says he wasn't Reckless and Musk v. Wachtell Moves to Arb

11 mins; October 18, 2023

Tues 10/17 - Egg Producers Face Price Fixing Litigation, No Fakes Act, Binance Halts Withdrawals, Rite Aid BK and Column Tuesday on Carbon Border Tax

11 mins; October 17, 2023

Mon 10/16 - Bankruptcy Judge Resigns, CA Bill to Regulate Crypto, Menendez Indicted, More Shushing of Trump and Microsoft Acquires Activision

13 mins; October 16, 2023

Fri 10/13 - Rite Aid Needs Aid, WGA Wins Restrictions on AI Usage, Judge in MT Calls TikTok Ban Paternalistic, Citi New ESG Initiative, SCOTUS May Provide Cover for Racial Gerrymandering

10 mins; October 13, 2023

Thurs 10/12 - Ban on High Capacity Gun Magazines Mostly Stays Alive in CA, Blum Drops Perkins Coie Affirmative Action Case and Pzifer Agrees to $50m EpiPen Settlement

7 mins; October 12, 2023

Weds 10/11 - SCOTUS Declines to Take up GOP Issues, a Dissent Is Formatted as a Majority Opinion, Chevron Doctrine May Not Have Long and SBF Trial Rolls On

8 mins; October 11, 2023

Tues 10/10 - 23andMe Data Breach Class Action, Former Starbucks CEO Labor Law Violation, Sonos Loses Patent Dispute and Column Tuesday on the Sales Tax Gap

10 mins; October 10, 2023

Fri 10/6 - Challenges to Naval Academy’s Admissions Policy, SEC Tries to Force Musk to Testify, Continued Legal Drama at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Alex Jones Demands Backpay

10 mins; October 06, 2023

Thurs 10/5 - 9th Circuit reviewing Meta’s “Citizenship Bias,” Trump-era CMS rule struck down, SBF’s Trial Rolls on and Trump's Judge Frustration

8 mins; October 05, 2023

Weds 10/4 - Trump Gagged, SCOTUS Might not gut CFPB, Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty, SBF Trial Resumes and Column Tuesday on Software Development Expenses

10 mins; October 04, 2023

Tues 10/3 - Kirkland Promotes a Ton of Partners, X Sued by X, and Trump Reaped $100m Through Fraud

7 mins; October 03, 2023

Mon 10/2 - Congress Avoids Shutdown, Gas Furnace Efficiency Requirements, Big Law Firm Middle East Expansion, Trump to Appear in NY Court and SCOTUS Decision May Help Hunter Biden

10 mins; October 02, 2023

Fri 9/29 - Suffolk Law is Awesome, IRS May Furlough Staff, NLRB Nationwide Ruling Against Starbucks, USPTO Stays Open if Gov Shuts Down and SCOTUS Case on 2A

11 mins; September 29, 2023

Thurs 9/28 - Mobile Sports Betting in FL in Question, GOP Impeachment Hearing Against Biden, Menendez Won't Step Down, and Judge Recuses in Amazon Antitrust Case

7 mins; September 28, 2023

Weds 9/27 - O'Hagan Meyer Grows, SCOTUS tells Alabama to Redraw District, Trump Liable for Fraud in NY and SCOTUS Prepares for New Term

8 mins; September 27, 2023

Tues 9/26 - Trump Attorney Sues Wessmann, Zombie Funds, CFPB Expanding Influence, and Column Tuesday on Software Development Expenditures

9 mins; September 26, 2023

Fri 8/22 - Racist Juror Removed in District Court, Big Pharma Prepares to Negotiate with CMS, Anti-DEI Comes for Scholarships, Cisco Acquisition and Trump Fraud Trial Drama

9 mins; September 22, 2023

Thurs 9/21 - Judge Newman Suspended 1 year, UFC Monopsony Suit, Judiciary has 2 weeks Funding, $10k/hour Legal Fees in Tesla Case, America Supports Strikes and Authors Sue OpenAI

10 mins; September 21, 2023

Weds 9/20 - AMC Legal Fees Reduced, Alex Jones Still Lives Opulently, Lawsuit Alleges Invasive Grass Growth Exacerbated Maui Fire, Hunter to Plead Not Guilty and Arnold and Porter to Boston

9 mins; September 20, 2023

Tues 9/19 - New Cooley CEO, IRS Open During Shutdown, CFPB Needs to Calm Down, Citi & Crypto & Column Tuesday on Property Tax Reassessments

9 mins; September 19, 2023

Mon 9/18 - Litigation Finance Sale, Oklahoma Town Can't Get Enough Federal Prosecutors, and Lyft Fined by SEC

8 mins; September 18, 2023

Fri 9/15 - Sinema Opposes NLRB Rule, 1/6 Cases Reach SCOTUS, Smith Rejects Trump's Judge Removal Demand, Paxton Impeachment Nears End

10 mins; September 15, 2023

Thurs 9/14 - Hackers Target MGM and Caesars, Law Firm DEI Initiatives in Flux, Citi Undergoes C-Suite Rejigger, and a Connecticut Town Sues the IRS

10 mins; September 14, 2023

Weds 9/13 - PwC Not Separating Consulting and Audit Business, SBF Stays in Jail, Paul Weiss Wins, NextGen Bar Exam Details, and the 6th Circuit Defers Liability for CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, etc.

11 mins; September 13, 2023

Tues 9/12 - Burford Makes 37,000%, Microsoft to Defend Copilot Customers in Copyright Suits, Conservatives Want CFPB Gutted by SCOTUS and Column Tuesday on Low-income Energy Credits

10 mins; September 12, 2023

Mon 9/11 - Executives go Mum on DEI, Eastman Tries More Tricks, Gas-to-crypto on the rise, Biden Admin's Social Media Muzzle Loosened and Meadows Fails to Remove to Federal Court

9 mins; September 11, 2023

Fri 9/8 - Kavanaugh Optimistic About Self-Policing SCOTUS Ethics, Navarro Guilty, and ex-Big Law Partner vs. TikTok Influencer

8 mins; September 08, 2023

Thurs 9/7 - MoFo Amends DEI Criteria, DeSantis Sued by Fired Prosecutor, Biden Rejects Gitmo Plea Conditions, Trump off State Ballots?

7 mins; September 07, 2023

Weds 9/6 - Elliott Broidy Sues, 3M PFAS Settlement, Apple Execs to Testify Against Google, Oregon Bar Exam Alternative and Play Store Settlement

10 mins; September 06, 2023

Tues 9/5 - Hogan Lovells CEO, EU Set to Crack Down on Anticompetitive Behavior, Paxton Impeachment Trial and Navarro Contempt Trials Begin, and Column Tuesday on Millionaire Tax-Funded Student Lunches

9 mins; September 05, 2023

Fri 9/1 - Justice Thomas Discloses Crow Gifts, Proud Boys Sentenced, Apple and USPTO Settle in "Smart Keyboard" Trademark Dispute

7 mins; September 01, 2023

Thurs 8/31 - X Wants Your Eyes, Trump Can't Get Insurer to Pay For Pollution, 3M Litigation Investors Unmasked, Rejected Law School Applicants Find New Path and Giuliani Defamed GA Election Workers

10 mins; August 31, 2023

Weds 8/30 - AMC Shareholder Update, Thiel Insider Trading Accusations, Big Win for Crypto, Proud Boys Sentencing, AI in Law School Exams and iFixIt Takes Aim at McDonald's Shake Machines

12 mins; August 30, 2023

Tues 8/29 - Medicare Drug Negotiations Begin, "Opportunity Transparency" Gains Traction at State Level, ABA Announces AI Task Force, and US Judge to Decertify Google Play Class Action

8 mins; August 29, 2023

Mon 8/28 - ADHD Medication Generic Approved, 3M Settles Earplug Lawsuit, Tesla Readies for Autopilot Death Case, WSJ Reporter in Russian Jail Updates, and GA GOP to Retaliate Against Trump Prosecutor

8 mins; August 28, 2023

Fri 8/25 - Biden Admin Restores Medicaid to TX Individuals, JPMorgan Wins Under Howey, RFK Loses to YouTube, Starbucks Vs. NLRB and Big Don Gets His Mugshot

9 mins; August 25, 2023

Thurs 8/24 - Dollar Tree Settles with OSHA, Trump Surrenders in Georgia, Law Schools Change Admission Essays, and Kirkland & Ellis Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Continues

8 mins; August 24, 2023

Weds 8/23 - Perkins Coie Sued Over DEI, JPMorgan Bigwigs Sentenced, WV Denied Cert in CFPB Case, Meta Problems in Norway and WGA Strike Updates

7 mins; August 23, 2023

Tues 8/22 - Law Firm of the Future, NJ Needs Judges, Activision Sells Cloud Gaming to Ubi, SCOTUS May Review HS Diversity Program and Column Tuesday on Hydrogen

8 mins; August 22, 2023

Mon 8/21 - No Copyright for AI Art, Federal Judge Rejects Settlement for Tesla Roofs, AMC Shareholder Drops Suit, California DMV Investigating GM Cruise

6 mins; August 21, 2023

Fri 8/18 - Student Loans vs. 401(k), AMC Stock Conversion Challenge, Eastman's Disciplinary Trial, Congressional Probe into Hunter and Kroger's Big Merger

9 mins; August 18, 2023

Thurs 8/17 - Threat Against Trump DC Judge, Allstate $90m Settlement, Youtube/Reddit Sued for Radicalizing, T-Mobile Sued for Bad Security and a Trial Date for Trump in Georgia

6 mins; August 17, 2023

Wed 8/16 - DeSantis Popular with Lawyers, Davis Polk Bets on Back to Work, VMWare Appraisal Suit, ABA Free Speech Guidelines for Law Schools and Angel Hernandez Loses Appeal

8 mins; August 16, 2023

Tues 8/15 - Trump Indicted (4), Youth Climate Plaintiffs in MT Win, Binance Maneuvers v. SEC, ABA Recommends Pay for Law Journal Editors and Column Tuesday on Retirement Equity

7 mins; August 15, 2023

Mon 8/14 - Indian Nationals Sue for H-1B Denials, NLRB Hates Starbucks Civility Rule, Liability in Maui Fires, McDonalds Abandons ESG Language and SBF Jailed in Brooklyn

7 mins; August 14, 2023

Fri 8/11 - EPA Union Says No to Back to Work, EEOC Settles AI Discrimination in Hiring Case, SCOTUS Considers Overturning Purdue Pharma Settlement and Trump Challenges Evidence Sharing Restriction

5 mins; August 11, 2023

Thurs 8/10 - Religious Accommodations and Pronouns, Southwest Fights Training Order, Apple Interim Win v. Epic, Special Counsel Searched Big Don's Twitter

5 mins; August 10, 2023

Weds 8/9 - Southwest Airlines Lawyers ADF Training, ABA Looks at Mental Health in Judiciary, Google Antitrust Updates and Column Tuesday on Jewel-Box Museums

7 mins; August 09, 2023

Tues 8/8 - 9th Circuit 2A Butterfly Knife Ruling, NJ vs. NY in Remote Work Tax Rule, Biden Admin Rule on Fraudulent Schools Blocked and More DOJ Action Coming

6 mins; August 08, 2023

Mon 8/7 - Kirkland Partner Out, Trump Drops GA Lawsuit and Targets Federal Judge, RFK v. YouTube, Law Firm Demand is Up and X Will Pay For It (No They Won't)

7 mins; August 07, 2023

Fri 8/4 - Trump Pleaded Not Guilty, Kagan Says SCOTUS Not Imperial, SCOTUS Ruling Imperils Waterways, and Reenactment in Parkland

6 mins; August 04, 2023

Thurs 8/3 - State AI Regulation, Congressional Maps Decide 2024, Tesla Class Action Range Lawsuit, SocGen Reaches a Settlement

7 mins; August 03, 2023

Weds 8/2 - Trump Indicted Again, Big Law Layoffs and Delays, X vs. India and Attorneys General Ask EPA for Controls on Plastics

7 mins; August 02, 2023

Tues 8/1 - Bipartisan Green Card Fix, Alito Wants to Gut Disclosure Requirements, Disney and NBC Eyeing AI bill, and Column Tuesday on EV Backlog

7 mins; August 01, 2023

Mon 7/31 - CoComelon Wins, DNC and Big Law, Prosecutors Want SBF Jailed, Trump's "Big Lie" Suit Against CNN Dismissed

7 mins; July 31, 2023

Fri 7/28 - Taylor Swift Wins, Mastercard Says no Debit Cards for Marijuana Purchases, Mac and Cheese Class Action Lawsuit and Trump in Trouble Again Again Again

7 mins; July 28, 2023

Thurs 7/27 - Hunter Plea Deal Delay, Teamsters Win vs. UPS, Covington Must Disclose, Lawsuits in TX Over Book Ban

6 mins; July 27, 2023

Weds 7/26 - North Face v. IRS, Meta Australia Fine, Musk v. SEC goes to SCOTUS

7 mins; July 26, 2023

Tues 7/25 - Lawyers on Boards, X Trademarked by Many, Quinn Emanuel Data Breach, US Sues TX Over Drowning Border, Column Tuesday on 501c3s

8 mins; July 25, 2023

Mon 7/24 - Remote Employment Checks OK, SBF, Gagged, Claims Didn't Witness Tamper, UPS and Teamsters to Resume Negotiations, NJ Sues Biden Admin and Omegle Sued

8 mins; July 24, 2023

Fri 7/21 - NYC Settles With Protesters, FTX Sues SBF, Twitter Subpoenas Warren, and KPMG Generative AI

6 mins; July 21, 2023

Thurs 7/20 - Cotton v. DEI, DoorDash Hourly Wages, Gun Advocates v. MA, Trump stuck in state court and Elon's Emails

7 mins; July 20, 2023

Weds 7/19 - Wachtell Exoduses, Universities Fight Endowment Tax, Visa and Mastercard Antitrust v. Square, Ethics for SCOTUS and Trump J6 Probe Target

6 mins; July 19, 2023

Tues 7/18 - US Pillar 2 Reprieve, Trump's Lawyers Back in FL Court, CA Hands Uber Drivers Big Win, Column Tuesday on State Film Credits

6 mins; July 18, 2023

Mon 7/17 - Big4 AUS Scandal, Meta Fines in Norway, Dershowitz Fines Here, MS Reports Email Leaks from Government Agencies

5 mins; July 17, 2023

Fri 7/14 - Ripple Wins, Disney Wants a Dismissal, IRS v. The Rich Cheats and Twitter Ex-Employee Lawsuit

5 mins; July 14, 2023

Thurs 7/13 - Lewis Brisbois Successor Firm Falters, Musk v. Wachtell Lipton, Senate Confirms Young Judge and IRS Goes After Tax Cheats in Puerto Rico

6 mins; July 13, 2023

Weds 7/12 - MS Activision Moves Forward, Teamsters Expand, Corporate and Tax Firms Eye Energy Credits and /r/WallStreetbets Moderator Loses Suit

6 mins; July 12, 2023

Tues 7/11 - Trump Asks for Delay, No Workplace Protection for DACA Recipients, TX Cuts Property and Franchise Taxes and AI Tax

6 mins; July 11, 2023

Mon 7/10 - No MAGA Hats for Mail Carriers, Greenberg Traurig Moves Towards Private Credit, IRS Changes to Dirty Dozen, SVB Sues FDIC and Van Houten Release

6 mins; July 10, 2023

Fri 7/7 - Lewis Brisbois Exodus, SCOTUS Takes Up Gun Rights for DV Perps, Nauta Pleads Not Guilty, CA Bar Fees Raised and Musk C&Ds Meta

6 mins; July 07, 2023

Thurs 7/6 - UPS Strike Incoming, DOE Mulls Investment in Hydrogen, Biden Social Media Questions, Nauta to Enter Plea and Conservatives Sue Law School

8 mins; July 06, 2023

Weds 7/5 - UPS Moves Towards Strike, Paul Hastings Sued, Paxton Won't Testify and Column Tuesday on Senior Property Tax Relief Being Bad Policy

8 mins; July 05, 2023

Fri 6/30 - This Supreme Court Will Be Viewed as a Dark Mark on History

7 mins; June 30, 2023

Thurs 6/29 - FL Sticks With Old Bar Exam, AMC Meme Shareholders Try for Class Certification, FTX Sues SBF and Lawyer, Littler Wins Big on Starbucks Anti-Union and OpenAI Sued for Scraping

7 mins; June 29, 2023

Weds 6/28 - PA State Registration, International Tax, No Independent State Legislature "Theory," Law Prof Sues for Discrimination and SBF Trial Proceeds

6 mins; June 28, 2023

Tues 6/27 - KPMG and Lewis Brisbois Cuts, Rite Aid Also Cuts, SCOTUS Rejects Gerrymandering Appeal and Inventor Concerned about Judicial Competence

9 mins; June 27, 2023

Mon 6/26 - Audit the Rich, Coinbase Small Win, Special Counsel Wants to Delay Trump Docs Trial, Hunter Biden Case not Stymied and Major Fentanyl Suit

7 mins; June 26, 2023

Fri 6/23 - ChatGPT Lawyer Wrist Slap, BDO Goes Corp, SCOTUS Rules Against Navajo, Huge Fees for Meta Privacy Suit and Titan Sub Liability

7 mins; June 23, 2023

Thurs 6/22 - Perkins Coie Delays Start Dates, US Needs Global Minimum Tax, NY Ban on Noncompetes Coming, FTC Wants MS Activision Acquisition Paused

9 mins; June 22, 2023

Weds 6/21 - Big Law Partner to Traffic Court Judge, Disciplinary Proceedings Against Eastman, Alito Nonsense, Coinbase Interesting Tactic

7 mins; June 21, 2023

Tues 6/20 - Louisiana v. Tesla, Google v. Fake Review Mills, EU has Cum-Ex Solution, and Column Tuesday on New Jersey GILTI Regime

8 mins; June 20, 2023

Fri 6/16 - SCOTUS Upholds Native American Adoption Law, Bayer Settlement for Roundup, Gov. Abbott Shutters TX DEI Offices, Carroll v. Trump II

7 mins; June 16, 2023

Thurs 6/15 - DOJ George Floyd Murder Investigation, Reed Smith Cuts Attorneys, Twitter Sued by Music Publishers, SBF of FTX Updates, and NHTSA opposes Right to Repair

8 mins; June 15, 2023

Weds 6/14 - Orrick Layoffs, Activision Acquisition Delays, Trump Faces Long Odds, Illinois Bans Book Bans and the EU Wants Google to Split.

9 mins; June 14, 2023

Tues 6/13 - Trump Arraignment, JPMorgan Settles, WH Reviews Tax Regs No More, Freshfields to the US and Column Tuesday on ChatGPT

9 mins; June 13, 2023

Mon 6/12 - Retaliation Payout in WA, NJ Corp. Tax Overhaul, AeroFarms BK, Trump is in Deep Doo-Doo and Mt. Gox News

8 mins; June 12, 2023

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