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Votes & Verdicts

Bloombergwww.iheart.com

Votes and Verdicts is a series that examines the intersection of business, policy and law. It features conversations between Bloomberg Intelligence's team of litigation and policy analysts and thought leaders discussing legal and policy issues affecting markets and business decisions across many sectors.

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Episodes

Trump on Fannie-Freddie, 401(k)s and Powell

In this week’s Votes and Verdicts podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Ben Elliott discusses President Donald Trump’s social media posts concerning Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the complexities of executing a public offering of their shares or merging the two government-sponsored enterprises. Nathan Dean analyzed the potential impacts of Trump’s Aug. 7 executive order directing federal agencies to expand access to alternative investments in employer-sponsored contribution plans such as 401(...

Aug 15, 202526 min

Trump M&A, PBMs, Tariffs, FCC Broadcast Regs

President Donald Trump’s second term is bringing heightened focus on the regulatory environment and prospects for mergers. In the week’s Votes and Verdicts podcast, Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Jennifer Rie and Justin Teresi discuss catalysts related to the emerging antitrust approaches under Trump, including M&A trends at the DOJ stemming from the settlement of a merger case on Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Juniper Networks, and the latest on the FTC’s case against pharmacy benefit mana...

Aug 08, 202530 min

Tariffs Legality, DC Shutdown, Dick’s M&A

A July 31 federal appeals court hearing on the legality of President Donald Trump’s so-called reciprocal and fentanyl-trafficking tariffs was among the key catalysts Bloomberg Intelligence analysts examined this week. BI’s litigation and policy team also discussed the likelihood of a government shutdown in September. Additionally, they covered the outlook for antitrust clearance of Dick’s Sporting Goods merger with Foot Locker, as well as the remedies they expect in the Justice Department’s anti...

Aug 01, 202528 min

Robinhood’s Gallagher on Tokenization, Crypto

What does ‘tokenization’ of securities mean for the markets? How will artificial intelligence shape the future of investing and what is the future of cryptocurrency policy with Congress passing the GENIUS Act? What’s the future of the market’s relationship with the SEC under the Trump administration? Robinhood’s Chief Legal Officer Dan Gallagher discussed these topics and more when he joined BI’s Elliott Stein and Nathan Dean on the most recent episode of Votes and Verdicts. See omnystudio.com/l...

Jul 25, 202548 min

Legality of Trump’s Tariffs With Professor Yoo

Professor John Yoo joins Bloomberg Intelligence litigation analyst Holly Froum on this episode of the Votes and Verdicts podcast to discuss May rulings by the US Court of International Trade and Washington, DC district court striking down so-called “fentanyl trafficking” and reciprocal tariffs. Professor Yoo, who served as law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and is a senior research fellow at the Civitas Institute, the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at University of Californi...

Jul 18, 202527 min

Bank Deregulation, Tariff Rulings Among 2H Catalysts

Deregulation for the largest US banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, are among the key 2H catalysts that BI litigation and policy analysts are watching. In this litigation and policy midyear outlook episode, the team also discusses key crypto legislation and why tech companies like Alphabet, Amazon.com, Apple and Meta will continue to face heightened antitrust enforcement. Other catalysts include an anticipated Supreme Court ruling likely holding US reciprocal...

Jul 11, 202547 min

Tax Bill’s Impact on Solar, Health Care, AI

The One Big Beautiful Bill is the key policy catalyst Bloomberg Intelligence analysts are watching this week. The bill likely hands wins to Apple, Disney, Alphabet and Boeing by locking in an offshore safe harbor and restoring foreign tax credits while shielding foreign entities from IRS scrutiny. REITs are also a big winner. First Solar, Nextracker, Array, Shoals and US solar peers are in line for a boost to domestic demand over the coming year as developers rush to break ground and qualify for...

Jul 03, 202534 min

AI Copyright Rulings, Trump Antitrust, PBMs

Key court rulings on June 23 and 25 in cases against Anthropic and Meta over the use of copyrighted material in large language models are among the catalysts Bloomberg Intelligence litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The decisions are also relevant for Google, Microsoft, the New York Times, OpenAI and others. The team also discussed the outlook for antitrust enforcement of M&A under US President Donald Trump, with ramifications for several pending deals, such as Dick’s Spo...

Jun 27, 202536 min

‘L Day’ Tariff Legality, With Stanford’s Sykes

Swings in US tariff policies have convulsed markets and kept trading partners on edge, and court rulings might only be adding to the uncertainty. Stanford law professor Alan Sykes joins Bloomberg Intelligence litigation analyst Holly Froum to discuss May 28-29 rulings by the US Court of International Trade and Federal District Court of Washington DC striking down tariffs imposed on China, Canada and Mexico, and reciprocal tariffs. Professor Sykes examines the rulings, next steps, whether a conti...

Jun 17, 202531 min

GENIUS Act, Texas v. BlackRock, DOJ v. Visa

An update on the GENIUS Act stablecoin bill making its way through Congress — which is important to companies like Coinbase, Robinhood and Circle — was among the key catalysts Bloomberg Intelligence litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The team also discussed potential bills to increase credit-card competition and cap credit-card fees, which could affect Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. We also discussed pending motions to dismiss in a pair of antitrust cases - ...

Jun 13, 202537 min

Wells Fargo, Fed, DOJ v. Google, TikTok Ban

The June 3 lifting of Wells Fargo’s asset cap imposed by the Federal Reserve in 2018 was among the key catalysts Bloomberg Intelligence analysts examined this week. BI’s litigation and policy team also discussed Michelle Bowman’s confirmation as Fed vice chair of supervision and what it means for deregulatory efforts for banks like JPMorgan and others. We also discussed closing arguments in the Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google over search, and the possible remedies the company ...

Jun 06, 202525 min

Tariff Rulings, Fannie-Freddie, FTC v. Pepsi

Court rulings on May 28 and 29 deeming unlawful US tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico and reciprocal tariffs — with ramifications for retailers like Nike, automakers such as Ford, tech companies including Apple, and other sectors — are among the key catalysts Bloomberg Intelligence litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The team also discussed President Donald Trump’s social-media posts about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the complexities of exiting conservatorship and governme...

May 30, 202534 min

Tax Bill, Spectrum Auctions, Fannie-Freddie

The passage of the Republicans’ tax-cut bill in the House and what happens next — with ramifications for multinational corporations, clean-energy companies like First Solar, and wireless carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon — are among the key catalysts Bloomberg Intelligence litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The team also discussed stablecoin legislation advancing in the Senate and plans to attach credit card bills to it, with implications for card networks inclu...

May 23, 202532 min

Berman on Antitrust: View from Plaintiff Bar

Antitrust law has been unusually busy in recent years, with several high-profile cases, including in Big Tech. Steve Berman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of plaintiff-side firm Hagens Berman Sobol and Shapiro LLP, joins Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Justin Teresi for a discussion of antitrust developments and trends, as seen from the plaintiffs’ bar. Topics include Berman’s recent litigation around the growth of artificial intelligence-based pricing algorithms in setting hotel rates, as well...

May 20, 202521 min

IRA, Drug Pricing, Tech Antitrust, EchoStar: Votes and Verdicts

The status of the Republicans’ tax-cut bill and the Inflation Reduction Act — with ramifications for hospitals like HCA and Tenet, health insurers like Centene, electric-vehicle makers like Ford and Tesla and solar companies like First Solar — is among the key catalysts BI litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The team also discussed President Donald Trump’s “Most-Favored Nation” drug-pricing executive order and the status of antitrust trials, specifically DOJ v. Google over sea...

May 16, 202536 min

Tariff Suits, Broadcast Caps, Crypto Bills

A May 13 hearing in lawsuits challenging US tariffs, with ramifications for retailers like Nike, automakers like Ford, tech companies like Apple and other sectors are among key catalysts BI litigation and policy analysts are watching in the coming week. The team also discussed a recent op-ed by FCC commissioner Nathan Simington and what it means for potential rulemaking by the agency to cap revenue that local TV stations must pay to affiliated broadcast networks, which could shift revenue to Nex...

May 09, 202528 min

Trump’s First 100 Days, Trade, Taxes and More

President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office have brought major tariff, tax and regulatory actions that have roiled global markets and diplomacy. Bloomberg Intelligence analysts hosted a webinar on May 1 to discuss how these evolving policies will shape sectors, markets and companies — from banks like Bank of America and Citigroup, retailers like Walmart and Kroger as well as technology providers Apple and Google — through the remainder of 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

May 02, 202554 min

Tariff Suits, Tech Antitrust and Tax Bill

Updates and our outlook on the various lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s tariffs, with ramifications for retailers like Nike, automakers like Volkswagen and numerous other sectors, are among key catalysts that BI litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The team also discussed various antitrust matters, including the ongoing FTC v. Meta trial, proceedings over remedies in the DOJ’s case against Google over search, and the recent court ruling for DOJ against Google con...

Apr 25, 202533 min

Meta Trial, Google Hearing, House Tax Vote

A preview of the upcoming trial in which the FTC is challenging Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp as anticompetitive, as well as a preview of a remedy hearing in the DOJ vs. Google search, were among the key catalysts that BI litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. Though divestitures are at risk in the FTC case, we think Meta has the better of arguments heading into trial. We also discussed how the Senate Commerce Committee took action on two of President Donald Trump...

Apr 11, 202523 min

Trump’s Liberation Day: A Trade Lawyer’s Take: Votes & Verdicts

The Trump administration’s tariffs are among key topics that BI litigation and policy analysts are following this week, including among others reciprocal tariffs, tariffs on steel and aluminum and tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico. Ted Murphy, partner at the global law firm, Sidley Austin, and co-leader of Sidley’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice joins Bloomberg Intelligence litigation analyst Holly Froum to talk about President Donald Trump’s evolving trade policy, how it diff...

Apr 08, 202528 min

Are Trump’s Tariffs Legal? TikTok Ban Update

The Trump administration’s tariffs and negotiations over acquiring TikTok are among key catalysts that BI litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The team discussed what happens next with respect to the “Liberation Day” tariffs President Donald Trump announced on April 2 and the impacts it could have on companies like Nike, Levis, and Stellantis. The team also analyzed the legal issues surrounding the use of the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify the ta...

Apr 04, 202523 min

Trump SEC, Tariffs, FTC Firings, FCC Subsidy

Updates on hearings to confirm Paul Atkins as SEC chair and what it means for companies like Coinbase, Robinhood, CBOE, Nasdaq and Virtu are among key catalysts that BI litigation and policy analysts are watching this week. The team also discussed the legality of auto tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on March 26 and reciprocal tariffs expected on April 2. The firing of FTC commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter is unlikely to materially affect the outcome of cases aga...

Mar 28, 202533 min

Broadcasters Take Shot at FCC Media Limits

US TV and radio broadcasters like Nexstar, Sinclair and Tegna face fierce competition from internet-delivered platforms, yet only the broadcasters are limited by strict FCC ownership rules. With Republicans now controlling the FCC, Congress and the White House — and with a business-friendly court overseeing broadcasters’ litigation against the FCC — the broadcasters have their best chance in decades to ease the FCC rules, potentially creating opportunities to pursue deals that unlock economies o...

Mar 21, 202519 min

OpenAI, Meta Fair Use Bids Risky in Copyright Drama

There are over three dozen US lawsuits between rights holders and developers of large language models, with the main point of contention being whether it was permissible “fair use” to train LLMs with copyrighted content. Newspaper organizations, authors, music publishers and visual artists have filed suits against OpenAI, Microsoft, Meta, Google and Anthropic, among other leading developers. Damages could run into the hundreds of billions of dollars, with the potential for milestone decisions th...

Mar 12, 202542 min

Abbott, Apple, Citi, Nexstar, Musk, OpenAI

Updates from the CFPB and SEC in litigation challenging rules concerning credit-card late fees and climate disclosures are among key March catalysts that BI’s litigation and policy analysts are watching. The team also discusses Nexstar and broadcasters in court March 19 over FCC limits on TV- and radio-station ownership. We’re also watching a March 24 hearing to bar experts in suits alleging Abbott and Reckitt’s Mead Johnson infant formula caused necrotizing enterocolitis. Apple may face sanctio...

Mar 05, 202538 min

Ex-FBI Chief of Staff on Risks to Business

What are the biggest security risks facing companies in the US and around the world? What can companies do to prepare against cyberattacks? How should they balance the benefits and risks of AI? How should companies navigate operating in China? How should they approach policy shifts from one presidential administration to the next? On the latest edition of the Votes and Verdicts podcast, former FBI Chief of Staff and current Fenwick & West partner Jon Lenzner joins BI analysts Elliott Stein a...

Feb 25, 202547 min

Arizona AG Mayes on Antitrust, PFAS and More

The political shift in Washington DC is rippling through to states and may bring additional challenges to officials trying to navigate the changes. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joins Bloomberg Intelligence analysts Justin Teresi and Holly Froum to discuss a wide range of litigation and policy issues on which her office is leading the states. On the antitrust front, we delve into recent cases against RealPage and landlords, like Camden Property Trust, around alleged use of artificial-intel...

Feb 20, 202537 min

PFAS Could Make a Comeback Under Trump EPA

Dr. Betsy Southerland, former EPA director of the Office of Science and Technology, joins Bloomberg Intelligence Litigation analyst Holly Froum to talk about the regulatory outlook for alleged cancer-linked PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” found in drinking water. Dr. Southerland discusses how and why the Trump EPA may roll back Biden-era rules passed in April that designated two of the most widely studied PFAS as hazardous under EPA Superfund laws and set maximum contaminant levels in d...

Feb 11, 202524 min

Washington Predictions — Tariffs, Tax, Trump

What’s the outlook for policies coming out of Washington in 2025? What are markets potentially missing? Will Trump’s threatened tariffs be imposed? Will Congress be able to pass a bill that extends the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts? Will we have a debt ceiling crisis? How will regulators “de-regulate” in their sectors? On the latest edition of Votes and Verdicts, Veda Partners Cofounder and Director of Economic Policy Research Henrietta Treyz and BTIG Managing Director and Director of Policy Research ...

Jan 30, 202543 min

O’Rielly on the FCC’s Regulation Under Trump

President Trump’s return to the White House brings with it another major shift in Washington: Republicans take control of the federal agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission. With Trump elevating Republican Brendan Carr to FCC chairman, US broadcasters, telecom providers and internet platforms could see major changes. In this episode of Votes and Verdicts, former FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly sits down with Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matthew Schettenhelm of the BI litig...

Jan 23, 202528 min
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