Mike Spector

Trump’s war on Big Law leads firms to retreat from ’pro bono’ work for underdogs Major law firms are scaling back the free work they do for advocacy groups fighting the government in the wake of Donald Trump’s attacks on the profession. Interviews with over 60 lawyers and 30 nonprofits show legal aid groups now have fewer resources to defend the vulnerable.

NEW: Trump's war on Big Law leads firms to retreat from 'pro bono' work for underdogs. w/ @bradheath.bsky.social @kristinacooke.bsky.social Joseph Tanfani David Thomas Sara Merken @mikescarcella.bsky.social @chrisprentice.bsky.social
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These judges ruled against Trump. Then their families came under attack. As federal judges rule against the Trump administration in dozens of politically charged cases, the families of at least 11 of the jurists have been targeted with threats and harassment. The intimidation campaign has strained judges and their relatives – and legal scholars fear it could have a chilling effect on the judiciary.

NEW: These judges ruled against Trump. Then their families came under attack. My latest with @nedmparker1.bsky.social @bypetereisler.bsky.social @lindasoreports.bsky.social @nateraymond.bsky.social
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Exclusive: Judges face rise in threats as Musk blasts them over rulings U.S. Marshals have warned federal judges of unusually high threat levels as tech billionaire Elon Musk and other Trump administration allies ramp up efforts to discredit judges who stand in the way of White House efforts to slash federal jobs and programs, said several judges with knowledge of the warnings.

NEW ICYMI: Judges face rise in threats as Musk blasts them over rulings.

www.reuters.com/world/us/jud...

Exclusive: Merck vaccine case linked to HHS Secretary Kennedy delayed, company says Merck and a woman suing the drugmaker agreed to halt a trial over alleged injuries from the drugmaker's human papillomavirus vaccine in a case with ties to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the company said.

NEW: Merck vaccine case linked to HHS Secretary Kennedy delayed, company says.

www.reuters.com/legal/merck-...

With blitz of policies, Trump goes beyond Project 2025's goals U.S. President Donald Trump’s early actions in office have in many cases expanded upon proposals from Project 2025's conservative policy blueprint that the Republican tried to distance himself from on the campaign trail, a Reuters review found.

NEW: With blitz of policies, Trump goes beyond Project 2025's goals w/ @bradheath.bsky.social www.reuters.com/world/us/wit...

With Eric Adams dismissal order, Trump's DOJ tests office that challenged him The Justice Department's order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams will test whether a fiercely independent federal prosecutor's office can resist efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to rein it in.

NEW: With Eric Adams dismissal order, Trump's DOJ tests office that challenged him. w/ @luccohen.bsky.social + Jack Queen www.reuters.com/legal/with-e...

US consumer watchdog cases in limbo following agency's idling. w/ @dgillison.bsky.social www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Trump files formal notice of plan to appeal hush money conviction U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyers on Wednesday formally notified a New York state court of Trump's intent to appeal his criminal conviction on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star.

NEW: Trump files formal notice of plan to appeal hush money conviction.
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Exclusive: Kennedy played key role in vaccine case against Merck Robert F. Kennedy Jr. played an instrumental role in organizing mass litigation against drugmaker Merck over its Gardasil vaccine, a strategy that faces its first test in a Los Angeles court next week, according to two attorneys close to the case and court filings.

Exclusive: Kennedy played key role in Gardasil vaccine case against Merck. www.reuters.com/business/hea...

As Musk gains influence, questions hover over US probes into his empire Last month, in the waning days of the Biden administration, the SEC set a tight deadline of several days for demanding that Elon Musk pay a settlement or face civil charges relating to alleged securities violations during his $44 billion takeover of Twitter in 2022.

NEW: As Musk gains influence, questions hover over US probes into his empire w/ Rachael Levy, Marisa Taylor, @chrisprentice.bsky.social and Chris Kirkham
www.reuters.com/world/us/mus...

Consulting firm McKinsey to pay $650 mln to resolve US opioid probe McKinsey & Co has agreed to pay $650 million to resolve a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the consulting firm's work advising opioid manufacturer OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma on how to boost sales.

Consulting firm McKinsey to pay $650 million to resolve US criminal opioid probe. w/
@nateraymond.bsky.social

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US judge rejects Boeing plea deal in fatal crashes A U.S. federal judge on Thursday rejected Boeing's agreement to plead guilty to fraud in the wake of two fatal 737 MAX crashes, court documents showed.

America's culture wars upend white-collar case: US judge rejects Boeing plea deal in fatal 737 MAX crashes, faulting a diversity and inclusion provision in the agreement. w/ Allison Lampert @davidshepardson.bsky.social @chrisprentice.bsky.social

www.reuters.com/legal/us-jud...

ICYMI and are looking for a Sunday read: OnlyFans gives women the chance to earn money by making porn. Sex traffickers also use the platform to abuse and exploit them, say police and prosecutors.

We want Dallas!

Exclusive: US FDA finds widely used asthma drug impacts the brain U.S. government researchers have found that a widely prescribed asthma drug originally sold by Merck & Co may be linked to serious mental health problems for some patients, according to a scientific presentation reviewed by Reuters.

NEW: US FDA finds widely used asthma drug impacts the brain
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Exclusive: McKinsey nears deferred prosecution pact in US opioid probe, sources say McKinsey & Co is in the final stages of negotiating a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve a U.S. criminal investigation into the consulting firm's work helping opioid manufacturers boost sales that allegedly contributed to a deadly addiction epidemic, people familiar with the matter said.

NEW: McKinsey nearing deferred prosecution agreement to resolve U.S. opioid investigation. w/ @nateraymond.bsky.social
www.reuters.com/legal/mckins...

Reuters taps Sally Buzbee to be News Editor for US and Canada Sally Buzbee, most recently the executive editor of the Washington Post, will join Reuters as News Editor for the United States and Canada, overseeing the global news agency’s coverage of a second Donald Trump presidency, among other priorities, Reuters said on Tuesday.

www.reuters.com/business/med...

Lori Hinnant named Reuters EMEA investigations editor | Reuters News Agency Reuters Global Enterprise Editor Mike Williams today shared the below note with staff, announcing the appointment of Lori Hinnant as EMEA investigations

Another big hire at Reuters: AP investigative journalist Lori Hinnant is joining us as EMEA investigations editor ... www.reutersagency.com/en/media-cen...

Exclusive: Putin, ascendant in Ukraine, eyes contours of a Trump peace deal - www.reuters.com/world/europe...