Eugene blogged earlier today about Judge Gerard McHugh’s opinion dismissing a hostile environment complaint by Jewish students against Haverford College. I have not read the complaint, and I’m not going to take issue with Judge McHugh’s ruling–I tend to think that the strongest case Jewish students typically have is disparate treatment, not hostile environment, in […]
From today’s Hoffman v. Bonta, decided by Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo (S.D. Cal.): The sole issue in this case is whether the Constitution requires California to allow nonresidents to apply for a concealed carry weapons (CCW) license. Plaintiffs, who are not California residents, complain that they are prohibited from carrying a firearm for self-defense when […]
When President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) against alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in March, he implicitly asserted that they were “natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects” of a “foreign nation or government” that had launched an “invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States.” But […]
Funding for Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare accounted for 41 percent of federal spending in FY 2024. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is expected to add $3.9 trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years, aims to rein in some entitlement spending by implementing work requirements for Medicaid recipients. However, these […]
As the U.S. wraps up the congressionally mandated Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) program, uncertainty for allies overseas is on the rise. Some allies who relied on CARE housing for safety while waiting on a yearslong processing queue now face an uncertain future, while multiple endangered U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) applicants have reportedly […]
President Donald Trump recently banned travel and immigration to the United States for nationals of a dozen countries, insisting that this would protect the U.S. from terrorists and criminals. The ban applies to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. (It allows minor exceptions for […]
Many courts list “whether the suit … challeng[es] the actions of the government or that of private parties” as one factor in deciding whether to allow pseudonymity. But which way does that factor cut? [1.] Some courts conclude that pseudonymity is less available in suits against the government than in suits against private parties, see, […]
Happy Tuesday, and welcome to the latest edition of Rent Free. This week’s newsletter includes stories on: The triumphant, albeit technical, return of missing middle housing in Arlington, Virginia New York’s Rent Guidelines Board allows a 3 percent rent increase. It’s not just Zohran Mamdani. In New York, everyone’s a socialist on housing. But first, […]
From Doe v. Hill, decided today by D.C. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett, joined by Judges Neomi Rao and Judith Rogers: Dr. Doe challenges the constitutionality of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s [statutory] ban on hiring those who have been convicted of a felony. {Dr. Doe was convicted of two Ohio felonies when he was a […]
The Senate removed the AI moratorium provision from the reconciliation bill in a 99–1 vote early Tuesday morning. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R–Tenn.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D–Wash.) co-sponsored the amendment to eliminate the provision after Blackburn reneged on a compromise with Sen. Ted Cruz (R–Texas) to amend it over the weekend. The Senate Commerce, Science, […]