
Holden Hopkins is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News & Commentary, New York looks to continue the antitrust fight and Trump’s anti-DEI orders are likely to prompt lawsuits.
New York lawmakers are pushing to overhaul the state’s century-old antitrust laws with a bill that would empower authorities and private actors to sue businesses abusing their market dominance. The legislation, introduced by State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, reflects former FTC Chair Lina Khan’s efforts to curb corporate monopolies and expand protections for workers and small businesses. The bill introduces an “abuse of dominance” standard, inspired by European models, allowing broader antitrust claims. It also proposes a comprehensive merger notification program to scrutinize labor market impacts, echoing federal initiatives.
Despite Senate approval last year, the bill faces resistance in the Assembly, where some lawmakers and business groups claim it may drive companies out of New York and raise consumer costs. Meanwhile, labor groups like ALIGN and unions such as the Teamsters strongly support the measure, citing its potential to counteract corporate exploitation.
President Trump has reignited his campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives with new executive orders targeting both federal agencies and private companies. Building on his 2020 order that restricted DEI training topics, his second-term directives seek to eliminate DEI programs in federal agencies and require private companies with federal contracts to certify their employment practices do not rely on race or sex-based preferences deemed biased. Legal experts and advocacy groups predict significant legal challenges, citing similarities to previous orders which courts partially blocked on First Amendment and due process grounds. However, other experts caution that the updated orders may be less vulnerable to free speech challenges, as they focus more on hiring practices than on training content.
Civil rights groups argue the measures are too broad, attacking lawful practices aimed at expanding workforce diversity. Meanwhile, legal precedents, such as rulings against Florida’s 2022 “Stop WOKE” law, provide a roadmap for opposing these policies. Courts have struck down similar measures on free speech grounds, but Trump’s authority over federal agencies may afford him more latitude. Still, pushback is expected, not only from litigation but also from organized labor groups determined to defend collective bargaining agreements and workplace protections.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 15
An interview with former NLRB chairman; Supreme Court denies cert in Southern California hotel case
October 14
Census Bureau layoffs, Amazon holiday hiring, and the final settlement in a meat producer wage-fixing lawsuit.
October 13
Texas hotel workers ratify a contract; Pope Leo visits labor leaders; Kaiser lays off over two hundred workers.
October 12
The Trump Administration fires thousands of federal workers; AFGE files a supplemental motion to pause the Administration’s mass firings; Democratic legislators harden their resolve during the government shutdown.
October 10
California bans algorithmic price-fixing; New York City Council passes pay transparency bills; and FEMA questions staff who signed a whistleblowing letter.
October 9
Equity and the Broadway League resume talks amid a looming strike; federal judge lets alcoholism ADA suit proceed; Philadelphia agrees to pay $40,000 to resolve a First Amendment retaliation case.