
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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February 7
In today’s News and Commentary, the NLRB withdraws its objections to SpaceX’s constitutional challenge, Whole Foods asks the NLRB to set aside a union election in Philadelphia, and the AFL-CIO launches a campaign to push back against Musk. The NLRB filed a letter with the Fifth Circuit indicating it would not address SpaceX’s challenge to […]
February 6
Gwynne Wilcox files lawsuit challenging her removal from the NLRB, and unions file a lawsuit challenging DOJE's request to access Department of Labor information.
February 5
Trump's disagreements with Abruzzo & Wilcox, Dollar General's plan for ICE agents, remote work in federal CBA's.
February 4
In today's news and commentary King Soopers workers announce a strike, Congressman Biggs introduces a bill to abolish OSHA, the UAW announces willingness to support Trump's tariffs, and Yale New Haven Health System faces a wage and hour class action.
February 2
President Trump seeks to nullify recent collective bargaining agreements with federal workers; Trump fired the NLRB’s acting General Counsel; Costco and the Teamsters reach a tentative deal averting a strike; Black History Month began yesterday with the theme African Americans and Labor
January 31
In today’s news and commentary, AFGE and AFSCME sue Trump for an Executive Order stripping protections from government employees, Trump fires members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Amazon shutters operations in the entirety of Quebec in response to union successes. On Wednesday, two unions representing government employees–American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and […]