A California jury recently awarded $40 million to two women who alleged Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder caused their ovarian cancer, finding the company failed to warn consumers despite knowing of the product’s dangers for years. The plaintiffs, who both used the product for decades, underwent extensive cancer treatments. Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining their products are safe and do not cause cancer, though they stopped selling the talc-based powder in the U.S. in 2020. The company faces tens of thousands of similar lawsuits and has previously attempted to resolve the litigation through bankruptcy, a strategy that has been unsuccessful.
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Ukrainian civilians have filed lawsuits in Texas against US chip firms, including Texas Instruments, AMD, and Intel, alleging negligence in tracking chips that ended up in Russian and Iranian weapon systems. These chips, which allegedly powered weapons used in attacks that caused wrongful deaths, were diverted through “high-risk” distribution channels despite warnings and shareholder pressure. The plaintiffs claim that the companies prioritized profits over human lives by relying on insufficient measures, such as a simple checkbox, to prevent shipments to sanctioned countries. The lawsuits detail specific attacks, including one on a Kyiv children’s hospital, and assert that the chips, essential for weapon systems, enabled Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
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The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a lawsuit to halt President Trump’s White House ballroom project, citing violations of federal regulations. The lawsuit argues that the project, which involves demolition of the East Wing, requires comprehensive design reviews, environmental assessments, public comment, and congressional approval before proceeding. The Trust claims Trump bypassed standard government procedures and seeks a court order to stop further construction until proper reviews are completed, as the project has ignored the established process for federal building projects on historic grounds. The lawsuit also names several federal agencies and their leaders as defendants, underscoring the legal challenges to Trump’s plans.
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The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, aiming to remove the former president’s image from the 2026 national park passes. The lawsuit alleges the Interior Department violated the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act by replacing the winning photograph of Glacier National Park with an image of Trump. The group asserts this action disregards the contest’s rules, undermines public participation, and clashes with the program’s intended conservation goals. They are requesting a federal judge to prevent the display of Trump’s image and declare the administration in violation of the law.
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The legal challenge asserts that any construction on federal land, including the White House and President’s Park, requires congressional approval. Former President Trump’s actions, including the firing of all six members of the Commission on Fine Arts, appeared to pave the way for alterations to national monuments. The official reason given was the desire to appoint individuals more closely aligned with his policies, but the positions remained vacant months later. Additionally, Trump reportedly had a disagreement with his architect regarding the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which could have overshadowed the White House mansion.
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In October, amidst the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz, Democratic lawmakers successfully passed a bill. The initiative, however, was met with protests and a forceful response from federal agents, including ICE and Border Patrol. State Representative Lilian Jiménez emphasized the importance of residents’ ability to live their daily lives without the fear of being targeted. Furthermore, Governor Pritzker has been highly critical of the President’s actions in Illinois, recently condemning Border Patrol agents for their conduct during a photo opportunity.
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Former FBI agents who were fired after kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington have filed a lawsuit to regain their positions, claiming their actions were for de-escalation rather than political expression. The agents contend they were terminated in September by Director Kash Patel due to a perceived lack of political affiliation with President Donald Trump, despite an internal review and a Justice Department inspector general reaching a different conclusion. The agents, who knelt to defuse a tense situation during civil unrest prompted by George Floyd’s death, are seeking reinstatement, backpay, and the expungement of records, arguing their actions saved lives and prevented violence. The lawsuit alleges a partisan effort to retaliate against employees perceived as unsympathetic to President Trump.
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A lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration alleging that federal agents deployed chemical agents near an apartment building in Portland, Oregon, causing harm to residents. The complaint claims that agents used tear gas, pepper balls, and other munitions indiscriminately, causing fumes to seep into the Gray’s Landing apartment building. The suit alleges that some deployments were for the purpose of putting on a show for conservative influencers. Residents have reported experiencing physical and emotional distress, including PTSD triggers and anxiety.
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The New York Times filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, challenging new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that have effectively banned most mainstream media outlets from the building. The Times argues the rules violate constitutional freedoms by granting Hegseth the sole power to ban reporters, leading to the exclusion of outlets like the Times, the Associated Press, and others. Despite the denial of access, these outlets continue to report on the military, highlighting stories that the Pentagon may not like. The Times believes this viewpoint discrimination case is strengthened by the lack of credentials for its reporters, while the Pentagon defends the policy as necessary to protect the military.
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The New York Times is taking legal action against the Department of Defense over new press access restrictions at the Pentagon. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, challenges a policy implemented in October that reporters view as an attempt to control reporting and violate First and Fifth Amendment rights. The Times seeks to have the policy declared unconstitutional and an injunction against its enforcement, while other news organizations are expected to support the case. This move comes as the Pentagon has welcomed pro-Trump influencers and content creators to replace veteran journalists who refused to comply with the new rules.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Pritzker Bill Eases Lawsuits Against ICE Agents in Illinois
In October, amidst the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz, Democratic lawmakers successfully passed a bill. The initiative, however, was met with protests and a forceful response from federal agents, including ICE and Border Patrol. State Representative Lilian Jiménez emphasized the importance of residents’ ability to live their daily lives without the fear of being targeted. Furthermore, Governor Pritzker has been highly critical of the President’s actions in Illinois, recently condemning Border Patrol agents for their conduct during a photo opportunity.
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