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The Afternoon Docket

The Afternoon Docket

A newsletter by Reuters and Westlaw

 

By Sara Merken

What's going on today?

  • The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to decide the legality of President Trump's directive to restrict birthright citizenship in the U.S., a contentious part of his efforts to curb immigration and a step that would alter how a 19th century constitutional provision has long been understood.
  • The man suspected of planting pipe bombs in D.C. the night before the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack appeared in court to face federal criminal charges, a day after his arrest in a case that long vexed investigators.
 

Netflix-Warner Bros deal faces political pushback even as company touts benefits

 

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Netflix pitched its $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery's studios and streaming division as aligned with the priorities of President Trump's competition enforcers, but intense antitrust scrutiny is all but guaranteed amid bipartisan criticism.

Netflix pitched the deal as creating jobs and giving the company's 300 million subscribers "more bang for their buck" by adding more content at a time when the administration is focused on affordability and lower prices for consumers.

Nevertheless, Republicans in Congress have warned of potential antitrust problems with Netflix absorbing HBO Max and Warner Bros' content rights – and Democrats including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the transaction after it was announced. Read more from Jody Godoy.

More coverage of the deal:

Netflix to buy Warner Bros Discovery's studios, streaming unit for $72 billion

Netflix's $72 bln takeover writes next chapter in Warner Bros' checkered M&A history

 

More top news

  • Harvard professor arrested by US immigration agents after firing pellet gun near synagogue
  • Supreme Court to weigh Trump's firing of FTC member in test of presidential power
  • X hit with $140 million EU fine for breaching content rules, TikTok settles
  • Supreme Court to decide legality of Trump move to limit birthright citizenship
  • New York Times sues Perplexity AI for 'illegal' copying of content
  • Shein hits back at French government in court hearing over sex dolls, weapons
  • Virginia man faces charges of planting pipe bombs ahead of Capitol riot
  • US judge dismisses nationwide renters'  lawsuit over mobile home lots
  • Apple, Google send new round of cyber threat notifications to users around world
 
 

US court says Trump can remove Democrats from two federal labor boards

 

Cathy Harris of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board poses as she leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in downtown Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Scarcella

The D.C. Circuit said President Trump had the power to fire Democratic members of two federal labor boards, a major victory in the Republican president's bid to rein in agencies meant to be independent from the White House.

The court in a 2-1 decision said federal laws allowing members of the National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board to be removed only for cause violated the U.S. Constitution. Read more about the ruling from Daniel Wiessner.

 

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Week in review

  • Trump administration fires numerous New York immigration judges
  • Judge refers law firm Hagens Berman to DOJ over conduct in drug cases
  • Supreme Court revives pro-Republican Texas voting map sought by Trump
  • FTC says ABA is a ‘law school accreditation monopoly’
  • Costco sues US to preserve tariff refunds if Trump loses appeal
  • Court disqualifies Trump ally Habba as top New Jersey federal prosecutor
  • People think lawyers are jerks. Can 'civility oaths' help?
  • US Supreme Court poised to side with anti-abortion pregnancy centers in New Jersey case
  • Adidas defeats appeal of lawsuit over imploded Ye partnership
  • Key figure in Comey case sues to block use of evidence as DOJ mulls second indictment
  • Law firms seek AI edge with new executive hires
 

In other news ...