My pitch for a Purge movie has always been a dark comedy about a guy who wants to build a pool in his backyard but can't due to his inability to get through the permit process, so he decides to build it during the Purge because all crime is legal.
Dave Thomas
@davidjthomas.bsky.social
@legal.reuters.com reporter covering the business of law. d(dot)thomas(at)tr(dot)com, 646-823-0937. RTs not endorsements. DM for Signal.
“‘Summer is nearly over and the American people haven’t seen a single episode of this reality TV show—so what did the corporate sponsors who helped fund this road trip actually pay for?‘ Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., told Forbes in an email.” Good scoop here from @srkelleher.bsky.social !
Forbes@forbes.com · yesterdaySummer’s almost over and Sean Duffy’s controversial road trip reality series has yet to launch, leaving corporate sponsors out millions of dollars and critics asking what the money was really for.
"When confronted by police, he allegedly admitted to creating a fake account and sending the messages to himself so he could step away from the show instead of dealing with what he described as difficulties with the cast and crew." www.mynbc5.com/article/rock...
VT musical director of planned 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' created fake threats, police say
The director of a planned production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" admitted to sending himself threatening texts that eventually got the play canceled out of safety concerns.
mynbc5.com
The US host cities for the 2026 men's World Cup claim that they were *verbally* promised $1 million each by Gianni Infantino and that FIFA hasn't paid up. Truly incredible stuff. www.nytimes.com/athletic/749...
NEW: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he's willing to "micromanage" Corpus Christi's water crisis. But he's gone quiet on the financial troubles of an agency that could help expand the region's water supply — despite Abbott having appointed its entire board. With KRIS 6 News and @texastribune.org
Greg Abbott Blasted Corpus Christi for Its Water Crisis. A River Authority He Has Power Over Is Falling Apart.
The Nueces River Authority is working on a project that could expand the Corpus Christi region’s water supply. But the Texas governor has done little to address the agency’s financial problems, despit...
propublica.org
US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say - www.reuters.com/world/us-has...
EXCLUSIVE: US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say
The U.S. Army has used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data, raising concerns about the...
reuters.com
Law firm Jackson Walker has agreed to pay $15 million in a settlement with the Justice Department’s bankruptcy watchdog following the revelation three years ago that one of its partners maintained a secret romance with a judge overseeing the firm's cases @davidjthomas.bsky.social reut.rs/45EqUVi
My admitted overreliance on using family (free) to watch my kids started when I learned that babysitters in my area are now charging an hourly rate.
BeijingPalmer@beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 2d agoso a thing I have really noticed among the U.S. upper-middle-class is that they use babysitters far, far less than their parents' generation.
The newest “Spider-Man” film grossed an estimated $927 million worldwide—falling short only to a record set by “Avengers: Endgame.”
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Scores Second-Biggest Box Office Opening Ever With $355 Million
The newest “Spider-Man” film grossed an estimated $927 million worldwide—falling short only to a record set by “Avengers: Endgame.”
forbes.com
New: We found 50 cops who misused Flock cameras and other license-plate readers for personal purposes, often to spy on their girlfriends or ex-wives. He "watched every single move I made. ... Who do you turn the chief of police in to?" wapo.st/3S6rTuo
She left her ex. He secretly tracked her through a network of policing cameras.
Flock’s array of license-plate cameras was built to fight crime. But at least 50 law enforcement officers were charged with or accused of misusing it and other systems.
wapo.st
JUST IN: US Justice Department drops case against former US Olympian over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool reut.rs/4pRbuqc
New from 404 Media: Google Earth has introduced an AI feature that lets anyone fabricate completely bullshit satellite images. In our own tests, we added a “bomb blast and crater” to an area of Los Angeles. This is a misinformation time bomb, will 100% be abused www.404media.co/google-earth...
An additional scoop within this piece: Tina Peters on a podcast said that in her Oval Office meeting with Trump she urged him to fire members of the Election Assistance Commission, which he subsequently did.
Alex Kaplan@alkapdc.bsky.social · 6d agoSCOOP: A group of election deniers claim they met with CISA & said they've pitched the Trump administration on a midterm “election-security plan." The group includes Tina Peters; Clay Parikh, who's served as a “special government employee” for the Trump administration; & two podcast hosts.
We finally got my son's soccer practice schedule and jeez, that calendar filled up quick. If you need me this fall, I'll probably be in a soccer field somewhere.
NEW from me: ICE said it is seeking to fine a New York lawyer more than $470,000 for allegedly filing more than 100 false documents in asylum cases, expanding its use of financial penalties against attorneys to crack down on alleged immigration fraud. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
ICE claims US asylum lawyer faked records in dozens of cases, seeks $470K fine
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday it is seeking more than $470,000 in fines from a New York lawyer for allegedly filing more than 100 false documents in asylum cases, expanding i...
reuters.com
BREAKING: UEFA's member associations unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions in protest at FIFA's plan to sell stakes to external investors in a subsidiary that will run the global governing body's tournament reut.rs/3RJAS4p
A Republican president is rejecting disaster aid for Democratic-run states at the highest rate in FEMA's 47-year history. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
It's 3 times harder for blue states to get disaster funding under Trump
The president has approved just 23 percent of blue state requests for disaster aid, compared to 89 percent for red states.
politico.com
Ballard Partners, a top U.S. lobbying firm that has seen its fortunes rise rapidly during Republican President Donald Trump's second term, said it is opening an office in Caracas, Venezuela @davidjthomas.bsky.social reut.rs/3RIiA3v
US lobby firm Ballard Partners opens Venezuela office
Ballard Partners, a top U.S. lobbying firm that has seen its fortunes rise rapidly during Republican President Donald Trump's second term, said Wednesday it is opening an office in Caracas, Venezuel...
reut.rs
A federal appeals court revived a proposed antitrust class action that alleges major casino operators in Atlantic City, New Jersey, used an AI-powered revenue management platform to coordinate on room prices and overcharge guests @davidjthomas.bsky.social reut.rs/4h4xBad
William Savitt, a top partner at New York law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, is leaving for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as part of a six-partner move that shakes up the litigation leadership at both firms @davidjthomas.bsky.social reut.rs/4fGUr5m
NEW: The Trump administration has begun arresting foreign citizens with expired visas as they travel through airports, according to documents obtained by The Times and interviews with lawyers — a tactic that opens up a vast new pool of people for deportation. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/u...
ICE Arrests Surge at Airports, Opening New Front in Deportation Drive
Federal agents are arresting spouses of Americans, tech workers and others whose visas have expired, including many who have active applications to stay in the country.
nytimes.com
Wachtell litigation leader Savitt departs for rival law firm Gibson Dunn reut.rs/4yMJiZo
Wachtell litigation leader Savitt departs for rival law firm Gibson Dunn
William Savitt, a top partner at law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, is leaving for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as part of a six-partner move that shakes up the litigation leadership at both firms.
reut.rs
Johnson & Johnson said on Monday it has reached a $5.5 billion settlement that will resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its baby powder and other talc products cause cancer.
Johnson & Johnson announces $5.5 billion settlement of talc lawsuits
Johnson & Johnson said on Monday it has reached a $5.5 billion settlement that will resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its baby powder and other talc products cause cancer.
reut.rs
High School Teacher Arrested for Clapping in Support of Anti-Data Center Activists futurism.com/artificial-i...
High School Teacher Arrested for Clapping in Support of Anti-Data Center Activists
A local high school physics teacher was hauled out by four police officers for clapping six times during a city commission meeting.
futurism.com
Mitch McConnell’s office releases a new photo plus a statement saying he is undergoing “intense physical therapy” and not ready to get back to work in person. No timeline for his return to the Senate. He has not been seen in the Capitol since his June 14 hospitalization.
67 boat strikes 221 people killed EXCLUSIVE: Operation Southern Spear has not reduced the volume, availability, purity or price of cocaine arriving in the U.S., according to an internal DEA assessment and a closed-door Pentagon briefing for senators, and has made enforcement more difficult
67 boat strikes. 221 dead. The cocaine hasn’t slowed, officials report.
The president says Operation Southern Spear has virtually ended drug trafficking by sea. Pentagon and DEA analysts have concluded otherwise.
washingtonpost.com
Illinois woman with green card has been detained by ICE for 12 months. Her daughters plead for her release.
Illinois woman with green card has been detained by ICE for 12 months. Her daughters plead for her release.
chicagotribune.com