This has been one of those weeks when it's been difficult to cover all the important developments at the intersection of law and politics. I invited California Attorney General Rob Bonta to join us today so we could catch up on:
The landmark settlement state attorneys general reached with Meta to take steps to protect minors across its platforms. AG Bonta explains what prompted Meta to settle the case mid-trial.
Why Bonta abruptly canceled settlement talks with Paramount over its proposed merger with Warner Brothers, and where he sees those negotiations heading now. Also, why I’m going to need a coffee cup that says “No Lying, No Leaking.”
Bonta’s take on the next steps in the state AGs’ lawsuit challenging Trump’s executive order on voting by mail. Judge Talwani is holding a hearing on September 3 on the AGs’ request for a preliminary injunction alongside a similar request from The League of Women Voters. Currently, there’s a 14-day temporary restraining order in place that keeps the executive order from going into effect; we discuss why AG Bonta is confident Judge Talwani will extend the injunction to cover the 2026 election, and what we can expect after that.
If you missed us live earlier today, you can watch the video above or read the transcript to get caught up on these cases—a bit of a break from the heavy dose of reading we’ve been doing all week.
And for those of you who’ve been disappointed by the absence of chicken pictures lately, here’s a little tease. It has been hot and muggy down here, the girls’ least favorite kind of weather, and we’re still molting, but they perked up this morning for treats.
We’re in this together,
Joyce
