The details and implications of Meta’s $18 billion dollar settlement in social-media addiction litigation on Aug. 26 led Bloomberg Intelligence’s Votes and Verdicts podcast on Aug. 27. We also discussed Abbott’s $670 million settlement on Aug. 20 in cases alleging its baby formula caused necrotizing enterocolitis and what it means for Reckitt’s Mead Johnson, which faces similar claims. The team also looked at data center bans in New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas and what it means for hyperscalers such as Alphabet, Amazon.com and Microsoft. Valero, Marathon Petroleum and other refiners may record a small profit increase if the federal gas tax is suspended, which we think has a 40% chance of happening this year. Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook is likely to prevail in court if President Donald Trump tries to fire her again.

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A lawsuit filed by Disney to halt the FCC’s early TV license renewal review of Disney’s broadcast TV stations, as well as lawsuits that could potentially expose Meta to billions in settlements against cases involving social media addiction lead Bloomberg Intelligence’s latest Votes and Verdicts podcast. The discussion led by BI’s Nathan Dean also looks at how refiners such as PBF Energy, CVR Energy and HF Sinclair could get at least partial relief from the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2026-27 renewable-fuel blending requirements from a lawsuit against the agency. The team also discusses the impact the shrinking of the Internal Revenue Service may have on companies, as well as an update on crypto developments after a White House meeting with executives from Coinbase and Robinhood.

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The outlook for crypto legislation and rulemaking, with implications for Coinbase, Circle and others, leads this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Votes and Verdicts. We also discussed a CFPB open banking proposal and what it means for banks like JPMorgan and Bank of America as well as fintechs like Plaid. Elsewhere, Mead Johnson’s liability exposure will likely be clarified in the first federal test trial in lawsuits alleging preterm infant formula causes necrotizing enterocolitis. Fox, Disney, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have the clearest exposure if Congress enacts a federal framework for college sports. President Donald Trump’s renewed bid to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook probably fails, and the midterm elections could threaten the Supreme Court’s business-friendly tilt.

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