Tag:

Regulation

Major Regulatory Rollbacks Expected from Trump’s New SEC

With the return of the Trump Administration looming large, rumors of possible regulatory appointments are already swirling. One federal agency that will undoubtedly see major changes with the transition of power is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the authority responsible for regulating the securities market and protecting investors. With the shift in presidential administration coupled with significant GOP gains in the House and Senate, analysts have begun to speculate on how agency leadership and staffing changes will impact securities policy and rulemaking, and what the rest of the country can expect from the markets over the next four years.

No One Can Watch the Chicago Bulls! And Other Reasons Why the MLB, NBA, and NHL Need to Consider Nationalizing Their Media Rights.

Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) are the TV channels that show a sports team’s games in a local area. Due to a demand for sports by television viewers over the past few decades, RSNs created large revenues from local media rights deals (TV contracts) for professional sports leagues. This issue impacts several of the major professional leagues: the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB). Currently, due to the trend of cord-cutting and a lack of regulation by the league offices, many fans are left without a viable way to watch their local teams, including much of the City of Chicago.

Chicago’s One System Initiative: Merging the Homelessness and Forced Migration Response Services

Since August 2022, Chicago has seen a record influx of new arrivals, with nearly 47,000 individuals seeking asylum in Illinois from the southern U.S. border. In response to this surge of new Chicagoans, the city and state launched the One System Initiative, an ambitious effort to integrate the systems serving Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and new arrivals. By aligning resources and streamlining services, the initiative aims to enhance the city’s overall homeless response system. Such integration must also comply with various federal, state, and local regulations concerning eligibility requirements, funding restrictions, and documentation demands.

Upcoming SEC Turmoil: What It Means for the Cryptocurrency Industry

The early October resignation of Gurbir Grewal, the Director of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent ripples of (false) hope through the cryptocurrency industry. Grewal played a key role in shaping the SEC’s enforcement agenda; although his departure will likely not alter the SEC’s approach to digital assets, the upcoming election may affect the cryptocurrency industry’s interests.

$47 for the 47th Presidency: Musk Tests Super PAC Limits with Payouts for Swing State Voter Referrals

On October 7, 2024, Elon Musk’s pro-Trump Super PAC, America PAC, announced it would disburse $47 payments to residents of certain swing states who refer other swing state voters to sign a petition pledging support for the First and Second Amendments. Musk said on his social media platform, X, “ For every person you refer who is a swing state voter, you get $47! Easy money.” Eligibility is limited to registered voters in seven key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Musk’s goal is to reach 1 million signatures, which would amount to $47 million in payments to signatories.

Boeing’s Missteps Lead to Heavier Congressional Oversight

Boeing’s controversial history including the publicized suicide of one of its whistleblowers shortly before his deposition to TikTok videos of panels blowing off mid-air or planes catching fire have prompted public scrutiny. These events, mainly the latter, have raised also questions about Boeing’s compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations the Department of Justice (DOJ) rulings. However, this is not the first time these concerns have come to light.   

IRS & Treasury to Crack Down on Basis Shifting Among Complex Partnerships

On June 17, 2024, the Biden Administration issued a press release detailing plans to push forward a new multi-stage regulatory initiative targeting tax evasion among large business partnerships. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Treasury Department will lead the charge to end abuses of a practice known as “basis shifting,” often used by complex partnerships to maximize deductions and consequentially minimize tax liability.

Generative AI- The Next Frontier in Fighting Financial Crime

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest tool in a financial institution’s arsenal to restrict the flow of money being channeled to fund illegal activities worldwide. As criminals get more innovative and sophisticated in using the latest technology to evade detection of their financial crimes, financial institutions must follow suit and utilize similar technology to root out these crimes or risk facing regulatory sanctions. Money laundering generally refers to financial transactions in which criminals, including terrorist organizations, attempt to disguise the proceeds of their illicit activities by making the funds appear to have come from a legitimate source. However, this is not a new phenomenon. Congress passed the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) in 1970 to ensure financial institutions follow a set of guidelines known as KYC (Know Your Customer/Client) to detect and prevent money laundering through their systems.

Does College Athletics Need a New Regulatory Body?

In 2021, the Supreme Court decided N.C.A.A. v Alston. This struck down the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) previous prohibition on collegiate athletes earning money on their own Name Image and Likeness (NIL). There is now debate as to what the regulations around NIL should be and who should be making them. The NCAA is currently under fire for their lack of regulations on Name Image and Likeness (NIL) deals for collegiate athletes. Historically, outside of a scholarship, an athlete could receive no compensation for their athletic ability or participation in collegiate athletics.Patrick Chomczyk, a previous editor, wrote a blog in Sept. of 2021, after the Supreme Court Decision of N.C.A.A. v. Alston. He predicted that the NCAA would implement its own rules that comply with the Supreme Court ruling and Federal legislation could follow. In the wake of Alston, the NCAA has only instituted a few rules, all centered around keeping the concept of amateurism alive. Amateurism is the current model of college sports where student athletes are not to receive compensation for their athletic activities. This concept has been repeatedly challenged in recent years.

Politicians Allowed to Serve Long After the Retirement Age

With the recent death of trailblazing Congresswoman Diane Feinstein, discussion of whether Congress members, and politicians in general, should be allowed to serve long after the retirement age are becoming even more prevalent. This conversation is important as people who hold opposite opinions have valid arguments that must be considered. On one hand, the United States has banned age discrimination in the workplace. On the other hand, keeping people who have declining physical or cognitive health may pose a safety concern for our nation, especially when we are discussing high ranking officials. Ultimately, we are a nation for the people and by the people. Thus, we decide whether we place age limitations on our elected officials or not by going to the polls.