This week's US spotlight: Supreme Court insights, trade wars, criminal cases and tech breakthroughs
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 07, 2026, 23:44 IST
On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to reveal key rulings, including one that could impact President Donald Trump's international tariffs. In a different corner of the news, a filmmaker’s son is embroiled in serious legal troubles after facing murder charges. Disturbingly, videos connected to a suspect in a Brown University shooting have emerged as apparent confessions.
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to release significant rulings on Friday, including one on the legality of President Donald Trump's global tariffs, while other news includes a son of slain filmmaker Rob Reiner due in court for murder charges, video recordings by a Brown University shooting suspect deemed a confession, Warner Bros rejecting a revised Paramount bid, and a teachers' union suing Texas over probes of online posts. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture named a new chief economist, toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug charges, and Democrats warned of a "whitewash" five years after the January 6th Capitol attack. The U.S. FDA will limit regulation of health and fitness wearables, Microsoft is working with a major U.S. electric grid operator to modernize the Midwest power system, and the Uvalde school shooting trial was interrupted on its first day. Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran believes aggressive U.S. interest rate cuts are needed this year, President Trump commented on his wife Melania's dislike of his dancing, and American Airlines will roll out free Wi-Fi for loyalty program members. Measles cases in South Carolina continue to rise, President Trump warned Republicans about potential impeachment if they don't win the midterms, and the NRA is suing its charity arm. A U.S. judge ruled that medical groups' challenge to vaccine policies can proceed, U.S. bank profits are expected to surge on investment banking, and Wyoming's Supreme Court threw out abortion bans. The U.S. is building a case to retain measles elimination status, a House panel will consider legislation to speed self-driving car deployment, and Nicolás Maduro's immunity claim is testing U.S. power to prosecute foreign leaders. President Trump plans to meet with health insurers soon, Hilton dropped a Minneapolis hotel over cancelled ICE bookings, and the Trump administration is freezing over $10 billion in childcare and family assistance funds to five U.S. states.
The younger son of slain Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner was due in court on Wednesday to enter a plea to murder charges stemming from the fatal stabbing of his parents. This case is considered one of the most shocking celebrity homicide cases in Los Angeles history. Nick Reiner, 32, had an initial court appearance on December 17 that was abruptly cut short. The judge postponed the arraignment for three weeks at the request of the defense. He is expected to plead not guilty on Wednesday.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings on Friday as it weighs cases with major implications both nationally and around the world. These cases include the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs. The court indicated on its website on Tuesday that it could release decisions in argued cases when the justices take the bench during a scheduled sitting on Friday. The court does not announce ahead of time which rulings it intends to issue.
Federal prosecutors released transcripts of video recordings on Tuesday, which they say contain confessions from the gunman who carried out last month's fatal mass shooting at Brown University and later took his own life. The prosecutors stated that the gunman admitted to planning the attack months in advance. These four videos were recorded by the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente. They were discovered during a search of a storage locker in Salem, New Hampshire, where he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot on December 18, ending a six-day manhunt.
Warner Bros Discovery's board has unanimously turned down Paramount Skydance's latest attempt to acquire the studio. The board stated that the revised $108.4 billion hostile bid amounted to a risky leveraged buyout that investors should reject. In a letter to shareholders on Wednesday, Warner Bros' board said Paramount's offer hinges on "an extraordinary amount of debt financing" that heightens the risk of closing. The board reaffirmed its commitment to streaming giant Netflix's $82.7 billion deal for the film and television studio and other assets.
The Texas branch of the American Federation of Teachers union sued Texas on Tuesday. The union is urging a federal court to block the state from probing teachers over their social media posts following the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk in September. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, named the Texas Education Agency and its commissioner Mike Morath as defendants.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday named Justin Benavidez as its new chief economist. Benavidez is a former staffer on the House Agriculture Committee. The USDA's chief economist leads the agency's economic research and analysis and advises the secretary on the farm economy.
Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to narcotics charges. He stated that he was "kidnapped" after President Donald Trump's capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to regroup.
"I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro, 63, said through an interpreter. He was cut off by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court.
The 92-year-old judge overseeing the Nicolas Maduro case displays a Hebrew scripture from the Torah on the wall of his Manhattan chambers. The scripture reads: "Tzedek, tzedek tirdof" — "Justice, justice you shall pursue." U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, an Orthodox Jew who has been on the bench for almost three decades, has been outspoken about how he tries to promote fairness and the impact of his faith on his judicial philosophy.
Five years after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Democrats in Congress accused Republicans of a "whitewash" of history. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump delivered an upbeat speech to Republican lawmakers that made little mention of the riot by his supporters. The contrasting events laid bare the balance of power in Washington. Democrats sought to revive memories of the attack, in which thousands of Trump supporters sent lawmakers scrambling for their lives in an unsuccessful attempt to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that it will limit regulation of wearable devices and software designed to support healthy lifestyles. The agency issued new guidance to clarify its regulatory approach. The guidance, along with comments from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, adds to existing policy that classifies low-risk wellness tools as non-medical devices exempt from stringent regulation. These tools include fitness apps and activity trackers that encourage exercise, provided they do not make claims related to disease diagnosis or treatment.
The U.S. Midwest grid has teamed up with Microsoft, it was announced on Tuesday. This collaboration is the latest instance of Big Tech turning to partnerships to help ensure the massive amounts of electricity needed for artificial intelligence are available. Over the last two years, the U.S. technology industry has deepened ties with the power sector. This includes locking into long-term supply agreements and providing AI assistance to maximize supplies as energy-intensive data centers propel U.S. power demand to record highs.
The first day of the trial of a police officer who responded to the 2022 shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 students and two teachers was interrupted on Tuesday. The interruption occurred after a witness provided testimony not previously presented to the defense. Texas state Judge Sid Harle dismissed the jury until Thursday. He ordered the prosecution and defense to return on Wednesday to work through the issues raised by the testimony from a former teacher at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran, whose term at the U.S. central bank ends later this month, said on Tuesday that aggressive U.S. interest rate cuts are needed this year to keep the economy moving forward.
"I think policy is clearly restrictive and holding the economy back," Miran said in an interview with the Fox Business channel. "I think that, you know, well over 100 basis points of cuts are going to be justified this year." Miran's term as a Fed governor ends on January 31.
U.S. President Donald Trump draws cheers from supporters when he dances on stage at his political rallies. However, he revealed on Tuesday that first lady Melania Trump is not a fan of his dancing.
"My wife hates when I do this," Trump said during a meandering speech to Republican lawmakers in Washington. "She's a very classy person, right? She said, 'It's so unpresidential.' I said, 'But I did become president.'"
American Airlines said on Tuesday it would launch free in-flight Wi-Fi in partnership with telecom firm AT&T. This service will be available for customers enrolled in the carrier's loyalty program. Airlines are increasingly competing on free onboard internet access as they vie for loyalty-driven customers.
The South Carolina health department reported 211 measles cases related to the ongoing outbreak in the state on Tuesday. This represents 26 additional cases since its last update on Friday. The widening outbreak has been reported in the northwest part of the state, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Republicans must win the 2026 congressional midterm elections, or else he will be impeached by Democrats.
"You gotta win the midterms 'cause, if we don't win the midterms, it's just gonna be - I mean, they'll find a reason to impeach me," Trump told Republican lawmakers at a retreat in Washington. "I'll get impeached."
The National Rifle Association has sued its charity affiliate, alleging a "disgruntled faction of former NRA directors" has seized the affiliate. The NRA claims this faction intends to turn the affiliate into a competitor and has misused nearly $160 million in NRA funds. The NRA's lawsuit against the NRA Foundation, filed on Monday in Washington, D.C., federal court, stated that the foundation was taken over by allies of former CEO Wayne LaPierre in an attempt to sever it from the larger group.
Several major medical organizations can move forward with their lawsuit challenging policies adopted under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. These organizations claim the policies will lower vaccination rates, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston rejected arguments by lawyers for President Donald Trump's administration. They argued that the groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, lack legal standing to pursue the case because they could not show they were harmed by the policies.
The largest U.S. banks are expected to report bigger fourth quarter profits next week. These profits are expected to be fueled by a surge in investment banking revenue as dealmaking accelerates. The largest U.S. lender, JPMorgan Chase, will kick off earnings season for banks on January 13. Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo will report on January 14, and Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on January 15. Their results are likely to be bolstered by a revival in mergers and acquisitions.
Abortion remained legal in Wyoming after the state's Supreme Court threw out two laws on Tuesday that banned the procedure. A majority of justices ruled that the laws violated the state's constitution. In 2023, responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling the prior year that there was no constitutional right to abortion, Wyoming lawmakers passed the Life is a Human Right Act. This act banned people from performing abortions with limited exceptions, including rape or incest. A second law made it illegal to prescribe or dispense drugs that end a pregnancy.
U.S. officials are building a case that ongoing measles outbreaks in South Carolina and other states are unrelated to last year's major outbreak in Texas. This effort aims to retain the U.S. status of having eliminated the disease. The U.S. recorded the highest number of confirmed measles infections in three decades. To be considered measles-free by the World Health Organization, a country must have no locally transmitted cases of the same strain for 12 months or longer.
A U.S. House of Representatives committee will hold a hearing on January 13 on legislation that aims to make it easier to deploy autonomous vehicles without human controls. As robotaxi testing has expanded, Congress has been divided for years about whether to pass legislation to address deployment hurdles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has left safety rules in place and has not approved requests from major automakers for exemptions. Current law allows NHTSA to exempt up to 2,500 vehicles annually per automaker if a company can prove it would be safe. Consumer groups and the Teamsters union have expressed reservations about self-driving technology.
Nicolás Maduro’s first appearance in a U.S. courtroom offered a glimpse of the legal battle ahead over rarely tested questions. Chief among these is whether he can claim immunity from prosecution. Maduro, who pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and cocaine charges on Monday, defiantly claimed that he remained the president of Venezuela. This sets up a showdown over the legal protections customarily given to heads of state.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would meet with representatives from every health insurance company soon. This follows his statement last month that he wanted to talk to them about lowering their prices.
"I'm going to meet with them in a few days, I'm meeting with them all: 14 companies," Trump said, speaking to a gathering of U.S. House Republicans in Washington.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings has removed a Minneapolis hotel from its system. The hotel had refused to accept bookings for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the hotel operator said on Tuesday. A Hampton Inn hotel, a Hilton brand, located outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, refused to accommodate ICE agents, the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on social media platform X on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is freezing more than $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds to California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cited concerns about fraud and misuse. The Trump administration has threatened federal funding cuts to organizations and states over a number of issues since taking office. These issues have ranged from alleged fraud in programs in states governed by Democrats to diversity initiatives and pro-Palestinian university protests against the U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza.
The younger son of slain Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner was due in court on Wednesday to enter a plea to murder charges stemming from the fatal stabbing of his parents. This case is considered one of the most shocking celebrity homicide cases in Los Angeles history. Nick Reiner, 32, had an initial court appearance on December 17 that was abruptly cut short. The judge postponed the arraignment for three weeks at the request of the defense. He is expected to plead not guilty on Wednesday.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings on Friday as it weighs cases with major implications both nationally and around the world. These cases include the legality of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs. The court indicated on its website on Tuesday that it could release decisions in argued cases when the justices take the bench during a scheduled sitting on Friday. The court does not announce ahead of time which rulings it intends to issue.
Federal prosecutors released transcripts of video recordings on Tuesday, which they say contain confessions from the gunman who carried out last month's fatal mass shooting at Brown University and later took his own life. The prosecutors stated that the gunman admitted to planning the attack months in advance. These four videos were recorded by the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente. They were discovered during a search of a storage locker in Salem, New Hampshire, where he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot on December 18, ending a six-day manhunt.
Warner Bros Discovery's board has unanimously turned down Paramount Skydance's latest attempt to acquire the studio. The board stated that the revised $108.4 billion hostile bid amounted to a risky leveraged buyout that investors should reject. In a letter to shareholders on Wednesday, Warner Bros' board said Paramount's offer hinges on "an extraordinary amount of debt financing" that heightens the risk of closing. The board reaffirmed its commitment to streaming giant Netflix's $82.7 billion deal for the film and television studio and other assets.
The Texas branch of the American Federation of Teachers union sued Texas on Tuesday. The union is urging a federal court to block the state from probing teachers over their social media posts following the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk in September. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, named the Texas Education Agency and its commissioner Mike Morath as defendants.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday named Justin Benavidez as its new chief economist. Benavidez is a former staffer on the House Agriculture Committee. The USDA's chief economist leads the agency's economic research and analysis and advises the secretary on the farm economy.
Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to narcotics charges. He stated that he was "kidnapped" after President Donald Trump's capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to regroup.
"I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro, 63, said through an interpreter. He was cut off by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court.
The 92-year-old judge overseeing the Nicolas Maduro case displays a Hebrew scripture from the Torah on the wall of his Manhattan chambers. The scripture reads: "Tzedek, tzedek tirdof" — "Justice, justice you shall pursue." U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, an Orthodox Jew who has been on the bench for almost three decades, has been outspoken about how he tries to promote fairness and the impact of his faith on his judicial philosophy.
Five years after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Democrats in Congress accused Republicans of a "whitewash" of history. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump delivered an upbeat speech to Republican lawmakers that made little mention of the riot by his supporters. The contrasting events laid bare the balance of power in Washington. Democrats sought to revive memories of the attack, in which thousands of Trump supporters sent lawmakers scrambling for their lives in an unsuccessful attempt to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that it will limit regulation of wearable devices and software designed to support healthy lifestyles. The agency issued new guidance to clarify its regulatory approach. The guidance, along with comments from FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, adds to existing policy that classifies low-risk wellness tools as non-medical devices exempt from stringent regulation. These tools include fitness apps and activity trackers that encourage exercise, provided they do not make claims related to disease diagnosis or treatment.
The U.S. Midwest grid has teamed up with Microsoft, it was announced on Tuesday. This collaboration is the latest instance of Big Tech turning to partnerships to help ensure the massive amounts of electricity needed for artificial intelligence are available. Over the last two years, the U.S. technology industry has deepened ties with the power sector. This includes locking into long-term supply agreements and providing AI assistance to maximize supplies as energy-intensive data centers propel U.S. power demand to record highs.
The first day of the trial of a police officer who responded to the 2022 shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 students and two teachers was interrupted on Tuesday. The interruption occurred after a witness provided testimony not previously presented to the defense. Texas state Judge Sid Harle dismissed the jury until Thursday. He ordered the prosecution and defense to return on Wednesday to work through the issues raised by the testimony from a former teacher at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran, whose term at the U.S. central bank ends later this month, said on Tuesday that aggressive U.S. interest rate cuts are needed this year to keep the economy moving forward.
"I think policy is clearly restrictive and holding the economy back," Miran said in an interview with the Fox Business channel. "I think that, you know, well over 100 basis points of cuts are going to be justified this year." Miran's term as a Fed governor ends on January 31.
U.S. President Donald Trump draws cheers from supporters when he dances on stage at his political rallies. However, he revealed on Tuesday that first lady Melania Trump is not a fan of his dancing.
"My wife hates when I do this," Trump said during a meandering speech to Republican lawmakers in Washington. "She's a very classy person, right? She said, 'It's so unpresidential.' I said, 'But I did become president.'"
American Airlines said on Tuesday it would launch free in-flight Wi-Fi in partnership with telecom firm AT&T. This service will be available for customers enrolled in the carrier's loyalty program. Airlines are increasingly competing on free onboard internet access as they vie for loyalty-driven customers.
The South Carolina health department reported 211 measles cases related to the ongoing outbreak in the state on Tuesday. This represents 26 additional cases since its last update on Friday. The widening outbreak has been reported in the northwest part of the state, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Health.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Republicans must win the 2026 congressional midterm elections, or else he will be impeached by Democrats.
"You gotta win the midterms 'cause, if we don't win the midterms, it's just gonna be - I mean, they'll find a reason to impeach me," Trump told Republican lawmakers at a retreat in Washington. "I'll get impeached."
The National Rifle Association has sued its charity affiliate, alleging a "disgruntled faction of former NRA directors" has seized the affiliate. The NRA claims this faction intends to turn the affiliate into a competitor and has misused nearly $160 million in NRA funds. The NRA's lawsuit against the NRA Foundation, filed on Monday in Washington, D.C., federal court, stated that the foundation was taken over by allies of former CEO Wayne LaPierre in an attempt to sever it from the larger group.
Several major medical organizations can move forward with their lawsuit challenging policies adopted under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. These organizations claim the policies will lower vaccination rates, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston rejected arguments by lawyers for President Donald Trump's administration. They argued that the groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, lack legal standing to pursue the case because they could not show they were harmed by the policies.
The largest U.S. banks are expected to report bigger fourth quarter profits next week. These profits are expected to be fueled by a surge in investment banking revenue as dealmaking accelerates. The largest U.S. lender, JPMorgan Chase, will kick off earnings season for banks on January 13. Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo will report on January 14, and Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on January 15. Their results are likely to be bolstered by a revival in mergers and acquisitions.
Abortion remained legal in Wyoming after the state's Supreme Court threw out two laws on Tuesday that banned the procedure. A majority of justices ruled that the laws violated the state's constitution. In 2023, responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling the prior year that there was no constitutional right to abortion, Wyoming lawmakers passed the Life is a Human Right Act. This act banned people from performing abortions with limited exceptions, including rape or incest. A second law made it illegal to prescribe or dispense drugs that end a pregnancy.
U.S. officials are building a case that ongoing measles outbreaks in South Carolina and other states are unrelated to last year's major outbreak in Texas. This effort aims to retain the U.S. status of having eliminated the disease. The U.S. recorded the highest number of confirmed measles infections in three decades. To be considered measles-free by the World Health Organization, a country must have no locally transmitted cases of the same strain for 12 months or longer.
A U.S. House of Representatives committee will hold a hearing on January 13 on legislation that aims to make it easier to deploy autonomous vehicles without human controls. As robotaxi testing has expanded, Congress has been divided for years about whether to pass legislation to address deployment hurdles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has left safety rules in place and has not approved requests from major automakers for exemptions. Current law allows NHTSA to exempt up to 2,500 vehicles annually per automaker if a company can prove it would be safe. Consumer groups and the Teamsters union have expressed reservations about self-driving technology.
Nicolás Maduro’s first appearance in a U.S. courtroom offered a glimpse of the legal battle ahead over rarely tested questions. Chief among these is whether he can claim immunity from prosecution. Maduro, who pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and cocaine charges on Monday, defiantly claimed that he remained the president of Venezuela. This sets up a showdown over the legal protections customarily given to heads of state.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would meet with representatives from every health insurance company soon. This follows his statement last month that he wanted to talk to them about lowering their prices.
"I'm going to meet with them in a few days, I'm meeting with them all: 14 companies," Trump said, speaking to a gathering of U.S. House Republicans in Washington.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings has removed a Minneapolis hotel from its system. The hotel had refused to accept bookings for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the hotel operator said on Tuesday. A Hampton Inn hotel, a Hilton brand, located outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, refused to accommodate ICE agents, the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on social media platform X on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is freezing more than $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds to California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cited concerns about fraud and misuse. The Trump administration has threatened federal funding cuts to organizations and states over a number of issues since taking office. These issues have ranged from alleged fraud in programs in states governed by Democrats to diversity initiatives and pro-Palestinian university protests against the U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza.