The briefing for Thursday, March 26.

The Supreme Court unanimously sided with Cox Communications on Wednesday in a copyright fight with record labels, ruling that internet service providers bear no responsibility for illegal downloads by their customers. The decision reverses a jury verdict and lower court rulings that had initially found Cox liable for failing to adequately deter copyright violations.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court that 'Cox neither induced its users' infringement nor provided a service tailored to infringement,' while acknowledging that record labels 'have struggled to protect their copyrights in the age of online music sharing.' The case was led by Sony Music Entertainment, which had argued Cox did not do enough to cut off customers downloading music without paying.

The ruling has major implications for internet service providers nationwide. Cox had warned that an adverse ruling could require widespread termination of internet access for households, hospitals, universities and coffee shops based on mere accusations of infringement. The 4th Circuit had partially upheld a jury verdict against Cox but threw out its award of more than $1 billion.

In a landmark verdict Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for deliberately designing platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being, awarding $3 million in damages to a 20-year-old woman identified as KGM. The jury later recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages after determining the companies acted with malice, oppression or fraud. Meta was found 70% responsible while YouTube bore 30% of the blame.

The verdict came one day after a separate New Mexico jury ruled Meta violated state consumer protection law by prioritizing profits over safety and imposed a $375 million penalty. The plaintiff in the Los Angeles case testified she became addicted to social media starting at age 6 on YouTube and age 9 on Instagram, using the platforms 'all day long' as a child. Lawyers pointed to specific design features like infinite feeds, autoplay, and notifications as deliberately addictive.

The twin verdicts mark a significant shift in public perception of tech companies' responsibilities for child safety. Both Meta and Google issued statements disagreeing with the verdicts and vowed to explore appeals, with Google arguing YouTube is 'a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.' The outcomes will likely influence thousands of similar lawsuits now working through courts and could force fundamental changes in how social media platforms treat young users. Tech watchdog groups declared 'the era of Big Tech invincibility is over.'

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals handed the Trump administration a victory Wednesday by ruling the U.S. can continue detaining immigrants without bond hearings. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that required a Mexican national arrested in Minneapolis for lacking legal documents be given a bond hearing before an immigration judge.

It's the second federal appeals court to rule in the administration's favor on this issue. The 5th Circuit ruled last month that the Department of Homeland Security's denial of bond hearings to arrested immigrants was consistent with the Constitution and federal immigration law. Both opinions counter recent lower court decisions across the country that argued the practice is illegal.

The case centered on Joaquin Herrera Avila, who was detained without bond in August 2025 after being apprehended in Minneapolis. A Minnesota federal judge had initially granted his petition for release or a bond hearing, but the appeals court's 2-1 decision reversed that ruling. Circuit Judge Ralph Erickson dissented, noting that under a novel interpretation being applied, millions who would have been entitled to bond hearings during the past 29 years would now face mandatory detention. More than 30,000 habeas corpus petitions have been filed in federal court since Trump took office alleging illegal detention.

The acting TSA administrator warned Congress Wednesday that the agency may have to shut down some airports if the Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues, as unpaid officers face mounting financial hardship and daily callout rates nationwide have jumped from 4% to 11%. Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers that multiple airports are experiencing callout rates exceeding 40%, with Houston's Bush Intercontinental at nearly 40% and Hobby at 43%. More than 458 TSA officers have quit during the 41-day shutdown.

McNeill described dire conditions facing unpaid workers, including eviction notices, late fees, loan defaults, and some officers sleeping in cars or selling blood plasma to make ends meet. Record-high wait times are plaguing airports nationwide, with Houston's Bush Intercontinental warning travelers of four-hour waits. The airport has only been able to staff one-third to one-half its usual checkpoint lanes during the busy spring travel season. Officers have also experienced a 500% increase in assault frequency since the shutdown began.

Senators are expected to vote Thursday on a Republican proposal to fund TSA and most of DHS except for ICE enforcement and removal operations, but it's expected to fail. Democrats demand more restraints on immigration officers following the deaths of two Americans killed by federal officers during Minneapolis protests. The shutdown stems from a standoff over immigration enforcement, with Trump having initially cut a deal last fall to fund the government except for Homeland Security. Despite the chaos, ICE and other immigration officers continue to be paid from separate funding Trump secured in his tax bill.

President Trump suggested Wednesday the U.S. may be 'winding down' its war with Iran after three and a half weeks, claiming Iran was 'desperate' for talks and had given the U.S. a 'very significant prize' related to oil and the Strait of Hormuz. However, several of the five objectives Trump has outlined for ending the conflict remain undefined or unfulfilled, raising questions about what constitutes success as the war takes a toll on the global economy and tests alliances.

According to a 15-point peace plan reported by Israel's Channel 12, U.S. demands include Iran committing never to pursue nuclear weapons, dismantling nuclear facilities, limiting its missile program, stopping funding for regional proxies, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz as a free maritime corridor. While the administration says Iran's military capabilities have been significantly degraded, the country continues launching missiles and drones. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said ballistic missile attacks are down 90%, but Iran launched barrages at Israel early Tuesday after Trump claimed negotiations were underway.

Iran's state media flatly rejected Trump's proposals and outlined five counter-demands including a complete halt to aggression, war reparations, concrete guarantees against future attacks, sole control of the Strait of Hormuz, and an end to Israeli attacks on Iranian allies. Iran's parliament speaker dismissed any suggestion of talks altogether, calling reports 'fakenews' used to 'manipulate financial and oil markets.' The administration claims the operation has been 'a resounding success,' but if the U.S. walks away with unfinished aims and Iran's Revolutionary Guard still in power, Trump could face political fallout at home and questions about what was accomplished.

President Trump confirmed Wednesday he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in China on May 14-15, after postponing the landmark trip amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he will also host Xi in Washington later this year, with officials 'finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits.' This would be the first visit to China by a U.S. president in nearly 10 years.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Xi 'understood and accepted' the request to postpone the trip originally scheduled for March 31. 'President Xi understood that it's very important for the president to be here throughout these combat operations right now,' Leavitt said. Beijing has not confirmed the dates, though it typically does not reveal Xi's schedule so far in advance. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said both sides are maintaining communication and that 'leader-level diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role' in bilateral ties.

The last U.S. presidential visit to China was in November 2017 during Trump's first term, and Trump and Xi last met in October at the APEC summit in South Korea. The visit will be closely watched for signs of easing tensions between countries with longstanding friction over trade, technology competition and geopolitical issues. When asked if the Iran war would wind down by Trump's China visit, Leavitt said they had 'always estimated approximately four to six weeks.' Chinese state media encouraged the visit, noting the 'abnormal' lack of people-to-people exchanges and stating 'both China and the US stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.'