This week on The Across the Bar Podcast, Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein dive into a series of landmark decisions and scandals that are reshaping corporate America and professional sports in 2026.

Inside the Episode:

The SCOTUS Tariff Decision: We break down the Supreme Court’s latest ruling on tariffs and what it means for global supply chains and your wallet. 🏛️📈

Goldman Sachs & The DEI Retreat: Goldman has officially ditched DEI guidelines for its board. What does this say about their values? 💼⚖️

Sports Labor in Turmoil: From the MLBPA scandal to the high-stakes WNBA negotiations, we look at the power dynamics of 2026 sports unions. 🏀⚾

Employee Activism at CBS: CBS staff are pushing back—again. We discuss the latest instances of employee activism in a legacy media environment. 📺🔥

Cabinet vs. The Real World: Would the behavior we see from current cabinet officials be tolerated in the private sector? (Hint: Probably not.) 🚫💼

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Is the 2026 "AI Job Panic" justified? This week on Across the Bar, employment attorney Peter Rahbar and media veteran Laura Brounstein break down the headlines that are reshaping the modern workplace.

In this episode:

The AI Panic: With mass layoffs hitting tech and media, and AI engineers spreading fear about replacing jobs, AI panic is setting in. Is this a genuine shift in the economy? We discuss the different views of how AI is impacting the workplace and what you should be doing at work.

Salesforce’s ICE Controversy: Marc Benioff’s "jokes" about ICE agents during a company kickoff in Las Vegas have sparked an internal revolt. We discuss the legal implications of a hostile environment and why "Ohana" culture is feeling like a memory. ☁️⚖️

Washington Post Bloodbath: One-third of the newsroom is gone. Sections wiped. Metro gutted. We dive into the "WTF" of it all: Why was Will Lewis at the Super Bowl during a massive public layoff, and what is Jeff Bezos actually doing with the Post? 🏛️📰

Please watch this week's episode of The Across the Bar Podcast to hear more about these topics, Bad Bunny, curling, the Super Bowl and more!

In this episode of The Across the Bar Podcast, Peter Rahbar and Laura Brounstein tackle the messy intersection of corporate ethics, compensation strategy, and the latest legal firestorms hitting major brands like Nike and Pinterest. 🏛️

Inside this week's episode:

The Epstein List & The C-Suite 💼: As names continue to surface, we discuss the legal and reputational fallout for corporate leaders. Does an entry on the list mean an automatic exit from the company?

The "Peanut Butter Raise" Trap 🥜: Employers are spreading thin raises across entire departments to avoid "tough conversations." We explain why this strategy is actually a morale killer and potentially a recipe for disaster.

EEOC vs. Nike 👟: In a landmark 2026 shift, the EEOC is taking on Nike’s DEI practices. Is this really a problem? Is it a good use of government resources? ⚖️

Pinterest’s Petty Pivot 📌: Firing employees for tracking layoffs? We break down the legality—and the long-term cultural damage—of the Pinterest CEO’s latest controversial move. 📉