Today we’re digging into the energy demands of artificial intelligence and the political pressure it’s creating. Senate Democrats are calling out Big Tech over the skyrocketing electricity consumption of data centers powering AI, which makes this not just a tech topic, but a conversation about consumer costs, infrastructure, and the politics of energy.

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• Senate Democrats Press Big Tech on the Cost of AI’s Soaring Energy Demands

About the author

• Kristina Moore

Today we’re unpacking our new Energy Outlook 2026. This is our fifth global energy sector report, and with insights from more than 650 senior leaders across energy companies, investors, service providers, and energy-intensive consumers worldwide, it paints a fairly comprehensive picture of what’s ahead.

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• 2026 Global Energy Sector Under Pressure
• 2026 Energy Report

California residents to be licensed—or have an application pending through NMLS—by July 1, 2026. This episode covers who must comply, key consumer protection requirements under AB 39 and SB 401, new rules for crypto kiosks, and what digital asset companies should be doing now to prepare for DFPI oversight.

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• California’s New Digital Financial Assets Law Requires Application for Cryptocurrency Licenses to be Submitted by July 1, 2026

About the authors

• Amy Greenwood-Field
• Derek W. Edwards
• Scott J. Hyman, CIPP (US/E), CIPM, CIPT
• Robert W. Savoie

Nebraska has enacted Legislative Bill 717, a sweeping update to its consumer finance laws. This brief covers the expansion of the Nebraska Installment Loan and Sales Act from $25,000 to $100,000, changes to how the state’s 16% usury cap applies, and new net tangible benefit disclosure requirements for installment and mortgage refinances—all ahead of an estimated July 18, 2026 compliance date.

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• Nebraska Amends Various Finance Laws

About the authors

• Robert W. Savoie
• Julia Berry Lopez

Data breaches are no longer just cybersecurity incidents, they’re litigation events, and this episode explores how cyber incidents can quickly turn into class actions, regulatory‑driven discovery, and complex disputes over standing, causation, and damages. As cyber risk becomes enterprise‑wide legal risk, litigation readiness is no longer optional. An integrated digital solutions approach can help organizations prepare for cyber incidents with an eye toward what matters most.

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• Under Attack: Managing Disputes Arising from Digital Incidents

About WBD’s Digital Solutions Team

• Digital Solutions at Womble Bond Dickinson

As crypto assets move deeper into the financial mainstream, the U.S. government is under pressure to create clearer, smarter rules. In this episode, our hosts break down why crypto regulation has been so fragmented, how federal agencies currently divide responsibility, and why Congress may be the key to long‑term clarity. We explore what a risk‑based regulatory framework could look like—and what it means for businesses, investors, and the future of digital assets in the U.S.

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• A Framework for Crypto Asset Regulation

About the authors

• Louis Froelich
• JD Uglum

On March 27, 2026, the Office of Foreign Access Control issued three new general licenses focused on Venezuela’s minerals sector, including gold. In today’s episode, we break down what each license authorizes, the conditions that apply, and how they differ in scope. From trade in Venezuelan-origin minerals, to operational support, to contingent contracts for new investment, we explore what these licenses permit, and what they still leave off-limits.

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• Explaining OFAC Venezuela Mining Sector-Related General Licenses 51A, 54 and 55

About the Authors

• José Luis Vittor*
• Alan F. Enslen
• Francisco Balduzzi*
• Julius H. Bodie

Getting inventorship wrong can do more than complicate a patent, it can destroy it. In this episode, we unpack a recent Federal Circuit decision that invalidated two patents after a co-inventor was omitted and couldn’t be added later. Using Fortress Iron v. Digger Specialties as a case study, we explore why inventorship errors arise in collaborative development environments, why some mistakes can’t be fixed after issuance, and what companies can do early in development to protect the enforceability of their patents.

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• Inventorship Errors Can Undermine Patent Value: Practical Steps to Reduce Risk

About the Authors

• Karthika Perumal, Ph.D.
• Michael R. Samardzija, Ph.D.
• Jeffrey S. Whittle