All articles tagged with #dei
A California federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from imposing anti-DEI conditions on federal grants to 11 California and Oregon cities and counties, saying the policy exceeds Congress’s spending powers and contradicts grant purposes; other courts have issued similar blocks in related cases.
JPMorgan’s CEO succession is shaping up as a merit-based contest, with Rohrbaugh and Petno installed as co-presidents and Marianne Lake sidelined, despite past DEI emphasis; while a woman could still lead in the future, the board’s pick remains unsettled and long-time leaders like Mary Erdoes and Piepszak are being retained with large incentives.
During the Knicks' 2026 ticker-tape parade in Manhattan, a woman dumped a trash can's contents onto the sidewalk; identified as Angie Baez, a JPMorgan Chase executive and former DEI head at The Infatuation, she was fired after JPMorgan confirmed the termination; The Infatuation bio was removed and coverage framed the incident as a critique of DEI culture.
Juneteenth remains a federal holiday and is increasingly embedded in calendars and payrolls, even as post-2020 DEI commitments retreat and corporate sponsorships become more fragile; states continue to add paid time off for government workers, while companies show divergent approaches to DEI and Black-history programming, highlighting a quiet but persistent infrastructure for Juneteenth alongside rising fragility in Black-led events and funding.
Trump-appointed EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas proposed rescinding the 1972 'Affirmative Action Appropriate Under Title VII' rule, which narrows when race can be used to address past discrimination. The change would make it easier for white men to sue over workplace bias and reflects Lucas's broader effort to portray DEI as illegal race-based discrimination, drawing criticism from former commissioners and activists who say it undermines protections for people of color and women; the move comes as the EEOC has shifted enforcement priorities away from its previous DEI-friendly plan.
Laverne Cox tells The Guardian that attacks on gender ideology and DEI by the Trump administration have led to a roughly 90% drop in her income in recent years, as corporate speaking gigs and teaching work dried up; she also stepped down as host of Live From the Red Carpet, notes broader consequences for other trans people, and continues her work as an actress, author, and speaker.
Laverne Cox says the Trump administration’s rollback of DEI programs has cost her money, with brands wary of DEI or gender‑related messaging, causing opportunities like college speaking gigs to dry up while she continues acting, branding work, and advocacy, and she’s had to dip into savings and retirement funds after years of building her career.
CBS says it will net about $55 million by canceling Stephen Colbert’s Late Show and leasing the timeslot to Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed for a flat $15 million, arguing the move cuts a $40 million annual loss and avoids reliance on performance-based ad revenue; Colbert’s final run drew more viewers than Allen’s show, which debuted at about 1 million. The piece also covers Trump-supported events prompting artist defections from the Freedom 250 State Fair, Ronny Chieng’s blunt Harvard AI critique, and ABC’s early FCC renewal filing amid DEI scrutiny, with Disney arguing the move threatens free and independent journalism.
The Justice Department announced a settlement with PayPal over a discriminatory DEI investment program, requiring a race-neutral Small Business Initiative, fee waivers on up to $1 billion in eligible transactions (roughly $30 million), an appointed initiative director, needs assessments and plans, employee training on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and annual public reporting to ensure non-discriminatory access for American small businesses.
A federal judge ruled that the Department of Government Efficiency’s cancellation of more than 1,400 National Endowment for the Humanities grants was unconstitutional, finding DOGE used ChatGPT to identify DEI-related material and revoked funding based on protected characteristics. The staff employed prompts like “Does this relate to DEI?” and used “Detection Codes” (e.g., BIPOC, Minorities, LGBTQ) to label grants as wasteful, effectively making AI the government’s instrument. The judge rejected the argument that ChatGPT’s role insulated DOGE from constitutional constraints, calling the use of AI a government action and ordering the grants restored on First Amendment and Fifth Amendment equal protection grounds, citing lack of statutory authority.
A federal court ruled that DOGE lacked statutory authority to terminate National Endowment for the Humanities grants and that using ChatGPT to label projects as 'DEI' was arbitrary and unconstitutional, finding the actions violated due process and amounted to viewpoint discrimination against disfavored ideas.
A federal judge in Manhattan ruled that the Trump administration’s cancellation of more than 1,400 National Endowment for the Humanities grants was unconstitutional, barred the Department of Government Efficiency from terminating the funding, and found that using AI to classify DEI-related projects amounted to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination under the First and Fifth Amendments.
Federal investigators filed a lawsuit alleging The New York Times passed over a well-qualified white male candidate for a Deputy Real Estate Editor role due to race and/or sex, citing the company’s DEI goals. The Times allegedly excluded the white male from final interviews, instead hiring an external non-white female with less real estate experience, and bypassing standard interview steps. The EEOC argues this violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and rejects any DEI-based exceptions; the case (EEOC v. The New York Times Company, 1:26-cv-03704) was filed in the Southern District of New York.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York accusing The New York Times of discriminating against a well-qualified white male employee by denying him a promotion, citing the Times’ DEI policies and a 2021 Call to Action. The Times denies the allegations, saying promotions are merit-based, and will defend itself. This case adds to a string of litigation involving the Times and the Trump administration in recent years.
A Push Square piece about Lords of the Fallen 2’s revealing female armor has ignited a heated, wide-ranging discussion in the comments about fantasy realism, gender representation, and DEI in gaming. Opinions range from defending the artistic and fantastical look and calling for more outfit variety, to criticizing marketing pandering and demanding balanced, practical options for all genders. The debate also draws comparisons to other titles like Stellar Blade and Dragon Age Vanguard, highlighting a broader industry conversation about how armor aesthetics are marketed and perceived.