Today’s episode features Part 2 of our October 30, 2025 webinar, “AI in Financial Services: Understanding the White House Action Plan – and What It Leaves Out.” In this installment, our panel dives deeper into the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, regulation, and innovation in financial services.

Moderated by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel, founder and former longtime leader of Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group, and Greg Szewczyk, chair of the firm’s Privacy and Data Security Group, the discussion cuts through hype and uncertainty to provide clear, practical insights.… Continue Reading

The Supreme Court should abandon a 90-year-old precedent and decide that President Trump should be permitted to fire Rebecca Slaughter from the Federal Trade Commission without cause, Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the Court on December 8 during oral arguments.

“I think broad delegations to unaccountable independent agencies raise enormous constitutional and real-world problems for individual liberty,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh, said.… Continue Reading

In Fiscal Year 2026, ending September 30, 2026, the CFPB will need $279.6 million just to maintain its activities that are required by law, Bureau Acting Director Russell Vought wrote in letters to House and Senate appropriators and President Trump.

Under Section 1017 of Dodd Frank, the CFPB may be funded only from the “combined earnings” of the Federal Reserve System (see here, here, and here; see our Podcast here).… Continue Reading

Today’s episode features Part 1 of our October 30, 2025 webinar, “AI in Financial Services: Understanding the White House Action Plan – and What It Leaves Out.” In this installment, a panel of leading experts breaks down the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in financial services—from foundational concepts to the latest regulatory developments.… Continue Reading

The Trump Administration is ordering all CFPB examiners to read a “Humility Pledge” to officials at supervised entities before conducting exams.

In making the announcement, CFPB officials sharply criticized the Biden Administration’s approach to exams. “Previously, under the leadership of Director Chopra and Biden’s Director of Supervision Lorelei Salas, a former Soros activist who was put on leave in February 2025, this division was the weaponized arm of the CFPB,” the CFPB said.… Continue Reading

On December 15, at noon, we will be producing a webinar entitled, “The CFPB’s Funding Crisis: Legal, Operational and Policy Implications.” A registration link is embedded in the invitation, which is here.

Contending that the CFPB is relying on a “novel” definition of “combined earnings,” the union representing CFPB employees is asking a federal court to rule that the Trump Administration is planning to violate an injunction barring the administration from shutting down the bureau.… Continue Reading

The Supreme Court has denied a request to consider on an expedited basis a petition from two ousted Democratic NCUA board who are challenging their firings.

Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka are challenging their firings even though the Federal Credit Union Act, unlike some federal laws governing other financial regulators, does not state that members of the agency board may only be removed for cause.… Continue Reading

Step into the intersection of consumer finance law and the solar energy industry with host Alan Kaplinsky, senior counsel at Ballard Spahr, and special guest Steven Burt, attorney and former public policy leader at major residential solar companies.

In this episode, listeners will get an insider’s look at today’s solar landscape.… Continue Reading

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently announced the conforming loan limits for residential mortgage loans acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2026.  Fannie Mae addresses the limits in Lender Letter 2025-04.

The standard loan limit for a one-unit home increased from $806,500 in 2025 to $832,750 for 2026. … Continue Reading

The trade group representing debt collection agencies, creditors, debt buyers, collection attorneys, and debt collection industry service providers has filed suit challenging the Colorado law that bans the inclusion of medical debts in credit reports.

ACA International is joined by one of its members, the Fresno Credit Bureau, in the suit against Martha Fulford, the Colorado Uniform Consumer Credit Code Administrator. … Continue Reading