The details and implications of Meta’s $18 billion dollar settlement in social-media addiction litigation on Aug. 26 led Bloomberg Intelligence’s Votes and Verdicts podcast on Aug. 27. We also discussed Abbott’s $670 million settlement on Aug. 20 in cases alleging its baby formula caused necrotizing enterocolitis and what it means for Reckitt’s Mead Johnson, which faces similar claims. The team also looked at data center bans in New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas and what it means for hyperscalers such as Alphabet, Amazon.com and Microsoft. Valero, Marathon Petroleum and other refiners may record a small profit increase if the federal gas tax is suspended, which we think has a 40% chance of happening this year. Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook is likely to prevail in court if President Donald Trump tries to fire her again.

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