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Josh Russell

@jrussjruss.bsky.social
7.3K followers 575 following 360 posts

New York City courts reporter, chiefly SDNY, @courthousenews.bsky.social --- Part Time Punk DJ monthly on The Lot Radio in Brooklyn -- contact newyork@courthousenews.com ------ signal: jrussjruss.73 www.courthousenews.com/author/josh-…

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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A judge lambasted ICE in a final order against the agency’s treatment of detainees at 26 Federal Plaza, a controversial immigrant detention center in New York that has been subject to more than a year of litigation over its living conditions. @uebey.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/in-final-rul...
courthousenews.com
In final ruling against ICE, judge blasts ‘dreadful’ and ‘squalid’ conditions at 26 Federal Plaza
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan entered a permanent injunction on behalf of detainees, granting them class certification and demanding the facility’s conditions be improved.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New: A judge issued a final, scathing order against ICE for 26 Federal Plaza's conditions, granting class certification for ALL current/future detainees inside. "ICE knew ... that how it was treating detainees was wrong, yet it continued to do it anyway."
courthousenews.com
In final ruling against ICE, judge blasts ‘dreadful’ and ‘squalid’ conditions at 26 Federal Plaza
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan entered a permanent injunction on behalf of detainees, granting them class certification and demanding the facility’s conditions be improved.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Nick Pinto @nickpinto.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Journalists getting threatened with federal arrest here in NYC for trying to find out what’s going on in new “black site docket” immigration courts…
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
New York Legal Assistance Group attorney Benjamin Remy spoke with @jrussjruss.bsky.social about the often chaotic nature of immigration court arrests. Full @sidebarcns.bsky.social episode: youtu.be/U6c1kW0DvQM?...
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The influential rap group Salt-N-Pepa urged the Second Circuit to give them another shot at reclaiming their back catalogue of hit dance records from Universal Music Group. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/rap-duo-salt...
courthousenews.com
Rap duo Salt-N-Pepa ask Second Circuit to revive UMG copyright case
The “Whatta Man” rappers are seeking to reclaim copyright ownership of their first four albums, but one federal judge already ruled against them.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Weeks before the firing, far-right influencer Laura Loomer called on the Trump administration to "fire Comey's rat daughter." It's illegal to fire federal civil servants for political reasons. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/trump-admini...
courthousenews.com
Trump administration defends firing of James Comey’s daughter
Weeks before the firing, far-right influencer Laura Loomer called on the Trump administration to "fire Comey's rat daughter." It's illegal to fire federal civil servants for political reasons.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
New York Legal Assistance Group attorney Benjamin Remy spoke with @jrussjruss.bsky.social about the dilemma noncitizens face as the second Trump administration ramps up arrests inside immigration courthouses. Full @sidebarcns.bsky.social episode: youtu.be/U6c1kW0DvQM?...
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Two women whose underage images were found in the possession of the late pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein filed a first-of-its-kind class action Wednesday, seeking millions in damages from the executors of his estate. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/child-porn-v...
courthousenews.com
Child porn victims take aim at Epstein estate over photo collection
Victims of child sexual abuse material claim the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein collected and distributed tens of thousands of photos and videos showing sexual images of them and other underage g...
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
At Manhattan’s largest immigration court, ICE agents have detained asylum seekers and other noncitizens as they arrive for hearings. @jrussjruss.bsky.social and @uebey.bsky.social examine the controversial enforcement surge for @sidebarcns.bsky.social: youtu.be/U6c1kW0DvQM?...
youtu.be
Inside ICE's NYC Immigration Court Crackdown | Sidebar by Courthouse News
YouTube video by Courthouse News
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Sidebar by Courthouse News @sidebarcns.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
ICE arrests at NYC immigration courthouses have surged under Trump 2.0, transforming routine court appearances into moments of fear and uncertainty for immigrants and their families. @jrussjruss.bsky.social and @uebey.bsky.social break down the legal fallout: open.spotify.com/episode/2us0...
open.spotify.com
Inside ICE's NYC Immigration Court Crackdown
Sidebar by Courthouse News · Episode
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
A coalition of grocers claims Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first-of-its-kind initiative to open five New York City-run grocery stores offering a tax-supported 30% fixed discount on staples is barred by federal antitrust laws. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/nyc-grocers-...
courthousenews.com
NYC grocers sue city over subsidized municipal grocery stores plan
The group of grocers in Harlem and the Bronx say the taxpayer-financed grocery stores planned by the city are effectively a deliberate displacement of independent grocers doing business in the five b...
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
A New York federal judge on Thursday gave final approval to Bank of America’s $72.5 million settlement with victims of Jeffrey Epstein over the bank’s role in the late pedophile businessman’s sex trafficking operation. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/judge-approv...
courthousenews.com
Judge approves Bank of America’s $72 million settlement with Epstein victims
The settlement follows JPMorgan Chase’s $290 million payout and Deutsche Bank’s $75 million deal with Epstein victims years prior.
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Josh Russell @jrussjruss.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Check Erik's international scoop interview with one of Luigi Mangione's cellmates in the Brooklyn federal detention center where Mangione has been held awaiting trial. www.courthousenews.com/a-year-with-...
courthousenews.com
A year with Luigi Mangione: MDC inmate recounts time with CEO shooter
Linus Fu told Courthouse News he saw Mangione every day for several months at the Brooklyn prison, where they bonded over books and their backgrounds.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Molly Crane-Newman @mollycranenewman.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
NEWS: Luigi Mangione will not head to trial on September 8 in his state homicide case. Judge Carro just set an adjourn date for December 10, giving prosecutors until October 30 to respond to his motion to dismiss.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
New: Luigi Mangione admits to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. "On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died," Mangione said. His guilty plea was packed with potshots at the insurance industry.
courthousenews.com
Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in federal case over killing of healthcare CEO
Mangione was charged in both state and federal court with shooting and killing 50-year-old Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Molly Crane-Newman @mollycranenewman.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Justice Gregory Carro this morning said there would be an overflow room for Luigi Mangione’s murder trial and criticized his lawyers for suggesting the DA was secretly involved in determining media access, calling it a “reckless mischaracterization of the ethics undertaken by this court”
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
New: I found 97 cases around the country in which the Trump administration was ordered to pay attorneys’ fees after illegally detaining an immigrant. Another hidden cost of the mass deportation agenda — one that’s cost $1.1 million so far this year.
courthousenews.com
Attorney’s fees — a hidden cost of Trump’s mass immigrant detention agenda
Courthouse News has identified nearly 100 cases this year in which the government was ordered to pay attorney’s fees to an immigrant it unlawfully detained, totaling more than $1.1 million.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The DOJ has agreed to drop its subpoenas of the New York Times reporters relating to their coverage of Trump's Qatari jet, after Judge Arun Subramanian dressed down the department. More @courthousenews.bsky.social
courthousenews.com
Ripped by judge, DOJ drops subpoenas of New York Times reporters
Justice Department lawyers initially refused to withdraw the requests, despite admitting they were rife with “inadvertent errors.”
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Molly Crane-Newman @mollycranenewman.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The DOJ withdrew subpoenas issued to NYT reporters after Judge Subramanian said the missteps the government made would have him weighing sanctions in a civil case "The inadvertent errors and 'in hindsight we should have done things differently,' these things are piling up"
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Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Activists accuse Trump of chilling free speech with ICC sanctions @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/activists-ac...
courthousenews.com
Activists accuse Trump of chilling free speech with ICC sanctions
“The list of potential abuses is virtually endless,” two human rights groups claim in their five-count suit against Trump over challenges to ICC investigations.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The opulent gold trader Reza Zarrab, nicknamed the “Turkish Gatsby,” admitted at trial to helping Iran skirt economic sanctions through a money laundering scheme. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/key-witness-...
courthousenews.com
Key witness in Halkbank’s Iranian sanctions evasion trial sentenced to time served
The opulent gold trader Reza Zarrab, nicknamed the “Turkish Gatsby,” admitted at trial to helping the Islamic Republic of Iran skirt economic sanctions through a money laundering scheme.
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Josh Russell @jrussjruss.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Attorney Roberta Kaplan: “Three years ago, a unanimous nine-person jury found President Trump liable for sexually assaulting and defaming E. Jean Carroll. Today, we are pleased to report that she has received the damages payment the jury awarded her as a result of that verdict"
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Reposted by Josh Russell
jesse jarnow @bourgwick.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
just thinking about when yanagi yukinori turned the american flag into a giant ant farm so tiny insects eroded it from the inside out. no reason.
American flag with ant tunnels inside it
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft for mass copyright infringement @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/newspapers-s...
courthousenews.com
Newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft for mass copyright infringement
The digital theft and copying of hundreds of thousands of copyrighted articles to train AI apps like ChatGPT is a “death knell” for the already fragile local journalism industry, the publishers say.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
The U.S. government’s lengthy prosecution of Turkish state-run lender Halkbank formally concluded with a judge greenlighting a deal that dismisses all charges implicating the bank in a money-laundering scheme funneling billions to Iran. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/us-drops-cas...
courthousenews.com
US drops case against Turkish bank charged with laundering billions to Iran
Federal prosecutors agreed to entirely drop money laundering and sanctions charges against Halkbank largely due to Turkey's assistance in brokering the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
John Q. Barrett @johnqbarrett.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is an important office. Jay Clayton is smart, experienced—but not in intelligence community work—& friendly. But he deferred to the improper order to fire excellent prosecutor Maurene Comey. That by itself shows Clayton’s unfitness.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Second Circuit denies Sam Bankman-Fried’s bid to overturn FTX crypto fraud conviction @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/second-circu...
courthousenews.com
Second Circuit denies Sam Bankman-Fried’s bid to overturn FTX crypto fraud conviction
The convicted FTX founder has already filed an application for a presidential pardon, according to Department of Justice records.
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Josh Russell @jrussjruss.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
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Reposted by Josh Russell
jesse jarnow @bourgwick.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
i'm reminded of when spinal tap released their reunion CD in an extra-big cardboard long-box so there was more to be recycled.
Duke University says data center will boost
'environmental responsibility and
sustainability'
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Boxer Floyd Mayweather accuses ex-manager of $175 million swindle @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/boxer-floyd-...
courthousenews.com
Boxer Floyd Mayweather accuses ex-manager of $175 million swindle
The champion boxer accuses his former investment manager of duping him out of tens of millions of dollars at a time in a series of unauthorized transactions.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
#BREAKING: Melania Trump wins dismissal of Michael Wolff’s anti-SLAPP suit @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/melania-trum...
courthousenews.com
Melania Trump wins dismissal of Michael Wolff’s anti-SLAPP suit
Wolff filed the lawsuit last fall in a bid to ward off a billion-dollar threat from the first lady, who vowed to sue him over comments on the Epstein files.
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Josh Russell @jrussjruss.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
FRIDAY BEFORE A LONG WEEKEND: Manhattan federal judge grants Melania Trump's motion to dismiss writer Michael Wolff's anti-SLAPP suit over alleged defamation by the First Lady. "He may not short-circuit that process by preemptively litigating his defenses and counterclaims here, under New York law."
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Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
In new filings in the Live Nation antitrust case, states are asking for Live Nation to split from Ticketmaster. Meanwhile, Live Nation wants a new trial. It claims some evidence — including the "robbing them blind baby" quote — was unfairly prejudicial. cc @courthousenews.bsky.social
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Reposted by Josh Russell
nina pullano @ninapullano.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
I'm back on the Brooklyn court beat at @courthousenews.bsky.social :) tips etc: npullano[at]courthousenews[dot]com
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
New: Daily Mail employees smeared poop on the bathroom walls of its Manhattan office to protest the tabloid's mistreatment of women, per a new lawsuit. More @courthousenews.bsky.social
courthousenews.com
Daily Mail staff smeared poop on walls to protest sexist editor: Lawsuit
A New York-based reporter for the London tabloid accused two editors of sexual harassment and retaliation.
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🎟️ A New York federal judge said Thursday he likely won’t hear arguments on whether to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s monopoly over concert ticketing until as early as February 2027. More via @jrussjruss.bsky.social below 🔽
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Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Supposed Epstein jail cell suicide note unsealed @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/supposed-eps...
courthousenews.com
Supposed Epstein jail cell suicide note unsealed
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
A federal judge advanced former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey’s lawsuit against the Trump administration, in which she claims she was fired only because her father is outspoken Trump critic and former FBI Director James Comey. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/judge-allows...
courthousenews.com
Judge allows fired prosecutor Maurene Comey to bring wrongful termination suit
The daughter of former FBI Director James Comey says she was fired as a federal prosecutor over her perceived political affiliation. Now her wrongful termination lawsuit can proceed in federal court.
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Courthouse News @courthousenews.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
On Monday, a federal judge accepted prosecutors' resolution of a sanctions dispute over the funding of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s defense of narcotrafficking conspiracy charges. @jrussjruss.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/us-allows-ve...
courthousenews.com
US allows Venezuelan government to pay for Maduro's legal fees
The Treasury Department modified the economic sanctions that had prevented the deposed Venezuelan leader from tapping his country’s government funds to cover legal costs in his narcotrafficking crimin...
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Reposted by Josh Russell
Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
NEW: In a Harlem foster home, migrant kids say staff threatened to deport their parents if they misbehaved. I talked to a family of six kids, ages 3-15, who say HHS unlawfully kept them in the foster center, refusing to release them to their parents.
courthousenews.com
'Unaccompanied': Migrant kids spent months languishing in foster care as their parents fought to get them out
Inside a New York Cayuga Centers foster facility, six children who crossed the border to reunite with their families say staff used threats of deportation to discourage them from misbehaving — or comp...
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
In Albany this week, lawmakers are debating legislation that would restrict collaboration between ICE and local governments. Court records reviewed by @thecity.nyc showed 3 dozen cases where local authorities were alleged to have helped in a handoff to ICE. www.thecity.nyc/2026/04/16/l...
thecity.nyc
Outside NYC’s ‘Sanctuary City,’ Local Police Routinely Collude With ICE
A review of federal court documents by THE CITY reveals three dozen cases in which local law enforcement allegedly cooperated with ICE agents.
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liz pelly @lizpelly.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
I read the geese piece in wired & what I have to contribute is that undisclosed advertising campaigns, in addition to probably being literally illegal (like FMC points out in my LRT), are extremely harmful to media integrity. this includes not just paid UGC campaigns but unlabeled spon-con (1/2)
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Molly Crane-Newman @mollycranenewman.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
We’ve been training for this perp walk our whole careers… The stone-faced SantaCon leader Stefan Pildes leaves the SDNY after his release on a $300K bond, refusing to say whether he fears he’ll get coal for Christmas or will feature on Santa’s naughty list.
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Sidebar by Courthouse News @sidebarcns.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
@uebey.bsky.social spoke with @jrussjruss.bsky.social about how public opinion could impact Luigi Mangione's state and federal murder trials. Full Sidebar by @courthousenews.bsky.social episode: open.spotify.com/episode/6Fte...
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Josh Russell @jrussjruss.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
My favorite book of 2016, from WFMU DJ and Grateful Dead historian @bourgwick.bsky.social.
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Josh Russell @jrussjruss.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
With the firing of Pam Bondi today, Donald Trump's former personal attorney Todd Blanche (pictured on right, leaving Trump's hush money trial in New York state court), a former SDNY criminal prosecutor, assumes the position of Acting United States Attorney General.
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Molly Crane-Newman @mollycranenewman.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Trump also timed dramatic exits during Robbie Kaplan’s closing at one of E Jean Carroll’s trials and when Cohen testified in the fraud case
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Damon K @dadadrummer.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Touring 2026 (apologies to Dorothy Parker) Planes are full Airports dicey Trains are slow Gas is pricey Borders close As wars unfold Packed my gear To stay at home
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Erik Uebelacker @uebey.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
New: “Behind the Badge,” a pro-NYPD TV show commissioned by Eric Adams, can see the light of day. The city just settled its suit against Dr. Phil’s son, who produced it. “I think [the NYPD] is going to show very well on these programs,” his lawyer says.
courthousenews.com
NYPD reality show, produced by Dr. Phil’s son, can be released after settlement with NYC
The city sued Jordan McGraw earlier this year to stop him from releasing “extremely problematic” NYPD footage that stemmed from his production of a pro-cop TV show.
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