Verified brief

Verified brief — 16 October 2026

The Eleventh Circuit vacates the injunction on Georgia’s social-media age-verification law. DOJ sues California over mail ballots to more than 20,000 likely noncitizens. Eurostat’s full September HICP confirms 3.8%. EPA’s small-refinery RFS reallocation proposal is now in the published Federal Register.

Published Oct 16, 2026, 7:15 a.m. EDT

1. Item 1

   Eleventh Circuit (NetChoice v. Georgia AG, No. 25-12436, 15 October): vacates the Northern District’s preliminary injunction against SB 351. NetChoice’s facial First Amendment challenge failed the Moody burden; vagueness and § 230 claims also failed at the PI stage. Age verification, under-16 parental consent and minor-ad limits can be enforced on remand.

   Read the article →11th Cir. Doc. 52-1

2. Item 2

   DOJ complaint (C.D. Cal. 2:26-cv-12025, 15 October): seeks to stop California tabulating federal vote-by-mail ballots from a federal list of more than 20,000 likely noncitizens until citizenship is verified. Theory cites 18 U.S.C. § 611 and automatic mail ballots to every registered voter.

   Read the article →DOJ Doc. 1; CDCA PR

3. Item 3

   Eurostat full HICP (16 October): euro-area and EU annual inflation both 3.8% in September, up from 3.2% in August, confirming the 2 October flash. Energy +18.9% YoY (+1.71 pp contribution).

   Eurostat 2-16102026-ap

4. Item 4

   EPA RFS small-refinery reallocation proposal (FR Doc. 2026-21155) is now in the published 16 October Federal Register. Comments still due 4 December; virtual hearing 4 November. EPA’s under-one-cent-a-gallon estimate unchanged.

   Read the article →FR Doc. 2026-21155 published

5. Item 5

   Commission methane-importer delay proposal COM(2026) 569 (14 October) still awaits Parliament and Council; 1 January 2027 equivalence date stands until adopted.

   Read the article →COM(2026) 569

6. Item 6

   IRS IR-2026-122 dyed-diesel highway penalty relief remains through 31 December 2026; no 7508A tax-postponement guidance in this window (latest IRS newsroom still ends at IR-2026-122).

   Read the article →IRS newsroom check 16 Oct

7. Item 7

   USCIS final rule ending automatic EAD extensions (91 FR 65306) remains in force from 14 October.

   Read the article →91 FR 65306

8. Item 8

   European Council 15–16 October: leaders held a strategic migration discussion and welcomed lower irregular crossings and asylum applications; called for stronger returns and an emergency framework. No new binding migration instrument in the conclusions scanned this run.

   European Council conclusions 15–16 Oct (migration section)

9. Item 9

   Canada Gazette jammer exemption order for 27 scheduled police services remains a proposal; comments still open about 9 November.

   Read the article →Canada Gazette I, 10 Oct

10. Item 10

    Alberta Court of Appeal 2026 ABCA 320 (Impact Assessment Act reference) remains the live advisory opinion; no federal appeal noted this morning.

    Read the article →2026 ABCA 320

11. Item 11

    SCOTUS 26A416 (Kingdom / BOP gender-dysphoria): still no order after the 8–9 October response and SG reply.

    Read the article →SCOTUS docket 26A416

12. Item 12

    Ofcom Category 1 judicial review: judiciary.uk judgments list shows no Ofcom/Category 1 judgment posted since the 13–14 October hearing.

    Read the article →judiciary.uk judgments

13. Item 13

    Clocks ahead: Alberta referendum 19 October; House midnight sitting with C-38 from 6:30 p.m.; C-31 ministers at FINA 19–20 October; S-210 vote 21 October; C-31 amendments due noon 22 October; B.C. election 24 October.

    Projected Order / Elections Alberta / Elections BC