The Litigation Situation

As the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024-25 term draws to a close, with rulings expected to wrap up by the end of June, FGS’s SCOTUS Litigation team is keeping an eye on the biggest cases yet to be decided. In the coming weeks, the Court will be the final voice on a range of critical issues including the boundaries of the First Amendment, the permissibility of nation-wide injunctions and whether states can ban healthcare for trans kids. These, and others, are poised to have major implications for America’s legal landscape – and FGS’s clients:

• Trump v. CASA will rule on the Administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship; in addition to resolving that important question, the case will likely address whether federal judges can continue to use nationwide injunctions to halt executive actions.

• United States v. Skrmetti will resolve whether states are allowed to deny gender-affirming care to trans youth.

• Food and Drug Administration v. R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. will determine whether a manufacturer may file for review in an appellate circuit where it does not reside, if the petition is joined by a seller of the manufacturer's products in that circuit. This could allow manufacturers to “forum shop,” and could prove relevant for FGS clients facing potential product liability litigation.

FGS’s SCOTUS Litigation team is tracking these cases and standing by to provide counsel to companies and clients interested in the outcomes.

Media outlets’ opinion sections can be as complex and dynamic as their newsrooms, and understanding their evolution is key to effective communications. By monitoring these changes and keeping tabs on potential opinion contacts and formats, organizations can identify opportunities to build new relationships and experiment with fresh approaches to engagement.

Our colleagues at the Health Media Insights newsletter have been tracking notable developments in the opinion landscape to help inform your communications strategies:

• The Washington Post’s overhaul. The Post has seen some of the biggest changes to its opinion section of any major media outlet this year, with owner Jeff Bezos announcing in February that the outlet’s opinion section would focus on supporting “personal liberties and free markets.” The shift drew comment from The Wall Street Journal’s own editorial board, which noted the similarity to the Journal’s traditional focus on “free markets and free people,” though it’s too early to tell whether the Post will join the Journal as a true ideological “wingman.” The Post is also reportedly rolling out a program that will operate outside its traditional opinion section and focus on expanding the outlet’s opinion content to include commentary published in other news outlets and on Substack; the program may also ultimately enable nonprofessionals to submit commentary to the outlet under the guidance of an AI writing coach.

• Expansion at The New York Times. Under the leadership of opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury, the Times has invested heavily in expanding its opinion section, which has doubled in size in five years with nearly 200 people on its staff. The section also takes an unusually expansive view of the types of content that fall under the “opinion” umbrella, publishing short video documentaries, long-form narratives, and profiles – all while rethinking some of its more traditional functions, like writing editorials.

To sign up for Health Media Insights, email health@fgsglobal.com.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded into everyday life, Americans are navigating its promises and complexities. Recent data gathered by our Research team highlights the disparity in how people utilize, understand and even imagine the future of AI, with over half of those surveyed believing AI will or has already developed consciousness:

Usage:

• 58% of U.S. adults used a search engine that produced an AI summary of results in March 2025.

• 93% visited a webpage that mentioned AI during that same period. 

• 49% visited a page where AI was the main focus.

• 8% visited a news website that discussed AI in meaningful depth.

Demographics: 

• 67% of AI super users (individuals who regularly utilize advanced AI features) are men.

• 46% of super users work in the private sector; 14% are self-employed; 9% work in government.

• 59% of Gen Z adults, 32% of Gen X and 17% of baby boomers use AI-generated search summaries at least half of the time.

• 52% of Americans find AI search summaries at least somewhat useful. 

• 58% of men vs. 46% of women say AI summaries are useful. 

Trust:

• 80% of super users trust ChatGPT; 76% trust Meta AI; 78% trust Open AI.

• 29% of the general population trusts ChatGPT; 32% trust Meta AI; 26% trust Open AI. 

• 30% of urban residents trust AI summaries over traditional search results, compared to 13% of suburban and 8% of rural users.

• 24% of Americans compare AI-generated summaries with traditional search results. 

• 17% check the sources cited in AI summaries.

Beliefs About Consciousness: 

• 55% believe that AI systems will probably (28%) or definitely (17%) develop consciousness – or that they already have (10%). 

• 16% of adults aged 18-29 believe AI has already developed consciousness – compared to those aged 30-44 (12%), 45-64 (9%) and 65+ (5%). 

• 48% of Americans believe a conscious AI should not have any legal rights; 21% believe they should; 31% are unsure.

• 46% think people should say “please” and “thank you” during usage.