February Newsletter

Having just past the podcast’s 5th Anniversary, we figured it was time to take a look back and see where we go from here. 

Over 250 episodes later (that's right!!), we've decided to update some things at Cut to the Chase: Podcast, and honestly, I'm pretty excited about them.

We hope that we have educated and maybe even entertained you covering a variety of topics ranging from the law, to science and even popular culture. 

First things first, we have:

Click on the links above. I'd love to know what you think.

Check out everything here and let me know. 

Seriously, reply here. I want to hear it.

Now, here's the part I'm still kind of wrapping my head around. Cut to the Chase: just hit 5 THOUSAND subscribers and is ranked top 5% internationally (yes a lot of 5s in this newsletter).

That's no accident (not like the ones I deal with in my mass tort world). That's you guys showing up, sharing the episodes, engaging with the content. So thank you for that, genuinely.

And because of hitting certain benchmarks on YouTube, I was accepted into the YouTube Creator Program, which opens the door to things I couldn't do before-MONETIZATION through my Youtube Channel. We're talking merch, hats, shirts… perhaps a membership program.

The idea behind the membership would be my unedited take as soon as the news breaks—without a guest, before the news gets stale.   If I get the courage, maybe I would even do some live streams.  Plus we would release some behind-the-scenes stuff, blooper and things that don’t make the final cut (and which you probably would love to see).

Yes there have been plenty of gaffes and guttural sounds when things have gone chaotic and I think it could be a lot of fun, and more importantly, I think it's actually useful for people who want to stay ahead of what's happening. 

If I were to create a private membership community, what topics would you be interested in?

After surviving an assassination attempt, activist Jamshid Sharmahd was kidnapped and killed. Attorney Dylan Barket explains the family’s lawsuit to hold Iran accountable in U.S. court. WATCH HERE →

After years of decay and a demolition threat, a 7-year legal battle saved Miami’s Olympia (formerly Gusman) Theater. Dylan Barket shares how this near miracle was accomplished.
WATCH HERE →

John Rizvi exposes the “dirty secrets” marketing agencies use on law firms. Learn how to avoid vanity metrics, build a memorable brand, and measure results in real dollars. WATCH HERE →

How are Trump-era policies reshaping universities? Kenneth Gold breaks down funding freezes, campus unrest, free speech battles, and whether anti-Semitism is driving federal action. WATCH HERE →

In my latest article with the National Law Review, I examine how the Roblox litigation may signal a major shift in digital platform liability.

Here’s what you need to know: Plaintiffs are no longer suing over harmful user content. They’re suing over platform design.

Instead of arguing failure to monitor, lawyers are alleging “negligent design,” claiming engagement-driven algorithms and monetization systems created a foreseeable zone of danger for minors.

Courts are allowing these claims to move forward, while state Attorneys General in Florida and Louisiana intensify regulatory scrutiny.

Discovery is now focused on internal “Safety vs. Growth” documents, arbitration clauses, and algorithmic audits.

If you operate (or your child uses) a digital platform, this evolving liability theory is one to watch.

Read more below for my full analysis.

Here is something most parents do not know: the apps your child uses every day, Roblox, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, were not designed by accident. They were engineered, deliberately, to maximize engagement. And courts are starting to treat that engineering the same way they treat a defective product.

Historically, tech companies hid behind a federal law called Section 230, which shielded them from lawsuits over user-generated content. Convenient. But plaintiffs' attorneys, myself included in spirit, have found a crack in that armor.

By arguing negligent design rather than failure to moderate content, we are now holding these companies accountable for the machine itself, not just what runs through it.

So what does this mean for you as a parent?
Document everything.

If your child is exhibiting compulsive behavior, anxiety, sleep disruption, or declining grades tied to platform use, keep records. Screenshots, screen time reports... That paper trail matters.

Litigation in this space is moving fast. Thousands of families are already part of active lawsuits against major platforms.

Reply to this email if this resonated!

As always, if you have any questions, I’m happy to chat with you.
Simply reply to this email.

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You are appreciated!