Opinion K. Braeden Anderson Opinion K. Braeden Anderson

Make Amateurism Great Again? An Attack on U.S. Capitalism by a Republican Administration

As a former Division I basketball player, a practicing attorney, and an unapologetic believer in American capitalism, I bring a uniquely principled perspective to this issue. I’ve lived both the physical grind and the regulatory complexity of college athletics. I know what it means to stretch a scholarship into opportunity—to rise before dawn for workouts, sit through hours of law school lectures, and navigate a system that extracted elite-level performance while denying me the right to earn from my own name or have an agent. I am a product of that paradox. I’ve lived its costs and now work on the legal frontlines of its reform. On July 24, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Saving College Sports,” casting it as a federal response to the disruption wrought by athlete compensation litigation, the proliferation of NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals, and what he calls the growing professionalization of amateur sports. The Order activates a broad coalition of federal agencies—from the DOJ to the Department of Education—to “restore guardrails” in the name of fairness and educational integrity. But behind the carefully crafted rhetoric lies something far more troubling: a reactionary effort to reinstate centralized control, cap market forces, and entrench the institutional advantages of college sports’ old guard. This Executive Order, far from advancing American values, runs directly counter to them. It betrays the entrepreneurial spirit, market freedom, and individual rights that conservative leadership claims to uphold.

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Big Law and the Trump Administration

The Trump administration’s latest actions targeting Paul Weiss and other major law firms have sparked debate over the future of Big Law. While these developments are significant, it’s important to take a measured view—this is disruptive but not existential for the industry.

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The SEC at a Crossroads: Gensler’s Exit, Trump’s Administration, and the Future of Regulation
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The SEC at a Crossroads: Gensler’s Exit, Trump’s Administration, and the Future of Regulation

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stands on the brink of significant change as current Chair Gary Gensler prepares to step down on January 20, 2025. This leadership transition coincides with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration and promises to reshape the regulatory landscape for years to come.

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Trump to Meet Privately With Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong: What It Means for Crypto Regulation
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Trump to Meet Privately With Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong: What It Means for Crypto Regulation

President-elect Donald Trump is set to meet privately with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on Monday, marking a significant moment for the cryptocurrency industry. According to sources familiar with the matter, the meeting is expected to focus on key personnel appointments for Trump’s second administration, potentially signaling a major shift in the regulatory landscape for digital assets.

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FBI Seizes Polymarket CEO’s Phone Following Trump Election Prediction
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FBI Seizes Polymarket CEO’s Phone Following Trump Election Prediction

Federal authorities have raised eyebrows with a high-profile seizure of electronic devices from Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan’s Soho residence. The early-morning raid occurred just a week after Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform, accurately forecast Donald Trump’s presidential election victory. This incident has sparked debate over the potential political motivations and broader regulatory implications for decentralized finance.

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A Second Trump Administration: Implications for the Securities Industry
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A Second Trump Administration: Implications for the Securities Industry

With Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House confirmed on November 6, 2024, the financial industry is preparing for sweeping regulatory changes. From the banking sector to private funds, stakeholders are crafting detailed wish lists, hoping to shape the new administration’s economic and regulatory agenda. Trump’s victory is set to usher in a more business-friendly environment, with Wall Street and asset managers eagerly anticipating reforms.

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Trump Hints at Recess Appointment for SEC Chair as Bitcoin Nears $90,000
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Trump Hints at Recess Appointment for SEC Chair as Bitcoin Nears $90,000

The recent election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States has sent shockwaves through the financial world, with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experiencing an unprecedented rally. Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, hit a record high of nearly $90,000, buoyed by expectations of a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment under Trump’s leadership. The surge comes as Trump hints at making sweeping changes to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including replacing Chair Gary Gensler through a controversial recess appointment.

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