Ignore the Entertainment Companies
Plus: Lost Vegas, Gen Z listlessness, Kushner mystique, Nvidia goes to China, and more...
Antitrust
Why Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump Hate the Netflix Deal
Plus: Trump’s economy shows new signs of strain, Congress pushes a $900 billion defense package, and Kalshi stirs backlash over “financializing everything”
Donald Trump Says He'll 'Be Involved' in Choosing Who Gets To Merge With Warner Bros.
Paramount Skydance is banking on the Ellison family's relationship with Trump following Netflix outbidding the company to acquire Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Accepts Netflix's $83 Billion Bid, but Antitrust Threats Still Loom
If antitrust regulators allow the deal to go through, consumers stand to benefit from a less expensive Netflix–HBO Max bundle.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Says You Can Defeat NIMBYism by Building Less
Plus: The DOJ and RealPage reach a settlement, the ROAD to Housing Act hits a speed bump, and Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani talk housing policy.
Meta's Victory Over the Federal Trade Commission Shows the Market Moves Faster Than Antitrust Enforcement
The decision ends the witch hunt begun under the first Trump administration.
People Like Having Too Much Content, Says Swiss Study on Information Abundance
Plus: FTC loses Facebook case, building a fertility abundance agenda, ICE staffer arrested in underage sex sting, and more...
How Lina Khan Is Busy Striving To Maximize Mamdani's Power
Using the mighty power of government to…make stadium hot dogs cheaper? It's one of many ways Khan's petty populism could be coming to New York City.
Trump Baselessly Accuses Meat Packers of 'Criminally Profiting at the Expense of the American People'
There are several reasons why beef prices are at a record high. Collusion isn't one of them.
Live Nation's Merger with Ticketmaster Isn't Responsible for High Resale Prices—You Are
Antitrust enforcers at the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have singled out Live Nation as a scapegoat for concertgoers' insatiable appetites.
Bari Weiss Is Powerful, Establishment Media Is Not
Media consolidations are not drying up the well of discourse; it's overflowing with takes.
Michael Jordan's Lawsuit Against NASCAR Could Upend Motorsports
But crying to a federal judge is no way to negotiate.
The Ryder Cup Was a Cakewalk—Until America Let the Rest of Europe Play
Plus: Fewer people are betting, and did ABC pick Jimmy Kimmel over the NFL?
Donald Trump's Antitrust Enforcers Continue Their Harassment Campaign Against Google
There is no hard evidence of Gmail discriminating against Republican campaign emails, but that’s no matter to the FTC Chairman.
Google's Industry Dominance Isn't Unprecedented—and It Isn't Forever
Failure of imagination drives the bipartisan energy around busting so-called Big Tech monopolies.
Trump and Biden Tried To Break Up Google. Now, They've Both Failed.
A federal judge rejected the proposed structural remedies in the Google search engine monopoly case.
Spirit Airlines May Go Out of Business Because of the Justice Department
The DOJ blocked Spirit's merger with JetBlue in 2024 over concerns about market consolidation, but markets also consolidate when failing firms go bankrupt and exit.
Keep Government Funding—and Political Meddling—Far Away From Olympic Athletes
Plus: Congress might blow up the pro sports business model, and Las Vegas is struggling
OpenAI and Perplexity's New Browsers Make the Monopoly Claims About Google Look Foolish
The market has demonstrated it’s perfectly capable of fostering innovation and competition without government intervention.
Advertising Companies Cave to the FTC. Media Matters Sues To Defend the First Amendment.
Omnicom Group and the Interpublic Group of Companies accepted the Federal Trade Commission's anti-boycott proviso to complete their merger. Instead of capitulating to the commission, Media Matters is suing.
The FTC Risks Chilling Speech With Its Advertising Boycott Investigation
The FTC’s investigation into advocacy groups like Media Matters and advertisers is an indefensible assault on the First Amendment.
Democratic FTC Commissioner Quits—But That Doesn't Mean He's Dropping His Lawsuit
Trump fired Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya in March. Yesterday he gave up his claim to the job, but he's still challenging the White House's right to dismiss him.
Starter Homes Live in Texas, Die in Arizona
Plus: A new constitutional challenge to inclusionary zoning fees, a vetoed ban on rent-recommendation software, and a ill-conceived rent freeze in New York City.
More Government Intervention Won't Make Concert Tickets Cheaper
There's only one way to eliminate the scalping market: Charge more for tickets.
A Top Antitrust Enforcer Is Open To Prosecuting People Who Disagree With Him
Mark Meador thinks the Federal Trade Commission may have the legal right to investigate nonprofits that “advocate for the interests of giant corporations” if they don’t disclose their donors.
A Judge Blocked Apple From Collecting These Commissions
"It's hard to see how completely ripping [the system] apart will be helpful to consumers," warns one economist.
Antitrust Remedies Against Google Would Punish Consumers, Not Protect Them
Forcing the sale of Chrome or banning default agreements wouldn’t foster competition—it would hobble innovation, hurt smaller players, and leave users with worse products.
The App Store Freedom Act Compromises User Privacy To Punish Big Tech
The bill "raises the risk of malware," warns one tech expert.
Trump's Antitrust Enforcer Says 'Big Is Bad'
Federal Trade Commissioner Mark Meador wants conservatives to sacrifice Americans’ economic well-being to break up big businesses.
Skype's Shutdown Proves Bigger Isn't Always Better
The death of a onetime powerhouse carries a lesson for antitrust enforcers—if they’ll listen.
Trump's 'America First Antitrust' Policy Will Put America Last
The Justice Department is pursuing an antitrust policy inspired by Oren Cass and members of the New Right.
Trump Doesn't Need the Fed To Fix Housing
Former Rep. Ron Paul argues that slashing red tape will do more to bring down home prices than pressuring the central bank to cut interest rates.
European Commission Fines Apple and Meta $800 Million
The penalty amounts to a "multibillion-dollar tariff," a Meta spokesperson says.
The DOJ Is Doing Its Best To Make Google Unprofitable
Google has lost its second major antitrust case against the Department of Justice, threatening the tech giant's free-to-consumer business model.
The Trump Administration Wages War on Meta
Mark Zuckerberg's donations haven't stopped the Federal Trade Commission from going after his company.
Justice Department Doubles Down Against Google
The government's demands would reduce competition and harm consumer welfare.
Trump's Love-Hate Relationship With Big Tech
If Trump wants to encourage domestic investment, his antitrust appointees should ditch their Big Tech prejudice.
Meet the New FTC—Same as the Old FTC
Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson reaffirms the flawed 2023 merger guidelines.
FTC Chair Throws Stones in a Glass House
Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson hypocritically engages in the very partisanship for which he faults the American Bar Association.
Google Is Big. Does That Make It a Monopoly?
To understand the federal government's case against Google Search, you need to understand the different visions over monopoly and government power.
How Antitrust Crusaders Brought a Porn App to iPhones
The E.U.'s Digital Markets Act is making it easier for iPhone users to watch porn.
No, Elon: It Isn't Illegal To Boycott X
Elon Musk sues seven more companies for pulling advertising from his platform.
Biden's Antitrust Crackdown Stifled Innovation
Antitrust scrutiny of startup acquisitions led to fewer deals and less venture capital funding.
Pepsi Suffers the Wrath of (Lina) Khan
Outgoing FTC Chair Lina Khan sues Pepsi for violating Robinson-Patman Act.
The Incoming FCC Chief Is No 'Warrior for Free Speech'
Brendan Carr is prepared to block a merger because he doesn't approve of minor CBS editorial decisions.
Mark Meador's Nomination to the Federal Trade Commission Is Bad News for Consumers
Meador’s nomination is a win for antitrust activism and a blow to economic freedom.
Kroger-Albertsons Merger Halted by the Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission's antitrust action does not benefit grocery shoppers.
