Ahead of tomorrow's House Judiciary hearing on consolidation in streaming services (the Netflix - Warner Bros acquisition), here's a reminder that regulators can choose to block any media giant from buying Warner Bros: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

The Trump administration is punishing the very people trying to protect Western democracy from Big Tech oligarchs and their control over our information systems. Barry Lynn's statement on the travel ban on 5 European citizens: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

Calling this out is a good first step - billionaire oligarchs who run media are bending the knee to Trump for their own bottom line. There's a solution in the stated problem: Don't allow them to own media & communications platforms to this extent.

This is precisely the danger of US systems of government failing to contain - even supporting, in the case of the FCC - Donald Trump's demand for ideological censorship. First, with the 60 Minutes settlement, then the Paramount sale and installation of Weiss.

"Watchdog groups like the Open Markets Institute have been critical of rapid growth spearheaded by certain investor-backed chains, with their heavy emphasis on maximizing enrollment and minimizing operational costs. Both factors can come at the cost of quality care."

Absolutely ridiculous. Today's FCC hearing at the Senate Commerce Committee saw vigorous, bipartisan objection to Brendan Carr's media censorship on Donald Trump's behalf. Carr's claim the FCC doesn't have an obligation to act independently & in the public's interest is a fireable offense.

There's a real danger SCOTUS will side with Trump and transform America's independent agencies for regulating corporate & financial power into extensions of the executive. In fact, agencies like the FTC under Ferguson are already doing Trump's bidding. 1/2

Extremely timely @austinahlman.bsky.social in @openmarkets.bsky.social newsletter:"If the Supreme Court eliminates agency independence[...]Democrats and Republicans alike must view every nominee as a direct extension of the President’s political operation." www.journalismliberty.org/publications...

🚨 New report out today from Garphil Julien and me on the hidden risks of US dependence on Chinese manufacturers of active pharma ingredients (API) — the basic inputs for making our essential medicines 🧵 1/

When will we learn? Although the COVID pandemic raised public awareness about pharmaceutical supply chain risks, U.S. dependence on Chinese products has only increased. China is now the U.S.’ largest supplier of pharmaceutical products, including both API and finished drugs. 1/2

Today at 1 pm ET: Don't miss this interview on their latest report! www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

Who needs a moratorium on state AI laws when you have Kathy Hochul? 👎 prospect.org/2025/12/11/h...

It's not a question of whether Netflix or Paramount should be allowed to buy Warner Bros Discovery. It's neither. Neither should be able to buy Warner Bros. Both deal present significant antitrust problems. Learn more: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

Our new report with Mission:data is a big one: Investor-owned utilities are stifling the growth of virtual power plants (VPPs) and denying customers more affordable and reliable electricity. The good news: antitrust laws can address this. www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

We are proud to join over 70 other press and information freedom organizations on this letter calling on the European Commission to stand up for the free press and democracy by rejecting the weak adtech remedies offered by Google and instead pursuing structural reforms.

The European Commission announced aggressive enforcement actions against Google today to protect AI competition and democracy. The moves follow similarly bold and laudable action against Meta last week. Our full statement from Europe & Transatlantic Partnerships Director @maxvonthun.bsky.social:

In today's @capitolforum.bsky.social newsletter, policy counsel Tara Pincock urges states to continue pushing for real accountability against corporations like RealPage that are blatantly violating basic price-fixing laws. thecapitolforum.com/the-forum/th...

Today the Supreme Court heard arguments about the illegal firing of FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter. As we laid out in an amicus brief, precedent and the clear meaning of the constitution demands the court reject the gutting of independent agencies.

Europe is fining X for many of the reasons people hate X under Elon Musk. JD Vance has it wrong: enforcing platform integrity and transparency strengthens free speech & democracy, not the other way around. www.npr.org/2025/12/05/n...

Netflix’s bid to swallow Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming business is a raw deal for viewers, writers, creators, theaters. Our full statement is here: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

A Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery deal is a raw one, especially for writers, directors, and other workers. US antitrust authorities can and should oppose it.

This week in The Corner, industrial policy manager Audrey Stienon digs into the political and practical consequences of America's coercive trade policies toward the EU and the bloc's subsequent backtracking on important climate initiatives. www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

Unclear if this is actually policy or just Trump shooting from the hip. But we agree that that the broadcast ownership cap should NOT be lifted. Broadcast is already highly consolidated. Stay tuned 📺

Policymakers at all levels have options to make food markets more fair & competitive to stabilize prices for the long run. This includes fair pricing policy like the RobinsonPatman Act, public option grocery stores & wholesalers, and banning surveillance pricing, price-fixing, and exclusive dealing.

How corporate consolidation has impacted the price of your Thanksgiving turkey, from @clairek.bsky.social: foodandpower.substack.com/p/bird-flu-h...

Your Thanksgiving guide to fairer food prices, from @clairek.bsky.social and Food & Power: 🦃🌽 www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

you can read a 1000 word story on these mergers without the journalist EVER mentioning the fact that almost every merger like this has resulted in oodles of debt, layoffs, chaos, frustration, and shittier product they just don't think that's useful context to even mention

Your reminder that an administration and FTC that claimed it would prioritize workers is choosing not to defend the ban on abusive non-compete agreements. Read more from Sandeep Vaheesan & @bedoyausa.bsky.social in @projectsyndicate.bsky.social www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/t...

The many things you didn't know about public grocery stores. Read it on Food & Power's substack here: foodandpower.substack.com/p/what-mamda...

As with so many things, the key to addressing exploding electricity costs in the US: break up the powerful entities keeping those costs high. NEW from Sandeep Vaheesan in @newrepublic.com: newrepublic.com/article/2031...

We teamed up with a range of public interest groups to urge state AGs to appeal the incredibly weak, insufficient remedies to address Google's monopoly over search. www.economicliberties.us/press-releas...

Today’s ruling from the D.C. District Court in favor of Meta is profoundly misguided. The court is wrong on the facts & the law, and the FTC should appeal. Statement from our policy counsel @tarap.bsky.social here: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

NEW amicus brief in Ohio v Google: Because Google sets itself up to serve the general public, states can enforce common carrier laws that say Google must not self preference its own products or favor its partners over others in search results. www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

Very promising news as the European Commission moves towards bringing Big Tech’s cloud arms under the Digital Markets Act, as long called for by @openmarkets.bsky.social. Cloud alternatives won’t take off until we loosen the hyperscalers’ chokehold on the market. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

“The Commission must reject this paltry offer and force Google to break up its adtech monopoly once and for all.” Our response to Google's wholly insufficient remedies for its adtech conflicts of interest: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

🚨 Scoop: The European Commission is preparing to launch a new case against Google under its landmark digital rules — possibly as soon as tomorrow — despite Trump’s threats of retaliation, sources tell The Capitol Forum. library.thecapitolforum.com/docs/91yxq4g...

The media missed it, but 'moderate' Mikie Sherrill won her race for governor of New Jersey last week with a sweeping anti-monopoly platform and a pledge to fight the corporate interests who are ripping voters off. libertyandpower.substack.com/p/sherrill-a...

Mamdani stole the show last week. But across Hudson, the media missed what may have been an even more aggressive campaign to rein in corporate power. Mikie Sherrill alum Ben Winsor breaks down how the two campaigns are a potential model for unifying Democrats — and winning.

Don't miss the @skynewsrss.bsky.social investigation of how X's algorithm is fueling the British right-wing. If you need another example of why oligarchs cannot be left in charge of our information platforms, this is it. news.sky.com/story/the-x-...

A Senate Commerce hearing earlier today for Surface Transportation Board (STB) nominees drew our attention. We believe it's a sign the Trump admin is trying to rush through the Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific merger. Learn more: www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications...

A worker from Texas has stepped up to defend the national non-compete ban in the courts, after the Trump admin turned its back on workers and refused to act. More @prospect.org: prospect.org/2025/11/06/t...

Book authors' $1.5 billion settlement with Anthropic was a victory for creators. But as @EileenPomeroy breaks down, the narrow terms of the deal leave a lot of red flags for those concerned about AI corporations' illegal model training practices. www.journalismliberty.org/publications...

It’s not just about saving an entitlement program. It’s about tackling the causes of economic insecurity — stagnant wages, financialization, pension loss. New, from Phil Longman & Gillen Tener Martin in @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/02/h...

Open Markets applauds Ric Davidson, his counsel at Gustafson Gluek, Burns Charest, and Towards Justice for stepping in to defend the FTC's ban on noncompetes in court after the current administration abandoned this crucial rule. Our full statement:

Defending social security is about more than just opposing cuts. As policy director Phil Longman explains in his latest piece for the @washingtonmonthly.com, there are a suite of reforms Democrats could embrace to stabilize the program while expanding benefits. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/31/h...

From early promise to pipeline of ads to value extraction: this is the cycle big tech rarely admits but that we all experience. Our editorial director Anita Jain reviews Cory Doctorow’s new book, "Enshittification." @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/30/t...

American ranchers are saying that President Trump's decision to quadruple the amount of beef that Argentina can export to the U.S. at a lower tariff rate could not have come at a worse time. More in Food & Power: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Our transportation policy analyst Arnav Rao weighed in on the ways activist investors are damaging U.S. rail: cnsmaryland.org/2025/10/29/p...

American liberals have always had a special relationship with the UK's Labour party. So they should take note: Keir Starmer doubled down on neoliberalism, and it has quickly taken him and his party to the edge of the abyss. libertyandpower.substack.com/p/what-ameri...

ISD CEO Sasha Havlicek joined a recent @openmarkets.bsky.social event for a panel on “The Future of Democracy: Speech, Thought, Sovereignty, and Power in the Age of Platforms and AI.” The discussion tackled how platforms and AI are reshaping public debate, democratic resilience, and online harms.