REMINDER: On Monday, the Trump DOJ announced a settlement with Live Nation-Ticketmaster — failing to break up their monopoly that gives them the power to continue hiking costs.

"When so much market power is concentrated within so few corporations, Americans at the grocery store see prices go up, while farmers see their profits go down and corporate players have free rein to rig the system." @schumer.senate.gov unveiled new legislation to break up the Big Four meatpackers👇

This settlement falls short of what fans deserve. Breaking up Live Nation-Ticketmaster is the only way to loosen its grip on venues, artists, and fans. I'm introducing a bill to stop corrupt antitrust settlements and I'm glad states plan to continue the case to protect consumers.

WATCH: @schumer.senate.gov is leading colleagues in introducing legislation to break up the dominant meatpackers that are squeezing producers and gouging Americans. "To create more competition, we have to break the stranglehold of these monopolistic corporations."

NEW: @balancecraft.bsky.social explainer on @warren.senate.gov's American Homeownership Act, as well as complementary, bipartisan housing affordability bills. "Warren and other Senators have now done [the] work. Congress and Trump should follow their lead."

"But the risks are especially acute when we're talking about news and media because it's about concentrating power over who gets heard, who gets seen..." @linamkhan.bsky.social with @briantylercohen.bsky.social discusses the dangers of a merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.

"If you want to understand why we have an affordability crisis, focus on concentrated markets and the sophisticated tools large corporations are using to replace beneficial competition with consumer deception."

"Americans are producing more, but corporations are capturing an increasing portion of the gains. People are being squeezed." ICYMI: @leehepner.bsky.social joined Senate Democrats to discuss how corporations are raising food prices and everyday household costs for Americans.

Thanks to @washingtonpost.com: "'To me, it's ridiculous we're still talking about this a decade later,' said William McGee, senior fellow for aviation & travel @econliberties.bsky.social, who has advocated for fee-free family seating for more than 10 years." www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2026/...

Last night, Trump claimed he "took prescription drugs... from the highest price in the entire world to the lowest." But AELP senior fellow, Ben Jolley, tells ABC "pharmacists have not seen sweeping day-to-day reductions at the counter clearly tied to executive actions during Trump's second term."

A merger between Getty and Shutterstock means two things: lower royalties and fewer choices photographers and videographers. Yet, the DOJ still decided to greenlight this merger. "The Antitrust Division is not enforcing the law. It is managing the paperwork for a merger wave.”

"Even during the recent government shutdown, when FAA was forced to restrict airline flights nationwide at 40 busy airports, the agency still allowed private jets to operate at 28 of them." ICYMI: Must-read on how private jets lead to more delays and higher fares for the rest of us⬇️

NEW: Alongside 16 other Democrats, @warren.senate.gov is introducing the American Homeownership Act of 2026. This bill takes private equity's chokehold on housing head on — ending major federal tax deductions & other unfair benefits for Wall Street landlords, while reinvesting in families.

"We’re not going to see a huge difference in tariff rates because they can use other authorities, but this could constrain Trump’s Zeus-like use of tariffs as punishment on non-trade matters." @rethinktrade.bsky.social Director Lori Wallach on the impact of the SCOTUS tariff decision👇

NEW: Alongside 16 other Democrats, @warren.senate.gov is introducing the American Homeownership Act of 2026. This bill takes private equity's chokehold on housing head on — ending major federal tax deductions & other unfair benefits for Wall Street landlords, while reinvesting in families.

“For billionaires, flying into the busiest airports means cutting minutes off their limo rides. For the rest of us, it means they're contributing to more delays and... higher fares." In @frommers.com, @wjm-air.bsky.social breaks down how the ultra-rich flying private impacts everyone else.

“Ticketmaster and Live Nation are this dominant intermediary that artists, venues, and fans cannot escape." Ahead of next month's trial against Live Nation-Ticketmaster, here's @dohamekki.bsky.social breaking down how the ticketing & venue giant traps fans, artists, and venues.

"The tariff rates aren't likely to change." Trade expert @wallachlori.bsky.social from @econliberties.bsky.social says Friday's Supreme Court ruling that struck President Trump's "emergency" tariffs still leaves him with broad authority to set levies under different laws.

"A Supreme Court otherwise inclined to endlessly expand Trump’s authority just restricted his go-to tool, ruling that U.S. presidents do not have the power to unilaterally deploy tariffs and dole out punishment and favor..." NEW: Our statement on today's SCOTUS ruling⬇️

Two weeks ago, Paramount CEO David Ellison refused to appear at a hearing on the takeover of Warner Bros. Now, Senators are calling out Ellison's "pattern of evasion" — and calling for the CEO to preserve his communications with Trump, his family, lobbyists and DOJ staff.

"Kennedy’s actions underscore the need for structural legislative reforms that rein in Big Medicine, regardless of who sits in the White House or HHS headquarters." For The Economic Populist, Emma Freer looks back on one year of RFK Jr. at HHS. economicpopulist.substack.com/p/maha-turns-one

What happens when large companies use their size to undermine competition and consumer choice? Innovation is stifled; consumers, workers, and small businesses suffer; and California's affordability crisis gets worse. That’s why we’re supporting the COMPETE Act. techequity.us/compete-act-...

WATCH: In his State of the State address, @govpritzker.illinois.gov announces he is supporting Illinois lawmakers' efforts to ban junk fees in the state👏 "It’s about time for everyday Illinoisans to take control and get the relief they deserve.”

"Duffy already axed the Biden-era rulemaking on flight disruption compensation. Next up may be junk fee transparency that will make booking flights much more opaque." As consumer protections are tossed out in favor of big airlines, @wjm-air.bsky.social warns it may only get worse👇

"When a... lobbyist can publicly brag about recommending the firing of the nation’s top antitrust enforcer, something has gone very wrong." ICYMI: We're commending @booker.senate.gov, @klobuchar.senate.gov, and others for rightfully demanding answers over the firing of antitrust chief Gail Slater.

NEW: Economic Liberties is releasing model legislation that would provide relief to utility customers by reining in unreasonable monopoly utility profits.

“Whatever hope I had for a populist realignment on the right is slipping away. You still see those voices on the right, but they are increasingly not represented in the government itself.” Lee Hepner in @semafor.com on the removal of DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater👇

Wondering how we can stop the rise of Big Tech’s data centers? 🤔 @econliberties.bsky.social just dropped a detailed brief on the issue, covering taxpayer burden, the use of NDAs, and the policy steps needed to combat Big Tech. 🏛️ Check it out: www.economicliberties.us/our-work/how...

Economic Liberties is hiring a number of roles for our Communications, Research, and Rethink Trade teams! Check them out here: economicliberties.us/careers/

As Netflix continues to try to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, we are joining the Block the Merger coalition — to oppose further consolidation in the media industry.

"Next month, the Live Nation-Ticketmaster antitrust trial is scheduled to begin, and Wall Street expects there will be a settlement to block this trial at the behest of the lobbyists who engineered this ouster. Live Nation’s stock has surged in the minutes following today’s news."

"The Trump administration’s antitrust ‘policy’ is a pay-to-play scheme orchestrated by lobbyists for would-be and existing monopolists." Our statement in response to news that AAG for Antitrust Gail Slater has been pushed out of her role at the DOJ.

NEW: Less than one year after the launch of our Break Up Big Medicine campaign, @warren.senate.gov & Sen. Hawley are introducing legislation to do just that🧵

Across the country, Big Tech corporations are using NDAs to hide key details about data center projects. It's time to rein in these secret deals. Read more here: economicliberties.us/our-work/how...

"The larger problem here is that corporate power is growing... in a staggering way, creating disparities of wealth that are unconscionable, even unimaginable just a generation ago." ICYMI: Must-watch from @booker.senate.gov calling out the threats posed by excess corporate power.

NEW: Ahead of the Super Bowl, one of the busiest private jet days of the year, a new paper from @ashleynowicki.bsky.social and @wjm-air.bsky.social details private jets' preferential treatment as they further congest airways — and policy solutions to fix it. As covered in @thelever.bsky.social 👇

"Merger after merger it seems like the interests of the people are not being served." ICYMI: During a hearing on the dangers of the Netflix-Warner Bros. merger, @booker.senate.govspeaks to the greater threats posed by corporate power and consolidation👇

ICYMI: Bezo's Washington Post is firing hundreds of employees, including the Amazon reporter that held his company accountable. The reporter, Caroline O'Donovan, has reported on Amazon's layoffs, data centers, and more — reporting that will likely no longer continue.

"In 2024, more than 1/3 of households skipped out on necessities to pay an energy bill..." Must-watch from @aoc.bsky.social calling out high ROEs, overseen by FERC, that are forcing Americans to choose between basic necessities and their energy bill👇

NEW: @amemeritatorres.bsky.social is backing a bill to BAN surveillance pricing in New York. As concerns over individualized pricing rise, it's great to see lawmakers step up to pass commonsense reforms that protect consumers and workers from this dystopian pricing tactic.

“At a time when Big Tech is wielding its political muscle to stifle needed regulation at the federal and state levels, major cities such as New York must act on behalf... of vulnerable workers and consumers." Must-read in Jacobin on why NYC should ban surveillance pricing.

"We allow Boeing and the airlines to self-police. Can you tell me what they've done in recent years to earn that trust? They haven't." @wjm-air.bsky.social discusses the FAA, the government shutdown, and the problem with having companies self-police.

NDAs are making it harder for the public to be aware of data center projects in their communities. “From... what I’ve seen, the very explicit purpose of these [NDAs] is so that the community doesn’t know what’s happening until it’s too late..."

“For too long, investor-owned monopoly utilities have gamed, captured, and made a mockery of the century-old regulatory system that is supposed to keep them in check." ICYMI: @mh4oh in our statement applauding the launch of the Congressional Lowering Utility Bills Caucus👇

As monopoly utilities jack up rates and rake in record profits, @reprileyny.bsky.social and colleagues are launching the Lowering Utility Bills Caucus to bring down costs. "Electricity is basic. Heat is basic. No family in this country... should feel like the power companies own them."

"If we believe in competition, we should... consider breaking up this industry to allow the kind of competition that prevents this vertical integration and abuse of power." WATCH: @ocasio-cortez.house.gov calls for adopting a new Glass–Steagall Act in health care 👇

Airlines know customers prefer speaking with real representatives over AI bots. Now, these companies are looking to capitalize on it by charging you to speak to an actual human.

In America, 1 in 8 people are already experiencing food insecurity — the Trump admin's economic blindness isn't helping. "Somehow it doesn’t seem likely that chicken with a piece — just one piece! — of broccoli is on the menu at the White House or at a Mar-a-Lago fete." www.ms.now/opinion/broo...

"The credit card industry knows that the president will chicken out." Rohit Chopra tells @cnn.com why he doubts the admin will follow through on capping credit card interest rates.

The PBM reforms in the House funding bill are a first step — but they come too late. "[T]he key provisions won’t take effect until at least 2028, which is far too long a wait – and underscores the need for Congress to enact more substantial structural reforms."