Longtime California bookstore chain Books Inc. filed for bankruptcy in January 2025. In September, Barnes & Noble announced plans to acquire Books Inc., keeping the store's brand identity intact and retaining employees. This is good news, right? Well, it's complicated. 🧵 1/

Our Local Energy Policy Toolkit is now available to all lawmakers and advocates who want to build clean energy economies in their community — without waiting for Congress. Check it out: ilsr.org/energy/local...

Students shouldn’t have to park outside McDonald’s to access WiFi. Reliable internet isn’t a luxury—it’s a basic need. Read our Q&A with @ilsr.bsky.social on "connection insecurity," the growing digital divide leaving too many college students behind. hope.temple.edu/hope-blog/ke...

As @wired.com points out in a new cover story, Big Tech has abandoned any semblance of progressive culture and politics in favor of bending the knee to the Trump administration. It's as if Facebook went from leaning in to bowing down. 🧵 1/ www.wired.com/politics-iss...

Are local governments capable of handling something as complex as building and maintaining broadband networks? If history is any indication, they absolutely are. For more than a century, local governments have managed and maintained significant engineering projects.

🌟 🌟 Congratulations to our co-director, John Farrell, on receiving @mnseia.bsky.social Melissa Hortman Lifetime Achievement Award — a recognition that carries deep meaning.

What does the Jimmy Kimmel saga have to do with corporate consolidation? Quite a bit, turns out. 🧵 1/

Superior, Wisconsin, recently launched its ConnectSuperior broadband infrastructure to bring more reliable, more affordable Internet connectivity to the city. How it works: Superior provides the infrastructure for the network, and private companies compete to provide customers with access. 1/

72 percent of electricity customers in the United States are served by monopoly investor-owned Utilities. Aside from being stuck with high rates and poor service, what else does electricity provided by an investor-owned utility get you? 1/

1. Today, ILSR filed a motion in federal court to unseal the FTC’s antitrust complaint against PepsiCo. The case bears directly on high grocery prices and food deserts — and would've marked a crucial revival of the long-neglected Robinson-Patman Act. But the public may never get to see it.

Deadline extended! Make sure to get your application in by Friday, August 1 ➡️ bit.ly/C4Cminigrants

A new law made it harder for low-income families to stay connected, cutting internet costs from SNAP eligibility. As @gbsohn.bsky.social says in @prospect.org: this bill forces families to choose between food and internet. More from @ilsr.bsky.social's Sean Gonsalves: prospect.org/health/2025-...

Public power advocates! @ilsr.bsky.social just released our Public Power Handbook, with step-by-step guidance on how to municipalize (take over) a private electric utility: ilsr.org/articles/pub...

Calling all climate advocates and activists! If you’re fighting for clean energy, energy efficiency, and climate legislation in your community, you’re probably facing resistance from a monopoly utility company. 1/2

A great time to re-up this article -- How to Break Up with Amazon: ilsr.org/articles/its... @ilsr.bsky.social @kennedysmith.bsky.social

Don’t miss @ilsr.bsky.social's July 17 webinar featuring climate activist @billmckibben.bsky.social on how electric utilities are using their monopoly power to block climate progress — and how to fight back. ilsr.org/articles/how...

Trump's "MAGA antitrust" enforcers seem more interested in unserious culture war grievances than enforcing the law. But don't worry: The states - our original trustbusters - are fighting for workers, shoppers and small businesses. New from me in @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...

A beautiful tribute to the late founder of @ilsr.bsky.social. He profoundly shaped how to think about the intersection of place, power, and policy. ilsr.org/articles/rem...

The research team at @ilsr.bsky.social point out: “Even though Amazon claims that roughly 60 percent of its sales are made by small businesses that sell products on its marketplace platform, it competes against them and charges them such exorbitant fees that some of them actually go broke.“

The social, environmental, and economic benefits of local composting can transform neighborhoods. That’s why we’re awarding $10,000 grants to up to 15 composting projects serving historically excluded communities in New England and NYC! Apply by July 25 ➡️ bit.ly/C4Cminigrants

By dismissing its price discrimination lawsuit against PepsiCo, the FTC has chosen to “abandon communities that depend on fair competition to maintain access to essential goods and services,” says @stacyfmitchell.bsky.social. Read the full statement ⬇️

Happy International Compost Awareness Week! 🌱 We’re kicking things off with a reminder that composting is more than a trend — it’s a powerful tool for building climate resilience, healthy soils, and community power. 1/2

@ronmknox.bsky.social’s new zine, out now from @microcosm.bsky.social, examines the growing movement to reject monopoly control and serves as a practical guide to help you — and your friends, neighbors, and coworkers — join the fight for a more democratic future. 1/2

1. If you’re feeling despondent about the state of the world, you’re not alone. But there are folks out there taking the fight to corporate oligarchs and monopolies, and winning - thousands of Davids beating back our economic Goliaths. I wrote a little book about it. Let me show you!

📢 ILSR is hiring! 📢 We’re looking for an Operations Associate to help manage day-to-day organizational functions and support a productive, efficient work environment. This is a full-time, remote, union position with excellent benefits. Apply now ⬇️

1. Walmart is set to be a big winner from Trump’s tariffs. It will gain even more market share, despite relying heavily on China imports. It will do this by flexing its power over suppliers — insisting that they give it deals while shifting the tariff costs onto other retailers.

For decades, dominant corporations have abused their size and power to bully rivals, suppliers, workers, and customers. Now, it’s time for states to strengthen monopoly laws and get enforcement back on track. Our new policy brief explains how. ⬇️

2. Today, ILSR is publishing a package of products that show how state enforcers and lawmakers can turn back the tide of outsized corporate power and support strong, equitable economies within their borders. ilsr.org/independent-...

📢 Starting soon! 📢 Don’t miss this timely discussion about how communities can maximize the benefits of clean energy through local ownership. Tune in at 3 p.m. ET: ilsr.org/articles/communities-taking-control-of-clean-energy-local-ownership/

President Trump’s illegal attempt to fire FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter is “a corrupt bid to allow dominant corporations to prey on American consumers, workers, and small businesses with impunity,” says Stacy Mitchell. Read our full statement ⬇️

Trump just tried to fire FTC Democrats even though he doesn't have the authority to do so. Why? Well, as it turns out, the White House official who sent the letter is Trent Morse, an ex-corporate lobbyist whose firm repped Amazon on antitrust matters. www.thebignewsletter.com/p/why-trump-....

Trump's illegal attempt to fire FTC Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter is a corrupt bid to allow Big Tech and other dominant corporations to prey on Americans with impunity. ILSR's statement:

The question of who owns, controls, and benefits from clean energy projects is too often overlooked in public conversation and policy planning. Join us next week to learn how local ownership can help your community maximize the benefits of clean energy. ⬇️

New report from @ilsr.bsky.social reveals a complicated patchwork of permitting red tape that can add weeks to a rooftop solar project and home battery project. Many Minnesota families pay thousands of additional dollars to navigate unnecessary and frustrating permitting requirements.  🔌💡

“If you follow the money, you can understand a lot about how our grid works. For-profit utilities like Xcel make their money by investing capital into infrastructure... Community solar poses a powerful competitive threat,” ILSR’s @johnffarrell.bsky.social tells @minnesotareformer.com. Read more ⬇️

New report from @ilsr.bsky.social reveals persistent and expensive barriers Minnesota families face when trying to #gosolar. We need solar to meet our growing energy needs – instant permitting will help cut costs and save time on each installation. Read more: https://vist.ly/3mw2hb8 🔌💡

Room for improvement: The @ilsr.bsky.social 2025 Community Power Scorecard surveyed how states are doing in 18 policy areas, revealing that states overall have not improved much since last year. While three fewer received failing grades this year, only one received an above-average score.

Thought today would be a good time to share this from @ilsr.bsky.social again:

Is today's news tempting you to cancel your Washington Post subscription? I fear an exodus of liberal readers will only hasten its shift rightward. May I suggest the better move is to break up with Amazon? We have a guide for you:

Mark your calendars for our upcoming event on March 20! If you’re involved in climate, clean energy, or economic advocacy in your community — whether as part of a nonprofit, small business, labor union, residents’ association, or local government — this webinar is for you. Learn more & register ⬇️

Thanks to @ronmknox.bsky.social for chatting about the importance of small businesses with me. Full interview is at screwed.substack.com/p/youre-prob....

“Amid an ongoing narrative that municipal broadband was too risky, too costly, and ultimately unsustainable, success stories across the country have countered that idea.” Recap of our webinar with @ilsr.bsky.social ⬇️ broadbandbreakfast.com/vermont-ohio...

Excellent summary by @ilsr.bsky.social #ThinkSustainably ilsr.org/articles/202...

Is managing contamination a challenge for your local composting site? You’re not alone! Join us next Tuesday for a webinar featuring practical strategies and advice from expert food scrap composters.

Our 2025 Community Power Scorecard is out! It grades all 50 states on their support of local clean energy action and pushback on utility monopoly power. Use this resource to start moving your state toward lower energy bills and more control over how your energy is produced. https://vist.ly/3mvgk52

*THIS* is what it looks like to govern for the people: lowering the costs of everyday necessities and making our communities cleaner, safer, and healthier. We need more of this.

“By filing suit against PepsiCo, the FTC is sending a clear message: it is illegal for a large supplier to collaborate with a big retail chain to drive smaller retailers out of business and dominate the market.” Read @stacyfmitchell.bsky.social’s full statement: ilsr.org/articles/sta...

1. The FTC today sued Pepsi, the food and drink giant, for conspiring with one big box retailer to rig the price of its sodas and chips while ripping off small stores and grocers. Yes, this is about fairness, about bullying that creates food deserts. It's also about the end of the age of Walmart.

At an event by @ilsr.bsky.social, Minnesota AG Keith Ellison says the state is committed to carry on with antitrust suits in which it joined the federal govt- e.g. Amazon - in case the latter retreats enforcement. "We got into this for the long-run," he said. Other state AGs likely do the same.

1. This is a beautiful piece about the local grocers that have opened in struggling food-desert communities — only to find that they must pay suppliers much higher prices than the big boxes, making it difficult to stay open. The solution is simple: resume enforcing the Robinson-Patman Act.