The Antitrust Theory of Everything

Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic

Democrats are in thrall to the idea that corporate consolidation is America’s biggest, and maybe only, problem.

The Ninth Circuit Appeal Ruling in ‘Epic v. Apple’ That Apple Is Seeking to Overturn at the Supreme Court (PDF)

John Gruber, Uscourts.gov

Apple Asks Supreme Court to Review App Store Contempt Ruling

Juli Clover, MacRumors

Apple today formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the series of rulings that led to changes to App Store linking rules and fees in the United States. In 2021, Apple largely won its legal dispute with Epic Games, but Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers…

Apple seeks Supreme Court review of contempt finding and injunction scope in Epic Games case

Marcus Mendes, 9to5Mac

Apple today filed a request with the Supreme Court in an attempt to reverse key lower court rulings over the App Store injunction in its long-running legal battle with Epic Games. Here are the details. more…

Rupert Murdoch Convinced Trump To Launch Dubious Antitrust Inquiry Into NFL

Karl Bode, Techdirt

One recurring theme during the Trump era is that because he fundamentally doesn’t know how anything actually works, his beliefs and policies are broadly shaped by whatever terrible rich person was in his ear last. Even when it comes to stuff like streaming vi…

Save CNN: Paramount Hit With Antitrust & “Viewpoint Diversity” Suit By Consumers To Stop WBD Merger; Company Responds

Erik Pedersen, Deadline

Some of the most powerful state attorneys general in the nation just got eclipsed by five regular citizens in a move to put the brakes on Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros Discovery. “The April 23, 2026, stockholder vote materially changed the posture of th…

Federal judge blocks Nexstar-Tegna TV station merger until antitrust lawsuit is settled

The Associated Press, NBC News

A federal judge has blocked a $6.2 billion merger of local television giants Nexstar Media Group and rival Tegna until an antitrust lawsuit is resolved.U.S.

Judge halts local TV giant Nexstar's takeover of rival Tegna until trial

David Folkenflik, NPR

U.S. Judge Trevor Nunley ruled that consumers could suffer irreparable harm if Nexstar integrated Tegna's stations into its own operations ahead of an antitrust trial.

Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says “This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple”

Ted Johnson, Deadline

A federal judge just put a halt to Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, putting in doubt the combination of the companies to create a broadcast station giant – at least for now With just a few hours to go on the current TRO, U.S. District Judge …

Jury Does What Trump’s DOJ Wouldn’t, Deems Ticketmaster a Monopoly

AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.com

Imagine actually holding a corporation accountable.

Jury Finds Live Nation Acted as an Illegal Monopoly

Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork

Penalties against the live-music industry giant will be decided at a later date

Elon Musk Scores a Victory Against Free Speech

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The Trump regime thinks it should be illegal to not give Elon money.

WSJ: Lobbyists Easily Destroyed Any Semi-Serious Antitrust Enforcers Left In MAGA

Karl Bode, Techdirt

Last election season the Trump campaign lied to everyone repeatedly about how his second administration would “rein in big tech,” and be a natural extension of the Lina Khan antitrust movement. As we noted at the time, that was always an obvious fake populist…

Everyone hates Ticketmaster. Why’d Trump go easy on them?

Nilay Patel, The Verge

Today on Decoder, we’re talking about the major antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, and what it might mean for antitrust and competition law in general now that the Justice Department under Trump has decided to settle its part of the case. That’s even as m…

Live Nation settles government antitrust suit — that probably doesn’t include a breakup

Lauren Feiner, Stevie Bonifield, The Verge

On Monday, Live Nation-Ticketmaster agreed to settle a federal antitrust lawsuit with the Department of Justice. Eight states so far have indicated they plan to join the settlement, a district attorney said in court, and four others remain unclear on their st…

GOP “Antitrust Concerns” Magically Disappear Now That Larry Ellison Is Buying Warner Brothers

Karl Bode, Techdirt

You might have noticed that when Netflix was attempting to acquire Warner Brothers, Republicans were suddenly and uncharacteristically interested in media consolidation and antitrust reform. Republican AGs threatened investigation. The Trump DOJ launched a (f…

Who Knew? Mindless And Corrupt Deregulation Apparently Kills People

Karl Bode, Techdirt

You might recall that a central pillar of the Trump administration during the last election season was that a second Trump term would “take aim at big tech,” protect the little guy, rein in corporate power, and even “continue the legacy of antitrust enforcers…

Netflix Officially Under DOJ Antitrust Scrutiny “To Create A Monopoly” With Warner Bros Merger; Feds Want Details From Producers & Filmmakers On Streamer’s Leverage

Dominic Patten, Deadline

After months of jabs and feints, the white gloves may have truly come off in Netflix and Paramount’s multibillion-dollar battle for control of Warner Bros. Discovery. With just 24 hours left to go on the WBD board’s weeklong talks with the David Ellison-owned…

Judge Pares Down DOJ’s Antitrust Claims Against Live Nation, But Lawsuit Can Proceed To Trial

Ted Johnson, Deadline

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed portions of the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, but will allow other claims to proceed to trial next month. The Justice Department and 39 states sued Live Nation in 2024, with claims that comp…

MAGA’s Always Bogus “Antitrust Movement” Comes To A Screeching Halt With Firing Of Gail Slater

Karl Bode, Techdirt

The Trump administration has fired one of the few remaining members of the administration that had even a passing interest in antitrust enforcement. DOJ antitrust boss Gail Slater has been fired from the administration after having repeated contentious run in…

Trump DOJ Launches Bunk Investigation Of Netflix Merger As a Favor To Larry Ellison

Karl Bode, Techdirt

We told you this was coming months ago. The Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) says it has initiated a broad investigation of Netflix’s business practices and it’s planned $82.7 billion merger with Warner Brothers. The Trump DOJ’s pretense is that they’re just…

Live Nation’s monopoly trial is reportedly fracturing Trump’s Justice Department

Jess Weatherbed, The Verge

Live Nation executives have reportedly sidestepped the Justice Department's antitrust division to negotiate directly with more sympathetic senior officials in the hopes of avoiding a monopoly trial. Citing "people familiar with the matter," Semafor reports th…

Why is the Trump administration really appealing its Meta loss?

Lauren Feiner, The Verge

After a federal judge ruled that Meta was not an illegal monopolist in a blow against the Federal Trade Commission, the agency issued what was in part a typical statement of disappointment. Another part of the statement was anything but: a political attack on…

Senators Open Netflix Hearing With Serious Concerns Over Warner Bros. Deal: “Extraordinary In Both Scale And Potential Consequence”

Ted Johnson, Deadline

As Netflix co-CEO faced a Senate subcommittee over its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros., lawmakers in both parties pressed serious concerns over the combination, citing in particular the streaming giant’s dominance. The chair of the Senate Judiciary antit…