Jurisdiction archive - The Capitol Forum

Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery: Top European Cinema Trade Group to Push for In-Depth EC Probe, Sources Say

Europe’s cinema industry is set to escalate its opposition to Paramount’s (PSKY) proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), with one of the sector’s largest trade associationspreparing a formal submission urging EU regulators to open an in-depth investigation into the...

Apr 15, 2026 Read Now >

DOJ Antitrust Chief Assefi and Dhillon, Department’s Civil Rights Head, Consider Leaving for Private Practice; Dhillon’s Departure Hinges on Whether She Gets No. 3 Post

More personnel changes may be in store at DOJ following Attorney General Pam Bondi’s firing. Omeed Assefi, the department’s acting antitrust head, is considering leaving for private practice, sources familiar with the matter said. And Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for...

Apr 14, 2026 Read Now >

Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery: Booker Schedules Wednesday Hearing on Deal Featuring Labor, Media Witnesses

This article has been updated to include Paramount Skydance’s response to Booker’s invitation for CEO David Ellison to testify. Senator Cory Booker, a critic of Paramount Skydance’s (PSKY) proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), has scheduled a hearing today on the $81...

Apr 13, 2026 Read Now >

Volvo Car, Polestar—European Automakers with Chinese Ties—Face Ban from U.S. Market Over Wireless Connection Rule

Volvo Car (VOLCAR-B) and Polestar (PSNY)—two automakers with ties to Chinese ownership—face potential exclusion from the U.S. market under a national security rule covering virtually every modern vehicle that targets not just where cars are built or who writes their software, but who...

Apr 09, 2026 Read Now >

The European Antitrust Agenda: Divisions Eclipse EU-U.S. Digital Rule ‘Dialogue’; CMA Microsoft Probe Tests Soft Approach on Big Tech

Welcome to The European Antitrust Agenda (…) Ronan Scanlan, partner at Steptoe, told The Capitol Forum that the CMA appears to be taking a pragmatic approach, accepting voluntary commitments instead of imposing remedies or opening a lengthy SMS investigation into the cloud sector....

Apr 07, 2026 Read Now >

Next Head of EU Competition Watchdog Faces Souring U.S. Relations, Telecoms’ Consolidation Push

The frontrunner to head the European Commission’s competition watchdog, a nearly three-decade veteran of the EU executive, will have to perform some tricky balancing acts if he ultimately takes the helm – from conflicting views of how the bloc should achieve “competitiveness” to...

Apr 03, 2026 Read Now >

Privacy Policy: California Data Broker Registry Reveals Dozens of Brokers Selling Consumers’ Data to Foreign Actors, Law Enforcement, Federal Government

Last week the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) published its 2026 Data Broker Registry, revealing that dozens of brokers have sold or shared consumers’ personal data to the federal government, law enforcement, and even foreign adversary countries over the past...

Apr 01, 2026 Read Now >

Merger Monthly: With FCC, DOJ Aid, Nexstar’s Rush-Close Strategy Worked—Until it Didn’t; Outlook for Key Transactions Including Boston Scientific /Penumbra, Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery, and Providence Equity Partners/Cantaloupe

Nexstar’s (NXST) March 19 decision to close its $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna over pending lawsuits from eight state attorneys general and DirecTV was one of the most aggressive maneuvers by an acquiring party in recent memory. But the more consequential story may be what deal...

Apr 01, 2026 Read Now >

Booking CEO Warns Google’s Gemini, ChatGPT Could Squeeze Out Small Hotels

Booking (BKNG) CEO Glenn Fogel raised fresh concerns about the influence of artificial intelligence tools like Google’s (GOOG) Gemini on how people find hotels online and said he’s happy regulators are scrutinizing the search giant’s AI-generated answers to search queries under...

Mar 25, 2026 Read Now >

Antitrust Agenda: HPE/Juniper Tunney Act Hearing Set for 1pm ET Today; State Attorneys General Group Signals Need for Companies to Cooperate on Merger Investigations; Analysis of Past Comments from Fertilizer Executives Amid Price Spikes; Acting DOJ Antitrust Division AAG Omeed Assefi Talks Press Criticism

Preview of HPE/Juniper hearing. U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts of the Northern District of California will hear arguments today on whether to approve under the Tunney Act DOJ’s motion to finalize its settlement in the Hewlett Packard Enterprise/Juniper Networks case. At 1:00 p.m....

Mar 24, 2026 Read Now >

Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery: EC Asks Questions Related to Foreign Subsidies Probe, Sources Say

The European Commission has sent fresh requests for information (RFIs) to Paramount Skydance (PSKY) as part of its foreign subsidies investigation into the company’s proposed $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), according to two sources familiar with the probe. The...

Mar 24, 2026 Read Now >

Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery: Democratic AGs Seek Outside Counsel for Anticipated Suit Against Merger

A group of Democratic state attorneys general preparing an antitrust suit to block Paramount Skydance’s (PSKY) proposed $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is searching for outside counsel to litigate the case, sources familiar with the matter said. The search is ongoing,...

Mar 20, 2026 Read Now >

Skyworks/Qorvo: SAMR Expresses Bundling Concerns; Overlaps in Key Components Could Also Drive Review

China’s antitrust authority has expressed some initial concerns that Skyworks Solutions’ (SWKS) proposed acquisition of rival electronic components maker Qorvo (QRVO) could lead to illegal bundling practices and unfair disadvantages for home-grown competitors, sources familiar with...

Mar 20, 2026 Read Now >

Live Nation: State AGs Present Settlement Counterproposal, Await Company’s Response

The coalition of 33 states continuing the monopolization lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) delivered today a counterproposal for a settlement to the company earlier this week, their counsel told the judge overseeing the trial. Live Nation confirmed it’s reviewing the offer...

Mar 20, 2026 Read Now >

Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery: Democratic AGs Seek Outside Counsel for Anticipated Suit Against Merger

A group of Democratic state attorneys general preparing an antitrust suit to block Paramount Skydance’s (PSKY) proposed $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is searching for outside counsel to litigate the case, sources familiar with the matter said. The search is ongoing,...

Mar 20, 2026 Read Now >

Federal Reserve Policy: Warsh’s Pursuit of Quantitative Tightening Faces Myriad Political and Market Constraints

Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve, has said that he wants to reduce the Fed’s “bloated” portfolio of assets and has asserted that quantitative easing (the Fed policy of buying assets like Treasuries and mortgage securities) has led to...

Mar 19, 2026 Read Now >

Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery: California Closely Scrutinizing Deal After Failure of Trump Administration Enforcement, State AG Bonta Says

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today said that his office is conducting a vigorous review of Paramount Skydance’s (PSKY) proposed $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to ensure a vital state industry remains competitive because the Trump administration has...

Mar 13, 2026 Read Now >

Thrad: Company Claims to Serve Ads to Millions of Chatbot Users as Hims & Hers Denies Partnership, Experts Raise Privacy Concerns

Adtech startup Thrad.ai claims to serve millions of ads daily for Fortune 500 brands across a global network of AI publishers, as chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT begin to experiment with in-chat advertising to users. But targeting users with ads based on their conversations with chatbots...

Mar 12, 2026 Read Now >

Paramount Skydance/Warner Bros. Discovery: A Closer Look at Potential State AG Theories of Harm, Litigation Risk

Paramount Skydance (PSKY) in the days since inking its $81 billion agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has projected “absolute” confidence in the deal’s closing prospects. But that confidence is in some tension not only with the politics surrounding the transaction,...

Mar 09, 2026 Read Now >

Live Nation: Bipartisan Group of State AGs Vows to Fight on Despite DOJ’s Proposed Settlement with Entertainment Giant

Democratic and Republican state attorneys general said the proposed settlement between DOJ and Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) to resolve the company’s alleged antitrust violations is insufficient and they’ll continue the monopoly...

Mar 09, 2026 Read Now >

EU Preparing First Google Fines Under Digital Rules as Soon as This Month, Sources Say

The European Commission is preparing two fines against Google (GOOG) for alleged breaches of the EU’s digital competition rules as soon as this month, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The long-awaited final decisions mark the first penalties for the technology giant...

Mar 09, 2026 Read Now >

Roblox: Judge Denies Roblox’s Motion to Compel Arbitration in 10-Year-Old’s Alleged Kidnapping Case, Citing EFAA

This article has been updated to include comments from Senator Dick Durbin. A California Superior Court judge ruled Roblox (RBLX) and Discord’s arbitration agreements to be unenforceable under the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 (EFAA) in a...

Mar 03, 2026 Read Now >

Live Nation: Trial Spotlights Scope of Entertainment Giant’s Influence and Alleged Abuses to Keep Grip on Industry

DOJ’s closely watched antitrust case against Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) and its ticketing arm, Ticketmaster, went to trial today in a lawsuit that could reshape competition in the U.S. live entertainment industry for years to...

Mar 02, 2026 Read Now >

Bayer: DOJ Deepens Corn and Soybean Seeds Probe By Issuing CIDs to Agriculture Giants, Independent Seed Companies

DOJ issued civil investigative demands (CIDs) last week to agriculture companies, sources familiar with the matter said—signaling that its antitrust probe of the corn and soybean seeds sectors is deepening. The rest of this publication is currently locked and only available to...

Mar 02, 2026 Read Now >

Nexstar/Tegna: States Poised to Sue to Block TV Station Merger That Would Create Overlaps in Dozens of Broadcast Markets

A group of state attorneys general are poised to sue to block Nexstar’s (NXST) proposed acquisition of rival television station operator Tegna (TGNA) once the $6.2 billion deal receives its anticipated clearances from DOJ and the Federal Communications Commission, sources familiar with...

Feb 27, 2026 Read Now >

Roblox: Age Checks Requirement Upends Socialization and Chat-Dependent Games Across Platform as Developers Voice Concerns

When Jack first discovered Roblox (RBLX) in 2011 as an eight-year-old, he was hooked. Inspired by roleplaying games, or “experiences,” that let him inhabit the role of soldier, cop, or service worker, he launched his own fast food-themed experience three years later that let users...

Feb 26, 2026 Read Now >

Tech/Media/Telecom Weekly: Profit Boom for Memory Chip Oligopoly Set to Continue in Short Term as Sources in National Security Community Say Policymakers are Unlikely to Soften Stance Toward Chinese Memory Chip Companies

The TMT Weekly is a forward-looking tipsheet that covers tech policy across The Capitol Forum’s U.S. policy coverage universe, from Congress to the Courts. In this edition: National Security Outlook: Profit boom for memory chip oligopoly set to continue in short term: Sources in...

Feb 25, 2026 Read Now >

EU Cookie Banner Cleanup Plan Faces Conflicting Pushback, Echoing Tensions That Tanked Past Efforts

The European Commission’s plan to relieve internet users of much-hated cookie consent banners is generating intense and, in some cases, conflicting opposition from a variety of interests, throwing its future – and at the very least its objective – into doubt. As parliamentarians and...

Feb 24, 2026 Read Now >

EU Likely to Publish Industrial Accelerator Act Next Week Despite Internal Divisions, Sources Say

The European Commission is expected to proceed next week with the publication of its Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), despite significant internal resistance, according to three people familiar with the matter. The proposal, drafted by the commission’s industry and internal market...

Feb 20, 2026 Read Now >

Nexstar/Tegna: FCC Chairman Carr Considers Keeping 39% Cap for Largest Networks, Lifting It for Smaller Rivals

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr—eager to clear Nexstar’s (NXST) proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of rival broadcaster Tegna (TGNA)—is considering lifting the national limit on TV station ownership for most companies but retaining it for the four largest...

Feb 18, 2026 Read Now >

Meta Faces Scam-Ad Complaint Under EU Digital Rules

Swedish media companies are accusing Meta (META) of violating the EU’s digital content-moderation and advertising-transparency rules by allegedly allowing rampant scam advertisements on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, according to a complaint seen by The Capitol Forum. The complaint...

Feb 18, 2026 Read Now >

Antitrust Agenda: Warner Reopens Merger Talks with Paramount; Cattle Ranchers Decry Trump EO Raising Argentina’s Beef Imports; Ohio AG Alleges Cannabis Cartel in Antitrust Suit; Maryland Moves Toward Algorithmic Pricing Ban

Warner Brothers re-opens merger negotiations with Paramount; experts and enforcers weigh in. Warner Brothers-Discovery (WBD) reentered deal talks with Paramount-Skydance (PSKY) this morning, asking for a “best and final” offer with a February 23 deadline to outbid Netflix’s (NFLX)...

Feb 17, 2026 Read Now >

EU Advances Visa, Mastercard Probes with New Questions, File Requests, Sources Say

The European Commission has in recent weeks asked parties involved in its investigations of Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) to prepare non-confidential versions of documents detailing complaints about the companies’ conduct, so that the submissions can be added to the official case...

Feb 16, 2026 Read Now >

Kimberly-Clark/Kenvue: Rivals Expected to Raise Portfolio Concerns but Clearance Still Likely, Sources Say

Kimberly-Clark’s (KMB) proposed $48.7 billion acquisition of Kenvue (KVUE) is expected to face pushback from rival suppliers in Europe, who are concerned that the combined group’s broad portfolio in key consumer categories could strengthen its bargaining leverage with retailers and...

Feb 13, 2026 Read Now >

Live Nation: New DOJ Antitrust Head Assefi Tells Company Representatives Case Is Strong, He Favors Trial, Even as Settlement Talks Continue

Omeed Assefi, the acting head of DOJ’s antitrust division, told representatives of Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) today that the department believes it has a strong antitrust case against the company and that he favors going to trial on March 2, sources familiar with the matter...

Feb 13, 2026 Read Now >

Figure Technology Solutions: Blockchain-Based Home Equity Credit Product May Circumvent Lending Rules

Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR), a nonbank lender that uses blockchain to automate consumer credit lending, derives the bulk of its revenue from a home equity line of credit (HELOC) product that appears to operate much like a traditional home loan, raising questions about whether the...

Feb 12, 2026 Read Now >

Berlin’s China Dilemma Tests Europe’s Push for ‘Buy European’ Strategy

Germany’s deep economic integration with China, particularly in the automotive and chemicals sectors, has emerged as a major obstacle to Europe’s shift towards more protectionist trade and investment policies, a Capitol Forum analysis shows. Resistance is also building among EU member...

Feb 11, 2026 Read Now >

EU Nvidia Scrutiny Intensifies with New Questions on Data Center Components, Sources Say

The European Commission has in recent months questioned industry players about definitions of products involved in data centers as part of an antitrust investigation into Nvidia (NVDA), two sources familiar with the matter said. The commission has also asked whether different data...

Feb 11, 2026 Read Now >

EU Plans Major Sanctions Overhaul Targeting Russian Oil, LNG and Evasion Routes, Draft Proposal Shows

With Russia’s war in Ukraine nearing its fourth anniversary, the European Commission has proposed a new sanctions package that would enable a full ban on maritime services for Russian crude oil, remove the crude oil price cap, prohibit LNG terminal services for Russian entities, and...

Feb 11, 2026 Read Now >

Deutsche Boerse/Allfunds: Deutsche Boerse Chief Makes Case in Brussels for Landmark EU Deal, Sources Say

Deutsche Boerse (DBKG) chief executive Stephan Leithner has recently met senior officials from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition in Brussels to argue that its planned merger with Allfunds (ALLFUN) is essential to creating a ‘European champion’ in the...

Feb 11, 2026 Read Now >

Nexstar/Tegna: Appeals Court Stay Risk Looms Over Potential FCC Local, National Ownership Cap Waivers

President Donald Trump gave his stamp of approval to Nexstar’s (NXST) proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna (TNGA) in a Saturday social media post that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr quickly re-shared, providing a clear signal that the agency plans to grant Nexstar waivers of the local...

Feb 11, 2026 Read Now >

Harrow: California Accusation, Settlement Could Spur Other State Boards of Pharmacy to Take Action Against ImprimisRx

Harrow (HROW), an ophthalmic drug company, announced last week that its compounding business had reached a settlement with the California Board of Pharmacy, paying a fine of $157,000 and voluntarily surrendering its state licensure in light of an August 2025 accusation from the Board....

Feb 10, 2026 Read Now >

Mark Hamer, One of DOJ Antitrust Head Gail Slater’s Top Deputies, Plans to Leave Department For Private Practice

Mark Hamer, one of DOJ antitrust head Gail Slater’s top deputies, is set to leave the department’s antitrust division to return to private practice, a source familiar with the matter said. The source said Hamer will be returning to Baker McKenzie, where he served as global antitrust...

Feb 09, 2026 Read Now >

Netflix/Warner Bros. Discovery: Paramount’s Ellison Offers to Submit Written Testimony as Answers Sought on Possible Donations and Lee Plans Second Hearing on Streaming Deal

Paramount Skydance (PSKY) Chairman and CEO David Ellison has offered to submit written testimony to the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee on Netflix’s (NFLX) competing $72 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) after declining to answer questions in person, according to a...

Feb 06, 2026 Read Now >

Smithfield Foods/Nathan’s Famous: MAGA Food Supply Concerns, Past Alleged Violations Could Foil Plan for Quick CFIUS Clearance

Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods’ (SFD) attempt to fast track national security approval for its proposed $450 million acquisition of iconic U.S. hot dog brand Nathan’s Famous (NATH) could be derailed by administration concerns over China’s involvement in the U.S. food supply, the...

Feb 05, 2026 Read Now >

Sporttrade: Prediction Platform’s Struggles to Operate Under State Gambling Laws Illustrate Mismatch Between Sportsbook and Exchange Models

Long before Kalshi was offering contracts on NFL game outcomes, a little-known platform called Sporttrade tried to win permission from state gambling regimes to bring exchange wagering to the sports-betting world. The idea was simple: To create a platform through which people could buy...

Feb 03, 2026 Read Now >

CMS Policy: Proposed 0.09% Medicare Rate Appears More Likely to Climb Due to Technical Changes Than CMS Backing Down on Risk Adjustment Policies

Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published an advance notice proposing both technical and policy-related changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D payment methodologies that would, on average, result in a nearly flat rate increase of 0.09%...

Feb 03, 2026 Read Now >

KKR: Life and Annuity Funds Steered into Natural Gas Project Are Latest in Trend of Affiliated Private Credit Deals

The private equity and asset management firms that have taken over much of the life and annuity (L/A) sector are loading the portfolios of policyholders and annuitants with private credit investments, a trend that has drawn growing concern from regulators, policymakers, and industry...

Feb 02, 2026 Read Now >

Kid Rock, Senator Blackburn Say Trump Considering Executive Order to Cap Prices on Ticket Resales

Kid Rock said he’s optimistic President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to cap prices on ticket resales. The musician, who’s a close Trump confidante, spoke to The Capitol Forum after testifying at a Senate Commerce consumer protection subcommittee hearing last week...

Feb 02, 2026 Read Now >

Trump Triggers Revival of Big Tech Digital Services Tax Talks Among EU Officials

U.S. President Donald Trump may have walked back threats to seize Greenland militarily and impose tariffs on exports of European countries that stand in his way – but the damage is done. His willingness to jeopardize transatlantic alliances has prompted EU officials to take a hard look...

Jan 28, 2026 Read Now >

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