Monopolies & Mergers

ARTICLES

https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/031715/are-there-any-legal-monopolies-america-or-europe.asp

https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032315/what-are-most-famous-monopolies.asp

TRUMP REVOKED ANTI MONOPOLY LEGISLATION!!!

2025-07-09 Trump revoked Biden’s Executive Order 14036 on Promoting Competition in the American Economy . For context, only 4 major meatpackers control over 80% of the US meat industry. With fewer meat packers bidding for cattle in the U.S., ranchers have less leverage. The Biden administration tried to correct this in 2024 to reduce monopolies by including initiatives to empower the USDA to stop abusive practices. Trump squashed the order preventing food system consolidation, which gives farmers less leverage while increasing our food prices.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/revocation-of-executive-order-on-competition

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/13/trump-revokes-biden-order-economy

https://www.hoganlovells.com/en/publications/president-trump-revokes-executive-order-on-competition-rejects-biden-administrations

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-revocation-biden-harris-executive-order-competition

Alcohol

Three companies control roughly 75% of beer production.

https://qz.com/2125164/us-beer-drinkers-are-overpaying-for-beer-by-500-million-a-year

https://vinepair.com/booze-news/4-companies-dominate-beer-market-us

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-beer-makers-own-more-150004785.html

2026-04-23 (for context, more ethics than monopoly - for now) Eric Trump’s startup company Foundation Futures Industries - of which he is the Chief Strategy Adviser - landed a $24M contract with the Pentagon.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/eric-trump-backed-robot-startup-lands-24m-pentagon-deal-compete-china

https://people.com/eric-trump-backed-startup-lands-usd24-million-contract-from-his-father-administration-11957625

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/eric-trump-backed-firm-s-24m-pentagon-deal-sparks-criticism/gm-GM7102CBFD

https://www.democracynow.org/2026/4/24/headlines/eric_trump_touts_24_million_pentagon_contract_awarded_to_his_robotics_company

Beef

1996-06-06 Antitrust Enforcement in the Meat Packing Industry (archived DOJ document)

https://www.justice.gov/archives/atr/speech/antitrust-enforcement-meat-packing-industry-0

2022-03-02 Biden openly criticized the “Big Four” for manipulating the meat market.

https://www.ucs.org/about/news/biden-calls-out-meat-packers-sotu

https://www.farmaid.org/issues/corporate-power/how-consolidation-by-meatpacking-giants-is-hurting-farmers-and-consumers-and-what-the-biden-administration-is-doing-about-it/

https://newrepublic.com/article/165576/biden-meat-monopoly-antitrust-economy

https://fortune.com/2022/01/06/meat-prices-biden-inflation-tyson-cargill-jbs/

SUB WALL https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/27/meatpacking-ceos-congress-hearing-00028238

2026-04-21 The DOJ opened an investigation into whether meat packers were colluding with fixed prices or manipulating the market. See 2022 when the Biden Administration often publicly criticized the “Big Four” for manipulating the markets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IyIiwYbNJs&list=WL&index=4&t=82s

https://thehill.com/business/personal-finance/5841854-doj-investigates-meatpacking-companies/

https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/doj-probes-meatpackers-egg-suppliers-for-price-fixing

https://theweek.com/politics/justice-department-beef-meatpacking-industry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IyIiwYbNJs&list=WL&index=4&t=82s

ARCHIVED 1996 https://www.justice.gov/archives/atr/speech/antitrust-enforcement-meat-packing-industry-0

2023 OVERSIGHT https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-118hhrg52955/html/CHRG-118hhrg52955.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Berkshire Hathaway

2022-01-01 During Trump’s first term (2017 to 2021) a peak number of Americans chose the “van life” due to financial constraints. The number of Americans living in vans reached 1.9 million people in 2020 and reached 3.1 million people in 2022. Also, Berkshire Hathaway also owns three of the largest RV manufacturers in the country.

https://www.fiftygrande.com/a-dose-of-reality-before-you-embark-on-vanlife/

https://rv-pro.com/features/van-lifers-explain-how-they-embrace-life-on-the-road/

https://www.kiro7.com/news/is-this-why-americans-have-hit-brakes-vanlife-dream/VKZAU2V4FZIKXFDJAAN3UKPUP4/

https://www.unitedvanlines.com/newsroom/2024-national-movers-study

https://livevanlifefreedom.com/van-life-by-the-numbers-shocking-stats-you-wont-believe/

2025-01-06 The CFPB sued Vanderbilt for setting up borrowers to fail in manufactured home loans. Context: Clayton homes owns 50% of the manufactured home market - that’s mobile homes. The same company that owns Clayton (Berkshire Hathaway) owns the finance company, the lease company, the insurance company, and the property management company that owns the land on which the mobile home sits. The allegation was that the company would make the home virtually unaffordable after buyers already settled a deal, then take the property back from the buyer later. Homeowners also complained of quality issues such as a form of linoleum they called “congolium”, particle board, heavy leaks, safety issues, cardboard under the vinyl, sheetrock under insulation, and mold. Also, Berkshire Hathaway also owns three of the largest RV manufacturers in the country, and a record number of people are living in vans and RV’s due to economic pressure and a housing crisis since Trump’s first term.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-sues-vanderbilt-for-setting-borrowers-up-to-fail-in-manufactured-home-loans/

Google

https://www.tntechoracle.com/2026/04/14/monopolies-are-turning-us-to-an-oligarchy

https://www.aol.com/articles/10-industries-secretly-monopolies-145205692.html

Health Insurance

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/03/419797436/aetna-announces-37-billion-merger-with-rival-humana

LiveNation/Ticketmaster

2024-05-23 The Biden Administration and 30 States filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster which the Trump administration later squashed in March of 2026.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Live_Nation_Entertainment

https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-live-nation-ticketmaster-monopolizing-markets-across-live-concert

2026-03-09 The Trump Administration’s DOJ made a settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, potentially ending the anti-trust lawsuit against them for monopolizing ticket sales. However, they were still found guilty in April. The Live Nation press release title is “Live Nation Entertainment Reaches Settlement With U.S. Department of Justice” dated March 9, 2026.

https://newsroom.livenation.com/statements/live-nation-entertainment-reaches-settlement-with-u-s-department-of-justice/

https://newsroom.livenation.com/news/live-nation-supports-president-trumps-executive-order-on-resale-2/

2026-04-16 After a six-week trial, a New York jury found that Live Nation and it’s subsidiary Ticket Master illegally dominated major concert venues and kept ticket prices too high.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAG1X3VpUHc&list=WL&index=1

https://apnews.com/article/live-nation-ticketmaster-antitrust-trial-f0ffdd20dd4f64e8b4bb9d97134b826f

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/livenation-illegally-monopolized-ticketing-market-jury-antitrust-trial-rcna273714

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/15/nx-s1-5786715/live-nation-ticketmaster-antitrust-verdict-monopoly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAG1X3VpUHc&list=WL&index=1

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/monopolies

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/ny-jury-finds-live-nation-illegally-monopolized-ticketing-markets-bloomberg-news-2026-04-15

Luxottica (glasses)

https://www.aol.com/articles/10-industries-secretly-monopolies-145205692.html

Meta/FB

https://www.tntechoracle.com/2026/04/14/monopolies-are-turning-us-to-an-oligarchy

https://www.aol.com/articles/10-industries-secretly-monopolies-145205692.html

Nextar Media

2025-08-19 Nexstar Media, managed by conservative donor Perry Sook and former Fox News Executive/Trump administration official Bill Shine announced plans to acquire TEGNA for $6.2B.

https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-media-group-inc-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-tegna-inc-for-6-2-billion-in-accretive-transaction

Paramount

2025-07-07 (context) Paramount and Skydance announced plans for a merger.

https://ir.paramount.com/news-releases/news-release-details/skydance-media-and-paramount-global-sign-definitive-agreement

2025-07-24 Trump signed off on an $8.4B merger between Paramount and Skydance.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ypylq0vnko

2025-07-24 Senators requested an investigation into corruption and bribery for the Paramount megamerger.

https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-on-trump-administration-approving-paramount-megamerger-bribery-is-illegal-no-matter-who-is-president

2025-09-05 Paramount announced its intent to buy Free Press for $100M and make its founder Bari Weiss editor in chief of CBS. For context, Free Press featured an article by Michael Ames in May 2025 calling famine in Gaza a myth. For further context, Weiss wrote some of her own articles in the past including her opinions about feminism and fascism. Many people note in their own opinion articles and monologues that Weiss tries to pretend she is a middleman, but she is very much right-leaning and allegedly a propagandist.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/paramount-said-prepping-to-buy-free-press-for-100m-give-bari-weiss-senior-role-at-cbs

https://www.thefp.com/p/the-gaza-famine-myth

https://www.theunspeakablepodcast.com/p/bari-weiss-derangement-free-press-debate-review

https://ccrjustice.org/home/blog/2017/08/09/recent-attack-women-s-march-organizers-irresponsibly-damaging-and-nothing-new

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/20/things-that-matter-bari-weiss-debate-series

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/opinion/were-all-fascists-now.html

https://www.thefp.com/t/zohran-mamdani

2025-09-11 Paramount announced it was exploring a bid for cable network Warner Brothers Discovery, which would then place two of Hollywood’s most powerful studios under the same owner.

https://deadline.com/2025/09/paramount-exploring-bid-warner-bros-discovery-1236529093/

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/paramount-skydance-preparing-bid-warner-bros-discovery-source-says-2025-09-11/

2026-04-13 Hollywood actors, writers and directors signed an open letter to voice opposition for the Paramount-Warner Brothers-Discovery merger. Part of the letter reads, “The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be grievously compromised. Competition is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy democracy. So is thoughtful regulation and enforcement”.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/hollywood-stars-sign-open-letter-opposing-paramount-warner-bros-deal-2026-04-13/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0egvr94zro

https://www.democracynow.org/2026/4/14/headlines/hollywood_stars_sign_open_letter_opposing_merger_of_paramount_and_warner_bros

2026-04-23 A Paramount-Warner Brothers Discovery merger for $111B was approved.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/warner-bros-discovery-shareholders-approve-paramount-skydance-merger-rcna341529

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj09ny0dq6o

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/warner-bros-discovery-paramount-shareholder-approval-zaslav-pay-package-1236727798/

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/warner-bros-shareholders-approve-110-175632734.html

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/what-a-combined-paramount-warner-would-mean-for-streaming-movies-and-news

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/paramount-deal-warner-bros-approved-shareholders-1236572862/

https://www.npr.org/2026/04/23/nx-s1-5793628/warner-bros-discovery-paramount-skydance-merger

Pharma

https://qz.com/636823/big-pharmacies-are-dismantling-the-industry-that-keeps-us-drug-costs-even-sort-of-under-control

Simmons Pet Food

https://www.aol.com/articles/10-industries-secretly-monopolies-145205692.html

Sysco

https://www.openmarketsinstitute.org/publications/condemns-sysco-plan-to-buy-restaurant-depo

https://www.foodandwine.com/independent-restaurants-oppose-sysco-restaurant-depot-deal-11941190

https://slate.com/human-interest/2007/02/how-sysco-came-to-monopolize-most-of-what-you-eat.html

https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/group-independent-restaurants-wants-ftc-block-sysco-restaurant-depot-deal

https://substack.perfectunion.us/p/the-hidden-reason-why-restaurants

TikTok/ByteDance

2020-09-19 Trump said he would give his blessing to a deal in which Oracle and Walmart would partner with TikTok in the U.S., where Walmart would purchase a 7.5% stake, CEO Doug McMillon would serve as one of the five board members, and ByteDance would own the remaining 80%.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/19/trump-says-he-has-approved-tiktok-oracle-deal-in-concept.html

2025-09-15 The U.S. discussed selling TikTok to Oracle’s founder and chair Larry Ellison.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/oracles-stake-tiktok-us-joint-venture-is-worth-roughly-2-billion-filing-shows-2026-03-11/

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/11/oracle-tiktok-us-stake-outages.html

2025-09-21 Trump stated he might sell ByteDance to media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Pending the TikTok deal, the U.S. said they want 6-of-7 board seats.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/21/trump-tiktok-murdoch-fox-bytedance.html

2026-03-14 After Trump brokered a deal to sell TikTok to Larry Ellison, the Trump administration gained a $10B transactional payout, which is 70% of the company’s $14B worth.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/03/donald-trump-tiktok-deal-10-billion-ellison-bytedance-china/

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/business/trump-tiktok-10-billion-fee.html

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5787721-trump-equity-stakes-companies

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/22/deal-for-us-ownership-of-tiktok-is-closed-company-says-00743145

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/18/nx-s1-5648844/tiktok-deal-oracle-trump