*By Michael Teich*
Big-time media mergers have renewed a policy debate in Washington over how much corporate control in a few powerful hands is too much, said Axios tech reporter David McCabe.
By rejecting the Justice Department's antitrust argument against AT&T's $85 billion deal for Time Warner, a federal judge may have redefined the rules of competition in an age defined by broadband internet, streaming video, and a flood of new content. The government unsuccessfully argued that the combined companies would unfairly hurt video competitors. Instead, the judge's approval of the merger may pave the way for AT&T to better defend against new content players such as Facebook, Google, and Netflix.
"Over time we may see an internet experience controlled by a shrinking number of companies," McCabe said Wednesday in an interview with Cheddar.
AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner is expected to lead to an increase in media mergers and acquisitions. McCabe said the deal is the "green light," especially for vertical deals combining companies that are not direct competitors.
"It’s an extra jolt of confidence to executives who are looking to make a deal in this space without the regulatory friction," McCabe said.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/at-and-t-deal-raises-worries-of-internet-oligarchy-2).
Ford Motor Co. is resuming construction on a Michigan electric vehicle battery plant that the company postponed two months ago during a strike by the United Auto Workers union.
The marketing slogan for Stanley Tumbler flask products is built for life and it looks like one video proves that to be true after a woman showed her burned-out car on TikTok along with her Tumbler cup, which was left undamaged.
Nvidia's stock closed at an all-time high Monday at above $504 a share, ahead of the company's latest quarterly earnings report which is due out later Tuesday.
The CEOs of three popular tech companies have been subpoenaed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which ordered the heads of Discord, Snap and X to testify at a hearing on protecting children online.
'X' owner Elon Musk says he is suing watchdog group Media Matters after the group published an analysis writing that the social media company was placing advertisements from several brands next to anti-Semitic content.
A federal appeals court appeared inclined Monday to reimpose at least some restrictions on Donald Trump’s speech in his landmark election subversion case.
