Meta, Andreessen Horowitz, and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman pledged up to $200 million to create two new super PACs—Meta California and Leading the Future—aimed at electing candidates favorable to the tech industry and blocking strict AI regulations in the 2026 midterm elections. The massive …
The Department of Defense awarded xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, a $200 million contract for its Grok AI tool, despite recent controversies involving antisemitic and problematic AI-generated content. The contract is part of a broader DoD AI modernization push, allowing federal agencies to access …
Elon MuskxAIDepartment of DefenseChief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officeregulatory-capturegovernment-contractsai-technologytech-industry
The Trump administration has effectively stalled or dropped over 40 regulatory cases against Elon Musk’s companies, totaling potential fines exceeding $2.3 billion. This pattern suggests a systemic approach to regulatory capture, with multiple federal agencies seemingly protecting Musk’s …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskSECregulatory-capturegovernment-contractstech-industryadministrative-state
Senate Democrats released a report detailing how Elon Musk’s companies could avoid more than $1.19 billion in potential legal and regulatory fines, highlighting systemic regulatory capture under the Trump administration. The report specifically focuses on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) …
Donald TrumpElon MuskRichard BlumenthalEdward Markeygovernment-contractsregulatory-capturetech-industryfederal-investigation
The AFL-CIO and former OSHA officials filed a lawsuit warning that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) operatives are embedded at the Department of Labor, potentially gaining access to sensitive whistleblower files. Musk’s companies—Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationElon MuskAFL-CIODepartment of Laborregulatory-captureethics-violationcorporate-influencetech-industrylabor-rights
The Trump administration fired hundreds of FAA air traffic control staff while bringing in three SpaceX engineers as Special Government Employees, raising significant regulatory capture concerns. These engineers were allowed to review air traffic control systems despite potential conflicts of …
Donald TrumpElon MuskSean DuffyBrady GlantzTheodore Malaska+1 morekleptocracyregulatory-capturetech-industryfaatrump-administration
Amazon significantly increased its advertising spending on X (formerly Twitter) in a major reversal, after largely boycotting the platform since 2023 due to concerns about hate speech and content moderation. This decision follows broader tech industry discussions about returning to the platform, …
Jeff BezosElon MuskAndy JassyDonald TrumpTrump Administrationkleptocracytech-industrymedia-advertisingplatform-dynamics
OpenAI announced a partnership with Anduril Industries to integrate ChatGPT maker’s AI technology into drone-defense systems sold to the Pentagon, marking OpenAI’s formal entry into military AI applications. The three-year contract embeds OpenAI’s language models and AI …
OpenAIAnduril IndustriesDepartment of DefensePalmer LuckeyAutonomous WeaponsAI WeaponsMilitary-Industrial ComplexTech IndustryDefense Contractors
J.D. Vance returns to Ohio and co-founds Narya Capital venture firm with $93 million initial funding, backed by Peter Thiel, Eric Schmidt, and other Silicon Valley elites. This strategic move positioned Vance for a future political career while leveraging his connections with tech billionaires. The …
J.D. VancePeter ThielEric SchmidtMarc AndreessenNarya Capitalnarya-capitalpolitical-preparationohio-returnthiel-fundingventure-capital+1 more
The Federal Trade Commission approved Amazon’s $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods Market on August 23, 2017, without an in-depth investigation. This decision demonstrated regulatory challenges in addressing 21st-century tech monopolies, as the FTC did not find substantial anticompetitive …
Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus VR (acquired by Facebook for $2 billion in 2014), departed Facebook in March 2017 following controversy over his $10,000 donation to Nimble America, a pro-Trump political group. Internal Facebook emails later revealed that executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, …
The Federal Trade Commission closed its 19-month antitrust investigation of Google without bringing charges, despite internal staff recommendations for legal action. With 230 White House meetings in 2012-2013, Google demonstrated unprecedented political access, ultimately avoiding significant …
Federal Trade CommissionGoogle Inc.Larry PageEric SchmidtFTC Staff Attorneys+2 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustgoogleftc+2 more
Morgan Stanley and other underwriters engaged in selective disclosure during Facebook’s initial public offering, revealing sensitive financial information only to institutional investors. Massachusetts securities regulators fined Morgan Stanley million for creating an ‘unlevel playing …
Morgan StanleyFacebookWilliam GalvinJames Gormansecurities-fraudmarket-manipulationtech-industryfinancial-regulationfacebook+1 more
Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion in a strategic move explicitly designed to neutralize a potential competitive threat. The acquisition was part of a systematic strategy to prevent emerging social media platforms from challenging Facebook’s market dominance. With Instagram having 27 …
Mark ZuckerbergFacebook Inc.Instagram Inc.Kevin SystromMike Krieger+1 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustfacebookmeta+2 more
Facebook acquired photo-sharing app Instagram for billion, implementing what the FTC would later characterize as a ‘buy or bury’ strategy to eliminate competitive threats. Internal emails revealed CEO Mark Zuckerberg explicitly stated the acquisition was motivated by a desire to …
Facebook Inc.Mark ZuckerbergInstagram Inc.Kevin SystromMike Krieger+1 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustfacebookmeta+1 more
Facebook acquired photo-sharing app Instagram for billion, implementing what the FTC would later characterize as a “buy or bury” strategy to eliminate competitive threats. Internal emails revealed CEO Mark Zuckerberg explicitly stated the acquisition was motivated by a desire to …
Facebook Inc.Mark ZuckerbergInstagram Inc.Kevin SystromMike Krieger+1 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustfacebookmeta+1 more
The Department of Justice reached a settlement with Microsoft that effectively abandoned meaningful antitrust enforcement, despite a federal judge finding Microsoft guilty of monopolistic practices. The Bush administration’s DOJ retreated from the Clinton administration’s plan to break …
Microsoft CorporationBill GatesSteve BallmerDepartment of JusticeBush Administration+2 moreregulatory-capturetech-industryantitrustmicrosoftdoj+2 more