What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | The FTC’s Merger Shakedown
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Jun 29, 2025 
Kate Conger, a technology reporter for The New York Times and co-author of "Character Limit," dives into the evolving dynamics of advertising amidst the fallout from Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter. She discusses how advertisers are shifting strategies due to concerns over controversial content, especially with rising hate speech. Conger also analyzes the FTC's aggressive stance on advertising mergers in this politically charged environment, questioning the balance between antitrust regulations and the complex landscape of free speech.
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Musk's Twitter Ad Revenue Collapse
- After Elon Musk bought Twitter, a nonprofit ad group paused ads over hate speech concerns.
- Musk disengaged from advertisers and cut content moderation, causing ad revenue to plummet.
FTC’s Political Condition on Merger
- The FTC approved a mega merger with a condition banning political ad boycotts.
- Ad agencies cannot advise clients to avoid platforms for political content anymore.
FTC Chair’s Anti-Censorship Focus
- FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson sees ad boycotts as illegal collusion harming political speech.
- He focuses on protecting conservative voices allegedly censored online.
