Approves AT&T T-Mobile Merger

While there's some talk in the press that the government could block AT&T's planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile, it's simply not likely thanks to AT&T's massive campaign contributions (they're the top campaign contributor among all companies since 1990) -- and the fact they're deeply integrated into our domestic surveillance practices. State approval is rolling along ahead of FCC and DOJ approval, with the Louisiana Public Service Commission voting 4-1 not to stand in the way of the deal -- stating "the proposed acquisition has received overriding support locally, as is evidence by the diverse number of groups and officials who are in support." Unmentioned is the fact that while there may be some authentic support for the deal, the vast majority of groups breathlessly admiring the deal's supposed benefits are doing so because they take cash from AT&T.