Insights | Meridian Research Group | Page 22

Mergers & Acquisitions

Dick’s/Foot Locker

Based on research to date, we continue to expect that Dick’s/Foot Locker is likely to receive a second request. Our recent work has largely consisted of an in-depth analysis of over two hundred local markets where both companies have store locations. Our research indicates a conservative estimate of 43-to-63 overlapping markets where the...

Financials, Healthcare, Macro, Tech / Media / Telecom

Reconciliation and Recissions

Speaker Johnson (R-LA), House Budget Committee Chair Arrington (R-TX), and Senate Finance Committee Chair Crapo (R-ID) have all confirmed their intent to enact another two reconciliation bills prior to the next election, with the first coming this fall. As I previously noted, Speaker Johnson, Rep. Roy (R-TX), and Sen. Johnson (R-WI) had already...

Reciprocal Tariffs and Trade Deals

President Trump yesterday posted 12 letters sent to various countries, including to major trading partners such as Japan and South Korea, indicating various tariffs that would be imposed if deals are not concluded by 8/1, representing an extension of the original 7/9 deadline. The tariff levels are similar to those initially announced on 4/2...

Tech / Media / Telecom

Children’s Data Privacy/Online Safety

On a bipartisan voice vote, the Senate Commerce Committee passed the Children & Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (S. 836, also known as COPPA 2.0). The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

Tech / Media / Telecom

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Moratorium

The Senate voted 99-1 to remove language from the Republicans’ reconciliation bill that would impose a moratorium on the enforcement of state-level laws and regulations relating to AI. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Guthrie (R-KY) said he plans to continue to pursue this issue.

Medicare FFS Prior Authorization (WISeR Model)

The CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) has announced the Trump administration’s first new model, known as the Wasteful & Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. At a high-level, the model will test the expansion of prior authorization (PA) requirements in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare and the involvement of private sector tech...