House probes merger of ad giants Omnicom and Interpublic over ties to anti-conservative cartel

Core Viewpoint - The House Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan, is investigating the merger of advertising giants Omnicom and Interpublic Group due to their connections with an alleged anticonservative cartel that aimed to defund certain news outlets [1][7]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The committee has ordered Omnicom and Interpublic to preserve documents and all communications with the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and the now-defunct Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) [2]. - The companies are required to disclose measures taken to prevent repeating GARM's alleged anticompetitive practices and any politically biased "brand safety" initiatives they are involved in [2][7]. - Responses to the committee's inquiries are due by January 7 [3]. Group 2: Merger Implications - The merger, announced earlier this month, would create the largest advertising agency globally, employing over 100,000 individuals and generating nearly $25 billion in annual revenue [5]. - The investigation raises concerns about potential competition suppression, particularly regarding conservative media voices, similar to findings related to GARM's past actions [7][12]. Group 3: Background on GARM - GARM was accused of colluding to undermine conservative platforms by labeling them as harmful and influencing over 40 major companies to withdraw advertising support [7][11]. - The cartel was involved in a boycott of X (formerly Twitter) and targeted popular conservative media, including The Post and Fox News [11][12]. - GARM ceased operations in August following a federal antitrust lawsuit initiated by Elon Musk [13].