Stacy Mitchell
@stacyfmitchell.bsky.social
Working to change public policy, rollback corporate power, rebuild local communities. Co-Executive Director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Portland, Maine.
Pinned
The Mystery of Food Deserts
They didn’t materialize around the country for no reason. Something happened.
www.theatlantic.com
1. The conventional explanation for food deserts—that these places are too poor or too rural to generate enough spending on groceries, or too Black to overcome racist corporate redlining — fail to grapple with a key fact: food deserts didn’t used to exist. My new piece in The Atlantic.
1. Cities and states should outlaw Amazon’s latest assault on small businesses — an AI tool that scrapes their websites and creates listings of their products within the Amazon app without their consent. It’s causing huge, costly problems. This can and should be banned.
January 22, 2026 at 1:23 PM
1. Cities and states should outlaw Amazon’s latest assault on small businesses — an AI tool that scrapes their websites and creates listings of their products within the Amazon app without their consent. It’s causing huge, costly problems. This can and should be banned.
Join us for a great, practical workshop! Learn how to find out whether your city or school district is buying from Amazon — and how to shift that spending to local suppliers instead. You’ll get step-by-step tools and hear inspiring stories from cities that have made the change.
Virtual Event: How to Help Your Local Government Stop Buying from Amazon | Independent Business
ILSR hosts a virtual briefing on Amazon’s growing capture of your local public dollars — and what you can do about it.
ilsr.org
January 20, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Join us for a great, practical workshop! Learn how to find out whether your city or school district is buying from Amazon — and how to shift that spending to local suppliers instead. You’ll get step-by-step tools and hear inspiring stories from cities that have made the change.
Thinking of all my friends and colleagues in Minnesota as thousands gather in Minneapolis. This is a state that has a long and deep history of organizing for justice.
January 8, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Thinking of all my friends and colleagues in Minnesota as thousands gather in Minneapolis. This is a state that has a long and deep history of organizing for justice.
Important study. Essentially it finds a straight line between the pro-corporate concentration policies of Reagan/Clinton/Thatcher/Blair and the decline of democracy. Interestingly, the mechanism is not income inequality but the raw power the biggest corps wield over government.
How Rising Corporate Market Power Undermines Democracy - ProMarket
In new research, Seda Basihos investigates the relationship between a decline in market competition and global democratic backsliding. She finds that market concentration leads to increasing…
www.promarket.org
January 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Important study. Essentially it finds a straight line between the pro-corporate concentration policies of Reagan/Clinton/Thatcher/Blair and the decline of democracy. Interestingly, the mechanism is not income inequality but the raw power the biggest corps wield over government.
Reposted by Stacy Mitchell
The question isn’t "why does Signal use AWS?" It’s to look at the infrastructural requirements of any global, real-time, mass comms platform and ask how it is that we got to a place where there’s no realistic alternative to AWS and the other hyperscalers. 3/
October 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The question isn’t "why does Signal use AWS?" It’s to look at the infrastructural requirements of any global, real-time, mass comms platform and ask how it is that we got to a place where there’s no realistic alternative to AWS and the other hyperscalers. 3/
In 1952, there were 104 grocery stores in Dubuque (!). Today there are 12. Walmart & Hy-Vee split the market. The Telegraph Herald has an in-depth look at the state of local grocery stores across Iowa & how the demise of Robinson-Patman enforcement fueled consolidation & food deserts.
Independent grocers create oases in local food deserts
Randy Bender walks the aisles of his small-town grocery in Bellevue, Iowa, only to get stopped around every corner by inquiring customers. “Where do you keep the Sunbeam bread?” an
www.telegraphherald.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:36 PM
In 1952, there were 104 grocery stores in Dubuque (!). Today there are 12. Walmart & Hy-Vee split the market. The Telegraph Herald has an in-depth look at the state of local grocery stores across Iowa & how the demise of Robinson-Patman enforcement fueled consolidation & food deserts.
There’s a debate about whether to focus on lowering prices or saving democracy. But both crises flow from the extreme concentration of economic power. The solution is to shift that power back into people’s hands — through strong public institutions, worker rights, and thriving small businesses.
New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control. ilsr.org/articles/mem...
January 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
There’s a debate about whether to focus on lowering prices or saving democracy. But both crises flow from the extreme concentration of economic power. The solution is to shift that power back into people’s hands — through strong public institutions, worker rights, and thriving small businesses.
Reposted by Stacy Mitchell
There’s a lot to consider here for all American cities.
1. New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control.
A Local Self-Reliance Agenda for New York City: ILSR's Memo to Mamdani |
The Mamdani administration has a crucial opportunity to reverse New York City's affordability crisis; this ILSR policy memo suggests strategies to do so.
ilsr.org
December 27, 2025 at 4:44 AM
There’s a lot to consider here for all American cities.
Wishing everyone peace and joy. See you in 2026.
December 20, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Wishing everyone peace and joy. See you in 2026.
New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control. ilsr.org/articles/mem...
December 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control. ilsr.org/articles/mem...
Amazon is hoodwinking public schools to grab their cash. I love this piece from @naomibethune.bsky.social, which shows how cash-strapped districts are sold on the “ease” of buying from Amazon — only to deepen their financial squeeze. Appreciate the deep dive into our new report!
Amazon sold a case of Kleenex to Denver Schools for $36.91, while Pittsburgh Schools paid $57.99. @naomibethune.bsky.social reports on the ways that Amazon gouges prices and cons schools: trib.al/3lIkIbI
Amazon Has Been Conning School Districts out of Millions - The American Prospect
Amazon Business is billed as a convenient one-stop shop for schools. Reality is more expensive.
trib.al
December 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Amazon is hoodwinking public schools to grab their cash. I love this piece from @naomibethune.bsky.social, which shows how cash-strapped districts are sold on the “ease” of buying from Amazon — only to deepen their financial squeeze. Appreciate the deep dive into our new report!
Reposted by Stacy Mitchell
Thinking about which good-gov't orgs to support financially is a little overwhelming rn. Environmental, human rights, arts, democracy itself are all under siege.
But the corporate takeover of our economy seems like the hub to this wheel, which is why the work of @ilsr.bsky.social is so vital.
But the corporate takeover of our economy seems like the hub to this wheel, which is why the work of @ilsr.bsky.social is so vital.
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
December 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Thinking about which good-gov't orgs to support financially is a little overwhelming rn. Environmental, human rights, arts, democracy itself are all under siege.
But the corporate takeover of our economy seems like the hub to this wheel, which is why the work of @ilsr.bsky.social is so vital.
But the corporate takeover of our economy seems like the hub to this wheel, which is why the work of @ilsr.bsky.social is so vital.
1. New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control.
A Local Self-Reliance Agenda for New York City: ILSR's Memo to Mamdani |
The Mamdani administration has a crucial opportunity to reverse New York City's affordability crisis; this ILSR policy memo suggests strategies to do so.
ilsr.org
December 17, 2025 at 1:23 PM
1. New York’s affordability crisis flows from a deeper problem: essential systems — groceries, energy, Internet, banking, healthcare — have consolidated in the hands of distant corporations. Today, ILSR sent the Mamdani team a memo laying out policies to reclaim local control.
Here's a great, quick explainer on how Pepsi schemed with Walmart to raise grocery prices, from @ronmknox.bsky.social and @dannycaine.com
www.tiktok.com/@ilsr_org/vi...
www.tiktok.com/@ilsr_org/vi...
The newly unredacted details of the FTC’s complaint against PepsiCo show how the company systematically violated the law, giving Walmart preferential treatment at the expense of independent grocers an...
TikTok video by Building Local Power
www.tiktok.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Here's a great, quick explainer on how Pepsi schemed with Walmart to raise grocery prices, from @ronmknox.bsky.social and @dannycaine.com
www.tiktok.com/@ilsr_org/vi...
www.tiktok.com/@ilsr_org/vi...
You can find the full investigation — plus our guide to how to tell if your local government is being hoodwinked by Amazon, and what to do about it — here:
December 15, 2025 at 1:20 PM
You can find the full investigation — plus our guide to how to tell if your local government is being hoodwinked by Amazon, and what to do about it — here:
Reposted by Stacy Mitchell
Everybody needs to see this blatant price collusion, and how there’s been no accountability for it. I hope the other retailers bring suit.
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
December 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Everybody needs to see this blatant price collusion, and how there’s been no accountability for it. I hope the other retailers bring suit.
Reposted by Stacy Mitchell
Back in the late 90s I lived with a guy who worked for Nestle and he told me that WalMart routinely got huge deals by just... not paying invoices on time, and unlike their competitors Nestle wouldn't charge them late fees because they were the 900lb gorilla.
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
December 14, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Back in the late 90s I lived with a guy who worked for Nestle and he told me that WalMart routinely got huge deals by just... not paying invoices on time, and unlike their competitors Nestle wouldn't charge them late fees because they were the 900lb gorilla.
Reposted by Stacy Mitchell
Trump's FTC leaders bad-mouthed Lina Khan when they dropped this lawsuit, claiming that they were cleaning up her mess. Now that it's been unsealed, we can see that was a total lie. This was a coverup to protect Pepsi and Walmart.
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
December 12, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Trump's FTC leaders bad-mouthed Lina Khan when they dropped this lawsuit, claiming that they were cleaning up her mess. Now that it's been unsealed, we can see that was a total lie. This was a coverup to protect Pepsi and Walmart.
Reposted by Stacy Mitchell
Thread. "Inflation" is not a natural economic phenomenon, it's the product of choices--choices made for and not by consumers, choices made in back rooms and hidden meetings.
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
December 12, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Thread. "Inflation" is not a natural economic phenomenon, it's the product of choices--choices made for and not by consumers, choices made in back rooms and hidden meetings.
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
December 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
1. For at least 10 years, Pepsi has conspired with Walmart to force up grocery prices. That’s the shocking evidence made public today in an unsealed FTC lawsuit. The suit was abandoned in May by the Trump FTC just before it was to be un-redacted. We went to court to get it unsealed & won.
1. People are freeing themselves from the myth that only big corporations can make and do things. Here's a story about 19 small towns that built their own high-speed fiber networks. They pay less than most Americans & can get a service rep on the phone no problem. ilsr.org/article/comm...
December 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
1. People are freeing themselves from the myth that only big corporations can make and do things. Here's a story about 19 small towns that built their own high-speed fiber networks. They pay less than most Americans & can get a service rep on the phone no problem. ilsr.org/article/comm...
Growing backlash — It turns out a lot of people are not happy with their local school district and city spending millions with Amazon under sham contracts that specify dynamic pricing and shutout competing local suppliers.
December 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Growing backlash — It turns out a lot of people are not happy with their local school district and city spending millions with Amazon under sham contracts that specify dynamic pricing and shutout competing local suppliers.
1. Hard to believe, but Amazon has persuaded schools and cities across the country to abandon competitive bidding and fixed price contracts. Instead, they're signing contracts with Amazon that specify dynamic pricing. The result: Paying $37 for 12 pens or $74 for 36 markers.
December 5, 2025 at 2:13 PM
1. Hard to believe, but Amazon has persuaded schools and cities across the country to abandon competitive bidding and fixed price contracts. Instead, they're signing contracts with Amazon that specify dynamic pricing. The result: Paying $37 for 12 pens or $74 for 36 markers.
UPDATE: We went to court to get the antitrust complaint against Pepsi, implicating Walmart, unsealed. (The Trump FTC dropped the case just before it was to be made public.) The judge just ruled in our favor. Pending a potential appeal, we should get a look at the details of the scheme next week.
The FTC just voted 3-0 to drop this case — that's effectively an endorsement of the predatory tactics Walmart uses to crush local grocery sores, create food deserts, and drive up prices. This will hit working-class, rural, and Black communities hardest.
1. Big news! The FTC took action today to end Walmart’s stranglehold on the grocery market. The agency filed suit against Pepsi for giving illegal and unfair price advantages to Walmart while charging competing grocery retailers higher prices.
December 4, 2025 at 11:26 PM
UPDATE: We went to court to get the antitrust complaint against Pepsi, implicating Walmart, unsealed. (The Trump FTC dropped the case just before it was to be made public.) The judge just ruled in our favor. Pending a potential appeal, we should get a look at the details of the scheme next week.
"School districts....appear to be overpaying for basic supplies because of Amazon contracts that bind them to dynamic pricing... A school district in Denver would have saved about $1m in 2023 had it been able to... lock in the lowest of the platform’s ... changing prices."
Schools across US have agreed to Amazon’s “dynamic pricing” contracts—subjecting them to big price swings for basic supplies, new report finds.
On the same day, Denver Schools paid $114 for a case of markers, but $149 for another.
Amazon disputes the data:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
On the same day, Denver Schools paid $114 for a case of markers, but $149 for another.
Amazon disputes the data:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US schools face big price swings for basics under Amazon’s ‘dynamic pricing’, report claims
Amazon calls the report ‘flawed and misleading’ and says it offers lower prices than competitors
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"School districts....appear to be overpaying for basic supplies because of Amazon contracts that bind them to dynamic pricing... A school district in Denver would have saved about $1m in 2023 had it been able to... lock in the lowest of the platform’s ... changing prices."