Big Grocery Merger, Massachusetts Mosquito Disease, Calm In Lebanon

Main Topic: The biggest supermarket merger in U.S. history, between Kroger and Albertsons, is under scrutiny by federal regulators. The merger has been under review for almost two years and has sparked controversy over its potential impact on grocery prices and competition.

Key Points:

• The merger would combine the two largest supermarket chains in the nation, worth $25 billion.
• Over 100,000 public comments were submitted to the Federal Trade Commission, an unprecedented number.
• The government argues that the merger would lead to higher prices for shoppers, while the companies claim that Kroger already has lower prices than Albertsons and would invest in dropping those prices.
• The companies argue that they are not as big as national giants like Walmart and Costco, which have more sway over suppliers.
• The government also raises concerns about the impact on workers, as Kroger and Albertsons are union shops and a merger could give them more power over union negotiations.

Participants:

• Michelle Martin: Host of Up First from NPR News
• Alina Seljuk: NPR correspondent who has been following the merger
• Catherine Brown: State epidemiologist for Massachusetts