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Google has acted illegally to maintain a dominant position in online advertising, a federal judge ruled on Thursday. The tech giants exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Googles publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web, Judge Leonie Brinkema wrote in her 115-page ruling, which followed another federal judges ruling last year that Google had monopolized the search market. Google was found liable under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act for actions in the ad exchange and tool sectors, but not that it operated a monopoly on ad networks. Google told Fast Company it disagreed with the courts decision, and would appeal it. We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half, said Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president, regulatory affairs, in a statement. The latest decision is a big hit to the company, and acts as a prelude to further crackdowns in other jurisdictions, which some suggest could impact its operations. This is a very big deal, says Stacy Mitchell, co-director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The chokehold that Google has over the flow of information and ideas online, and its power to pocket the ad dollars, has been killing off local news outlets and undermining a key foundation of democracy. Jason Kint, CEO of the trade association Digital Content Next, says the ruling underscores the global harm caused by Googles practices, which have deprived premium publishers worldwide of critical revenue, undermining their ability to sustain high-quality journalism and entertainment. Kint believes the decision is a significant step toward restoring competition and accountability in the digital advertising ecosystem. Yet for all the headlines the decision will generate, theres still uncertainty about how much itll change Googles practicesand the wider web. While theres a recognition that the decisions will likely change how Google works, what impact that will have is uncertain. Frankly, the ad exchange market is so complicated that it’s hard to know what the impact of any changes to Google’s operations in that area might mean for internet users, says Anupam Chander, a law professor at Georgetown University. Chander believes any changes compelled by this decision may not immediately be obvious to rank-and-file users. If Google is forced to spin out its ad exchange market or forced to open it up to more competitors, it’s not clear that the results will be visible to users, he says. The ruling could also present a Catch-22: While it may open up the ad market and benefit online publishers, it could also lead to increased data collection of users (since a raft of third parties would compete to gather more data on users to supplant Googles current single supply). Still, the decision, whatever it means for end users, is another drumbeat in a wider shift in power between big tech giants and the governments trying to regulate them. And while attention is on the U.S. right now, its decisionmaking elsewhere that could have the more longer-lasting impact on the web. The U.S. courts decision will likely energize European regulators, who are conducting their own investigation into Googles ad tech practices. A decision there is expected imminentlyand could carry more weight. After years of imposing fines that Google has shrugged off as a mere cost of doing business, the European Commission has the chance to break free from this cycle of whack-a-mole enforcement, says Stephen Kinsella, an independent legal expert with 30 years of experience in antitrust regulation. European regulators may be prepared to go further than their American counterparts, potentially reshaping the digital ecosystem by compelling the breakup of Googles intertwined businesses. By taking decisive action and mandating a structural break-up, the EU can go beyond slapping big tech companies on the wrist, says Kinsella. It can restore a thriving, competitive and fair digital economy that works for its citizens, not entrenched monopolies. This is a moment that Europe cannot afford to let pass.
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Want more housing market stories from Lance Lamberts ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Once again, Zillow has downgraded its 12-month forecast for national home prices. On Wednesday, Zillow economists published their updated forecast model, projecting that U.S. home prices, as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index, will fall 1.7% between March 2025 and March 2026. Back in March, Zillow downgraded its 12-month outlook for U.S. home prices to +0.8%. In February, Zillow downgraded its 12-month outlook to +1.1%. And at the start of the year in January, Zillows 12-month national home price forecast was +2.9%. Why does Zillow keep downgrading its national home price outlook? The rise in [active] listings is fueling softer price growth, as greater supply provides more options and more bargaining power for buyers, Zillow economists wrote in March. Potential buyers are opting to remain renters for longer as affordability challenges suppress demand for home purchases. Essentially, Zillow thinks strained housing affordabilitycaused by U.S. home prices rising over 40% during the pandemic housing boom and mortgage rates spiking from 3% to 6% in 2022is weighing on price growth. According to Zillows home price model, the listing site also believes that weakening and softening housing markets across the Sun Belt will weigh on nationally aggregated home prices this year. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}(); Among the 300 largest U.S. metro area housing markets, Zillow expects the strongest home price appreciation between March 2025 and March 2026 to occur in these 10 areas: Atlantic City, NJ: 2.4% Kingston, NY: 1.9% Rochester, NY: 1.8% Knoxville, TN: 1.7% Torrington, CT : 1.6% Bangor, ME: 1.5% Syracuse, NY: 1.4% Vineland, NJ: 1.4% Concord, NH: 1.3% Norwich, CT: 1.2% In that same time frame, Zillow expects the weakest home price appreciation to occur in these 10 areas: Houma, LA: -10.1% Lake Charles, LA: -8.9% New Orleans, LA: -7.6% Lafayette, LA: -7.5% Shreveport, LA: -7.0% Alexandria, LA -7.0% Beaumont, TX : -6.6% Odessa, TX: -6.3% Midland, TX: -5.7% Monroe, LA: -5.5 Below is what the current year-over-year rate of home price growth looks like for single-family and condo home prices. Florida is currently the epicenter of housing market weakness right now. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
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In my coaching, I pride myself on helping clients get to the root of their issues, instead of offering Band-Aid solutions. At the same time, Ive found that sometimes people are so overwhelmed with all they have to do that they have difficulty making time for the deeper reflective thought that coaching requires. In these situations, I offer some quick and easy-to-implement best practices to help reduce their sense of overwhelm. Managing your work calendar effectively is one of the most crucial steps toward feeling more in control of your professional life. When your calendar is well-organized, it reduces stress, increases productivity, and ensures that you are focusing on the tasks that truly matter. However, its easy to feel overwhelmed by back-to-back meetings, constant demands on your time, and the struggle to find space for deep work. Heres how you can regain control of your work calendar with practical tips and strategies that can be implemented right away: {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and being an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} Set clear priorities Before diving into calendar management, it’s important to set clear priorities. Your calendar should reflect your key objectives, goals, and valuesnot just the urgent requests that come your way. Start by identifying your top priorities for the week, month, and quarter. These could include project milestones, professional development, or key meetings with stakeholders. Set clear priorities Time blocking is a powerful technique where you divide your day into blocks of time dedicated to specific tasks or activities. This method helps you focus on one task at a time, reducing the mental clutter that comes from multitasking. It also ensures that you allocate time to all aspects of your work, including deep work, meetings, and administrative tasks. Learn to say no One of the biggest challenges in calendar management is learning to say no. Its easy to accept every meeting request that comes your way, but this often leads to a crowded calendar with little time for meaningful work. Protecting your time is essential to maintaining control over your schedule. Use the two-minute rule The two-minute rule, popularized by David Allen in his book Getting Things Done, suggests that if a task can be completed in two minutes or less, you should do it immediately. This rule helps prevent your to-do list from becoming cluttered with minor tasks and ensures that these small items dont take up unnecessary space on your calendar. Leverage technology Modern calendar tools offer a range of features that can help you manage your time more effectively. From scheduling assistants that find the best meeting times to integration with task management apps, these tools can significantly reduce the time you spend organizing your calendar. Batch similar tasks Batching similar tasks together is a technique that can improve your efficiency and focus. For example, if you need to make multiple phone calls, schedule them back-to-back rather than scattering them throughout the day. This minimizes the mental switch costs associated with jumping between different types of tasks. Create buffer time Buffer time between meetings and tasks is essential for maintaining flexibility and preventing burnout. It gives you a moment to regroup, reflect, or handle any unexpected issues that arise during the day. Without buffer time, your day can feel rushed, and you may find yourself running late from one meeting to the next. Review and reflect Effective calendar management requires regular review and adjustment. At the end of each week, take a few minutes to reflect on how well your calendar worked for you. Did you manage to stick to your time blocks? Were there meetings that could have been shorter or avoided? Use these insights to make adjustments for the following week. Delegate and outsource If youre constantly overwhelmed by tasks, it might be time to delegate or outsource some of them. Delegating responsibilities to others not only frees up your time but also empowers your team members to take on more responsibility. (For more on how to delegate effectively, see here.) {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/acupofambition_logo.jpg","headline":"A Cup of Ambition","description":"A biweekly newsletter for high-achieving moms who value having a meaningful career and being an involved parent, by Jessica Wilen. To learn more visit acupofambition.substack.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/acupofambition.substack.com","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
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