[bdcravens]

I don't think the comment you're replying to was talking about a political agenda, but rather, replicating the financial rewards they received in Australia: "The announcement comes days after the tech giant struck a deal with Australian lawmakers to pay local publishers for their news content"

[asymptosis]

I had in mind that the political power and monetary kickbacks go hand-in-hand. Yes, it is probably widely acknowledged across USA that Murdoch wants more political power over there. But what we've seen here is what he does when he gets that power. It doesn't sit idle.

He has demonstrated that with his political power in Australia, he can make Facebook bend the knee within Australia. And once he has completed his control over USA politics, he'll make the big tech companies bend the knee over there too.

A billion dollars changing hand is just cosmetic to these guys. What has been displayed is a flex of power.

[SAI_Peregrinus]

> But what we've seen here is what he does when he gets that power. It doesn't sit idle.

Of course not. He's malicious, not stupid. Unused power is pointless. He'd have to be an utter moron to waste enormous amounts of money and effort and then do nothing with the results. He wants a return on that investment. Of course he's going to try to get more money by using his power.