The prevailing but deeply cynical political wisdom in Washington is that to pass any media policy, big newspaper and broadcast chains must be at the front of the line for handouts, with maybe a few crumbs going to the smaller, independent news operations still trying to cover local news and serve local communities. For example, the latest bill text attached to that must-pass defense bill was changed to specifically exclude nonprofit news outlets that aren’t public broadcasters — meaning some of the most innovative local newsrooms. Though it’s touted as a pillar in the package of antitrust bills targeting Big Tech, the JCPA is really a pro-collusion bill, a literal exemption from antitrust laws for Big Media.