Axios

President Trump on Friday said he would order the Justice Department to investigate the meatpacking industry for alleged collusion and price fixing.

Why it matters: Trump insists grocery prices are coming down, but concedes beef is one thing that's gotten too expensive.

Colleges are throwing more and more money at kids to get them to choose their schools.

Why it matters: That grant money is going to families who need it the least, a new analysis of government data finds.

President Trump has been pointing to Walmart's reduced Thanksgiving meal as proof that his economic agenda is driving prices down across the board.

Why it matters: While the meal does cost less at a time when grocery prices are on the rise and millions are uncertain if they'll receive their full November SNAP benefits, the family feast also includes less food.

President Trump rattled off a list of GOP policies that would benefit from eliminating the filibuster on Friday, including the assertion that Republicans would never lose another election if the Senate procedure were abolished.

The big picture: The president listed banning mail-in voting, ending cash bail and changing voter ID laws as some of the legislation the GOP could pass through Congress with a simple majority vote.

A coalition of unions representing federal workers filed a lawsuit against the White House Thursday over the inclusion of what they say is a partisan loyalty question included in the Trump administration's "merit-based" hiring plan.

Why it matters: The hiring plan is one piece of the White House's massive overhaul of the civil service — and plaintiffs say it amounts to a partisan loyalty test that is unlawful and violates the principles of a nonpartisan civil service.

The Trump administration asked an appeals court to block a judge's ruling that the federal government must pay November SNAP benefits in full by the end of the day.

Why it matters: While millions of households across the country face hunger, the Trump administration is again arguing it does not have to cover the safety net food benefits in full during the government shutdown despite multiple federal courts ordering it to do so.

It appears that the U.S. job market continued its long, gradual slowing in October, but did not make a clear break for the worse (or for the better).

The big picture: We're getting a labor market that is distinctly less favorable for job seekers, but it's not the kind of full-on rout you see when a recession is imminent.

Metsera is belle of the metabolic ball, the subject of an intense bidding war between drug giants Novo and Pfizer.

The big picture: Normally, such a takeover target would sit back and wait for the highest number. But this situation is anything but normal.

Metropolis, a tech-enabled parking lot network, has raised $500 million in Series D funding led by LionTree at around a $5 billion valuation. It also secured a $1.1 billion syndicated term loan led by JPMorgan.

Why it matters: This is both a short and long-term bet on transportation automation.

Retail investors have been ferocious dip buyers this year, but that behavior appears to be shifting, as the group did not plough into tech stocks as usual during their most recent selloff.

Why it matters: Retail makes up a quarter of stock trading volume. If these investors stop buying dips, that could make selloffs longer and larger.

Companies are adopting artificial intelligence faster than expected, and producing productivity gains rather than layoffs, Goldman Sachs says.

Why it matters: Research is piling up that indicates that AI is not the culprit for the current weakness in the labor market.

At least 800 flights were canceled Friday at 40 airports across the U.S. as the FAA slashed routes as a result of the government shutdown, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

Why it matters: With the Thanksgiving travel rush weeks away, the cuts will hit some of the busiest airports in the U.S. — including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Dallas Fort Worth International.

Black Friday is arriving early again, with major retailers rolling out doorbusters and perks weeks before Thanksgiving to lure shoppers.

Why it matters: Retailers are trying to spark early demand and spread out spending, rather than banking solely on the Thanksgiving weekend surge.

President Trump and the GOP — almost always seen as stronger than Democrats on economic questions — suddenly find themselves in the same hole former President Biden fell into and never climbed out of:

• You can't convince Americans your economic policies are working if they're paying 20% more for a cup of coffee.

Why it matters: Tuesday night's resounding blue wave of Democratic victories across the country was partly a verdict on high prices and the cost of living during the first year of Trump's second term.