Podcasts about capitol forum

Is "Abundance" the answer to our housing, energy, and pharma crises—or just neoliberalism in a new outfit?In this in-depth conversation, Capital Forum's Teddy Downey sits down with Sandeep Vaheesan of the Open Markets Institute to dissect "Abundance", the much-hyped book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. Sandeep—legal director, historian, and author of Democracy and Power—offers a sweeping critique of the book's policy proposals and ideological foundations.We talk about:

Jonathan Kanter (former DOJ Antitrust) and Martin Gaynor (Carnegie Mellon Professor and former FTC official) join The Capitol Forum to discuss their groundbreaking paper, The Rise of Healthcare Platforms. They explain how companies like UnitedHealth have evolved into sprawling conglomerates—combining insurer, provider, pharmacy, and PBM functions—and why this consolidation threatens both market competition and patient care.

In this podcast episode, experts Hannah Garden-Monheit, formerly at the FTC, Jonathan Kanter, and Max Barangau from The Capitol Forum dissect the complexities of antitrust policy, price fixing, and their impact on inflation. Garden-Monheit reflects on her journey from DOJ trial attorney to the FTC and White House NEC, highlighting challenges in revitalizing antitrust enforcement amid corporate skepticism. The panel scrutinizes controversial price-fixing cases, including algorithm-driven collusion in housing markets and egg pricing schemes, and explores how data-driven monopolization amplifies economic power. A compelling analysis for anyone interested in the crossroads of policy, economics, and technology.

In this special episode, former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter and former U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai talk to Teddy and former Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter to discuss the recent upheaval at the FTC and its implications for market stability, antitrust enforcement, and the rule of law. Slaughter describes being abruptly fired from her FTC position, highlighting that this dismissal violates legal protections that prohibit FTC commissioners' removal without cause. She emphasizes that this unprecedented action introduces significant legal uncertainty, potentially undermining ongoing critical FTC cases, such as the lawsuit against pharmaceutical benefit managers accused of inflating insulin prices, and cases involving major corporations like Amazon. This instability challenges market predictability and may affect the enforcement of antitrust laws, consumer protection, and market fairness.Ambassador Tai reflects on the global perception of U.S. trade policy, particularly during the Trump administration, and stresses the importance of consistent policies for international trust and stability. Tai explains the complexity surrounding tariffs, underscoring the risks associated with unpredictability and disruptions in trade relationships with key partners like the EU, Canada, and Mexico. She points out that inconsistent U.S. actions erode its reputation as a reliable trading partner, thus pushing other nations to depend more heavily on China or each other.Both express concern over current policy chaos in Washington, implications for the rule of law, and democratic stability. They highlight that market actors like Wall Street typically prefer predictability and clear rules, now compromised by this governmental instability. We end with worries that politically driven decisions—such as Slaughter's firing—provide advantages to large corporations, including Big Tech, undermining fair competition and accountability.

Slade Bond, Chair of Cuneo, Gilbert and LaDuca's Public Policy and Legislative Affairs practice, discusses the evolving landscape of tech policy, discussing the legislative battles, political dynamics, and behind-the-scenes efforts shaping the future of regulation. Slade shares his insights on navigating Congress, the challenges of bipartisan cooperation, the influence of industry lobbying, and what it takes to push meaningful reforms forward.

Mark Ellis, an American Economic Liberties Project Senior Fellow, discusses his recent paper “Rate of Return Equals Cost of Capital.” In this episode of Second Request, he examines how and why investor-owned utility profit models diverted from their initial design, as well as how much excess returns cost American households.

Hayden Rooke-Ley is a Health Law and Policy Fellow at the Brown University School of Public Health and a Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project. In this episode of Second Request, Hayden discusses vertical consolidation in health care markets, UnitedHealth Group's outsized lead in this trend with Medicare Advantage, and the capitated payment model undergirding this shift.

I talk to Jonathan Kanter who served as the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 2021 to 2024.Kanter discusses his experiences at the FTC and DOJ, emphasizing the need for rigorous antitrust enforcement, especially as modern markets have evolved and become dominated by Big Tech. He highlights the importance of confronting monopolies to protect economic fairness, innovation, democracy, and freedom, and explains how he prioritized impactful cases against major corporations like Google, Apple, Ticketmaster, and others. Reflecting on his tenure, he stresses adapting antitrust laws to current market realities, warns about the dangers of economic concentration, and expresses the need for support for robust antitrust enforcement to maintain healthy competition and democracy.

In this episode, former USDA Senior Advisor for Fair and Competitive Markets Andy Green discusses the Biden administration's efforts to improve fairness in food markets and what the future may hold for the agency. Green reflects on key USDA rule-makings over the past few years, their impact on agriculture markets—particularly in seeds and poultry—and changes in enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act. Green provides valuable insights into the agency's progress and the steps he believes are necessary to strengthen competition in the food industry.

In this episode, Seth Bloom, President of Bloom Strategic Counsel and former General Counsel of the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, discusses the congressional outlook on antitrust in 2025. With shifts in antitrust subcommittee leadership this term, he explores what these changes mean for competition policy, the legislative possibilities ahead, and what to expect from Republican-led antitrust efforts. Bloom offers key insights into how Congress may approach antitrust enforcement and reform in the coming year.

In this special edition of Second Request, an exclusive interview with Margrethe Vestager, the former EU Antitrust Chief addressed concerns about a potential shift in U.S.- EU relations with the election of President Donald Trump.The interview is the first of a regular podcast hosted by Capitol Forum's new Europe Executive Editor Javier Espinoza that will include some of the biggest names in European policy. Mr. Espinoza, a leading voice in Brussels regulatory coverage, recently joined Capitol Forum after nearly a decade at the Financial Times.

In this episode, The Capitol Forum welcomes National Independent Venue Association Executive Director Stephen Parker to explore how the DOJ's Sherman Act Section 2 suit against Live Nation Ticketmaster could reshape the live entertainment industry. Parker discusses the current state of the primary ticketing market, the potential impact of structural changes on venues and promoters, and what ideal remedies could look like if Live Nation is found guilty.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai talks about the intersection of history, economic policy, and trade in this episode of Second Request. Ambassador Tai reflects on her role in shaping the Biden administration's economic approach, contrasting it with decades of trickle-down economics. She examines the historical roots of trade policy, lessons from FDR's legacy, and the challenges of balancing corporate influence with public interest.

This conversation on the future of crypto regulation under Trump's administration in 2025 reveals how proposed legislation could fundamentally reshape digital assets. Mark Wetjen, Partner at Dentons in their Federal Regulatory and Compliance Practice, looks at how the digital asset landscape may change, with particular focus on the roles of key regulators including the SEC, CFTC, and banking authorities. Wetjen also offers insights into how regulatory frameworks might impact competition among crypto exchanges and traditional financial institutions.

Daniel Hanley, Senior Legal Analyst at the Open Markets Institute, discusses his recent paper "Illuminating the Anti-Coercion Foundations of Refusals to Deal" and its implications.

It's the final days of the 2024 campaign, and Republicans are suddenly talking again about making changes to the Affordable Care Act if former President Donald Trump wins. Meanwhile, new reporting uncovers more maternal deaths under state abortion bans — and a case in which a Nevada woman was jailed after a miscarriage. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News' Emmarie Huetteman to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, KFF Health News' Julie Rovner interviews Irving Washington, a senior vice president at KFF and the executive director of its Health Misinformation and Trust Initiative.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Emmarie Huetteman: KFF Health News' “‘Dreamers' Can Enroll in ACA Plans This Year — But a Court Challenge Could Get in the Way,” by Julie Appleby. Lauren Weber: The New York Times' “What Drugmakers Did Not Tell Volunteers in Alzheimer's Trials,” by Walt Bogdanich and Carson Kessler. Shefali Luthra: NBC News' “They're Middle Class and Insured. Childbirth Still Left Them With Crippling Debt,” by Aria Bendix. Jessie Hellmann: ProPublica's “‘Not Medically Necessary': Inside the Company Helping America's Biggest Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Care,” by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica; Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum; and David Armstrong, ProPublica. Also mentioned on this week's podcast: KFF Health News' “Ghosts, Ghouls, and Ghastly Drug Prices in Winning Halloween Haikus.” A transcript of this episode will be available Nov. 1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Antitrust attorney Basel Musharbash and Farm Action's Sarah Carden discuss a groundbreaking report on corporate control in American agriculture. Commissioned by Farm Action and written by Basel, 'Kings Over the Necessaries of Life' dives into the history of competition policy in agriculture, current market concentration levels, and strategies for restoring competition in this crucial sector.

Co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and director of the Energy Democracy Initiative, John Farrell, discusses his recent report on the 100-year-old business model granting private exclusive power over the public resource of electricity. Learn about the abuses that come from allowing private monopoly power to control electricity, including pollution-linked deaths, price-hiking, power-shutoffs for low-income families and other publicly borne burdens. The discussion also includes recommended structural reforms for restoring competition and equilibrium to the sector.

CEO of Digital Content Next, Jason Kint, offers his analysis of the recently concluded Google trial proceedings. As one of the foremost authorities on digital media and tech policy, Jason offers invaluable insights into the implications and potential outcomes of this landmark case.

Hear the editors of the new book Antitrust Economics at a Time of Upheaval: Recent Competition Policy Cases on Two Continents discuss the recent resurgence and transformation in competition policy and economics in the US, the EU and the UK. Professors John Kwoka, Tommaso Valletti and Lawrence White talk to Capitol Forum Executive Editor Teddy Downey about some of the cases they see as “flashpoints” in the competition paradigm shift and explain the economic implications of recent enforcement actions.

On this episode of Second Request, The Capitol Forum's Teddy Downey speaks with CEO of REX, Jack Ryan, and RealClearMarkets Editor John Tamny about the recent settlement involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and its implications for the real estate industry and homeowners. Jack and John are the authors of a new book entitled Bringing Adam Smith into the American Home, which challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding homeownership and offers a compelling argument for reevaluating realtor commissions.

Listen in as Capitol Forum Executive Editor Teddy Downey interviews the authors of a recent paper entitled “The Re-Monopolization of the U.S. Sports Trading Card Industry.” Authors Marc Edelman, Nathaniel Grow and John Holden discuss the history of US sports trading cards leading up to sports retailer Fanatics' consolidation of the $8B industry. Learn how Fanatics used exclusive sports-licensing agreements to achieve the monopoly and what the potential implications are for the industry and for consumers.

A six-week abortion ban took effect in Florida this week, dramatically restricting access to the procedure not just in the nation's third-most-populous state but across the South. Patients from states with even more restrictive bans had been flooding in since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022.Meanwhile, the CEO of the health behemoth UnitedHealth Group appeared before committees in both the House and Senate, where lawmakers grilled him about the February cyberattack on subsidiary Change Healthcare and how its ramifications are being felt months later.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too.Julie Rovner: ProPublica's “A Doctor at Cigna Said Her Bosses Pressured Her To Review Patients' Cases Too Quickly. Cigna Threatened To Fire Her,” by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum, and David Armstrong, ProPublica.Alice Miranda Ollstein: The Associated Press' “Dozens of Deaths Reveal Risks of Injecting Sedatives Into People Restrained by Police,” by Ryan J. Foley, Carla K. Johnson, and Shelby Lum.Sarah Karlin-Smith: The Atlantic's “America's Infectious-Disease Barometer Is Off,” by Katherine J. Wu.Rachana Pradhan: The Wall Street Journal's “Millions of American Kids Are Caregivers Now: ‘The Hardest Part Is That I'm Only 17,” by Clare Ansberry.Click here for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the latest episode of The Capitol Forum's Second Request podcast, Executive Editor Teddy Downey speaks with one of the world's best known and most respected antitrust/competition enforcers, Bill Baer. As the only person to have led antitrust enforcement at both U.S. antitrust agencies, Bill offers unique insight into how antitrust enforcement has changed over the years and what challenges and opportunities current enforcers face.

Hear senior policy analyst at Economic Liberties Shahid Naeem discuss his findings from a recent report on the proposed Capital One/Discover merger, which, if approved, would create the U.S.'s sixth-largest bank and No. 1 credit card issuer. Shahid evaluates the strength of Capital One's “merge-to-compete” defense in an increasingly challenging enforcement environment.

On this episode of Second Request, renowned antitrust expert Cristina Caffarra talks to Executive Editor of The Capitol Forum, Teddy Downey, about how the major shift underway in US antitrust is propagating across the globe. Listen to the podcast to learn what implications the shift has for antitrust, trade and industrial policy across the US, Europe and the Global South. They also cover developments that have come out of Cristina's groundbreaking conference in Brussels: Antitrust, Regulation and the Next World Order.

Mitchell Louis Judge Li, MD is a board-certified emergency physician and founder of the advocacy group, Take Medicine Back, dedicated to taking the profession of medicine back to its ethical roots from corporate interests. Dr. Li has been an invited speaker representing physicians to the Federal Trade Commission on the firsthand effects of mergers and acquisitions on healthcare, has spoken as a panelist at the Capitol Forum's Conference on Healthcare Competition, and currently serves as the only physician-advisor to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's committee on healthcare financialization. Dr. Li earned his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 2013 and completed his emergency medicine residency at St. John Hospital in Detroit, MI in 2017. He currently practices emergency medicine full-time. Dr. Li is also the founder of a Direct Physician Care (aka Direct Primary Care) practice. Topics covered in this episode: Moral injury & compassion fatigue in human medicine (like in veterinary medicine) How “profits over patients” hurts everyone What is the Corporate Practice of Medicine? How corporations bypass prohibition of the “Corporate Practice of Medicine” How this relates to veterinarians. Links and Resources: Visit the Take Medicine Back website  Read “The Reclamation of Emergency Medicine: “Take EM Back” White Paper” Find Take Medicine Back on Facebook Find Take Medicine Back on Twitter  The House Call Vet Academy links: Find out about The House Call Vet Academy online CE course  Learn more about Dr. Eve Harrison  Learn more about 1-to-1 coaching for current & prospective house call, mobile, & concierge vets Get House Call Vet swag! Find out about the next House Call & Mobile Vet Virtual Conference Music: In loving memory of Dr. Steve Weinberg. Intro and outro guitar music was written, performed, and recorded by house call veterinarian Dr. Steve Weinberg. Thank you to our sponsors! Chronos O3 Vets Rekindling w/ Julie Squires This podcast is also available in video on our House Call Vet Cafe YouTube channel  

404 Media co-founder and journalist Joseph Cox discusses his latest investigation into how hackers and fraudsters are illegally accessing sensitive drug ordering tools and then advertising some of the most tightly controlled drugs in the country, including fentanyl. Communicating directly with the hackers and fraudsters themselves, Joseph was able to uncover how they are gaining access to legitimate drug ordering services. Listen to the podcast to learn about the methods they use and why unsecure “credit header data” is at the root of many of these compromises.

Experienced election analyst Michael Podhorzer talks to Executive Editor of The Capitol Forum, Teddy Downey, about the 2024 presidential election. Listen to the podcast to learn more about what polling and historical voting patterns can and can't tell us about prospective outcomes. They also discuss the roles and responsibilities of the press during election cycles.

On this episode of Second Request, The Capitol Forum's Teddy Downey speaks with former FTC deputy director and DOJ trial attorney, John Newman, about the current antitrust landscape in the US. Currently a Professor of Law at Miami University, John is an expert on antitrust and competition law, with a primary focus on the economics and regulation of digital markets. Listen to the podcast to hear them discuss the latest FTC cases and how AI is shaping antitrust law.

Over the past 12 years this podcast has discussed increasing corporate dominance of healthcare delivery, made evident in part by the fact the healthcare market is highly concentrated and highly leveraged, e.g., over the past decade private equity has spent roughly $1 trillion to acquire physician practices.  The corporate practice of medicine (CPOM) is problematic because allowing for corporate medicine can compromise a physicians' independence and/or creates a conflict between physicians' ethical duty to their patients and corporate interests in maximizing profits.  While states have historically prohibited corporate medicine, enforcement has both been limited and every state has created CPOM exceptions.  In part because the Biden administration has given priority implementing regulatory policies to promote market competition, there is renewed interest in revising corporate medicine statutes.   This past fall the AMA considered a resolution seeking a federal ban on CPOM informed in part by a 70-page report published last October by Take Medicine Back.  AMA delegates voted to refer the resolution to the AMA Bd of Trustees for further study. Dr. Mitchell Louis Judge Li is a practicing board certified emergency physician in North Carolina and founder of Take Medicine Back. Dr. Li has been an invited speaker to represent physicians to the FTC on the effects of mergers and acquisitions on healthcare, has spoken as a panelist at the Capitol Forum's Conference on Healthcare Competition, and currently serves as the only physician-advisor to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's committee on healthcare financialization. Dr. Li earned his MD at the University of Massachusetts and completed his emergency medicine residency at St. John Hospital in Detroit.Information on Take Medicine Back is at: https://takemedicineback.net/. Their 70-page working paper discussed during this interview is at: https://qrco.de/beUEJm. Sen. Warren's Take Medicine Back video noted during the discussion is here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

On this episode of Second Request, Executive Editor of The Capitol Forum, Teddy Downey, speaks to former Deputy Director for the National Economic Council Bharat Ramamurti about the White House's approach to improving competition across all sectors of the economy. During his time on the National Economic Council, Bharat played a key role in developing the President's Executive Order on Competition, which set forth 72 provisions for steps federal agencies can take to promote competition. Listen to the podcast to learn how the Executive Order reflects the president's specific competition priorities and to hear about some of the successes that have already come out of it, including the newly established Competition Council.

2023 was another busy year in health care. As the covid-19 pandemic waned, policymakers looked anew at long-standing obstacles to obtaining and paying for care in the nation's health care system. Meanwhile, abortion has continued to be an issue in much of the nation, as states respond to the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning the constitutional right to the procedure.This week, Rachel Cohrs of Stat, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Joanne Kenen of Johns Hopkins University and Politico Magazine join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and wrap up the year in health. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News' Jordan Rau about his joint KFF Health News-New York Times series “Dying Broke.” Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: Business Insider's “‘I Feel Conned Into Keeping This Baby,'” by Bethany Dawson, Louise Ridley, and Sarah Posner. Joanne Kenen: The Trace's “Chicago Shooting Survivors, in Their Own Words,” by Justin Agrelo. Rachel Cohrs: ProPublica's “Doctors With Histories of Big Malpractice Settlements Work for Insurers, Deciding if They'll Pay for Care,” by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum; and David Armstrong and Doris Burke, ProPublica. Sandhya Raman: Roll Call's “Mississippi Community Workers Battle Maternal Mortality Crisis,” by Lauren Clason. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Second Request, executive director of Clean Virginia, Brennan Gilmore, discusses the biggest successes and challenges Clean Virginia has experienced working to advance clean government and clean energy. Listen to the podcast to learn about the history of Virginia's monopoly utility regulation and the influence Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest utility, has had on how the state's energy is structured. You'll hear why Clean Virginia blames a misaligned incentive structure and political influence for years of customer overcharges, poor energy efficiency, and lack of market competition and what they are doing to change it.

Legal expert Seth Bloom delves into the Google antitrust trial, amidst the current legal landscape, tech trends, and evolving regulatory environment. Analyzing the trial's dynamics, he and host Teddy Downey explore the role of Judge Mehta, potential outcomes, and the broader implications for the tech industry. The conversation extends to AI, cloud computing, and algorithmic accountability, touching on issues surrounding YouTube and children's privacy.

Jack Ryan, cofounder and CEO of the real estate brokerage REX, and Darren McCarty, lead lawyer in the current antitrust litigation for REX, discuss the recent litigation against the National Association of Realtors and what it means for the future of residential real estate.

Dr. Michael J. Birrer, an expert in oncology, discusses the complexities of generic oncology drug shortages, exploring the root causes and potential solutions to this recurring problem. Dr. Birrer shares his perspectives on the impact of reimbursement policies, the role of government intervention, and the need for a more streamlined FDA process. The discussion also touches on the influence of insurance companies, the quality of medical expertise in insurance decisions, and the broader landscape of oncology drug development.

Kevin Erickson, director of the Future of Music Coalition, discusses the DOJ and State AGs' monopolization investigations into Live Nation and how anticompetitive conduct in the industry hurts musicians and fans. Kevin and host Teddy Downey lay out what regulators, enforcers, and policymakers can do to encourage competition, diversity of practice, and creative autonomy in the live music marketplace.

On the latest episode of Second Request, Associate Professor of Law Matthew Wansley and Professor of Law Samuel Weinstein of Cardozo School of Law discuss their recent article entitled “Venture Predation” published in the Journal of Corporation Law. Speaking with The Capitol Forum's Teddy Downey, Matthew and Samuel explain the economics and history behind venture predation and why we currently see very little enforcement of the practice. Download the podcast to hear descriptions of some of the high-profile case studies addressed in their article, including Uber, WeWork, and Bird and learn what these examples can show us about venture predation's harmful impact on consumers, communities and innovation.

On this episode of Second Request, Teddy Downey and the FTC's Shaoul Sussman discuss the new draft merger guidelines from the FTC and DOJ. Shaoul describes some of the market dynamics, economic conditions and case law reflected in the new guidelines, and why the agencies thought it was time for an update: The agencies “have a mandate to make the guidelines more accessible and provide clear rules of the road, both for CEOs that contemplate a merger and also for the public to understand what goes into how we think about cases.” Listen to the podcast to hear them delve into some of the language and intentions of individual guidelines, including: Guideline six and market structures Guideline seven and the concept of dominance Guideline eight and concentration trends

On July 20, Capitol Forum Executive Editor Teddy Downey spoke with Diana Moss, President of the American Antitrust Institute (AAI), about what a LiveNation-Ticketmaster monopoly breakup could look like. The AAI recently published a deep dive on vertical integration of Live Nation and Ticketmaster as well as proposed remedies. On the podcast, Diana describes the legal climate around vertical mergers in 2010 when the two companies first merged: “We had this whole gestalt around vertical mergers being viewed as pro-competitive, getting a lot of deference in enforcement cases, no case law. And that merger, Live Nation/Ticketmaster, was especially egregious because Ticketmaster had about 80 percent share in primary ticketing.” To put that statistic in perspective, Diana sites the new, proposed merger guidelines, which describe 50 percent share as a presumption of anti-competitive outcomes. The current result, she points out, is a lack of choice for everyone involved: “Venues have no choice, or very little choice, but to go to Ticketmaster. Artists have very little choice but to go to Ticketmaster for ticketing. Even Taylor Swift had to do this. She was promoted by AEG, which is a competing concert promoter, but AEG didn't have the ticketing services. So Ticketmaster was the only option.” Listen to the full podcast to hear about: The complications of secondary markets Retaliation fears from artists and independent venues Historical breakup precedents Potential remedies, including the drawbacks to conduct remedies

In the latest episode of Second Request, Teddy interviews Bob Lande on the impact of textualism on merger analysis. Bob Lande is Venable Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Baltimore School of Law and a board member for the American Antitrust Institute who has written about the use of textualism in antitrust enforcement and the way it affects statutory interpretation in a recent article for the Utah Law Review and a presentation to the FTC.Due to its emphasis on “precise language,” Bob argues that rather than leading to more conservative antitrust decision making by the courts, textualism should lead to the exact opposite: “Textualism should lead, if anything, to more aggressive antitrust enforcement….This is because the Sherman Act, the FTC Act and the Clayton Act are all products of the progressive era. It's not surprising that their precise language is very pro-consumer and very anti-monopoly.”Listen to the podcast to hear Teddy and Bob discuss:• Section 7 language• The express efficiencies defense• Monopolization

On April 23, 2021, Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position. Attorney General Bonta's passion for justice and fairness was instilled in him by his parents, who served on the frontlines of some of America's most important social justice movements. Instilling in him the lessons they learned from the United Farm Workers and the civil rights movement, Attorney General Bonta's parents lit a fire inside him to fight against injustice — to stand up for those who are taken advantage of or harmed. It's why he decided to become a lawyer — to help right historic wrongs and fight for people who have been harmed. He worked his way through college and graduated with honors from Yale University and attended Yale Law School. In the State Assembly, Attorney General Bonta enacted nation-leading reforms to inject more justice and fairness into government and institutions. As the People's Attorney, he sees seeking accountability from those who abuse their power and harm others as one of the most important functions of the job. In elected office, he has taken on powerful interests and advanced systemic change — pursuing corporate accountability, standing up for workers, punishing big polluters, and fighting racial injustice. He has been a national leader in the fight to transform the criminal justice system, banning private prisons and detention facilities in California, as well as pushing to eliminate cash bail in the state. He has led statewide fights for racial, economic, and environmental justice and worked to further the rights of immigrant families, renters, and working Californians.

Stacy Mitchell is Co-Executive Director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a research and advocacy organization that challenges concentrated corporate power and works to build thriving, equitable communities. ILSR has been a pioneering leader in the growing anti-monopoly movement and has a long track record of working alongside grassroots groups to develop better alternatives, from community-owned broadband, to independent businesses, to distributed solar.Stacy recently wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times titled The Real Reason Your Groceries are Getting More Expensive, and has advocated for the FTC revitalizing the anti chain store legislation known as the Robinson Patman Act.Stacy has also produced pivotal research and reporting on the policies driving the decline of small businesses and the economic and political consequences of monopoly power. In 2020, she was profiled by the New York Times for her analysis of Amazon's power and her leadership in building a broad coalition to counter it. Her reports and articles about the tech giant have drawn a wide and influential readership. The House Judiciary Committee cited her research extensively in its “Investigation of Competition in Digital Markets.” In 2022, political strategy firm Baron named her an “Antitrust Super Influencer” for her role in shaping the policy debate.

Alvaro Bedoya was sworn in May 16, 2022 as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission. President Joe Biden named Bedoya to a term that expires on Sept. 25, 2026.Bedoya was the founding director of the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown University Law Center, where he was also a visiting professor of law. He has been influential in research and policy at the intersection of privacy and civil rights, and co-authored a 2016 report on the use of facial recognition by law enforcement and the risks that it poses to privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights. He previously served as the first Chief Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law after its founding in 2011, and Chief Counsel to former Senator Al Franken, of Minnesota. Prior to that, he was an associate at the law firm WilmerHale.

This week on Second Request, our host Teddy Downey is joined by Luke Slindee, Senior Pharmacy consultant at Myers and Stauffer LC. In this role, Luke helps facilitate the data collection, data analysis, and public posting of pharmacy actual acquisition cost benchmarks, reducing NADAC and multiple State AACs. Luke is widely recognized for his expertise in pharmacy policy and competition rules.

It's Hump Day! Sam hosts Patrick Rucker, finance reporter for The Capitol Forum and contributor at ProPublica, to discuss his recent piece entitled "How Cigna Saves Millions by Having Its Doctors Reject Claims Without Reading Them". Then, he's joined by percussionist Andy Blanco with the Musician's Union Local 802, to discuss their recent organizing efforts against Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY). First, Sam runs through updates on Fox settling their dominion case, the Supreme Court's response to the Mifepristone hold, Canadian labor action, Clarence Thomas' corruption, DeSantis' visit to Washington, and Iowa advancing children's right to work, before diving into coverage of Fox's settlement, and the extant cases they still face. Patrick Rucker then dives right into his discovery of Cigna's scam, walking through the statistics of the inhumane pace at which their doctors would reject insurance claims, and the outrageous quantity of rejections that this has led to, with no substantive reason behind a vast majority of said rejections. After tackling the parallels with the banking sector's Robo-signing scandal and the breadth of the impact of this brand of corruption, Sam and Patrick wrap up by discussing the “legality” of Cigna's malpractice, how to push back against it, and whether the other insurance companies have already jumped on board with their tactics. Andy Blanco and Sam then parse through Local 802's role in the New York concert world and the exploitation they face, before looking at the impact of COVID on their labor situation, and how DCINY forced them into filing unfair labor practice claims. Wrapping up, they tackle the union's demands, and how we can help them in their fight. And in the Fun Half: Sam discusses the GOP's insistence on making Hunter Biden's D*ck Pics a story, Oscar from Compton discusses local disputes with firefighters, Michelle in Brooklyn tackles the exportation of labor overseas, and John from Indiana calls in about last week's Twitter drama. Sam and Bradley also touch on Floridian politics, with parents fighting back against theocratic rule while DeSantis goes to war with Disney, Ethan Schmidt makes a fool of himself, and Jasmin from Texas dives into corrupt election legislation, plus, your calls and IMs! Check out Patrick's piece here: https://www.propublica.org/article/cigna-pxdx-medical-health-insurance-rejection-claims Find more info about Local 802's strike efforts here: https://www.local802afm.org/ Help out Happy Rock Coffee Shop here: https://www.savehappyrock.com/ Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! http://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: http://majority.fm/app Check out today's sponsors: Sunset Lake CBD: sunsetlakecbd is a majority employee owned farm in Vermont, producing 100% pesticide free CBD products. Starting today, all CBD products will be 30% off with coupon code “420”. Orders over $150 will get one FREE 20-count jar of gummies-Sour bears, good vibe gummies, or sleep gummies! 5% of all proceeds will be donated to the Last Prisoner Project-and The Majority Report will match those donations! Also, use code Leftisbest and get 20% off when you shop at http://www.sunsetlakecbd.com.  Henson Shaving: Go to https://hensonshaving.com/majority and use code MAJORITY for a free 100-pack of blades! Seder's Seeds!: Sam tried to grow some cannabis last year, didn't know what he was doing, but now has some great cannabis seeds! Use code "420" and you'll get a free pack of "Trainwreck" seeds (enter Trainwreck manually in your cart)! Go to http://www.sedersseeds.com and MajorityReporters will get an automatic 15% off. Enter coupon code "SEEDS" for free shipping! Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattBinder @MattLech @BF1nn @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Subscribe to Discourse Blog, a newsletter and website for progressive essays and related fun partly run by AM Quickie writer Jack Crosbie. https://discourseblog.com/ Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/  

Navigating the American healthcare system can be a challenge.Every year, insurance companies reject millions of claims by patients seeking many types of treatment — everything from MRIs and surgeries to medications. And appealing those denials can be challenging. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that patients under the Affordable Care Act only appeal about 0.1 percent of claims that are rejected. A new investigation by ProPublica and Capitol Forum looks into the world of health insurance denials, and what that appeal process looks like. We discuss what that investigation found and hear your stories. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.