Horseshoe Theory at the FTC: Regulation, Mergers, and the Future of Antitrust

Host Veronique De Rugy is joined by Jessica Melugin, Director of the Center for Technology and Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, for a deep dive into the shifting landscape of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The conversation explores:

The Legacy of Lina Khan: How the Biden-era FTC expanded merger filing rules (HSR Act) to increase compliance burdens, and why a Texas federal court recently struck them down.

The Horseshoe (or "Shoe Horse"?) Theory: A discussion on the surprising ideological overlap between the populist left and populist right, specifically regarding "America First" antitrust policies and increased government intervention.

A Changing Commission: An analysis of current FTC Chair Ferguson, his ties to Vice President JD Vance, and the agency's unprecedented level of direct White House influence.

Constitutional Shifts: The impact of recent Supreme Court decisions like Loper Bright (overturning Chevron deference) and the ongoing debate over the President's power to fire independent agency commissioners at will.