Key point. This hearing is not just a one-off, it is *part* of an investigation. @davidcicilline says they have millions of documents from both the companies as well over a hundred competitors. #bigtechbarons
Now @JimPressOffice is giving the GOP opening statement. So far it's a reasonable statement, talking about dominance, making the point that "big is not bad." Serious statement discussing data and market structure. Bipartisan, this is good. #BigTechHearing
This is the stock price of #bigtechbarons since this investigation began. Trillions of dollars in an increase of market capitalization. #BigTechHearing
Love @RepJerryNadler bringing Emanuel Celler and his anti-monopoly subcommittee into the conversation. #BigTechBarons
This is amazing, just like the hearings I read when I researched Goliath.
Time for @Jim_Jordan. "Big tech is out to get conservatives." Talking about the World Health Organization and China, Amazon banning Trump and Twitch. #bigtechbarons
So far hearing nothing about monopoly or competition.🤔🤔🤔
What's so irritating about @Jim_Jordan is that everything he's talking about is *a monopoly problem* but he's here to defend monopoly and then harangue the monopolists for not being nicer to what *he thinks.* #BigTechHearing#BigTechBarons
It's kind of funny that @Jim_Jordan doesn't get to the defense of #BigTechBarons because it just doesn't fit in his haranguing of #bigtech for conservative bias. Jordan is now being a clown and being disruptive. @davidcicilline shuts him down hard.
It's so great that @davidcicilline made it 100% clear that this hearing is serious and that you don't fuck with him. #BigTechBarons
Jeff Bezos is now up talking up how awesome his Mom and Dad are. #BigTechBarons
"It is still Day One for this country." - Jeff Bezos
That's very much a 'what is good for General Motors is good for America' answer.
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Democratic Silicon Valley billionaire Reid Hoffman gives $7m to Harris, immediately demands she fire FTC Chair Lina Khan.
Donor or owner? LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman thinks he owns Kamala Harris. Imagine giving $7 million and then publicly demanding a total reversal of tough on corporate crime policies. Harris took the money, she needs to repudiate this.
LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman also seems to think Harris will reverse the Biden tariffs because they are bad for business. Big money demanding their puppets dance is actually authoritarian.
Neoliberalism doesn't mean being anti-government or for the free market or for or against welfare, it is a specific form of statecraft that uses financial markets as a veil to disguise governing policies.
Neoliberalism means organizing state policies by making them appear as if they are the consequences of depoliticized financial markets. It means moving power from public institutions to private ones, and allowing governance to happen through concentrated financial power.
Actual open markets for goods and services tend to disappear in neoliberal societies. Financial markets flourish, real markets morph into mass distribution middlemen like Walmart or Amazon or PBMs.
House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing starting with Lina Khan testifying. Republican @RepGusBilirakis is blasting Khan for releasing a report on PBMs and saying she's terrifying 'innovators.' energycommerce.house.gov/events/innovat…
So Republican @RepArmstrongND knows Khan is doing an excellent job consistent with his priorities on big tech but lies about it because that's what you do when you're a Republican and someone actually governing is in front of you.
@RepArmstrongND Finally a Republican who opposes PBMs is not being partisan! @RepLarryBucshon asks a useful question about how pharmacy benefit managers hide money in Switzerland and Ireland.
The Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision just overturned a case in which Biden was trying to deport an immigrant found guilty of aggravated child abuse.
Fun times.
The Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision just vacated a decision saying a small solar panel plant gets to sell electric power to big utilities.
The Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision just vacated in which the IRS denied a whistleblower a reward even though his information had led to the recovery of millions of dollars.
1. There are four parts to the Democratic Party, and only one matters right now. There are media Dems, policy Dems, donor Dems, and regular Democrats. Only the regulator Democrats matter. Who are they? They are the electeds, unions, black preachers - those who deal with voters.
2. Each has their role. Media Dems communicate the message. That's the NYT and Washington Post, MSNBC, black radio, etc. Most deny they are partisan but sure Jan and all that. They want Biden to step down.
3. Policy Dems think about governing. That's progressive think tanks, law firms, corporate lobbyists. Donor Dems think about money and access. That's everyone from billionaires in Silicon Valley to 'ladies who lunch.'
1. Let's talk economic termites, the companies you don't notice, but behind the scenes overcharge you in ways you don't see. Today we're going over CDK Global, a software company that raises the price of cars. thebignewsletter.com/p/economic-ter…
2. CDK Software is business software for auto dealers, managing service, parts and inventory, vehicle financing, accounting, payroll, insurance information, customer information, etc. 15,000 auto dealers use it nationwide. thebignewsletter.com/p/a-supreme-co…
3. Though it's business software, the price gets added to the cost of your car. A small dealership pays $150,000 per year, mid-size dealership groups (5 to 10 stores) pays $1,500,000 or more per year, and large dealerships pays $5,000,000 per year. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…