Thread by @matthewstoller

Lina Khan has her first hearing at the Energy and Commerce committee streaming now. energycommerce.house.gov/committee-acti…

And now Republican @RepGusBilirakis is attacking Khan for silencing FTC staff and not working adequately with Republican commissioners. Bilirakis announces a whistleblower program for anyone with complaints about Khan.

The pro-big tech GOP faction is strong.

In Khan's opening statement, she mentions the current merger boom as a challenge for America. We are seeing rapid consolidation and increases in market power.

"The sheer volume of transactions is straining agency resources."

Khan also talked about the supercharging of fraud due to microtargeting and legal privileges of online firms.

https://twitter.com/leah_nylen/status/1420399902530674700

And now @FTCPhillips is talking about how the FTC doesn't have authority to do what Khan wants to do, and will trap American business in red tape.

Republican members are attacking @linakhanFTC largely on process grounds, not putting rules out within 30 days, not working with GOP commissioners, etc. Nothing substantive about our monopoly crisis. It's a weak line of attack.

And now Republican @cathymcmorris is attacking the FTC's recent decision to make it easier for staff to investigate anti-competitive practices at big tech. It's hard to square Republicans at this hearing with right-wing rhetoric skeptical of big tech. Total fake governing!

And now Republican Energy and Commerce ranking member @cathymcmorris says she's worried the FTC will "issue a rule on privacy."

Saying the quiet part out loud.

This is the dumbest line of attack on Rohit Chopra. Pat Toomey is attacking him for personnel decisions at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He doesn't work there. He is a Federal Trade Commission official.

https://twitter.com/leah_nylen/status/1420454947863269382

Republican Rep. @DrLarryBucshon is now asking @chopraftc about why there aren't more economists involved in policymaking on pharmaceuticals. Pushes his bill requiring that. energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrat…

Real missed opportunity for the Republicans. Not a single question on the Facebook case, big tech, etc. All just libertarian partisan sniping at Lina Khan actually trying to use Federal Trade Commission authority.

Finally, a policy question! Republican Greg Pence asks a question about right to repair policy on farm equipment.

And @RepArmstrongND asks @FTCPhillips an interesting question about the consumer welfare standard and big tech. Who is the consumer?

Phillips says privacy can be a consumer welfare harm, but it's complicated because some people don't value privacy.

Lina Khan answers a @RepFletcher question about ransomware and data security, Khan says that concentration of data can worsen these kinds of problems.