Organized Money Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:05:12 -0400 http://organizedmoney.fm en-us © 2026 Organized Money yes ef660fc7-b74f-5886-aa10-40e3c83b5596 Rock Creek Sound episodic false Organized Money is a podcast about how the business world really works, and how corporate consolidation and monopolies are dominating every sector of our economy. The series is hosted by writers and journalists Matt Stoller and David Dayen, both thought leaders in the antimonopoly movement. Organized Money is a fresh spin on business reporting, one that goes beyond supply and demand curves or odes to visionary entrepreneurs. Each week Matt and David break down the ways monopolies control everything from the food we eat, to the drugs we take, the way we communicate and even how we date. You’ll hear from workers, business leaders, antitrust lawyers, and policymakers who are on the front lines of the fight for open markets and fair competition.


If you care about an economy that is free and open, one not controlled by a handful of corporations, Organized Money is for you. New episodes out every week until the end of the year. Organized Money is a Rock Creek Sound production, from executive producers Ari Saperstein and Ellen Weiss, and senior producer Benjamin Frisch. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Rock Creek Sound https://storage.buzzsprout.com/o673rvqzau3fhjn37hstesytym1c?.jpg Organized Money http://organizedmoney.fm Up Ship's Creek: The Crisis At The Strait Up Ship's Creek: The Crisis At The Strait Ever since the US and Israel began bombing Iran, the Strait Of Hormuz has become the most watched shipping lane in the world economy. The strait itself is just a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf Of Oman, but much of the world's oil and other crucial material, such as industrial helium, flow through it. Now, after weeks of bombing and retaliation, the strait is gummed up, with hundreds of ships stranded, little traffic, and no end in sight. We're already seeing prices at the pump begin to spike, and the stock market has cooled, but according to our guest, we haven't actually felt any true material shocks, yet. 

Today on the show Matt and David talk with Salvatore Mercogliano, former merchant marine, maritime history professor at Campbell University, and host of the popular What's Going on With Shipping? on Youtube. Together they break down what's happening, why the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump are only a precursor to actual shortages, and what to look for as we begin to feel the supply chain pinch. 


]]> Ever since the US and Israel began bombing Iran, the Strait Of Hormuz has become the most watched shipping lane in the world economy. The strait itself is just a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf Of Oman, but much of the world's oil and other crucial material, such as industrial helium, flow through it. Now, after weeks of bombing and retaliation, the strait is gummed up, with hundreds of ships stranded, little traffic, and no end in sight. We're already seeing prices at the pump begin to spike, and the stock market has cooled, but according to our guest, we haven't actually felt any true material shocks, yet. 

Today on the show Matt and David talk with Salvatore Mercogliano, former merchant marine, maritime history professor at Campbell University, and host of the popular What's Going on With Shipping? on Youtube. Together they break down what's happening, why the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump are only a precursor to actual shortages, and what to look for as we begin to feel the supply chain pinch. 


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18964746 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0400 3671 full false California Attorney General Rob Bonta is Not Done with Ticketmaster California Attorney General Rob Bonta is Not Done with Ticketmaster With the federal government largely stepping back from antitrust enforcement, who's picking up the slack? California Attorney General Rob Bonta makes the case that state attorneys general are filling the void,  and he's got the caseload to prove it. David and Matt speak with Bonta about his remarkable portfolio of active fights: the Ticketmaster/Live Nation trial (which the states pressed forward with after the DOJ settled), a price-fixing case against Amazon, social media addiction suits against Meta and TikTok, and a challenge to the Nexstar/TEGNA local TV merger that could give a single broadcaster control over news in 70% of American households. Bonta doesn’t shy away from describing what he sees in DC as corruption. He also has a direct message for anyone in Hollywood nervous about the Paramount/Warner Brothers investigation: it's not illegal to talk to his office and they want to hear from you.

]]> With the federal government largely stepping back from antitrust enforcement, who's picking up the slack? California Attorney General Rob Bonta makes the case that state attorneys general are filling the void,  and he's got the caseload to prove it. David and Matt speak with Bonta about his remarkable portfolio of active fights: the Ticketmaster/Live Nation trial (which the states pressed forward with after the DOJ settled), a price-fixing case against Amazon, social media addiction suits against Meta and TikTok, and a challenge to the Nexstar/TEGNA local TV merger that could give a single broadcaster control over news in 70% of American households. Bonta doesn’t shy away from describing what he sees in DC as corruption. He also has a direct message for anyone in Hollywood nervous about the Paramount/Warner Brothers investigation: it's not illegal to talk to his office and they want to hear from you.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18930235 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400 2861 full false The Business Of Betting On Murder with Sen. Chris Murphy The Business Of Betting On Murder with Sen. Chris Murphy As bombs started to fall on Iran, some Americans cashed in by placing bets on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi. These bets paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to users who almost certainly had inside information about the exact timing of the attacks. Similar bets were made on the assassination of Iran's Ayatollah, turning an act of murder into a commodity.

As these markets have come to embrace acts of violence, often rife with insider trading, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut has introduced legislation to curb betting on government actions and similar events. His bill, Banning Event Trading on Sensitive Operations and Federal Functions, or the BETS OFF Act, was introduced this past Tuesday.

Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Sen. Murphy about the problem of prediction markets, both political and moral. They also get into the war in Iran, its rudderless trajectory, and the Pentagon’s $200 billion request to continue fighting, perhaps indefinitely. Finally, they discuss how to get out of the morass we have found ourselves in as a country that seems to keep making big, bad decisions, and ask whether Trump and the war are just symptoms of a larger problem plaguing America.



]]> As bombs started to fall on Iran, some Americans cashed in by placing bets on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi. These bets paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to users who almost certainly had inside information about the exact timing of the attacks. Similar bets were made on the assassination of Iran's Ayatollah, turning an act of murder into a commodity.

As these markets have come to embrace acts of violence, often rife with insider trading, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut has introduced legislation to curb betting on government actions and similar events. His bill, Banning Event Trading on Sensitive Operations and Federal Functions, or the BETS OFF Act, was introduced this past Tuesday.

Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Sen. Murphy about the problem of prediction markets, both political and moral. They also get into the war in Iran, its rudderless trajectory, and the Pentagon’s $200 billion request to continue fighting, perhaps indefinitely. Finally, they discuss how to get out of the morass we have found ourselves in as a country that seems to keep making big, bad decisions, and ask whether Trump and the war are just symptoms of a larger problem plaguing America.



]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18893473 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400 2939 full false Robbing Them Blind, Baby: The Live Nation Case Robbing Them Blind, Baby: The Live Nation Case In a shocking turn of events, the federal government settled their longstanding anti-trust action against Live Nation after a week of in-court proceedings. This process was described as “mind-boggling” by the judge, and surprised counsel on both sides along with many states’ attorneys generals who are also suing Live Nation. 

Today on the show we break down the case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster (which it acquired back in 2010) with two guests: Gigi Liman, who is reporting on the trail for bigtechontrial.com, and Tommy Dorfman, a live music promoter who has been in litigation with Live Nation for over a decade. Together with Matt and David they break down the proceedings, how Live Nation uses mafia-like tactics to secure its monopoly, and where the case goes from here as states pick up the prosecutorial baton from a compromised federal justice department. 

]]> In a shocking turn of events, the federal government settled their longstanding anti-trust action against Live Nation after a week of in-court proceedings. This process was described as “mind-boggling” by the judge, and surprised counsel on both sides along with many states’ attorneys generals who are also suing Live Nation. 

Today on the show we break down the case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster (which it acquired back in 2010) with two guests: Gigi Liman, who is reporting on the trail for bigtechontrial.com, and Tommy Dorfman, a live music promoter who has been in litigation with Live Nation for over a decade. Together with Matt and David they break down the proceedings, how Live Nation uses mafia-like tactics to secure its monopoly, and where the case goes from here as states pick up the prosecutorial baton from a compromised federal justice department. 

]]> Buzzsprout-18848430 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400 3366 full false Why Your Lamp Sucks Why Your Lamp Sucks This week we discuss the recently rediscovered history of midcentury lighting, the elegant modernist style of lamps and fixtures that emerged in small design firms and flourished from the 1940s through the 70s. By that point, they were being consumed by megacorporations that flattened their products’ quality and style, and they gradually drifted out of fashion, and memory. 

This style was spearheaded by a company called Modeline, but until recently dealers and scholars alike often misattributed their work and the work of similar designers. Our guest today is Nick Ferrell, a dealer, author of Modeline of California: Pioneer of Modern Lighting, and proprietor of Estheticvintage, who has been instrumental in correcting the record. Together we discuss the history of these nature-inspired lamps, how a spirit of artistic openness and economic solidarity fostered these beautiful objects, and how greed and consolidation spelled their end. 

]]> This week we discuss the recently rediscovered history of midcentury lighting, the elegant modernist style of lamps and fixtures that emerged in small design firms and flourished from the 1940s through the 70s. By that point, they were being consumed by megacorporations that flattened their products’ quality and style, and they gradually drifted out of fashion, and memory. 

This style was spearheaded by a company called Modeline, but until recently dealers and scholars alike often misattributed their work and the work of similar designers. Our guest today is Nick Ferrell, a dealer, author of Modeline of California: Pioneer of Modern Lighting, and proprietor of Estheticvintage, who has been instrumental in correcting the record. Together we discuss the history of these nature-inspired lamps, how a spirit of artistic openness and economic solidarity fostered these beautiful objects, and how greed and consolidation spelled their end. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18815600 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400 3190 full false Emergency Pod: The Paramount Takeover Emergency Pod: The Paramount Takeover In a shocking move this week, Netflix declined to raise its bid against Paramount for control of Warner Bros. After months of corporate tug-of-war, Paramount and David Ellison have taken a giant step towards controlling Warner Bros’ linear television assets, including CNN, its streaming service HBO Max, and its film studio, which just had a blockbuster year. Without question, this deal will lead to mass layoffs, fewer shops to sell work to in Hollywood, and leverage massive debt against Paramount: so why is Paramount and Trump-World so desperate for it, and why did Netflix get cold feet? Today on the show, Matt and David dig into the deal, its questionable legality, and how antitrust objections may play out from both federal and state attorneys general. 


]]> In a shocking move this week, Netflix declined to raise its bid against Paramount for control of Warner Bros. After months of corporate tug-of-war, Paramount and David Ellison have taken a giant step towards controlling Warner Bros’ linear television assets, including CNN, its streaming service HBO Max, and its film studio, which just had a blockbuster year. Without question, this deal will lead to mass layoffs, fewer shops to sell work to in Hollywood, and leverage massive debt against Paramount: so why is Paramount and Trump-World so desperate for it, and why did Netflix get cold feet? Today on the show, Matt and David dig into the deal, its questionable legality, and how antitrust objections may play out from both federal and state attorneys general. 


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18766025 Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500 2137 full false How Private Equity Is Driving Up Your Electric Bill How Private Equity Is Driving Up Your Electric Bill Besides data centers, climate change, and regulatory capture, there is yet another reason utility rates are far outpacing inflation: private equity! On this episode, we try to understand why investor-owned utilities, which provide electricity to the majority of Americans, continue to reap profits at the expense of their customers. These entities are supposed to be regulated by state governments, but why is enforcement often so toothless? And why does venture capital want to get involved in something as thin-margined as utilities?

To answer that, we are joined by Marissa Gillett, a former utility regulator and senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, along with James Baratta, a writing fellow at The American Prospect. Together, we try to untangle some of the regulatory spaghetti and dig into James’ recent reporting on the venture capital firm Blackstone’s bid to acquire a New Mexico utility, and the stock deal that could undo it if regulators are brave enough to follow the law.

]]> Besides data centers, climate change, and regulatory capture, there is yet another reason utility rates are far outpacing inflation: private equity! On this episode, we try to understand why investor-owned utilities, which provide electricity to the majority of Americans, continue to reap profits at the expense of their customers. These entities are supposed to be regulated by state governments, but why is enforcement often so toothless? And why does venture capital want to get involved in something as thin-margined as utilities?

To answer that, we are joined by Marissa Gillett, a former utility regulator and senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, along with James Baratta, a writing fellow at The American Prospect. Together, we try to untangle some of the regulatory spaghetti and dig into James’ recent reporting on the venture capital firm Blackstone’s bid to acquire a New Mexico utility, and the stock deal that could undo it if regulators are brave enough to follow the law.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18735863 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500 3014 full false The Epstein Class War The Epstein Class War The Epstein files lay bare the impunity the rich and powerful possess as a social class: The Epstein class. Today on the show, Matt and David dig into the Epstein files with one of the congressmen responsible for their release: Representative Ro Khanna. We discuss what the Epstein files tell us about the influence that wealth affords the people who run our economy and institutions: People like Bill Gates, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, Elon Musk, and countless less-famous people who structure the world we live in, but are seemingly accountable to no rules at all. They also discuss Khanna’s recent decision to name some of the men listed in the unredacted files, how it feels to work with victims seeking justice, and how the government can restore trust with Americans in a post-Epstein world. 

]]> The Epstein files lay bare the impunity the rich and powerful possess as a social class: The Epstein class. Today on the show, Matt and David dig into the Epstein files with one of the congressmen responsible for their release: Representative Ro Khanna. We discuss what the Epstein files tell us about the influence that wealth affords the people who run our economy and institutions: People like Bill Gates, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, Elon Musk, and countless less-famous people who structure the world we live in, but are seemingly accountable to no rules at all. They also discuss Khanna’s recent decision to name some of the men listed in the unredacted files, how it feels to work with victims seeking justice, and how the government can restore trust with Americans in a post-Epstein world. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18678269 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0500 3354 full false The End of United Healthcare For All The End of United Healthcare For All After the government announced new regulations for Medicare Advantage, the market-based alternative to traditional Medicare, the stocks of healthcare companies that participate in the program plummeted. But why is this popular program in the crosshairs? And are these new Trump Administration rules actually...good?

Today on the show, Olivia Kosloff, senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and creator of the newsletter Acute Condition, joins Matt and David to discuss Medicare Advantage and how a program that was intended to be cheaper for the government than traditional Medicare has become far more expensive. In addition to problems that have plagued the program since its inception, AI is now being used as a new tool for insurers to extract money from the government. They also discuss how insurers are reacting to the new rules, the future of the program, and whether we need Medicare Advantage at all.

]]> After the government announced new regulations for Medicare Advantage, the market-based alternative to traditional Medicare, the stocks of healthcare companies that participate in the program plummeted. But why is this popular program in the crosshairs? And are these new Trump Administration rules actually...good?

Today on the show, Olivia Kosloff, senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and creator of the newsletter Acute Condition, joins Matt and David to discuss Medicare Advantage and how a program that was intended to be cheaper for the government than traditional Medicare has become far more expensive. In addition to problems that have plagued the program since its inception, AI is now being used as a new tool for insurers to extract money from the government. They also discuss how insurers are reacting to the new rules, the future of the program, and whether we need Medicare Advantage at all.

]]> Buzzsprout-18659660 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500 3125 full false White Collar Crime Enforcement In The Age Of ICE White Collar Crime Enforcement In The Age Of ICE As The Department and Homeland Security and ICE see their budget balloon, anything unrelated to to immigration is getting short shrift. Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Richard Powers, a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General at The Justice Department, and the former Acting Assistant Attorney General at the Antitrust Division, to discuss the consequences of ignoring antitrust and white collar crime. They discuss the post-DOGE state of The Justice Department, the culture of prosecution (or lack thereof) that dominated the antitrust division through the Obama and first Trump era, and how to make budgeting antitrust a priority. 

]]> As The Department and Homeland Security and ICE see their budget balloon, anything unrelated to to immigration is getting short shrift. Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Richard Powers, a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General at The Justice Department, and the former Acting Assistant Attorney General at the Antitrust Division, to discuss the consequences of ignoring antitrust and white collar crime. They discuss the post-DOGE state of The Justice Department, the culture of prosecution (or lack thereof) that dominated the antitrust division through the Obama and first Trump era, and how to make budgeting antitrust a priority. 

]]> Buzzsprout-18613654 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0500 2886 full false The Monopolists Who Gatekeep the Court System The Monopolists Who Gatekeep the Court System We tend to think of the law as a public asset - centuries of statutes, common law, and legal precedents that shape how society governs itself. So why is the law itself so hard and so expensive to access? 

Matt and David talk with Mike Lissner of the Free Law Project about the quiet duopoly that controls legal information, how Westlaw and LexisNexis turned public court records into pricey commodities, and why even the federal government charges by the page to read your own laws. Along the way, they uncover a system that drives up legal costs, shuts regular people out of justice, creates real security risks, and stifles innovation and explore how a scrappy nonprofit might finally crack it open. 

]]> We tend to think of the law as a public asset - centuries of statutes, common law, and legal precedents that shape how society governs itself. So why is the law itself so hard and so expensive to access? 

Matt and David talk with Mike Lissner of the Free Law Project about the quiet duopoly that controls legal information, how Westlaw and LexisNexis turned public court records into pricey commodities, and why even the federal government charges by the page to read your own laws. Along the way, they uncover a system that drives up legal costs, shuts regular people out of justice, creates real security risks, and stifles innovation and explore how a scrappy nonprofit might finally crack it open. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18579106 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500 2827 full false The New Frontier in Price Discrimination The New Frontier in Price Discrimination This week Matt and David talk with pricing expert Lindsay Owens about Google's plan to turn its Gemini AI into your personal shopping assistant. It sounds convenient until you realize it's actually a massive surveillance pricing operation. Google just announced partnerships with Walmart, Visa, MasterCard, and others to use everything they know about you (emails, photos, calendar, searches) to help retailers personalize prices and steer you toward higher-priced products. Lindsay, who went viral calling this out on Twitter, explains how Google's own reply basically admitted they "restrain price", a pretty wild admission for a company facing antitrust lawsuits. It's a sobering conversation about how AI shopping could turbocharge price discrimination, why major retailers are handing over their pricing power to Google, and whether we can stop this before it's too late. 

]]> This week Matt and David talk with pricing expert Lindsay Owens about Google's plan to turn its Gemini AI into your personal shopping assistant. It sounds convenient until you realize it's actually a massive surveillance pricing operation. Google just announced partnerships with Walmart, Visa, MasterCard, and others to use everything they know about you (emails, photos, calendar, searches) to help retailers personalize prices and steer you toward higher-priced products. Lindsay, who went viral calling this out on Twitter, explains how Google's own reply basically admitted they "restrain price", a pretty wild admission for a company facing antitrust lawsuits. It's a sobering conversation about how AI shopping could turbocharge price discrimination, why major retailers are handing over their pricing power to Google, and whether we can stop this before it's too late. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18559791 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500 3681 full false The Secret Scam Driving Up Food Prices The Secret Scam Driving Up Food Prices In the twilight of the Biden Administration, FTC Chair Lina Khan filed a price-fixing case against Pepsi, using the powerful but little-enforced Robinson-Patman Act. A few months into Trump’s 2025 term, that lawsuit was dead and buried by the new regime, leaving only a bunch of redacted documents and a lot of questions for the public to pore over. 

Our guest today is Stacy Mitchell, the co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, who recently convinced a judge to release those files. Together, Matt and David break down how Pepsi and Walmart worked together to set “price gaps,” and how similar techniques are used throughout the economy, driving up prices for everyone, even as Walmart gets to take credit for having the lowest prices around.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> In the twilight of the Biden Administration, FTC Chair Lina Khan filed a price-fixing case against Pepsi, using the powerful but little-enforced Robinson-Patman Act. A few months into Trump’s 2025 term, that lawsuit was dead and buried by the new regime, leaving only a bunch of redacted documents and a lot of questions for the public to pore over. 

Our guest today is Stacy Mitchell, the co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, who recently convinced a judge to release those files. Together, Matt and David break down how Pepsi and Walmart worked together to set “price gaps,” and how similar techniques are used throughout the economy, driving up prices for everyone, even as Walmart gets to take credit for having the lowest prices around.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Buzzsprout-18484921 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500 3037 full false The Enshitification Life Cycle With Cory Doctorow The Enshitification Life Cycle With Cory Doctorow As a holiday treat, we bring you a new conversation with author and Organized Money alum Cory Doctorow about his new book Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It. Recorded earlier this year at a live book event, David asks Cory to expand on the thesis of the book: that digital platforms are now locked in a cycle of decay, seeing our technology become less intuitive, less useful, and less private. For Cory, this cycle is a choice, driven by government policy favoring lax antitrust enforcement, strong digital rights management, and wholesale regulatory capture. 


In this wide ranging conversation they discuss how market consolidation and DRM has shifted the balance of power away from workers, who are no longer able to defend themselves with the technology they are forced to use. They also get into the history of digital rights management, why Cory isn't on Audible, algorithmic pricing, and how coalition building and policy change might just be the way out of the enshitification cycle. 


Organized Money will be back in the new year. Thanks for listening! 


]]> As a holiday treat, we bring you a new conversation with author and Organized Money alum Cory Doctorow about his new book Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It. Recorded earlier this year at a live book event, David asks Cory to expand on the thesis of the book: that digital platforms are now locked in a cycle of decay, seeing our technology become less intuitive, less useful, and less private. For Cory, this cycle is a choice, driven by government policy favoring lax antitrust enforcement, strong digital rights management, and wholesale regulatory capture. 


In this wide ranging conversation they discuss how market consolidation and DRM has shifted the balance of power away from workers, who are no longer able to defend themselves with the technology they are forced to use. They also get into the history of digital rights management, why Cory isn't on Audible, algorithmic pricing, and how coalition building and policy change might just be the way out of the enshitification cycle. 


Organized Money will be back in the new year. Thanks for listening! 


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18399894 Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3692 full false When Billionaires Go Rogue When Billionaires Go Rogue The Warner Bros. deal could decimate the film industry in California, and yet almost no state-level politicians have spoken out about it. Today on the show, Matt and David talk to a California gubernatorial candidate who has vocally opposed the deal: Tom Steyer. Tom is a former financier, 2020 presidential candidate, and billionaire, who happens to be the most vocally anti-monopoly candidate in the race. Tom's background in business and personal wealth makes him an unusual candidate, but it also gives him a sense of how money and competition work than most candidates with anti-monopoly policies. We talk with him about why he opposes the Warner Bros. deal, how to reign in utility boards, housing regulation, and what, exactly, "affordability" means. This is our last regular episode of Organized Money for 2025, but we'll have a special episode recorded live for you next week, and see you again in the new year. 

]]> The Warner Bros. deal could decimate the film industry in California, and yet almost no state-level politicians have spoken out about it. Today on the show, Matt and David talk to a California gubernatorial candidate who has vocally opposed the deal: Tom Steyer. Tom is a former financier, 2020 presidential candidate, and billionaire, who happens to be the most vocally anti-monopoly candidate in the race. Tom's background in business and personal wealth makes him an unusual candidate, but it also gives him a sense of how money and competition work than most candidates with anti-monopoly policies. We talk with him about why he opposes the Warner Bros. deal, how to reign in utility boards, housing regulation, and what, exactly, "affordability" means. This is our last regular episode of Organized Money for 2025, but we'll have a special episode recorded live for you next week, and see you again in the new year. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18367005 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3018 full false The Shadowy Puppet Masters Who Control College Athletics The Shadowy Puppet Masters Who Control College Athletics College sports is a multibillion dollar business, but until a few years ago the athletes didn't see a penny of it. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the NCAA, the organization that governs college sports, had violated antitrust laws, and athletes gained the right to monetize their appearances and endorsements. This year, for the first time, athletes will receive revenue sharing from NCAA, the result of another lawsuit.

After decades of generating billions for everyone but themselves, athletes are finally starting to share in the value they create. So why is this moment being described as a crisis, with new legislation in Congress that would once again restrict what athletes can earn?

Today on the show Matt and David talk with Katie Van Dyck, Senior Legal Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and former Attorney Advisor at the Federal Trade Commission, about the NCAA and whether this so-called crisis is really an effort to turn back the clock to a time when student athletes had far less bargaining power and influence in the very fields where they compete.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> College sports is a multibillion dollar business, but until a few years ago the athletes didn't see a penny of it. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the NCAA, the organization that governs college sports, had violated antitrust laws, and athletes gained the right to monetize their appearances and endorsements. This year, for the first time, athletes will receive revenue sharing from NCAA, the result of another lawsuit.

After decades of generating billions for everyone but themselves, athletes are finally starting to share in the value they create. So why is this moment being described as a crisis, with new legislation in Congress that would once again restrict what athletes can earn?

Today on the show Matt and David talk with Katie Van Dyck, Senior Legal Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project and former Attorney Advisor at the Federal Trade Commission, about the NCAA and whether this so-called crisis is really an effort to turn back the clock to a time when student athletes had far less bargaining power and influence in the very fields where they compete.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18327745 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 2815 full false The AI Bubble Everyone Wants To Pop The AI Bubble Everyone Wants To Pop With its promise to displace jobs and disrupt daily life, AI and large language models have formed a unique market and social bubble: one that nearly everyone hates. Despite little revenue, billions of dollars are promised by hyperscalers like Google and Meta to help build out AI data centers in increasingly arcane financing schemes that are propping up the otherwise meager economy. 


Today on the show Matt and David invite two guests: Advait Arun, Senior Associate for Capital Markets at the Center for Public Enterprise and author of a recent paper on data centers, Bubble or Nothing; and Sarah Meyers-West, who is the co-executive director of the AI NOW Institute, to discuss the strange place we've found ourselves in. We discuss the state of the AI economy, the complex ways these data centers are financed (including old favorites like credit default swaps), how the bubble might pop, and what the consequences might be. 


If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> With its promise to displace jobs and disrupt daily life, AI and large language models have formed a unique market and social bubble: one that nearly everyone hates. Despite little revenue, billions of dollars are promised by hyperscalers like Google and Meta to help build out AI data centers in increasingly arcane financing schemes that are propping up the otherwise meager economy. 


Today on the show Matt and David invite two guests: Advait Arun, Senior Associate for Capital Markets at the Center for Public Enterprise and author of a recent paper on data centers, Bubble or Nothing; and Sarah Meyers-West, who is the co-executive director of the AI NOW Institute, to discuss the strange place we've found ourselves in. We discuss the state of the AI economy, the complex ways these data centers are financed (including old favorites like credit default swaps), how the bubble might pop, and what the consequences might be. 


If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Buzzsprout-18281929 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3355 full false Big Tech and Fascism Big Tech and Fascism On today's show, David and Matt sit down with Tim Wu, the man who coined the term “net neutrality”, about his new book, The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity. 

They discuss how tech platforms went from scrappy innovators, enabled by a robust regulatory state, to the massive, extractive platforms we know today. Wu walks through the early idealism of the internet, the missed warnings about platform power from the likes of Bill Gates and Eric Schmidt, and the moment Silicon Valley embraced monopoly as a business model. Along the way, he connects the dots between Big Tech, rising inequality, and the political risks of letting a few companies control so much of modern life. 

]]> On today's show, David and Matt sit down with Tim Wu, the man who coined the term “net neutrality”, about his new book, The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity. 

They discuss how tech platforms went from scrappy innovators, enabled by a robust regulatory state, to the massive, extractive platforms we know today. Wu walks through the early idealism of the internet, the missed warnings about platform power from the likes of Bill Gates and Eric Schmidt, and the moment Silicon Valley embraced monopoly as a business model. Along the way, he connects the dots between Big Tech, rising inequality, and the political risks of letting a few companies control so much of modern life. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18205729 Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3257 full false The Bad Seed: Another Side Of The Farmer Revolt The Bad Seed: Another Side Of The Farmer Revolt It’s one of the most surprising and least understood stories in American agriculture: the monopoly over the seeds that grow our food. Farmers are facing a “seed squeeze,” where two companies, Bayer and Corteva, control 90% of the seed corn market, driving up prices even as crop profits fall. Matt and David speak with Independent seed producer John Latham and industry veteran Todd Martin about how intellectual property, patents, and corporate consolidation have turned seeds into billion-dollar assets to the point that farmers sometimes destroy perfectly good seed just to survive and ultimately impact your grocery bill.

Check out John's testimony from the Senate Hearing on Competition Issues in the Seed & Fertilizer Industries. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!


]]> It’s one of the most surprising and least understood stories in American agriculture: the monopoly over the seeds that grow our food. Farmers are facing a “seed squeeze,” where two companies, Bayer and Corteva, control 90% of the seed corn market, driving up prices even as crop profits fall. Matt and David speak with Independent seed producer John Latham and industry veteran Todd Martin about how intellectual property, patents, and corporate consolidation have turned seeds into billion-dollar assets to the point that farmers sometimes destroy perfectly good seed just to survive and ultimately impact your grocery bill.

Check out John's testimony from the Senate Hearing on Competition Issues in the Seed & Fertilizer Industries. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18163034 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3056 full false The Election And Tariffs At The Supreme Court The Election And Tariffs At The Supreme Court From Zohran Mamdani in New York City, to Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, Democratic candidates are putting populist economic messages at the center of their campaigns. On today’s show, Matt and David break down the dynamics of this week’s elections and share their predictions. Then, they’re joined by Organized Money alum Lori Wallach, director of Rethink Trade at the American Economic Liberties Project, to preview Wednesday’s Supreme Court arguments on Trump’s tariffs. They discuss whether the justices will allow Trump his unprecedented power over trade policy or, like the lower courts, move to rein in the executive's power.

]]> From Zohran Mamdani in New York City, to Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, Democratic candidates are putting populist economic messages at the center of their campaigns. On today’s show, Matt and David break down the dynamics of this week’s elections and share their predictions. Then, they’re joined by Organized Money alum Lori Wallach, director of Rethink Trade at the American Economic Liberties Project, to preview Wednesday’s Supreme Court arguments on Trump’s tariffs. They discuss whether the justices will allow Trump his unprecedented power over trade policy or, like the lower courts, move to rein in the executive's power.

]]> Buzzsprout-18130986 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0500 2709 full false The Dark Side Of The McDonald's Monopoly Contest The Dark Side Of The McDonald's Monopoly Contest Today on the show, Matt and David sit down with Sam Levine and Stephanie Nguyen, formerly of the FTC under Lina Khan, to discuss the dark side of customer loyalty programs like frequent flyer miles, corporate discount cards, and ordering apps from chains like Starbucks and McDonalds. Their new paper, The Loyalty Trap: How Loyalty Programs Hook Us with Deals, Hack our Brains, and Hike Our Prices, exposes the lengths these programs go to to get you into their ecosystem in order to harvest your data, exploit it, and manipulate you to spend more, sometimes with surveillance pricing strategies. Together they discuss why these programs have proliferated, why they are so effective, and why they have been so difficult to regulate.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Today on the show, Matt and David sit down with Sam Levine and Stephanie Nguyen, formerly of the FTC under Lina Khan, to discuss the dark side of customer loyalty programs like frequent flyer miles, corporate discount cards, and ordering apps from chains like Starbucks and McDonalds. Their new paper, The Loyalty Trap: How Loyalty Programs Hook Us with Deals, Hack our Brains, and Hike Our Prices, exposes the lengths these programs go to to get you into their ecosystem in order to harvest your data, exploit it, and manipulate you to spend more, sometimes with surveillance pricing strategies. Together they discuss why these programs have proliferated, why they are so effective, and why they have been so difficult to regulate.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18101745 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3383 full false Snitching As A Service - The Antifraud Company Snitching As A Service - The Antifraud Company This week on Organized Money, David and Matt sit down with Sahaj Sharda and David Barclay, co-founders of The Anti-Fraud Company,  a scrappy new startup aiming to turn corporate whistleblowing into a business model. Sharda, a 27-year-old anti-monopolist and author of The College Cartel, and Barkley, a former FTC attorney known for busting healthcare fraud, explain how they’re using data tools, lawsuits, and a solid dose of nerve to tackle the half-trillion dollars in government fraud that drives up prices for everyone. It’s a new approach to turning outrage into action, or, as they put it, “snitching as a service.”

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!



]]> This week on Organized Money, David and Matt sit down with Sahaj Sharda and David Barclay, co-founders of The Anti-Fraud Company,  a scrappy new startup aiming to turn corporate whistleblowing into a business model. Sharda, a 27-year-old anti-monopolist and author of The College Cartel, and Barkley, a former FTC attorney known for busting healthcare fraud, explain how they’re using data tools, lawsuits, and a solid dose of nerve to tackle the half-trillion dollars in government fraud that drives up prices for everyone. It’s a new approach to turning outrage into action, or, as they put it, “snitching as a service.”

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!



]]> Buzzsprout-18041842 Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2718 full false The AI Bubble: More Subprime Than Dot Com The AI Bubble: More Subprime Than Dot Com Investment in AI infrastructure has exploded over the last few years, with big players like Google, Meta, OpenAI, Nvidia, and Oracle, striking deals involving hundreds of billions of dollars to build out AI data centers. These deals are single-handedly buoying the otherwise-flailing US economy, but where are these billions actually coming from? And why do all these deals seem to involve the same players in increasingly circular arrangements? Even the most optimistic observers are starting to state the obvious: we're in an AI bubble. 

Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Herb Greenberg of Herb Greenberg's Red Flag Alerts to discuss the hubris of the current moment, how this moment is both alike and different from past bubbles, and how this thing might pop. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Investment in AI infrastructure has exploded over the last few years, with big players like Google, Meta, OpenAI, Nvidia, and Oracle, striking deals involving hundreds of billions of dollars to build out AI data centers. These deals are single-handedly buoying the otherwise-flailing US economy, but where are these billions actually coming from? And why do all these deals seem to involve the same players in increasingly circular arrangements? Even the most optimistic observers are starting to state the obvious: we're in an AI bubble. 

Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Herb Greenberg of Herb Greenberg's Red Flag Alerts to discuss the hubris of the current moment, how this moment is both alike and different from past bubbles, and how this thing might pop. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-18003417 Tue, 14 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2974 full false Who Controls Your Dentist? Who Controls Your Dentist? What happens when Wall Street sinks its teeth into your smile? David and Matt talk with Dr. Jill Tanzi, dentist and founder of the Alliance of Independent Dentists, about the corporate takeover of dentistry. She pulls back the curtain on how corporate consolidation and giant insurers like Delta Dental are reshaping what happens in the chair, from pricing to patient care, and why it should matter to anyone with teeth.  Jill shares what it’s like trying to keep an independent practice afloat and ways dentists and patients can push back. Check out dentistalliance.org to search for independent dentists in your area.  

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> What happens when Wall Street sinks its teeth into your smile? David and Matt talk with Dr. Jill Tanzi, dentist and founder of the Alliance of Independent Dentists, about the corporate takeover of dentistry. She pulls back the curtain on how corporate consolidation and giant insurers like Delta Dental are reshaping what happens in the chair, from pricing to patient care, and why it should matter to anyone with teeth.  Jill shares what it’s like trying to keep an independent practice afloat and ways dentists and patients can push back. Check out dentistalliance.org to search for independent dentists in your area.  

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17910899 Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2413 full false The Very Weird Farmer Revolt Against Trump…Over a Bailout of Argentina The Very Weird Farmer Revolt Against Trump…Over a Bailout of Argentina As American farmers struggle under Trump’s tariffs, the Trump Administration is preparing to bail out…Argentinian farmers? Today on the show, a sprawling, international story that you might have missed: how an electoral blow to the market-friendly government in Argentina is causing panic across the financial sector, bringing together forces like The International Monetary Fund, the US Treasury, and hedge funds to save the flailing government of President Javier Milei; an ascendent libertarian icon, now desperate to stabilize his economy.

Matt and David discuss the situation with Matías Vernengo, professor of economics and director of the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy, and Rohit Chopra, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They discuss how we got here, why right-leaning American farmers are furious, and the utter weirdness of the situation, including Milei’s talking dead dog. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> As American farmers struggle under Trump’s tariffs, the Trump Administration is preparing to bail out…Argentinian farmers? Today on the show, a sprawling, international story that you might have missed: how an electoral blow to the market-friendly government in Argentina is causing panic across the financial sector, bringing together forces like The International Monetary Fund, the US Treasury, and hedge funds to save the flailing government of President Javier Milei; an ascendent libertarian icon, now desperate to stabilize his economy.

Matt and David discuss the situation with Matías Vernengo, professor of economics and director of the Bucknell Institute for Public Policy, and Rohit Chopra, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They discuss how we got here, why right-leaning American farmers are furious, and the utter weirdness of the situation, including Milei’s talking dead dog. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17941912 Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400 3169 full false On The Ground At The Antimonopoly Summit With Lina Khan, Sen. Chris Murphy, and More On The Ground At The Antimonopoly Summit With Lina Khan, Sen. Chris Murphy, and More We are at the Antimonopoly Summit  - where David and Matt sit down for some candid conversations with some of the leaders in the field -  Sen. Chris Murphy (D–CT) on the political stakes, Lina Khan on enforcement and where hope still lives. Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) on hearings and state-level power, David Seligman (workers’ rights attorney and candidate for Colorado Attorney General) on how consolidation squeezes workers, and Alex Oshmyansky (CEO, Cost Plus Drugs) on how incumbents block disruptors in the drug supply chain. They take on media consolidation and the Jimmy Kimmel fallout, the Paramount-Warner worries, PBMs and pharma transparency, and why state attorneys general and creators might be the next line of defense.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> We are at the Antimonopoly Summit  - where David and Matt sit down for some candid conversations with some of the leaders in the field -  Sen. Chris Murphy (D–CT) on the political stakes, Lina Khan on enforcement and where hope still lives. Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) on hearings and state-level power, David Seligman (workers’ rights attorney and candidate for Colorado Attorney General) on how consolidation squeezes workers, and Alex Oshmyansky (CEO, Cost Plus Drugs) on how incumbents block disruptors in the drug supply chain. They take on media consolidation and the Jimmy Kimmel fallout, the Paramount-Warner worries, PBMs and pharma transparency, and why state attorneys general and creators might be the next line of defense.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17876184 Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400 4000 full false How Gamer Lawyers Took On A Gaming Monopoly How Gamer Lawyers Took On A Gaming Monopoly What happens when two gamers-turned-lawyers decide to take on one of the biggest monopolies in the video game world? On this episode of Organized Money, David and Matt dig into a David-versus-Goliath story from the world of PC gaming. Their guests, attorneys Will Bucher and Judson Crump — both gamers themselves — are taking on Valve, the company behind Steam, which  which controls nearly all PC game sales and takes a 30% cut from every purchase. Instead of being crushed by the fine print of arbitration, they’ve figured out how to use it against Valve, filing thousands of individual claims and forcing the company to play by its own rules.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> What happens when two gamers-turned-lawyers decide to take on one of the biggest monopolies in the video game world? On this episode of Organized Money, David and Matt dig into a David-versus-Goliath story from the world of PC gaming. Their guests, attorneys Will Bucher and Judson Crump — both gamers themselves — are taking on Valve, the company behind Steam, which  which controls nearly all PC game sales and takes a 30% cut from every purchase. Instead of being crushed by the fine print of arbitration, they’ve figured out how to use it against Valve, filing thousands of individual claims and forcing the company to play by its own rules.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17840660 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3015 full false Senator Elizabeth Warren on Google, The Fed, And The Future Of The Democratic Party Senator Elizabeth Warren on Google, The Fed, And The Future Of The Democratic Party Senator Elizabeth Warren is here! The Massachusetts democrat she sits down with David and Matt to talk about the fights that keep her fired up—from Wall Street and Big Tech to pushing Democrats to get serious about the cost of living. 

In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss how democrats should respond to Trump's second-term victory, the Google antitrust trial, spar on Fed independence, and much more. According to Warren, housing, healthcare, and antitrust aren’t just policies—they’re positions that reveal who the government and our representatives really work for. It’s a candid, sharp, and fiery conversation—just like Senator Warren herself.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!


]]> Senator Elizabeth Warren is here! The Massachusetts democrat she sits down with David and Matt to talk about the fights that keep her fired up—from Wall Street and Big Tech to pushing Democrats to get serious about the cost of living. 

In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss how democrats should respond to Trump's second-term victory, the Google antitrust trial, spar on Fed independence, and much more. According to Warren, housing, healthcare, and antitrust aren’t just policies—they’re positions that reveal who the government and our representatives really work for. It’s a candid, sharp, and fiery conversation—just like Senator Warren herself.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. It helps us keep the lights on!


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17809030 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3229 full false Emergency Pod: The Google Ruling Sucks Emergency Pod: The Google Ruling Sucks Google just lost a huge antitrust case—but somehow seems to have walked away the winner. In this emergency episode David and Matt explain how a federal judge ruled that Google is an illegal monopolist, then turned around and let the company keep the very deals that entrench its dominance. From billion-dollar payments to Apple to the future of AI, they dig into what the ruling means, why critics on both the left and right are calling this a huge win for Big Tech and what it tells us about the fight against monopoly power.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. 


]]> Google just lost a huge antitrust case—but somehow seems to have walked away the winner. In this emergency episode David and Matt explain how a federal judge ruled that Google is an illegal monopolist, then turned around and let the company keep the very deals that entrench its dominance. From billion-dollar payments to Apple to the future of AI, they dig into what the ruling means, why critics on both the left and right are calling this a huge win for Big Tech and what it tells us about the fight against monopoly power.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. 


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17789199 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0400 2125 full false The NFL Collusion Scandal Includes Antitrust, Strip Clubs, And A Whole Lot Of Drama The NFL Collusion Scandal Includes Antitrust, Strip Clubs, And A Whole Lot Of Drama The biggest story in football this season isn’t on the field, but in the boardrooms and backrooms of the NFL. 

In this episode David and Matt dig into the collusion scandal rocking the league—where billionaire owners conspired to block star quarterbacks from getting guaranteed contracts, in cahoots with the NFL Players Association, the union meant to represent player interests.

We're joined by the journalist who cracked the story, Pablo Torre, host of Pablo Torre Finds Out, along with Doha Mekki, Former Acting Assistant Attorney General. Together, we try and piece together how how this scandal's collusive DMs, strip club meetings, shady union politics, and brazen conflicts of interest, form a case study in contemporary power, labor, and corruption.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. 

]]> The biggest story in football this season isn’t on the field, but in the boardrooms and backrooms of the NFL. 

In this episode David and Matt dig into the collusion scandal rocking the league—where billionaire owners conspired to block star quarterbacks from getting guaranteed contracts, in cahoots with the NFL Players Association, the union meant to represent player interests.

We're joined by the journalist who cracked the story, Pablo Torre, host of Pablo Torre Finds Out, along with Doha Mekki, Former Acting Assistant Attorney General. Together, we try and piece together how how this scandal's collusive DMs, strip club meetings, shady union politics, and brazen conflicts of interest, form a case study in contemporary power, labor, and corruption.

If you love Organized Money, support us! Go to Organizedmoney.fm to subscribe to our newsletter, or Organizedmoney.fm/donate to throw us a donation. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17762766 Tue, 02 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3715 full false How Do You Do, Fellow Kids: How Private Equity Consumed Skateboarding How Do You Do, Fellow Kids: How Private Equity Consumed Skateboarding The business of skateboarding has grown from an independent, DIY culture into one almost completely dominated by private equity groups. How did it get gobbled up? In this episode David teams up with former “skate rat” and researcher Daniel Stone of the Center for Economic and Policy Research to expose how private equity has quietly, and sometimes catastrophically, taken over the world of skateboarding. What started as a subversive, counter-cultural movement has become a hunting ground for financial firms snapping up iconic skate and surf brands, only to leave them saddled with debt, stripped of their soul, and disconnected from the local shops and skaters that built them. From the leveraged buyout and hollowing out of World Industries, the collapse of Dwindle Distribution and Enjoi skateboards, and Boardriders’ massive bankruptcy we see how  these firms disconnected iconic brands from their roots, gutted skate teams, and contributed to the decline of local skate shops. This episode is a cautionary tale, showing how even the most rebellious sides of youth culture aren’t safe from Wall Street’s relentless appetite. Check out Daniel's report, No Comply: Private Equity and Skateboarding here.

Love Organized Money? Support us! Go to OrganizedMoney.fm to subscribe to our free newsletter, and throw us a donation if you're able. It helps keep the lights on.  


]]> The business of skateboarding has grown from an independent, DIY culture into one almost completely dominated by private equity groups. How did it get gobbled up? In this episode David teams up with former “skate rat” and researcher Daniel Stone of the Center for Economic and Policy Research to expose how private equity has quietly, and sometimes catastrophically, taken over the world of skateboarding. What started as a subversive, counter-cultural movement has become a hunting ground for financial firms snapping up iconic skate and surf brands, only to leave them saddled with debt, stripped of their soul, and disconnected from the local shops and skaters that built them. From the leveraged buyout and hollowing out of World Industries, the collapse of Dwindle Distribution and Enjoi skateboards, and Boardriders’ massive bankruptcy we see how  these firms disconnected iconic brands from their roots, gutted skate teams, and contributed to the decline of local skate shops. This episode is a cautionary tale, showing how even the most rebellious sides of youth culture aren’t safe from Wall Street’s relentless appetite. Check out Daniel's report, No Comply: Private Equity and Skateboarding here.

Love Organized Money? Support us! Go to OrganizedMoney.fm to subscribe to our free newsletter, and throw us a donation if you're able. It helps keep the lights on.  


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17730712 Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2851 full false How One Man Fought A Pharmaceutical Monopoly How One Man Fought A Pharmaceutical Monopoly Organized Money is on vacation this week, but we still have a fantastic monopoly story for you. Around the globe, tuberculosis kills more people than any other infectious disease, despite the fact that it's treatable. This episode is about a drug that would otherwise save lives, but is so expensive that many of the people who desperately need it, can't afford it. The reason is because of the ways healthcare companies keep the price of drugs high via patents and loopholes, both here and abroad—and how one man led thousands of people to fight back. This story, which originally ran in 2023, comes from our friends at the podcast An Arm And A Leg, a show about why medical care costs so much, hosted by Dan Weissman. If you like this episode, go check out An Arm And A Leg, and subscribe. 

]]> Organized Money is on vacation this week, but we still have a fantastic monopoly story for you. Around the globe, tuberculosis kills more people than any other infectious disease, despite the fact that it's treatable. This episode is about a drug that would otherwise save lives, but is so expensive that many of the people who desperately need it, can't afford it. The reason is because of the ways healthcare companies keep the price of drugs high via patents and loopholes, both here and abroad—and how one man led thousands of people to fight back. This story, which originally ran in 2023, comes from our friends at the podcast An Arm And A Leg, a show about why medical care costs so much, hosted by Dan Weissman. If you like this episode, go check out An Arm And A Leg, and subscribe. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17689560 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2671 full false Is There Even a Trade War? Is There Even a Trade War? It's hard to keep track of the number of trade deals, threats, carve-outs and deadlines and random stops and starts in the Trump administration's wild approach to tariffs. To untangle the chaos, Matt and David sit down with trade expert Lori Wallach, Director of Rethink Trade at the American Economic Liberties Project and a senior advisor to the Citizens Trade Campaign.  Lori breaks down how Trump’s "rando" policies have created confusion for businesses, investors, and even trading partners, often serving corporate interests or foreign political drama rather than American workers. From the surprise shutdown of a notorious import loophole to the murky reality of deals and exclusions, they reveal the real impacts on manufacturing, prices, and policy—plus the performative side of trade announcements that keep everyone guessing and frustrated.

Love Organized Money? Support us! Go to OrganizedMoney.fm to sign up for updates videos, and more. We're an independent podcast supported entirely by our listeners, so your donations help us keep the lights on. 


]]> It's hard to keep track of the number of trade deals, threats, carve-outs and deadlines and random stops and starts in the Trump administration's wild approach to tariffs. To untangle the chaos, Matt and David sit down with trade expert Lori Wallach, Director of Rethink Trade at the American Economic Liberties Project and a senior advisor to the Citizens Trade Campaign.  Lori breaks down how Trump’s "rando" policies have created confusion for businesses, investors, and even trading partners, often serving corporate interests or foreign political drama rather than American workers. From the surprise shutdown of a notorious import loophole to the murky reality of deals and exclusions, they reveal the real impacts on manufacturing, prices, and policy—plus the performative side of trade announcements that keep everyone guessing and frustrated.

Love Organized Money? Support us! Go to OrganizedMoney.fm to sign up for updates videos, and more. We're an independent podcast supported entirely by our listeners, so your donations help us keep the lights on. 


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17653618 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3492 full false The Coup at the Antitrust Division The Coup at the Antitrust Division Last week, the journalist Sohrab Ahmari broke a story titled The Antitrust War Inside MAGA: Powerful Lobbyists Are Battling Populist Reformers. In it, he reported that the recent $14 billion deal in which Hewlett-Packard acquired its competitor, Juniper Networks, was quietly shepherded along with help from the Justice Department, complete with martini-sipping backroom deals. Two attorneys within the department who objected to the shady procedural maneuvers were reportedly fired.

Today on the show, Matt and David bring Ahmari on to unpack the situation, what it could mean for antitrust policy under the second Trump administration, and whether this signals the end of populist influence within the MAGA movement.

Love Organized Money? Support us! Go to OrganizedMoney.fm to sign up for updates videos, and more. We're an independent podcast supported entirely by our listeners, so your donations help us keep the lights on. 

]]> Last week, the journalist Sohrab Ahmari broke a story titled The Antitrust War Inside MAGA: Powerful Lobbyists Are Battling Populist Reformers. In it, he reported that the recent $14 billion deal in which Hewlett-Packard acquired its competitor, Juniper Networks, was quietly shepherded along with help from the Justice Department, complete with martini-sipping backroom deals. Two attorneys within the department who objected to the shady procedural maneuvers were reportedly fired.

Today on the show, Matt and David bring Ahmari on to unpack the situation, what it could mean for antitrust policy under the second Trump administration, and whether this signals the end of populist influence within the MAGA movement.

Love Organized Money? Support us! Go to OrganizedMoney.fm to sign up for updates videos, and more. We're an independent podcast supported entirely by our listeners, so your donations help us keep the lights on. 

]]> Buzzsprout-17613884 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0400 2760 full true Amway, Mary Kay, Herbalife and the Get Rich Quick Business Amway, Mary Kay, Herbalife and the Get Rich Quick Business In this episode of Organized Money, hosts Matt Stoller and David Dayen are joined by journalist and author Bridget Read to unravel the shadowy world of multi-level marketing (MLM) and pyramid schemes. Drawing from Bridget’s new book,  Little Bosses Everywhere, How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America, they explore how companies like Amway, Herbalife, and Mary Kay built vast empires by selling not just products but the promise of entrepreneurship and financial freedom—when in reality, most participants end up losing money. The conversation reveals MLM’s deep ties to American politics, highlighting how the industry helped shape the modern conservative movement and evade federal regulation, with figures like the DeVos family fueling both business and political influence. From cult-like positive thinking and self-help roots to the exploitation of vulnerable communities, the episode exposes how the allure of “being your own boss” often conceals a cycle of extraction, false hope, and systemic harm that reaches far beyond personal finances—shaping culture, politics, and the American dream itself.

Like Organized Money? Support us! Go to organizedmoney.fm/donate and help us keep the lights on. 



]]> In this episode of Organized Money, hosts Matt Stoller and David Dayen are joined by journalist and author Bridget Read to unravel the shadowy world of multi-level marketing (MLM) and pyramid schemes. Drawing from Bridget’s new book,  Little Bosses Everywhere, How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America, they explore how companies like Amway, Herbalife, and Mary Kay built vast empires by selling not just products but the promise of entrepreneurship and financial freedom—when in reality, most participants end up losing money. The conversation reveals MLM’s deep ties to American politics, highlighting how the industry helped shape the modern conservative movement and evade federal regulation, with figures like the DeVos family fueling both business and political influence. From cult-like positive thinking and self-help roots to the exploitation of vulnerable communities, the episode exposes how the allure of “being your own boss” often conceals a cycle of extraction, false hope, and systemic harm that reaches far beyond personal finances—shaping culture, politics, and the American dream itself.

Like Organized Money? Support us! Go to organizedmoney.fm/donate and help us keep the lights on. 



]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17576898 Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 4455 full false Costco's Private Equity Headache Costco's Private Equity Headache Costco is a great place to buy bulk toilet paper, cheap hot dogs, or even a mortgage—but for some customers, their recent Coscto experience has felt a little off, especially when dealing with their vendors. In this episode Matt and David  talk with Steve Hunt, a Costco customer service worker and former Oklahoma City mayoral candidate, about how private equity takeovers of vendors selling everything from water delivery and window blinds, to discounted event tickets through Costco are quietly eroding product quality and customer service. What looks like the ultimate consumer haven is, in fact, a view into how private equity’s cost cutting tactics are degrading everyday services, exploiting Costco’s reputation for trust, and leaving customers and employees stuck in the middle. Check out Steve's substack and his article: New York City: The Extraction Engine, the Extreme Center, and the Hollowing of Oklahoma City or Dasha Nekrasova vs. Woody Guthrie.

Like Organized Money? Support us! Go to organizedmoney.fm/donate and help us keep the lights on. 

]]> Costco is a great place to buy bulk toilet paper, cheap hot dogs, or even a mortgage—but for some customers, their recent Coscto experience has felt a little off, especially when dealing with their vendors. In this episode Matt and David  talk with Steve Hunt, a Costco customer service worker and former Oklahoma City mayoral candidate, about how private equity takeovers of vendors selling everything from water delivery and window blinds, to discounted event tickets through Costco are quietly eroding product quality and customer service. What looks like the ultimate consumer haven is, in fact, a view into how private equity’s cost cutting tactics are degrading everyday services, exploiting Costco’s reputation for trust, and leaving customers and employees stuck in the middle. Check out Steve's substack and his article: New York City: The Extraction Engine, the Extreme Center, and the Hollowing of Oklahoma City or Dasha Nekrasova vs. Woody Guthrie.

Like Organized Money? Support us! Go to organizedmoney.fm/donate and help us keep the lights on. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17539948 Tue, 22 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2311 full false The PBM Hitman The PBM Hitman In this episode, a rare piece of good news in prescription drug pricing. Matt and David speak with Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisors and architect of Ohio’s Medicaid pharmacy overhaul, and Benjamin Jolly, pharmacist and advocate with the American Economic Liberties Project. Together, they unpack how Ohio kicked pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) out of its Medicaid program, saving $140 million in just two years, paying pharmacists fairly, and making it easier for patients to get their medicine.

Antonio shares how he uncovered hidden costs and sparked a legislative revolution, while Benjamin explains why this model is spreading to states across the country and the political divide.  

If you love Organized Money, support us! Donate at OrganizedMoney.fm

]]> In this episode, a rare piece of good news in prescription drug pricing. Matt and David speak with Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisors and architect of Ohio’s Medicaid pharmacy overhaul, and Benjamin Jolly, pharmacist and advocate with the American Economic Liberties Project. Together, they unpack how Ohio kicked pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) out of its Medicaid program, saving $140 million in just two years, paying pharmacists fairly, and making it easier for patients to get their medicine.

Antonio shares how he uncovered hidden costs and sparked a legislative revolution, while Benjamin explains why this model is spreading to states across the country and the political divide.  

If you love Organized Money, support us! Donate at OrganizedMoney.fm

]]> Buzzsprout-17503098 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2797 full false America’s Rare Earth Problem America’s Rare Earth Problem At the height of Trump’s tariff spree, when he kept ratcheting up taxes on Chinese imports, China struck back by withholding an under-discussed but essential resource: rare earth minerals. These elements are crucial to nearly all modern electronics, vehicles, and weaponry, and play a vital role in high-tech manufacturing. The business world quickly sounded the alarm. Some companies, like General Motors, even slowed or stopped production on certain vehicle models due to the supply bottleneck.

Today on the show, Matt and David talk with Alex Jacquez, former Special Assistant to the President for Economic Development and Industrial Strategy under President Biden, now Chief of Policy and Advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative, about how China gained such a powerful advantage, and why something so important was largely overlooked for so long. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Visit OrganizedMoney.fm to donate.

]]> At the height of Trump’s tariff spree, when he kept ratcheting up taxes on Chinese imports, China struck back by withholding an under-discussed but essential resource: rare earth minerals. These elements are crucial to nearly all modern electronics, vehicles, and weaponry, and play a vital role in high-tech manufacturing. The business world quickly sounded the alarm. Some companies, like General Motors, even slowed or stopped production on certain vehicle models due to the supply bottleneck.

Today on the show, Matt and David talk with Alex Jacquez, former Special Assistant to the President for Economic Development and Industrial Strategy under President Biden, now Chief of Policy and Advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative, about how China gained such a powerful advantage, and why something so important was largely overlooked for so long. 

If you love Organized Money, support us! Visit OrganizedMoney.fm to donate.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17465628 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2955 full false How Spotify Monopolized Music How Spotify Monopolized Music After file-sharing decimated the music industry in the late 1990's, tech platforms, and music publishers spent years finding a profitable solution to the problem of free music. Spotify was the result. 

For investors and major labels, Spotify was a triumph: it revitalized the business of recorded music, and accommodated a public that had grown used to having instant, on-demand access. But for artists and smaller labels, it has only exacerbated the problem of making a living. 

Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Liz Pelly, author of the new book Mood Machine: The Rise Of Spotify And The Cost Of The Perfect Playlist, to find out how the dominant platform in music streaming was founded, how its algorithmically driven recommendation system flattens musical taste, and how its "payola-like" activities skirt the regulations that governed terrestrial radio for decades. 

Support Organized Money by subscribing at OrganizedMoney.fm, it helps keep the show going. 


]]> After file-sharing decimated the music industry in the late 1990's, tech platforms, and music publishers spent years finding a profitable solution to the problem of free music. Spotify was the result. 

For investors and major labels, Spotify was a triumph: it revitalized the business of recorded music, and accommodated a public that had grown used to having instant, on-demand access. But for artists and smaller labels, it has only exacerbated the problem of making a living. 

Today on the show, Matt and David talk to Liz Pelly, author of the new book Mood Machine: The Rise Of Spotify And The Cost Of The Perfect Playlist, to find out how the dominant platform in music streaming was founded, how its algorithmically driven recommendation system flattens musical taste, and how its "payola-like" activities skirt the regulations that governed terrestrial radio for decades. 

Support Organized Money by subscribing at OrganizedMoney.fm, it helps keep the show going. 


]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17423717 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3316 2 24 full false The Zohran Situation The Zohran Situation Zohran Mamdani's triumph in New York City's democratic mayoral primary is sending shockwaves through the political strata: As the populist wing celebrates, establishment Democrats are scrambling to make meaning of his upset, and big-money financiers are holding secret meetings to address "the Zohran situation".

On today's episode, Matt and David bring back friend of the show, Zephyr Teachout, to ask how Mamdani did it. Zephyr ran for governor against Cuomo in 2014, and her background as an attorney, professor, and candidate helps us understand what Mamdani's win means for the future of New York City politics, and the party as a whole. 

 

]]> Zohran Mamdani's triumph in New York City's democratic mayoral primary is sending shockwaves through the political strata: As the populist wing celebrates, establishment Democrats are scrambling to make meaning of his upset, and big-money financiers are holding secret meetings to address "the Zohran situation".

On today's episode, Matt and David bring back friend of the show, Zephyr Teachout, to ask how Mamdani did it. Zephyr ran for governor against Cuomo in 2014, and her background as an attorney, professor, and candidate helps us understand what Mamdani's win means for the future of New York City politics, and the party as a whole. 

 

]]> Buzzsprout-17404352 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0400 1995 2 23 full false Can Hollywood Survive? Can Hollywood Survive? This week, the film giant Warner Bros. announced plans to split into two separate companies: one for its flagship brand HBO and its growing streaming service, HBO Max; the other for its declining linear TV assets, like CNN and TNT. It’s a sharp reversal—just a few years ago, Warner Bros. merged with Discovery under CEO David Zaslav, forming the very partnership they're now unwinding. Today on the show, Matt and David welcome the editorial director and columnist for The Ankler, Richard Rushfield, to talk through the WB de-merger, the gloomy state of the Hollywood business, and why the industry just can’t seem to get its act together.

]]> This week, the film giant Warner Bros. announced plans to split into two separate companies: one for its flagship brand HBO and its growing streaming service, HBO Max; the other for its declining linear TV assets, like CNN and TNT. It’s a sharp reversal—just a few years ago, Warner Bros. merged with Discovery under CEO David Zaslav, forming the very partnership they're now unwinding. Today on the show, Matt and David welcome the editorial director and columnist for The Ankler, Richard Rushfield, to talk through the WB de-merger, the gloomy state of the Hollywood business, and why the industry just can’t seem to get its act together.

]]> Buzzsprout-17366768 Fri, 20 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2667 2 22 full false How Oregon Is Ending Corporate-Run Healthcare How Oregon Is Ending Corporate-Run Healthcare All over the country, corporate consolidation of doctor’s offices has exploded in recent years.  Most states have longstanding laws on the books forbidding corporate entities from controlling medical decision-making, but large corporations like United Health have managed to weasel their way in via loopholes. Recently, the state of Oregon passed a new bill that closed the exceptions that made these corporate takeovers possible. Today on the show Matt and Dave talk with Oregon House Majority Leader Representative Ben Bowman, who spearheaded the bill, and Hayden Rooke-Ley, Senior Fellow for Healthcare at the American Economic Liberties Project to discuss how we got here, and how the bill attempts to return medical decision-making to the physicians who actually have a stake in their patient’s wellbeing. You can read more about Rep. Bowman's bill on Matt's newsletter Big.

If you love Organized Money, support us! You can donate and help us keep the show going at OrganizedMoney.fm


]]> All over the country, corporate consolidation of doctor’s offices has exploded in recent years.  Most states have longstanding laws on the books forbidding corporate entities from controlling medical decision-making, but large corporations like United Health have managed to weasel their way in via loopholes. Recently, the state of Oregon passed a new bill that closed the exceptions that made these corporate takeovers possible. Today on the show Matt and Dave talk with Oregon House Majority Leader Representative Ben Bowman, who spearheaded the bill, and Hayden Rooke-Ley, Senior Fellow for Healthcare at the American Economic Liberties Project to discuss how we got here, and how the bill attempts to return medical decision-making to the physicians who actually have a stake in their patient’s wellbeing. You can read more about Rep. Bowman's bill on Matt's newsletter Big.

If you love Organized Money, support us! You can donate and help us keep the show going at OrganizedMoney.fm


]]> Buzzsprout-17327079 Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0400 2642 2 21 full false A Big Beautiful Antitrust News Roundup A Big Beautiful Antitrust News Roundup We’re over thirty episodes deep into Organized Money, and on today’s episode, we’re looking back at some of the topics we’ve covered, and where they stand today. Matt and David discuss recent developments in the Google case, pharmacy benefit manager reform, the legal state of non-competes, tariffs, surveillance pricing, and more—and yes, there is (some) good news.

They also dive into Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which proposes cutting Medicaid, banning state-led AI regulation, reforming student loans, slashing taxes for the wealthiest Americans, and subsidizing financial capital. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives but now faces trouble in the Senate. The hosts break down what’s likely to survive the reconciliation process—and what’s likely to be cut.

We’re also kicking off a fund drive! If you love Organized Money and want to support us, consider contributing at OrganizedMoney.fm.

]]> We’re over thirty episodes deep into Organized Money, and on today’s episode, we’re looking back at some of the topics we’ve covered, and where they stand today. Matt and David discuss recent developments in the Google case, pharmacy benefit manager reform, the legal state of non-competes, tariffs, surveillance pricing, and more—and yes, there is (some) good news.

They also dive into Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which proposes cutting Medicaid, banning state-led AI regulation, reforming student loans, slashing taxes for the wealthiest Americans, and subsidizing financial capital. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives but now faces trouble in the Senate. The hosts break down what’s likely to survive the reconciliation process—and what’s likely to be cut.

We’re also kicking off a fund drive! If you love Organized Money and want to support us, consider contributing at OrganizedMoney.fm.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17289129 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0400 3385 2 20 full false The Wild World of Surveillance Pricing with Lee Hepner The Wild World of Surveillance Pricing with Lee Hepner Ever wonder why the price of your rent or even a bag of frozen potatoes seems to jump for no clear reason? It could be the result of “surveillance pricing”—where companies use your personal data and powerful algorithms to set prices just for you, often squeezing consumers and renters alike. Matt chats with antitrust lawyer Lee Hepner about the rise of these new forms of price fixing. They dig into the RealPage scandal, where software allegedly helped landlords coordinate rent hikes across millions of apartments, even during a housing crisis, and explain how similar tactics are cropping up everywhere from meatpacking to everyday retail. Lee describes how state and federal lawmakers are scrambling to catch up but warns that this is part of a dangerous trend  towards an economy that is structured by large corporations.

]]> Ever wonder why the price of your rent or even a bag of frozen potatoes seems to jump for no clear reason? It could be the result of “surveillance pricing”—where companies use your personal data and powerful algorithms to set prices just for you, often squeezing consumers and renters alike. Matt chats with antitrust lawyer Lee Hepner about the rise of these new forms of price fixing. They dig into the RealPage scandal, where software allegedly helped landlords coordinate rent hikes across millions of apartments, even during a housing crisis, and explain how similar tactics are cropping up everywhere from meatpacking to everyday retail. Lee describes how state and federal lawmakers are scrambling to catch up but warns that this is part of a dangerous trend  towards an economy that is structured by large corporations.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17240783 Thu, 29 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 2586 2 19 full false The Non-Compete Nightmare The Non-Compete Nightmare "I was served papers while picking up my children from school." That was the beginning of Arizona real estate broker Courtney Van Kott's shocking six-year legal nightmare to fight a non-compete. As a young mother just starting in real estate, Courtney tells Matt she was pressured to sign a contract requiring her to pay 75% of commissions earned for three years after leaving her team—even for clients she found herself. After moving to a new brokerage, she faced a lawsuit demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars, enduring years of litigation before finally winning her case. Their conversation reveals the devastating personal and industry-wide impacts of non-competes, especially for independent contractors. While the Federal Trade Commission attempted to ban most non-competes nationwide in 2024, that rule remains blocked in court, leaving a patchwork of state laws and ongoing uncertainty for millions of American workers like Courtney.

]]> "I was served papers while picking up my children from school." That was the beginning of Arizona real estate broker Courtney Van Kott's shocking six-year legal nightmare to fight a non-compete. As a young mother just starting in real estate, Courtney tells Matt she was pressured to sign a contract requiring her to pay 75% of commissions earned for three years after leaving her team—even for clients she found herself. After moving to a new brokerage, she faced a lawsuit demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars, enduring years of litigation before finally winning her case. Their conversation reveals the devastating personal and industry-wide impacts of non-competes, especially for independent contractors. While the Federal Trade Commission attempted to ban most non-competes nationwide in 2024, that rule remains blocked in court, leaving a patchwork of state laws and ongoing uncertainty for millions of American workers like Courtney.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17202707 Thu, 22 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 2448 2 18 full false The Corporate Mole On The Supreme Court The Corporate Mole On The Supreme Court Ever wonder how corporations gained so much power? In this episode, David and Matt explore a pivotal moment in the 1970s when Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell wrote a memo that would reshape American capitalism. Guests David Seligman and Luke Goldstein explain how Powell's legal maneuvering essentially rewrote antitrust rules, enabling corporations to use "vertical restraints" to dominate markets, workers, and consumers. From hospital supply shortages to gig worker contracts, we explore how these 1970s legal shifts continue to shape economic power and everyday life, examining the ongoing impact of Powell's legacy on monopoly power and corporate control.

]]> Ever wonder how corporations gained so much power? In this episode, David and Matt explore a pivotal moment in the 1970s when Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell wrote a memo that would reshape American capitalism. Guests David Seligman and Luke Goldstein explain how Powell's legal maneuvering essentially rewrote antitrust rules, enabling corporations to use "vertical restraints" to dominate markets, workers, and consumers. From hospital supply shortages to gig worker contracts, we explore how these 1970s legal shifts continue to shape economic power and everyday life, examining the ongoing impact of Powell's legacy on monopoly power and corporate control.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17161518 Thu, 15 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 2611 2 17 full false When Will Consumers Feel the Tariff Tidal Wave? When Will Consumers Feel the Tariff Tidal Wave? We’re diving back into tariffs! This time, David and Matt chat with Mike Beckham, co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, to break down what the new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports really mean for businesses and shoppers. Mike shares his firsthand stories from the trenches of global supply chains and his efforts to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and why that’s way harder than it sounds. He explains how these tariffs could cause even more chaos than we saw during the pandemic, thanks to America’s shrinking know-how in things like tooling and missing infrastructure. Plus, Mike pulls back the curtain on Amazon’s business model, the real price of “free shipping,” and how algorithms, not people, are running the show.

]]> We’re diving back into tariffs! This time, David and Matt chat with Mike Beckham, co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, to break down what the new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports really mean for businesses and shoppers. Mike shares his firsthand stories from the trenches of global supply chains and his efforts to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and why that’s way harder than it sounds. He explains how these tariffs could cause even more chaos than we saw during the pandemic, thanks to America’s shrinking know-how in things like tooling and missing infrastructure. Plus, Mike pulls back the curtain on Amazon’s business model, the real price of “free shipping,” and how algorithms, not people, are running the show.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17122520 Thu, 08 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 3532 2 16 full false The Tariff Doomsday Scenario The Tariff Doomsday Scenario What’s the real-world fallout of the newly imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports? Matt and David speak to Molson Hart, someone smack in the middle of the current tariff debate. Molson is an entrepreneur and toy company founder with firsthand experience in global manufacturing. He breaks down the step-by-step journey of a product from design to delivery-and how these tariffs have abruptly halted shipments, risking layoffs in ports, trucking, and warehouses long before consumers feel the shortages. This behind the scenes look into supply chains, including Hart’s experience working in a Chinese factory, make clear how quickly a trade war can ripple through the economy, impact everyday products, and upend the lives of workers and business owners alike. Learn more about Molson Hart's work on his site.

]]> What’s the real-world fallout of the newly imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports? Matt and David speak to Molson Hart, someone smack in the middle of the current tariff debate. Molson is an entrepreneur and toy company founder with firsthand experience in global manufacturing. He breaks down the step-by-step journey of a product from design to delivery-and how these tariffs have abruptly halted shipments, risking layoffs in ports, trucking, and warehouses long before consumers feel the shortages. This behind the scenes look into supply chains, including Hart’s experience working in a Chinese factory, make clear how quickly a trade war can ripple through the economy, impact everyday products, and upend the lives of workers and business owners alike. Learn more about Molson Hart's work on his site.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-17078844 Thu, 01 May 2025 12:00:00 -0400 3472 2 15 full false Antitrust Woodstock: Google and Meta Go to Court Antitrust Woodstock: Google and Meta Go to Court Today, we go courtside at two landmark tech antitrust trials unfolding in the DC District Court: the Department of Justice’s remedy hearing against Google, and the Federal Trade Commission’s monopolization case targeting Meta (Facebook). David and Matt speak with two lawyers and antitrust experts Laurel Kilgore and Brendan Benedict who are covering the trials. 

The Google case is all about what punishment fits the crime after they were found guilty of monopolizing search - should they have to sell off Chrome? Meanwhile, the Meta trial is digging into whether the company crushed competition by gobbling up Instagram and WhatsApp.

The fact that these high-stakes antitrust cases are happening in the midst of all the political chaos may represent the system actually working and the rule of law reining in corporate power. 

Check out Brendan's coverage of the Meta trial at Big Tech On Trial.

]]> Today, we go courtside at two landmark tech antitrust trials unfolding in the DC District Court: the Department of Justice’s remedy hearing against Google, and the Federal Trade Commission’s monopolization case targeting Meta (Facebook). David and Matt speak with two lawyers and antitrust experts Laurel Kilgore and Brendan Benedict who are covering the trials. 

The Google case is all about what punishment fits the crime after they were found guilty of monopolizing search - should they have to sell off Chrome? Meanwhile, the Meta trial is digging into whether the company crushed competition by gobbling up Instagram and WhatsApp.

The fact that these high-stakes antitrust cases are happening in the midst of all the political chaos may represent the system actually working and the rule of law reining in corporate power. 

Check out Brendan's coverage of the Meta trial at Big Tech On Trial.

]]> Buzzsprout-17037623 Thu, 24 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0400 3375 2 14 full false Marketcraft with Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes Marketcraft with Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes Spurred on by Trump, Covid, and climate change, leaders are taking a more hands-on approach to shaping markets that would be seen as impossible a few years ago—but as our guest today argues, this kind of marketcraft is actually a long American tradition. Today, Matt and David welcome Chris Hughes, one of Facebook's founders, to the show to talk about his new book Marketcrafters. The book demolishes the myth that government and the free market were ever truly separate entities and examines the oft-forgotten stories of how policymakers on both sides of the aisle have used their power to craft markets to both good and bad ends.

This week also marks the beginning of the FTC's trial against Meta, an action Chris called for back in 2019 in The New York Times. We get Chris's take on the trial, plus a dispatch from Matt, who has been watching the proceedings go down at the courthouse. 

To learn about Chris's new book Marketcrafters, check out his Substack: https://chrishughes749530.substack.com

Read Chris's 2019 op-ed calling for Facebook to be broken up: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/opinion/sunday/chris-hughes-facebook-zuckerberg.html

]]> Spurred on by Trump, Covid, and climate change, leaders are taking a more hands-on approach to shaping markets that would be seen as impossible a few years ago—but as our guest today argues, this kind of marketcraft is actually a long American tradition. Today, Matt and David welcome Chris Hughes, one of Facebook's founders, to the show to talk about his new book Marketcrafters. The book demolishes the myth that government and the free market were ever truly separate entities and examines the oft-forgotten stories of how policymakers on both sides of the aisle have used their power to craft markets to both good and bad ends.

This week also marks the beginning of the FTC's trial against Meta, an action Chris called for back in 2019 in The New York Times. We get Chris's take on the trial, plus a dispatch from Matt, who has been watching the proceedings go down at the courthouse. 

To learn about Chris's new book Marketcrafters, check out his Substack: https://chrishughes749530.substack.com

Read Chris's 2019 op-ed calling for Facebook to be broken up: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/opinion/sunday/chris-hughes-facebook-zuckerberg.html

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16995404 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400 3524 2 13 full false Breaking Monopolies from the Inside with Jonathan Kanter Breaking Monopolies from the Inside with Jonathan Kanter Ever wonder what it's like to take on Google with a tiny government team?  In this episode David and Matt are back with part two of their interview with Jonathan Kanter, who until recently led the DOJ's antitrust team.  Kanter doesn't hold back, sharing what really happens when you sue tech giants, meatpackers, and ticket monopolies while working with government resources (read: not much). He talks about the challenges, the courtroom drama, and even brings some laughs to the table—somehow Groucho Marx glasses get involved! It's a fascinating insider look at fighting corporate power from someone who's actually been in the room. 

]]> Ever wonder what it's like to take on Google with a tiny government team?  In this episode David and Matt are back with part two of their interview with Jonathan Kanter, who until recently led the DOJ's antitrust team.  Kanter doesn't hold back, sharing what really happens when you sue tech giants, meatpackers, and ticket monopolies while working with government resources (read: not much). He talks about the challenges, the courtroom drama, and even brings some laughs to the table—somehow Groucho Marx glasses get involved! It's a fascinating insider look at fighting corporate power from someone who's actually been in the room. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16947469 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3353 2 12 full false The Business of Big Law The Business of Big Law Since taking office in January, Trump has issued several executive orders targeting major Democratic-aligned law firms, revoking their security clearances and threatening the government contracts of their clients. These law firms are among the "big law" firms that not only wield a great deal of money and power in Washington but also play a significant role in the political establishments of both parties. In this episode, Matt and David deconstruct how big law works with Jonathan Kanter, former head of the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department and a former partner at a big law firm. They discuss how these firms make their money, how they became so deeply enmeshed in our politics, and the consequences of Trump's actions, including the chilling effect they are having and the potential for a new way of organizing the Democratic Party. This is part 1 of a 2 part episode with Jonathan Kanter, next week we discuss his work at the Antitrust Division, and the future of anti-monopoly policy. 

]]> Since taking office in January, Trump has issued several executive orders targeting major Democratic-aligned law firms, revoking their security clearances and threatening the government contracts of their clients. These law firms are among the "big law" firms that not only wield a great deal of money and power in Washington but also play a significant role in the political establishments of both parties. In this episode, Matt and David deconstruct how big law works with Jonathan Kanter, former head of the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department and a former partner at a big law firm. They discuss how these firms make their money, how they became so deeply enmeshed in our politics, and the consequences of Trump's actions, including the chilling effect they are having and the potential for a new way of organizing the Democratic Party. This is part 1 of a 2 part episode with Jonathan Kanter, next week we discuss his work at the Antitrust Division, and the future of anti-monopoly policy. 

]]> Buzzsprout-16907548 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400 2979 2 11 full false Cheater Sizes and Other Dirty Secrets of Big Grocery Stores Cheater Sizes and Other Dirty Secrets of Big Grocery Stores Why is it that Walmart can sell bananas for less than what an independent grocer pays for it wholesale? In this episode, David and Matt expose how major retailers like Walmart and Dollar Stores use their sheer size to strong-arm suppliers into giving them special deals—while smaller, independent grocers are stuck paying higher prices. They talk to Randy Arceneaux, CEO of Affiliated Foods, and antitrust lawyer Chris Jones about how this system is not only unfair but likely illegal under the long-ignored Robinson-Patman Act, which bans price discrimination. From grocery wholesalers forced to “subsidize” Walmart, to toilet paper and pet food shortages that only seem to affect smaller stores, to how credit card fees hit independents much harder, this episode unpacks how monopolistic practices are reshaping the grocery business—and why the fight to fix it is heating up.

]]> Why is it that Walmart can sell bananas for less than what an independent grocer pays for it wholesale? In this episode, David and Matt expose how major retailers like Walmart and Dollar Stores use their sheer size to strong-arm suppliers into giving them special deals—while smaller, independent grocers are stuck paying higher prices. They talk to Randy Arceneaux, CEO of Affiliated Foods, and antitrust lawyer Chris Jones about how this system is not only unfair but likely illegal under the long-ignored Robinson-Patman Act, which bans price discrimination. From grocery wholesalers forced to “subsidize” Walmart, to toilet paper and pet food shortages that only seem to affect smaller stores, to how credit card fees hit independents much harder, this episode unpacks how monopolistic practices are reshaping the grocery business—and why the fight to fix it is heating up.

]]> Buzzsprout-16865628 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400 3515 2 10 full false Trump's Showdown At The FTC with Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya Trump's Showdown At The FTC with Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya On March 18th, the White House sent a letter to the two democratic commissioners at the FTC that they had been fired. Clear Supreme Court precedent reinforces that FTC commissioners cannot be fired at-will by the executive. So what happens next? Today on the show Matt and David talk to one of those commissioners, Alvaro Bedoya, about his attempted firing. They discuss the context, consequences, and legal precedent of what's happening at the FTC, along with Trump's potential goals, the importance of the commission's work, and the uncertain future of an agency in crisis.

]]> On March 18th, the White House sent a letter to the two democratic commissioners at the FTC that they had been fired. Clear Supreme Court precedent reinforces that FTC commissioners cannot be fired at-will by the executive. So what happens next? Today on the show Matt and David talk to one of those commissioners, Alvaro Bedoya, about his attempted firing. They discuss the context, consequences, and legal precedent of what's happening at the FTC, along with Trump's potential goals, the importance of the commission's work, and the uncertain future of an agency in crisis.

]]> Buzzsprout-16830518 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:00:00 -0400 4172 2 9 full false The Enshitification of Big Tech: A Conversation with Cory Doctorow The Enshitification of Big Tech: A Conversation with Cory Doctorow How did Silicon Valley's ideology go from utopian dreams to self serving power grabs? David and Matt dive into the power dynamics of Big Tech with author, activist, and anti-monopoly advocate Cory Doctorow. They explore how Silicon Valley’s early ideals of openness and innovation gave way to corporate dominance, leading to what Doctorow calls “enshitification”—the systematic decay of platforms as they prioritize profits over users. The conversation unpacks the monopolistic strategies of giants like Amazon and Google, the erosion of competition through regulatory capture, and the role of interoperability in breaking Big Tech’s grip. Check out more of Cory's writing and his new book Picks and Shovels, on his website.



]]> How did Silicon Valley's ideology go from utopian dreams to self serving power grabs? David and Matt dive into the power dynamics of Big Tech with author, activist, and anti-monopoly advocate Cory Doctorow. They explore how Silicon Valley’s early ideals of openness and innovation gave way to corporate dominance, leading to what Doctorow calls “enshitification”—the systematic decay of platforms as they prioritize profits over users. The conversation unpacks the monopolistic strategies of giants like Amazon and Google, the erosion of competition through regulatory capture, and the role of interoperability in breaking Big Tech’s grip. Check out more of Cory's writing and his new book Picks and Shovels, on his website.



]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16788418 Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:00:00 -0400 3777 2 8 full false Actually Bob, Corporate America is MORE Wasteful than the US Government Actually Bob, Corporate America is MORE Wasteful than the US Government Are Elon Musk's efficiency strategies brilliant or reckless? David and Matt explore this question with procurement expert Rich Ham, CEO of FineTune, who reveals what efficiency really means in large organizations. They discuss how companies often waste money through  inefficient buying of complex services, Rich explains how slashing budgets isn't always the smartest way to save. Using comparisons to the movie "Office Space," they examine how  how procurement teams are stretched thin, and how suppliers take advantage of the lack of oversight. They then turn their attention to Musk's strategies at DOGE, questioning whether drastic cuts are the best path to savings or if they might lead to unintended and costly consequences.

]]> Are Elon Musk's efficiency strategies brilliant or reckless? David and Matt explore this question with procurement expert Rich Ham, CEO of FineTune, who reveals what efficiency really means in large organizations. They discuss how companies often waste money through  inefficient buying of complex services, Rich explains how slashing budgets isn't always the smartest way to save. Using comparisons to the movie "Office Space," they examine how  how procurement teams are stretched thin, and how suppliers take advantage of the lack of oversight. They then turn their attention to Musk's strategies at DOGE, questioning whether drastic cuts are the best path to savings or if they might lead to unintended and costly consequences.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16745807 Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0500 3282 2 7 full false When Government Works: A Conversation with Lina Khan When Government Works: A Conversation with Lina Khan What does it look like when government actually works for the people? Matt and David explore this question with Lina Khan, whose groundbreaking tenure as FTC Chair rewrote the playbook for federal agencies. Khan details how she transformed an understaffed agency into the spearhead of a governance revolution - confronting corporate giants, championing consumer rights, and proving that government can be a powerful force for positive change. Their conversation offers a window into a transformative moment in American governance, where old assumptions about corporate power are being challenged and new possibilities are emerging.

]]> What does it look like when government actually works for the people? Matt and David explore this question with Lina Khan, whose groundbreaking tenure as FTC Chair rewrote the playbook for federal agencies. Khan details how she transformed an understaffed agency into the spearhead of a governance revolution - confronting corporate giants, championing consumer rights, and proving that government can be a powerful force for positive change. Their conversation offers a window into a transformative moment in American governance, where old assumptions about corporate power are being challenged and new possibilities are emerging.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16696906 Thu, 27 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3687 2 6 full false The Pocket Picking Machine The Pocket Picking Machine When it comes to utilities - why are we paying so much for service that can be so unreliable? In this episode, Matt and David expose how a small group of economists and some untrustworthy models have allowed utility companies to inflate rates and spend on dubious projects. Former utility executive Mark Ellis helps explain the "scam" that has misled regulators and advocates, leading to excessive profits for investor-owned utilities at our expense. They break down utility regulation, how rates are set, and the surprising difference in rate increases between investor-owned and public utilities. Prepare to demand some serious reform!

Read Mark's report: Rate of Return Equals Cost of Capital: A Simple, Fair Formula to Stop Investor-Owned Utilities from Overcharging the Public



]]> When it comes to utilities - why are we paying so much for service that can be so unreliable? In this episode, Matt and David expose how a small group of economists and some untrustworthy models have allowed utility companies to inflate rates and spend on dubious projects. Former utility executive Mark Ellis helps explain the "scam" that has misled regulators and advocates, leading to excessive profits for investor-owned utilities at our expense. They break down utility regulation, how rates are set, and the surprising difference in rate increases between investor-owned and public utilities. Prepare to demand some serious reform!

Read Mark's report: Rate of Return Equals Cost of Capital: A Simple, Fair Formula to Stop Investor-Owned Utilities from Overcharging the Public



]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16654716 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3072 2 5 full false The Woman Who Defeated Google The Woman Who Defeated Google Former DOJ Antitrust Division head Doha Mekki takes us behind the scenes of some of the most consequential monopoly cases in recent history, including the landmark Google search case. Drawing from her unique experience serving in both the Trump and Biden administrations, Mekki reveals how antitrust enforcement is essentially "policing for white collar crime" - albeit with a budget smaller than Apple's legal department. She shares surprising insights about building cases against tech giants, including how behavioral economists helped win against Google by explaining the "human element" of default search settings, and offers a fresh perspective on the generational shift happening in antitrust enforcement. 

]]> Former DOJ Antitrust Division head Doha Mekki takes us behind the scenes of some of the most consequential monopoly cases in recent history, including the landmark Google search case. Drawing from her unique experience serving in both the Trump and Biden administrations, Mekki reveals how antitrust enforcement is essentially "policing for white collar crime" - albeit with a budget smaller than Apple's legal department. She shares surprising insights about building cases against tech giants, including how behavioral economists helped win against Google by explaining the "human element" of default search settings, and offers a fresh perspective on the generational shift happening in antitrust enforcement. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16616912 Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500 3474 2 4 full false It's Not Just Avian Flu: The Hidden Risks in Our Food System It's Not Just Avian Flu: The Hidden Risks in Our Food System The recent egg shortages and avian flu outbreaks aren't just hurting our pocketbooks, they reveal how the consolidation of American agriculture has created dangerous vulnerabilities in our food system. David and Matt dive deep into the precarious state of American farming with Jeff Bender, a North Carolina farmer with 40 years of experience. Bender explains how farming has transformed from the diverse "Old MacDonald" model of small family farms to a rigid, industrial system dominated by monocultures and massive operations, where a single disease outbreak could devastate entire sectors of food production. 

]]> The recent egg shortages and avian flu outbreaks aren't just hurting our pocketbooks, they reveal how the consolidation of American agriculture has created dangerous vulnerabilities in our food system. David and Matt dive deep into the precarious state of American farming with Jeff Bender, a North Carolina farmer with 40 years of experience. Bender explains how farming has transformed from the diverse "Old MacDonald" model of small family farms to a rigid, industrial system dominated by monocultures and massive operations, where a single disease outbreak could devastate entire sectors of food production. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16575186 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0500 3112 2 3 full false Vikings at the Gate: The TikTok Sovereignty Fight Vikings at the Gate: The TikTok Sovereignty Fight When Congress moved to force TikTok's sale from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, it sparked a complex battle over national security, free speech, and the future of tech regulation. Matt and David bring together unlikely allies Zephyr Teachout, a progressive law professor, and Joel Thayer, a conservative tech policy expert, who co-authored a Supreme Court brief supporting the law. They reveal how TikTok's case could reshape how we regulate Big Tech, exploring thorny questions about algorithmic control, foreign ownership of communications infrastructure, and whether Americans should trust Silicon Valley any more than Beijing. 

The episode offers a surprisingly hopeful take on a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle to govern digital platforms, suggesting that meaningful tech regulation might finally be possible – if we're willing to try.

]]> When Congress moved to force TikTok's sale from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, it sparked a complex battle over national security, free speech, and the future of tech regulation. Matt and David bring together unlikely allies Zephyr Teachout, a progressive law professor, and Joel Thayer, a conservative tech policy expert, who co-authored a Supreme Court brief supporting the law. They reveal how TikTok's case could reshape how we regulate Big Tech, exploring thorny questions about algorithmic control, foreign ownership of communications infrastructure, and whether Americans should trust Silicon Valley any more than Beijing. 

The episode offers a surprisingly hopeful take on a watershed moment in the ongoing struggle to govern digital platforms, suggesting that meaningful tech regulation might finally be possible – if we're willing to try.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16528455 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3307 2 2 full false The Last Days of Antitrust Enforcement The Last Days of Antitrust Enforcement Donald Trump is president, but just before he took office, the heads of the agencies that did most of the governing in the Biden era got to work. The Federal Trade Commission, the antitrust division of the Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau got to work, finalizing a flurry of new rules, lawsuits, enforcement actions, and challenges to the most powerful companies in the country. These were actions that these agencies worked on for years, that they put through just under the wire. It really paints a picture of what we've lost—and what we can have again, throughout the executive branch, if people just decide to govern. 

On this episode, Matt and Dave do a lightning round of actions from these three agencies in the past three weeks, and explain both why we'll miss this work in the future, and why some of it may just endure."Most Americans know their food passes through many hands before reaching their plates, but few realize just how concentrated that chain of production has become. In this final episode of the season, antitrust lawyer Basel Musharbash reveals how roughly three dozen corporations have come to dominate nearly every aspect of America's food system, from farm to table.

Read the FTC report mentioned in the episode here: www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/ftc-accomplishments-june-2021-january-2025.pdf

]]> Donald Trump is president, but just before he took office, the heads of the agencies that did most of the governing in the Biden era got to work. The Federal Trade Commission, the antitrust division of the Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau got to work, finalizing a flurry of new rules, lawsuits, enforcement actions, and challenges to the most powerful companies in the country. These were actions that these agencies worked on for years, that they put through just under the wire. It really paints a picture of what we've lost—and what we can have again, throughout the executive branch, if people just decide to govern. 

On this episode, Matt and Dave do a lightning round of actions from these three agencies in the past three weeks, and explain both why we'll miss this work in the future, and why some of it may just endure."Most Americans know their food passes through many hands before reaching their plates, but few realize just how concentrated that chain of production has become. In this final episode of the season, antitrust lawyer Basel Musharbash reveals how roughly three dozen corporations have come to dominate nearly every aspect of America's food system, from farm to table.

Read the FTC report mentioned in the episode here: www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/ftc-accomplishments-june-2021-january-2025.pdf

]]> Buzzsprout-16481271 Wed, 22 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0500 3020 2 1 full false Who Really Controls Your Food? Who Really Controls Your Food? Most Americans know their food passes through many hands before reaching their plates, but few realize just how concentrated that chain of production has become. In this final episode of the season, antitrust lawyer Basel Musharbash reveals how roughly three dozen corporations have come to dominate nearly every aspect of America's food system, from farm to table.

Drawing from his recent report "Kings Over the Necessaries of Life," Musharbash traces this consolidation through pivotal moments in American history, from the sweeping reforms of the 1930s New Deal to the deregulation of the 1970s and 80s. He tells Matt and David how today's agricultural giants wield their market power to shape everything from seed prices to distribution networks, often at the expense of farmers and consumers alike.

]]> Most Americans know their food passes through many hands before reaching their plates, but few realize just how concentrated that chain of production has become. In this final episode of the season, antitrust lawyer Basel Musharbash reveals how roughly three dozen corporations have come to dominate nearly every aspect of America's food system, from farm to table.

Drawing from his recent report "Kings Over the Necessaries of Life," Musharbash traces this consolidation through pivotal moments in American history, from the sweeping reforms of the 1930s New Deal to the deregulation of the 1970s and 80s. He tells Matt and David how today's agricultural giants wield their market power to shape everything from seed prices to distribution networks, often at the expense of farmers and consumers alike.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16290510 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 2967 1 13 full false The most hated man on Wall Street; Rohit Chopra, head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The most hated man on Wall Street; Rohit Chopra, head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Wall Street's biggest players have a nemesis: Rohit Chopra. As head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he's the watchdog who coined the term "junk fees" and has saved Americans billions by cracking down on them. Over the past decade he has emerged as a leader in three critical areas: antitrust, finance, and student debt. But this aggressive oversight has powerful enemies. Tech billionaire Marc Andreessen claims Chopra is "terrorizing" banks and pushing them to cut off services to people based on politics. In this episode, Chopra sits down with Matt and David to set the record straight—and to explain how CFPB is actually fighting to make sure banks can't discriminate against anyone, while preventing powerful actors from rigging the financial system in their favor.

]]> Wall Street's biggest players have a nemesis: Rohit Chopra. As head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he's the watchdog who coined the term "junk fees" and has saved Americans billions by cracking down on them. Over the past decade he has emerged as a leader in three critical areas: antitrust, finance, and student debt. But this aggressive oversight has powerful enemies. Tech billionaire Marc Andreessen claims Chopra is "terrorizing" banks and pushing them to cut off services to people based on politics. In this episode, Chopra sits down with Matt and David to set the record straight—and to explain how CFPB is actually fighting to make sure banks can't discriminate against anyone, while preventing powerful actors from rigging the financial system in their favor.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16248681 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 2732 1 12 full false The great American drug shortage isn't an accidient, its artificial The great American drug shortage isn't an accidient, its artificial The Great American Drug Shortage isn't an accident - it's by design. In this eye-opening episode, we expose how three powerful drug distributors seized control of 90% of America's pharmaceutical supply chain, creating an artificial crisis that puts profits over patients.

Behind the scenes, shadowy middlemen have turned the generic drug market into a losing game for manufacturers, leading to dangerous shortages of life-saving medications. Rather than delivering on free market promises of innovation and competition, this system produces something far more sinister: price-gouging, monopoly control, and manufactured scarcity.

Our guide through this pharmaceutical maze is Tim Ward, president and chief legal officer of Hercules, an independent pharmaceutical wholesaler fighting to survive against industry giants. Ward offers an insider's view of how a handful of corporations gained the power to determine which medications Americans can—and can't—access.

]]> The Great American Drug Shortage isn't an accident - it's by design. In this eye-opening episode, we expose how three powerful drug distributors seized control of 90% of America's pharmaceutical supply chain, creating an artificial crisis that puts profits over patients.

Behind the scenes, shadowy middlemen have turned the generic drug market into a losing game for manufacturers, leading to dangerous shortages of life-saving medications. Rather than delivering on free market promises of innovation and competition, this system produces something far more sinister: price-gouging, monopoly control, and manufactured scarcity.

Our guide through this pharmaceutical maze is Tim Ward, president and chief legal officer of Hercules, an independent pharmaceutical wholesaler fighting to survive against industry giants. Ward offers an insider's view of how a handful of corporations gained the power to determine which medications Americans can—and can't—access.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16209758 Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500 2383 1 11 full false The Democratic Party and Corporate Power with Rep. Chris DeLuzio The Democratic Party and Corporate Power with Rep. Chris DeLuzio Rep. Chris Deluzio (D) defied Pennsylvania's red wave, outperforming Kamala Harris in working-class areas outside of Pittsburgh to secure re-election. He joins David and Matt to talk about what the Democratic party can learn from his victory. Deluzio says Democratic candidates in tough races won by focusing on pocketbook issues and standing up to powerful forces harming their constituents. Deluzio says you need a clear vision and bold messaging: "Not every issue has a win-win solution. Sometimes there’s a bad guy, and you’ve got to be willing to fight them."

]]> Rep. Chris Deluzio (D) defied Pennsylvania's red wave, outperforming Kamala Harris in working-class areas outside of Pittsburgh to secure re-election. He joins David and Matt to talk about what the Democratic party can learn from his victory. Deluzio says Democratic candidates in tough races won by focusing on pocketbook issues and standing up to powerful forces harming their constituents. Deluzio says you need a clear vision and bold messaging: "Not every issue has a win-win solution. Sometimes there’s a bad guy, and you’ve got to be willing to fight them."

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16170108 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500 2548 1 10 full false FanDuel and DraftKings and the online betting duopoly FanDuel and DraftKings and the online betting duopoly Americans lose over $150 billion annually to state lotteries, casinos, and online gambling—that’s $300,000 every minute. How did gambling become so entrenched in American life? And how are FanDuel and DraftKings driving this crisis?

In this episode, we’re joined by Les Bernal, National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling, and Dr. Kavita Fisher, a psychiatrist whose life was deeply affected by online gambling addiction. Together, they uncover how corporate giants and state governments profit at the expense of millions, fueling addiction and financial ruin.

Check out the Al Jazeera documentary " The Big Gamble": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ9qp9UftEE.           

And the New York Times investigation into online sports betting: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/podcasts/the-daily/sports-betting-lobbying-laws-states.html

]]> Americans lose over $150 billion annually to state lotteries, casinos, and online gambling—that’s $300,000 every minute. How did gambling become so entrenched in American life? And how are FanDuel and DraftKings driving this crisis?

In this episode, we’re joined by Les Bernal, National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling, and Dr. Kavita Fisher, a psychiatrist whose life was deeply affected by online gambling addiction. Together, they uncover how corporate giants and state governments profit at the expense of millions, fueling addiction and financial ruin.

Check out the Al Jazeera documentary " The Big Gamble": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ9qp9UftEE.           

And the New York Times investigation into online sports betting: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/podcasts/the-daily/sports-betting-lobbying-laws-states.html

]]> Buzzsprout-16118473 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500 3121 1 9 full false Baby Formula Monopoly with Laura Modi, CEO of Bobby Baby Formula Monopoly with Laura Modi, CEO of Bobby When Laura Modi launched Bobby in 2020, it was the first infant formula company to enter the U.S. market in over six years. At the time, the U.S. baby formula industry was dominated by two major players (Abbott and Reckitt) they controlled 80% of the market. Two years later, that monopoly would lead to a crisis when Abbott Labs shut down its main production facilities because of contamination. Modi explains the significant barriers to entry in the industry, and how the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program's state-by-state exclusive contracts with formula manufacturers have historically reinforced market concentration.

]]> When Laura Modi launched Bobby in 2020, it was the first infant formula company to enter the U.S. market in over six years. At the time, the U.S. baby formula industry was dominated by two major players (Abbott and Reckitt) they controlled 80% of the market. Two years later, that monopoly would lead to a crisis when Abbott Labs shut down its main production facilities because of contamination. Modi explains the significant barriers to entry in the industry, and how the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program's state-by-state exclusive contracts with formula manufacturers have historically reinforced market concentration.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-16084097 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500 3078 1 8 full false Voters Want Antitrust! with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes Voters Want Antitrust! with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes In the battleground state of Arizona, voters are telling campaigns that they want more antitrust! Earlier this year, state Attorney General Kris Mayes sued a bunch of corporate landlords and a software company called RealPage for illegally raising rents in Phoenix and Tucson using an algorithm, hiking the cost of renting by as much as 20%. Her lawsuit went viral. And now, voters are telling campaign staff at the doors that they love what Mayes did and want more of it. Rent, antitrust, corporate power, and elections, all in one episode.

]]> In the battleground state of Arizona, voters are telling campaigns that they want more antitrust! Earlier this year, state Attorney General Kris Mayes sued a bunch of corporate landlords and a software company called RealPage for illegally raising rents in Phoenix and Tucson using an algorithm, hiking the cost of renting by as much as 20%. Her lawsuit went viral. And now, voters are telling campaign staff at the doors that they love what Mayes did and want more of it. Rent, antitrust, corporate power, and elections, all in one episode.

]]> Buzzsprout-16046461 Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500 2262 1 7 full false Monopolies and Censorship in Elections with Ken Klippenstein Monopolies and Censorship in Elections with Ken Klippenstein We hear a lot about how Big Tech uses algorithms to serve up information - but on this episode, we have a story about how they also use their power to control what you can see and hear. After independent journalist Ken Klippenstein wrote a story sharing a dossier about J.D. Vance, allegedly obtained in an Iranian hack of the Trump campaign, X suspended his account and blocked links to his Substack. People that shared his post on X had their  accounts suspended and were told to take down the post if they wanted their accounts reinstated. This is a cautionary tale about how Big Tech uses its power to limit speech, and how that's not limited to going after one political party or persuasion.

Check out Ken's site here: https://www.kenklippenstein.com

]]> We hear a lot about how Big Tech uses algorithms to serve up information - but on this episode, we have a story about how they also use their power to control what you can see and hear. After independent journalist Ken Klippenstein wrote a story sharing a dossier about J.D. Vance, allegedly obtained in an Iranian hack of the Trump campaign, X suspended his account and blocked links to his Substack. People that shared his post on X had their  accounts suspended and were told to take down the post if they wanted their accounts reinstated. This is a cautionary tale about how Big Tech uses its power to limit speech, and how that's not limited to going after one political party or persuasion.

Check out Ken's site here: https://www.kenklippenstein.com

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-15990102 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0400 2919 1 6 full false Antitrust on the Campaign Trail with Maggie Goodlander Antitrust on the Campaign Trail with Maggie Goodlander Maggie Goodlander is running for Congress from New Hampshire by running against monopolies. What's it like to mount a political campaign built on antitrust, and can you win with that kind of messge? We speak with Maggie and hear from other candidates who taking a similar message to the voters in their districts.

Check out the candidates we spoke to in this episode:
https://maggiefornh.com
https://willrollinsforcongress.com
https://www.monicatranel.com

]]> Maggie Goodlander is running for Congress from New Hampshire by running against monopolies. What's it like to mount a political campaign built on antitrust, and can you win with that kind of messge? We speak with Maggie and hear from other candidates who taking a similar message to the voters in their districts.

Check out the candidates we spoke to in this episode:
https://maggiefornh.com
https://willrollinsforcongress.com
https://www.monicatranel.com

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-15990098 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400 2304 1 5 full false The Revolt of the Pharmacists Part 2: with Congressman Jake Auchicloss (D) from Massachusetts. The Revolt of the Pharmacists Part 2: with Congressman Jake Auchicloss (D) from Massachusetts. In Part 1, we heard how pharmacists are trying to push back against the monopolistic and harmful practices of PBMs. Today, we hear from another avenger who is taking the battle against PBMs to his workplace on Capitol Hill. Representative Jake Auchicloss is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act, the most comprehensive PBM reform ever introduced at the federal level. He tells David and Matt that you've got to delink the money that a PBM earns to the price of a drug or the volume of drugs that are sold. And he's not willing to settle for less. 

]]> In Part 1, we heard how pharmacists are trying to push back against the monopolistic and harmful practices of PBMs. Today, we hear from another avenger who is taking the battle against PBMs to his workplace on Capitol Hill. Representative Jake Auchicloss is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act, the most comprehensive PBM reform ever introduced at the federal level. He tells David and Matt that you've got to delink the money that a PBM earns to the price of a drug or the volume of drugs that are sold. And he's not willing to settle for less. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-15961926 Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0400 2045 1 4 full false The Revolt of the Pharmacists Part 1: with Benjamin Jolley The Revolt of the Pharmacists Part 1: with Benjamin Jolley What would you do if you owned an independent pharmacy and you discovered that the only way to actually make money would be to stop filling most prescriptions? This is what our guest Benjamin Jolley sees everyday. As a third generation independent pharmacist, he's watched as an industry of middlemen have taken control over a transaction that they literally have nothing to do with. Pharmacy Benefit Managers, PBMs decide which drugs, the pricing and the supply between patients trying to fill prescriptions and what a pharmacist gets paid. As a result, some 2000 plus pharmacies have closed this year. How did we get here? Matt and David go behind the pharmacy counter to break it all down with Benjamin Jolley. 

]]> What would you do if you owned an independent pharmacy and you discovered that the only way to actually make money would be to stop filling most prescriptions? This is what our guest Benjamin Jolley sees everyday. As a third generation independent pharmacist, he's watched as an industry of middlemen have taken control over a transaction that they literally have nothing to do with. Pharmacy Benefit Managers, PBMs decide which drugs, the pricing and the supply between patients trying to fill prescriptions and what a pharmacist gets paid. As a result, some 2000 plus pharmacies have closed this year. How did we get here? Matt and David go behind the pharmacy counter to break it all down with Benjamin Jolley. 

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-15961915 Tue, 22 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400 3292 1 3 full false The Real Supermarket Sweep: with Laurel Kilgour The Real Supermarket Sweep: with Laurel Kilgour Today, just four companies—Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Albertsons—account for about half of all grocery sales in the country. And two of them, Kroger and Albertsons, want to merge. If approved, it would be the largest supermarket merger in history. Together they employ 700,000 people across some 5,000 stores. But regulators are fighting back, arguing that a merger would be bad for consumers and for workers.

In this episode we go inside the courtroom to hear the case for and against the merger with Laurel Kilgour, an attorney and the research manager at the American Economic Liberties Project.

]]> Today, just four companies—Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Albertsons—account for about half of all grocery sales in the country. And two of them, Kroger and Albertsons, want to merge. If approved, it would be the largest supermarket merger in history. Together they employ 700,000 people across some 5,000 stores. But regulators are fighting back, arguing that a merger would be bad for consumers and for workers.

In this episode we go inside the courtroom to hear the case for and against the merger with Laurel Kilgour, an attorney and the research manager at the American Economic Liberties Project.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-15924032 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400 2697 1 2 full false The Search Monopoly: with Brody and Luke Mullins The Search Monopoly: with Brody and Luke Mullins Google just lost the biggest tech antitrust court ruling since the 1990s. And now the fate of Google’s search preeminence is TBD. But the question we’re asking in this episode; What took so long? This trial could have happened 11 years ago, but didn’t. Why not? How did Google avoid the antitrust arm of the government for so long? How did the case against Google get squashed back in 2012 and who did the squashing? And exactly how many times a week were Google executives meeting with the Obama administration over its eight years in office? 

David and Matt speak with journalists, brothers and co-authors Luke and Brody Mullins. In their new book The Wolves of K Street, they unpack the public and private campaign Google and its cast of lobbyists and political friends waged to protect the company and the consequences of that delay for all of us.

]]> Google just lost the biggest tech antitrust court ruling since the 1990s. And now the fate of Google’s search preeminence is TBD. But the question we’re asking in this episode; What took so long? This trial could have happened 11 years ago, but didn’t. Why not? How did Google avoid the antitrust arm of the government for so long? How did the case against Google get squashed back in 2012 and who did the squashing? And exactly how many times a week were Google executives meeting with the Obama administration over its eight years in office? 

David and Matt speak with journalists, brothers and co-authors Luke and Brody Mullins. In their new book The Wolves of K Street, they unpack the public and private campaign Google and its cast of lobbyists and political friends waged to protect the company and the consequences of that delay for all of us.

]]> Rock Creek Sound Buzzsprout-15924013 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0400 2640 1 1 full false Organized Money Trailer Organized Money Trailer On Organized Money, Matt Stoller & Dave Dayen break down the ways monopolies control the food we eat, the drugs we take, the way we communicate – and so much more. Coming October 15th.

]]> On Organized Money, Matt Stoller & Dave Dayen break down the ways monopolies control the food we eat, the drugs we take, the way we communicate – and so much more. Coming October 15th.

]]> Rock Creek Sounnd Buzzsprout-15910517 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:00:00 -0400 162 trailer false