The Powell Legacy: Antitrust and Corporate Power

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.