Lever Time Trump’s Tuesday Night Massacre
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Mar 21, 2025 
Alvaro Bedoya, FTC Commissioner and legal challenger to President Trump's recent actions, discusses the alarming implications of Trump's moves to fire independent regulators. Bedoya emphasizes the critical role of independent agencies in maintaining fair markets and preventing corruption. He likens the firings to Nixon's infamous purge, warning that consolidating presidential power risks transforming governance into a corrupt monarchy. The conversation touches on the precarious state of consumer protections and the challenges faced by small businesses amidst political influence.
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Trump's Inauguration and Corporate Ties
- Alvaro Bedoya highlights Trump's inauguration attendees, including Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg, who donated significantly.
- He emphasizes Amazon's dealings with Trump, including licensing "The Apprentice" and a documentary about the First Lady.
Corporate Donations and FTC Investigations
- Corporations under FTC investigation donated $8 million to Trump's inauguration, suggesting a conflict of interest.
- These companies include Abbott, Adobe, Amazon, Coca-Cola, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Uber, and Syngenta.
Legality of the Firing
- Trump's argument for firing Bedoya is that he has the right to appoint his own people.
- Bedoya counters that this is illegal, as commissioners can only be removed for cause, which was not provided.