Lever Time Trump’s New Merger Scandal Is Swampier Than Watergate
4 snips
Jul 31, 2025 
David Sirota chats with Sohrab Ahmari, US editor of UnHerd Magazine known for his investigative prowess, and Luke Goldstein, an Antitrust reporter at The Lever. They unveil the shocking green light given to a major tech merger by the Trump administration, suggesting corruption at play. They explore MAGA infighting in the Justice Department and reflect on how historical scandals like Watergate intersect with current antitrust issues. Could these developments lead to higher consumer prices? The duo navigates the murky waters of corporate mergers and their implications.
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Nixon's ITT Merger Interference
- Nixon personally ordered the Justice Department to drop the antitrust case against ITT related to a big merger.
- ITT had made a large campaign donation, tying the order to political influence rather than law.
Trump DOJ Merger Reversal Echoes Watergate
- Trump DOJ reversed course on the HP-Juniper merger case amidst a backroom lobbying storm.
- This mirrors Watergate-era scandals of political influence corrupting antitrust enforcement.
Gail Slater Represented GOP Realignment
- Gail Slater's antitrust appointment signaled a hoped-for GOP realignment toward pro-worker, anti-monopoly policies.
- Her rhetoric contrasted old GOP stances, promoting market fairness for consumers and workers.