The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart From FTC to NYC with Lina Khan
18 snips
Nov 13, 2025 
Lina Khan, former Chair of the FTC and co-chair of Zohran Mamdani's transition team, dives deep into the interplay of federal and local economic policies. She discusses essential tools for supporting small businesses and consumer protection in NYC. Khan also tackles the critical issues of housing affordability and price discrimination affecting small enterprises. Additionally, she calls for embracing public options in essential markets, warns against unchecked corporate power, and emphasizes the need for economic reforms that prioritize working people.
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City Power Is Broader Than It Seems
- City governments have a broader economic toolkit than federal agencies and can directly shape affordability and competition locally.
- Mayors can use consumer protection, small business support, and economic development tools to level the playing field.
Asking Halal Cart Drivers About Prices
- Zoran Mamdani asked street vendors and bodega owners why staples like chicken and rice rose from $8 to $10 to understand real drivers of affordability.
- Khan says that basic curiosity and listening to everyday vendors guided his campaign and policy focus.
Buyer Power Can Mask Illegal Price Discrimination
- Large buyers can get prices below small-business wholesale rates, creating unlawful price discrimination.
- Revisiting the Robinson-Patman framework and new state laws can let city enforcers address buyer-power abuses.