Rebecca Slaughter, Katherine Tai and Jonathan Kanter on Getting Fired, Trade, and the Rule of Law

In this special episode, former FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter and former U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai talk to Teddy and former Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter to discuss the recent upheaval at the FTC and its implications for market stability, antitrust enforcement, and the rule of law.

Slaughter describes being abruptly fired from her FTC position, highlighting that this dismissal violates legal protections that prohibit FTC commissioners' removal without cause. She emphasizes that this unprecedented action introduces significant legal uncertainty, potentially undermining ongoing critical FTC cases, such as the lawsuit against pharmaceutical benefit managers accused of inflating insulin prices, and cases involving major corporations like Amazon. This instability challenges market predictability and may affect the enforcement of antitrust laws, consumer protection, and market fairness.

Ambassador Tai reflects on the global perception of U.S. trade policy, particularly during the Trump administration, and stresses the importance of consistent policies for international trust and stability. Tai explains the complexity surrounding tariffs, underscoring the risks associated with unpredictability and disruptions in trade relationships with key partners like the EU, Canada, and Mexico. She points out that inconsistent U.S. actions erode its reputation as a reliable trading partner, thus pushing other nations to depend more heavily on China or each other.

Both express concern over current policy chaos in Washington, implications for the rule of law, and democratic stability. They highlight that market actors like Wall Street typically prefer predictability and clear rules, now compromised by this governmental instability.

We end with worries that politically driven decisions—such as Slaughter’s firing—provide advantages to large corporations, including Big Tech, undermining fair competition and accountability.