Opening Arguments But Who Will Execute the Executer? The Supreme Court.
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Dec 12, 2025 
Matt Cameron, an immigration attorney and legal analyst, delves into the implications of the FTC’s independence amid political pressures. He discusses the risks of mergers like Warner Bros. Discovery's with big names, revealing potential legal red flags. The conversation shifts to the Supreme Court case Trump v. Slaughter, where Cameron critiques how it could reshape independent agencies. Additionally, he highlights the controversial Trump Gold Card proposal, exploring its transformative effects on immigration pathways and equity in the system.
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Monitor Agency Reviews On Big Mergers
- Watch FTC and DOJ reviews closely if major media mergers are announced.
- Engage public and legal pressure early because these agencies regulate market concentration.
Why The WBD–Netflix Deal Looks Illegitimate
- A Warner Bros. Discovery merger with Netflix or Paramount would likely be illegal under existing antitrust standards.
- The FTC and DOJ historically block deals that concentrate already-concentrated markets using metrics like the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index.
FTC's Origins And Protected Independence
- The FTC was created in 1914 as an independent, bipartisan commission to regulate trade.
- Humphrey's Executor upheld commissioners' for-cause removal protections, anchoring long-standing agency independence.