Bloomberg Intelligence BI Weekend: US Antitrust, AI in Retail, Restaurant Sales
Jan 23, 2026
Rania Sedhom, managing partner who advises brands on bankruptcy risks, explains how the Saks collapse affects vendors, consignments and consumer access to luxury goods. Sunny Bonnell, branding CEO and author, explores AI’s threat to brand differentiation and why authenticity and a clear point of view matter. They spar over legal fallout and how brands can preserve meaning while navigating AI-driven content overload.
AI Snips
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Transcript
Episode notes
Merger Enforcement Is Muted And Negotiated
- The DOJ shows little merger enforcement while the FTC is slightly more active but restrained.
- Companies expect regulators to negotiate remedies rather than block most deals outright.
Liability Wins Don't Yield Strong Tech Remedies
- Courts win on liability but judges resist drastic structural remedies in fast-changing tech sectors.
- That makes it hard for agencies to meaningfully alter dominant tech firms' market positions.
Political Alignment Shapes Merger Review
- The White House's preferences increasingly shape merger enforcement and spur lobbying activity.
- Preemptive alignment between agencies and the administration raises rule-of-law concerns in the antitrust community.