Organized Money Trump's Showdown At The FTC with Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya
Mar 20, 2025
Alvaro Bedoya, an FTC commissioner known for championing consumer rights, shares his experience with an attempted firing by President Trump. He discusses the legal precedents protecting FTC commissioners and the broader implications for presidential power. The conversation explores the agency's role in regulating corporate influence, especially concerning insulin pricing and antitrust enforcement. Bedoya emphasizes the importance of dissent within regulatory bodies to maintain accountability, highlighting challenges that small businesses face in an increasingly monopolistic market.
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Humphrey's Executor
- In 1933, FDR fired FTC commissioner William Humphrey, leading to the "Humphrey's Executor" Supreme Court case.
- The Supreme Court ruled that FTC commissioners can only be fired for specific reasons, not political ones.
Timing of Firing
- Alvaro Bedoya was fired without cause eight weeks into the Trump administration, possibly due to recent actions.
- These actions included denouncing Amazon warehouse conditions and calling for an egg price investigation.
Political Motivations
- Trump's firing could be a warning to both Democrats and Republicans.
- It reinforces Trump's control over agencies like the FTC, NLRB, and FEC, impacting enforcement.