

The Capitol Forum Podcast
The Capitol Forum
Exploring Solutions to Monopoly ProblemsFollowing forty years of laissez-faire antitrust enforcement and industry consolidation, the White House is considering a fundamental rethink of how to interpret, enforce, and rewrite antitrust law, and many questions remain unanswered for the antitrust community. On the heels of federal and state litigation against Google and Facebook, is Amazon next? Will the new administration put big agriculture, big banks, and big pharma in its crosshairs? Will the courts stop antitrust enforcers in their tracks? Will the Biden administration get cold feet?The Capitol Forum Podcast provides in-depth discussions with antitrust experts about the answers to these questions and about proposed solutions to the biggest monopoly problems of our time. Backed by the investigative resources and intellectual rigor of The Capitol Forum, Executive Editor and host Teddy Downey examines the effects of the current concentrations of market power across a vast array of industry verticals as he and his guests analyze the potential responses from the federal government. Offering thoughtful conversations with analysts and decision makers, The Capitol Forum Podcast provides everyone from C-Suite executives to policymakers, and all those in-between, strategic antitrust insights at the intersection of law, policy, and markets.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 10, 2025 • 1h 16min
Jonathan Kanter & Rethinking Antitrust for the Modern Economy
In a thought-provoking conversation, Jonathan Kanter, former Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, delves into the challenges of modern antitrust enforcement. He shares his experience tackling monopolies, particularly within Big Tech, and emphasizes the urgency of adapting antitrust laws to match today's market realities. Kanter discusses the impact of economic concentration on fairness and democracy, highlighting the need for vigorous legal action against companies like Google and Apple to foster healthy competition.

Mar 10, 2025 • 54min
Outlook for Congressional Competition Policy and Antitrust Enforcement During the Trump Administration with Slade Bond
Slade Bond, Chair of Cuneo, Gilbert and LaDuca’s Public Policy and Legislative Affairs practice, discusses the evolving landscape of tech policy, discussing the legislative battles, political dynamics, and behind-the-scenes efforts shaping the future of regulation. Slade shares his insights on navigating Congress, the challenges of bipartisan cooperation, the influence of industry lobbying, and what it takes to push meaningful reforms forward.

Mar 10, 2025 • 56min
UnitedHealth Group’s Vertical Consolidation with Hayden Rooke-Ley
Hayden Rooke-Ley, a Health Law and Policy Fellow at Brown University, delves into the challenging world of vertical consolidation in healthcare. He highlights how UnitedHealth Group is shaping the market through its acquisition of Change Healthcare. The conversation uncovers the troubling practices surrounding Medicare Advantage, revealing concerns about fraud and patient care implications. Rooke-Ley also discusses the antitrust challenges posed by these consolidations and critiques the current legal landscape, raising vital questions about healthcare access and competition.

Mar 10, 2025 • 1h
Investor-Owned Utilities’ Excess Rates of Return with Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis, a Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, brings three decades of energy industry experience to the table. He discusses his paper on the excess returns of investor-owned utilities, revealing how their profit models strayed from initial designs. Ellis critiques regulatory practices and highlights the need for reforms to enhance transparency. He emphasizes the role of competition in utility regulation and explores innovative financing strategies that could align energy costs with sustainability goals, all while addressing the impact on American households.

Feb 4, 2025 • 50min
Fair and Competitive Markets at the U.S. Department of Agriculture with Andy Green
In this episode, former USDA Senior Advisor for Fair and Competitive Markets Andy Green discusses the Biden administration’s efforts to improve fairness in food markets and what the future may hold for the agency. Green reflects on key USDA rule-makings over the past few years, their impact on agriculture markets—particularly in seeds and poultry—and changes in enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act. Green provides valuable insights into the agency’s progress and the steps he believes are necessary to strengthen competition in the food industry.

Feb 4, 2025 • 1h
2025 Congressional Antitrust Outlook with Seth Bloom
In this episode, Seth Bloom, President of Bloom Strategic Counsel and former General Counsel of the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, discusses the congressional outlook on antitrust in 2025. With shifts in antitrust subcommittee leadership this term, he explores what these changes mean for competition policy, the legislative possibilities ahead, and what to expect from Republican-led antitrust efforts. Bloom offers key insights into how Congress may approach antitrust enforcement and reform in the coming year.

Feb 3, 2025 • 57min
Vestager Pushes Back Against Calls to Ease EU Merger Rules
In this special edition of Second Request, an exclusive interview with Margrethe Vestager, the former EU Antitrust Chief addressed concerns about a potential shift in U.S.- EU relations with the election of President Donald Trump.The interview is the first of a regular podcast hosted by Capitol Forum’s new Europe Executive Editor Javier Espinoza that will include some of the biggest names in European policy. Mr. Espinoza, a leading voice in Brussels regulatory coverage, recently joined Capitol Forum after nearly a decade at the Financial Times.

Jan 30, 2025 • 59min
Importance of the DOJ Live Nation Suit to Independent Venues with Stephen Parker
In this episode, The Capitol Forum welcomes National Independent Venue Association Executive Director Stephen Parker to explore how the DOJ’s Sherman Act Section 2 suit against Live Nation Ticketmaster could reshape the live entertainment industry. Parker discusses the current state of the primary ticketing market, the potential impact of structural changes on venues and promoters, and what ideal remedies could look like if Live Nation is found guilty.

Jan 2, 2025 • 1h 2min
Mark Wetjen on Crypto Legislation in the Trump Administration
This conversation on the future of crypto regulation under Trump's administration in 2025 reveals how proposed legislation could fundamentally reshape digital assets. Mark Wetjen, Partner at Dentons in their Federal Regulatory and Compliance Practice, looks at how the digital asset landscape may change, with particular focus on the roles of key regulators including the SEC, CFTC, and banking authorities. Wetjen also offers insights into how regulatory frameworks might impact competition among crypto exchanges and traditional financial institutions.

Jan 2, 2025 • 32min
Ambassador Katherine Tai on U.S. Trade Policy in the Biden Administration
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai talks about the intersection of history, economic policy, and trade in this episode of Second Request. Ambassador Tai reflects on her role in shaping the Biden administration's economic approach, contrasting it with decades of trickle-down economics. She examines the historical roots of trade policy, lessons from FDR's legacy, and the challenges of balancing corporate influence with public interest.