Organized Money

In this engaging discussion, Mike Beckham, Co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, shares his journey from nonprofit work to leading a successful e-commerce brand known for its stainless steel drinkware. He dives into the complexities of global supply chains and the challenges of reshoring manufacturing to the U.S. Mike highlights how new tariffs could disrupt consumer prices and discusses the hidden costs of Amazon's business model, revealing how algorithms dominate decision-making in retail.

In this engaging discussion, Molson Hart, an entrepreneur and toy company founder, delves into the significant impact of new 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. He shares firsthand experiences from the manufacturing floor, revealing how these tariffs disrupt supply chains, risking layoffs in ports and warehouses. The conversation highlights strategic shifts toward production in countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, and contrasts current economic uncertainties with the pandemic's effects. Hart emphasizes the need for reevaluating supply chain dependencies and fostering U.S. manufacturing resilience.

Laurel Kilgore, an attorney with the American Economic Liberties Project, and Brendan Benedict, an antitrust attorney, dive into high-stakes antitrust trials against Google and Meta. They discuss Google's potential punishment for monopolizing search and the government's push to divest Chrome. Brendan shares insights from the Meta trial, examining how the company's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp may have stifled competition. The conversation highlights the interplay of law and corporate power amid the current political climate.

Spurred on by Trump, Covid, and climate change, leaders are taking a more hands-on approach to shaping markets that would be seen as impossible a few years ago—but as our guest today argues, this kind of marketcraft is actually a long American tradition. Today, Matt and David welcome Chris Hughes, one of Facebook's founders, to the show to talk about his new book Marketcrafters. The book demolishes the myth that government and the free market were ever truly separate entities and examines the oft-forgotten stories of how policymakers on both sides of the aisle have used their power to craft markets to both good and bad ends.This week also marks the beginning of the FTC's trial against Meta, an action Chris called for back in 2019 in The New York Times. We get Chris's take on the trial, plus a dispatch from Matt, who has been watching the proceedings go down at the courthouse. To learn about Chris's new book Marketcrafters, check out his Substack: https://chrishughes749530.substack.comRead Chris's 2019 op-ed calling for Facebook to be broken up: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/09/opinion/sunday/chris-hughes-facebook-zuckerberg.html

Jonathan Kanter, the former head of the DOJ's antitrust division and current CNBC contributor, shares his thrilling experiences battling major corporations like Google and Ticketmaster. He reveals the courtroom drama and hilarious moments he faced while leading a small team against powerful monopolies. Kanter discusses Apple’s monopolistic practices and the challenges of fostering innovation in a competitive market. His insights on evolving antitrust strategies emphasize the ongoing fight against corporate power, shedding light on the complexities of promoting fair competition.

Jonathan Kanter, former head of the Antitrust Division and big law partner, delves into the intricate ties between major law firms and politics. He discusses how recent executive orders from the Trump administration have created a chilling effect on legal representation, especially against government actions. The conversation shifts to the ways big law has evolved from academia to a profit-driven focus, impacting their dual roles as legal advisers and political players. Kanter also highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by firms in maintaining integrity amid profit pressures.

In this discussion, Randy Arceneaux, CEO of Affiliated Foods, and Chris Jones, Chief Government Relations Officer at the National Grocers Association, reveal how giants like Walmart use their size to unfairly dominate the grocery market. They delve into the complexities of price discrimination under the Robinson-Patman Act and share insights on the struggles of independent grocers against monopolistic practices. The conversation highlights supply chain challenges post-pandemic, including shortages affecting smaller stores, and underscores the importance of fair pricing and competition in the industry.

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.

Cory Doctorow, a renowned author and activist known for his advocacy against monopolies, discusses the alarming trend of 'enshitification' in Big Tech. He unpacks how the initial utopian dreams of Silicon Valley transformed into profit-driven power grabs by giants like Amazon and Google. The conversation delves into the erosion of internet culture, the shift in Google's priorities from user experience to maximizing ad revenue, and the effects of monopolization on creativity in publishing. Doctorow highlights the urgent need for interoperability and competition in tech.

Rich Ham, CEO of FineTune and procurement expert, joins the discussion to unpack the labyrinth of corporate efficiency and waste. He reveals how companies often squander money through poor purchasing practices, questioning whether drastic budget cuts, like those employed by Elon Musk, genuinely foster savings or lead to costly setbacks. The conversation draws parallels to 'Office Space', shedding light on the struggles faced by procurement teams and the tactics suppliers use to exploit inefficiencies, ultimately emphasizing the need for better strategic decision-making.