Trump Utterly OUTMANEUVERED as Voters HAVE HAD ENOUGH
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Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖State Attorneys General are actively pursuing antitrust cases against major corporations like Live Nation/Ticketmaster and Amazon, achieving significant legal victories.
- ❖The Trump administration's Department of Justice is criticized for its perceived inaction or active undermining of antitrust enforcement and voting rights protection.
- ❖A multi-state coalition of AGs is challenging federal executive orders that attempt to federalize state election operations and suppress votes, with early legal successes.
- ❖Corporate executives at Live Nation were found to have 'laughed' at consumers while price gouging, using tying arrangements to maintain their monopoly.
- ❖Amazon allegedly pressured brands to raise prices on other platforms to prevent undercutting its own prices, effectively engaging in price-fixing.
Insights
1Landmark Antitrust Verdict Against Live Nation/Ticketmaster
A jury in the Southern District of New York found Live Nation and Ticketmaster guilty of operating an illegal monopoly and price gouging. Evidence showed executives actively mocked consumers for being 'stupid' while implementing excessive fees and tying arrangements that forced venues and performers into exclusive deals.
Jury verdict, internal emails revealing executive contempt, detailed description of tying arrangements (venue exclusivity for performers, Ticketmaster exclusivity for venues).
2California AG's Lawsuit Against Amazon for Price-Fixing
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company engages in price-fixing by pressing major brands (like Levi's or pet product companies) to raise prices on competing platforms (like Walmart). Unsealed documents reveal Amazon threatened to de-platform or punish vendors who offered lower prices elsewhere, eliminating competition and driving up consumer costs.
Unsealed documents, specific examples of Amazon telling Levi's to tell Walmart to raise prices, California's Cartwright Act lawsuit.
3State Attorneys General as the Vanguard for Consumer Protection
In the absence of robust federal antitrust enforcement under the Trump administration, state Attorneys General have stepped up to protect consumers from unlawful corporate consolidations and anti-competitive practices. They are utilizing both federal (Sherman Act, Clayton Act) and state antitrust laws (like California's Cartwright Act) to pursue cases that the federal government has neglected or abandoned.
AG Bonta's statement on federal government 'going dark' on the eve of the Live Nation trial, multiple state-led cases, concurrent jurisdiction.
4Multi-State Action to Block Unconstitutional Federal Voting Orders
A coalition of 23 Democratic state Attorneys General, joined by Pennsylvania's Governor Shapiro, is actively challenging Trump administration executive orders aimed at undermining election integrity and suppressing votes. These orders, such as one attempting to create a federal 'citizenship list' to filter mail-in ballots via the USPS, are deemed unconstitutional as the President lacks authority over the 'time, place, and manner' of elections, which is reserved for states and Congress.
Description of Trump's executive order on citizenship lists and USPS filtering, previous injunctions against voter ID and ballot counting orders, Election Clause of the Constitution.
Lessons
- Support state-level legal and regulatory efforts that protect consumers and uphold democratic processes, especially when federal oversight is perceived to be lacking.
- Stay informed about state Attorneys General's lawsuits against large corporations for antitrust violations and price-fixing, as these actions directly impact consumer affordability.
- Be vigilant about executive orders or federal actions that attempt to interfere with state-run elections or suppress voting rights, and understand the constitutional basis for state sovereignty in election administration.
- Recognize that corporate behavior, when unchecked by regulation, often prioritizes profit over consumer welfare, making robust antitrust enforcement essential.
Notable Moments
A jury in the Southern District of New York delivered an 11-page verdict form, finding Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable on every question regarding their illegal monopoly and anti-competitive practices.
This represents a complete legal thrashing for the entertainment giant and a significant victory for states and consumers, validating long-held suspicions about price gouging.
Unsealed and unredacted documents in California's lawsuit against Amazon revealed direct evidence of Amazon pressing brands to raise prices on other retail platforms.
This public disclosure provides concrete proof of alleged price-fixing, reinforcing the need for immediate legal intervention to protect market competition and consumer prices.
The Trump administration 'went dark' and then pursued a 'weak' settlement with Live Nation on the eve of the states' trial, leaving states to continue the fight alone.
This highlights the perceived failure of federal antitrust enforcement under the Trump administration and underscores the critical role of state Attorneys General in filling that regulatory void.
Quotes
"Antitrust is about affordability. You know, full stop. That's what it's about. And it's about preventing unlawful corporate consolidations and anti-competitive practices that raise the prices for everyday Americans."
"Amazon has suggested and and um told the world that they have some of the lowest prices. And meanwhile, we've found that they are raising prices."
"The federal government is laying down and retreating from their normal traditional role that they should be playing... and the states are stepping up and stepping in."
"The president has zero authority to determine the time, place, and manner of elections. The constitution speaks very clearly on this and the election clause."
Q&A
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