Lina Khan, the youngest F.T.C. chair in history, reset U.S. antitrust policy by thwarting mega-mergers and other monopolistic behavior. This earned her enemies in some places, and big fans in others — including the Trump administration. Stephen Dubner speaks with Khan about her tactics, her track record, and her future.
Jan 23
660. The Wellness Industry Is Gigantic — and Mostly Wrong
Zeke Emanuel (a physician, medical ethicist, and policy wonk) has some different ideas for how to lead a healthy and meaningful life. It starts with ice cream. (Part three of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Zeke Emanuel, oncologist, bioethicist, profess ... Show More
1h 5m
Jan 21
Steve Levitt Quits His Podcast, Joins Ours
After five years, Levitt is ending People I (Mostly) Admire, and will start hosting the occasional Freakonomics Radio episode. We couldn’t be happier. SOURCES:Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics and host of People I (Mostly) Admire. RESOURCES:"How to Help Kids Succeed," by Pe ... Show More
45m 58s
Jun 2025
The Progressive Regulator Winning Over the Populist Right
<p>Is the key to freedom a life without Amazon? This week, Ross talks to Lina Khan, former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission about how unchecked corporate power has limited choice in our day-to-day lives, and how her fight against Big Tech unites left and right.</p><ul><li>02 ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2024
Unlocking Innovation Through Antitrust Enforcement — ft. Lina Khan
Scott and Ed open the show by discussing China’s stock market surge, Softbank’s investment in OpenAI, and why Gavin Newsom vetoed an AI safety bill. Then Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, joins the show to discuss the need for regulation in big tech and the connec ... Show More
55m 19s
Aug 2025
S6: The Dubious Legality of Trump's DC Takeover
<p>Kate and Leah recap the week's legal news, including argument calendars for the next SCOTUS term and President Trump's attempted federal takeover of Washington, DC. Then, it's our third annual State of The Uterus episode. Melissa and Leah talk with Alexis McGill Johnson, presi ... Show More
1h 51m
Oct 2024
Mark W. Geiger, "Floor Rules: Insider Culture in Financial Markets" (Yale UP, 2024)
Are financial markets lawless and irrational? It may seem that way from the outside, but for market insiders there are multiples sets of rules that they break at their peril.
Official rules set by law or by the exchanges exist alongside unofficial rules, or floor rules. Between ... Show More
1h 13m
Feb 2025
What Is Trump's Endgame With Tariffs?
This week, we ask what it is exactly US President Donald Trump may be trying to accomplish with his tariff threats and trade wars. Stephanie Flanders, Bloomberg’s head of government and economics, is joined by Anna Wong, chief US economist at Bloomberg Economics, and Bloomberg re ... Show More
29m 24s
Oct 3
Shutdown Sparks Cringey Meme War & Trump Punishes Blue Cities | Kevin Nguyen
Ronny Chieng covers Day 2 of the government shutdown: Republicans and Democrats are dueling via sombrero and cat memes, Trump is going after blue cities with a vengeance, and his administration is surprisingly joyful. Plus, Michael Kosta joins with expert analysis of MAGA’s uncon ... Show More
35m 48s