The Capitol Forum Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Antitrust attorney Basel Musharbash and Farm Action’s Sarah Carden discuss a groundbreaking report on corporate control in American agriculture. Commissioned by Farm Action and written by Basel, ’Kings Over the Necessaries of Life' dives into the history of competition policy in agriculture, current market concentration levels, and strategies for restoring competition in this crucial sector.

Co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and director of the Energy Democracy Initiative, John Farrell, discusses his recent report on the 100-year-old business model granting private exclusive power over the public resource of electricity. Learn about the abuses that come from allowing private monopoly power to control electricity, including pollution-linked deaths, price-hiking, power-shutoffs for low-income families and other publicly borne burdens. The discussion also includes recommended structural reforms for restoring competition and equilibrium to the sector. 

Experienced election analyst Michael Podhorzer talks to Executive Editor of The Capitol Forum, Teddy Downey, about the 2024 presidential election. Listen to the podcast to learn more about what polling and historical voting patterns can and can’t tell us about prospective outcomes. They also discuss the roles and responsibilities of the press during election cycles. 

404 Media co-founder and journalist Joseph Cox discusses his latest investigation into how hackers and fraudsters are illegally accessing sensitive drug ordering tools and then advertising some of the most tightly controlled drugs in the country, including fentanyl. Communicating directly with the hackers and fraudsters themselves, Joseph was able to uncover how they are gaining access to legitimate drug ordering services. Listen to the podcast to learn about the methods they use and why unsecure “credit header data” is at the root of many of these compromises. 

On this episode of Second Request, Executive Editor of The Capitol Forum, Teddy Downey, speaks to former Deputy Director for the National Economic Council Bharat Ramamurti about the White House’s approach to improving competition across all sectors of the economy. During his time on the National Economic Council, Bharat played a key role in developing the President’s Executive Order on Competition, which set forth 72 provisions for steps federal agencies can take to promote competition. Listen to the podcast to learn how the Executive Order reflects the president’s specific competition priorities and to hear about some of the successes that have already come out of it, including the newly established Competition Council.

On this episode of Second Request, executive director of Clean Virginia, Brennan Gilmore, discusses the biggest successes and challenges Clean Virginia has experienced working to advance clean government and clean energy. Listen to the podcast to learn about the history of Virginia’s monopoly utility regulation and the influence Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest utility, has had on how the state’s energy is structured. You'll hear why Clean Virginia blames a misaligned incentive structure and political influence for years of customer overcharges, poor energy efficiency, and lack of market competition and what they are doing to change it.

Jack Ryan, cofounder and CEO of the real estate brokerage REX, and Darren McCarty, lead lawyer in the current antitrust litigation for REX, discuss the recent litigation against the National Association of Realtors and what it means for the future of residential real estate.  

Legal expert Seth Bloom delves into the Google antitrust trial, amidst the current legal landscape, tech trends, and evolving regulatory environment. Analyzing the trial's dynamics, he and host Teddy Downey explore the role of Judge Mehta, potential outcomes, and the broader implications for the tech industry. The conversation extends to AI, cloud computing, and algorithmic accountability, touching on issues surrounding YouTube and children's privacy. 

Kevin Erickson, director of the Future of Music Coalition, discusses the DOJ and State AGs’ monopolization investigations into Live Nation and how anticompetitive conduct in the industry hurts musicians and fans. Kevin and host Teddy Downey lay out what regulators, enforcers, and policymakers can do to encourage competition, diversity of practice, and creative autonomy in the live music marketplace. 

Dr. Michael J. Birrer, an expert in oncology, discusses the complexities of generic oncology drug shortages, exploring the root causes and potential solutions to this recurring problem. Dr. Birrer shares his perspectives on the impact of reimbursement policies, the role of government intervention, and the need for a more streamlined FDA process. The discussion also touches on the influence of insurance companies, the quality of medical expertise in insurance decisions, and the broader landscape of oncology drug development.