Stephen Dubner

I gather that you're the person wearing that boot in the Andreessen comment.

We've learned recently that the merger guidelines put out on your watch will be retained by the Trump administration. Are you surprised by that?

We've learned recently that the merger guidelines put out on your watch will be retained by the Trump administration. Are you surprised by that?

We've learned recently that the merger guidelines put out on your watch will be retained by the Trump administration. Are you surprised by that?

I know J.D. Vance is a fan of yours. He recently said, I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration I actually think is doing a pretty good job. Considering how much Biden administration work has already been undone by the Trump administration, I wonder what it feels like for you to have one of your signature policies continue under Trump.

I know J.D. Vance is a fan of yours. He recently said, I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration I actually think is doing a pretty good job. Considering how much Biden administration work has already been undone by the Trump administration, I wonder what it feels like for you to have one of your signature policies continue under Trump.

I know J.D. Vance is a fan of yours. He recently said, I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration I actually think is doing a pretty good job. Considering how much Biden administration work has already been undone by the Trump administration, I wonder what it feels like for you to have one of your signature policies continue under Trump.

You once wrote that your hobbies include, quote, trying to find the most obscure industry where I can find consolidation. Can you name some industries that we may not think of as heavily consolidated, but are?

You once wrote that your hobbies include, quote, trying to find the most obscure industry where I can find consolidation. Can you name some industries that we may not think of as heavily consolidated, but are?

You once wrote that your hobbies include, quote, trying to find the most obscure industry where I can find consolidation. Can you name some industries that we may not think of as heavily consolidated, but are?

Lina Khan's example here, a consolidated market in ugly produce, points to a larger philosophical argument about how the U.S. economy should work. Just about every economist agrees that consolidation above a certain level can be a big problem.

Lina Khan's example here, a consolidated market in ugly produce, points to a larger philosophical argument about how the U.S. economy should work. Just about every economist agrees that consolidation above a certain level can be a big problem.

Lina Khan's example here, a consolidated market in ugly produce, points to a larger philosophical argument about how the U.S. economy should work. Just about every economist agrees that consolidation above a certain level can be a big problem.

The history of our economy includes a long line of creators and innovators, operators and aggregators who, through their grit and savvy, cornered markets or created monopolies. Some of these companies were intensely exploitative. But they were also helping create what would become perhaps the most dynamic economy in the history of the world.

The history of our economy includes a long line of creators and innovators, operators and aggregators who, through their grit and savvy, cornered markets or created monopolies. Some of these companies were intensely exploitative. But they were also helping create what would become perhaps the most dynamic economy in the history of the world.

The history of our economy includes a long line of creators and innovators, operators and aggregators who, through their grit and savvy, cornered markets or created monopolies. Some of these companies were intensely exploitative. But they were also helping create what would become perhaps the most dynamic economy in the history of the world.

And this dynamic capitalism has helped produce huge gains for many people over the years. It's hardly perfect. Everybody knows that. And over consolidation is one big flaw. But... How do you dampen the appetite for domination while keeping alive the incentives to create? How do you encourage people to keep risking their time and money and brainpower if they're punished for winning too big?

And this dynamic capitalism has helped produce huge gains for many people over the years. It's hardly perfect. Everybody knows that. And over consolidation is one big flaw. But... How do you dampen the appetite for domination while keeping alive the incentives to create? How do you encourage people to keep risking their time and money and brainpower if they're punished for winning too big?

And this dynamic capitalism has helped produce huge gains for many people over the years. It's hardly perfect. Everybody knows that. And over consolidation is one big flaw. But... How do you dampen the appetite for domination while keeping alive the incentives to create? How do you encourage people to keep risking their time and money and brainpower if they're punished for winning too big?

If someone comes up with a clever idea like buying up ugly produce and building a market around it, and they come to dominate that market, is that reason alone to break them up? That is essentially the same question Google is facing in court right now. So where is the appropriate middle ground? After the break, we will try to find it.