Billionaire Democratic donors Barry Diller and Reid Hoffman said in interviews this week they hope Kamala Harris will replace Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan if she becomes U.S. president, openly rejecting a pillar of President Joe Biden’s antitrust policy.

Khan has been at the forefront of the Biden administration’s push to use U.S. antitrust law to boost competition and address high prices and low wages. Khan, who oversaw the FTC’s ban on noncompete agreements, has drawn the ire of corporate groups, but won fans including Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, for her skepticism towards big business.

Now, big money Democratic donors this week publicly said Khan should not be part of a potential Harris administration. Diller, chairman of travel site Expedia, said in a recent Bloomberg interview that he would donate the maximum allowed to Harris’ campaign. He said in an interview on CNBC on Friday that he would lobby Harris to replace Khan, saying Khan was against “almost anything” business wants to do to grow efficiently.

  • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    169
    ·
    4 months ago

    Khan, who oversaw the FTC’s ban on noncompete agreements, has drawn the ire of corporate groups … saying Khan was against “almost anything” business wants to do to grow efficiently.

    Riiiight. “Business growing efficiently” sounds like a really bad meme, with NDA and layoff texts covering the whole panel and Trump screaming “YOU’RE FIRED!!”

    Big business can fuck right off.

  • DoctorWhookah@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    120
    ·
    4 months ago

    If big business liked her she wouldn’t be doing her job. I saw her on Jon Stewart and she’s smart AF! I kinda gotta low key thing for her now. Should I tell my SO?

  • Phenomephrene@thebrainbin.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    48
    ·
    4 months ago

    When asked for comment on the ramifications of operating business efficiently upon an already struggling working class, who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing and adequate nutrition for themselves and their children, Diller’s lips formed a smile twice as broad as his face, eyes glossing over as he stared dreamily into the distance with eyes twinkling like the night sky.

    The above quote may or may not actually appear in the linked article.

  • machinin@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    32
    ·
    4 months ago

    Diller, chairman of travel site Expedia, said in a recent Bloomberg interview that he would donate the maximum allowed to Harris’ campaign.

    That’s only like $3,300, right? What kind of influence does he expect with that?

      • JimboDHimbo@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        16
        ·
        4 months ago

        For an individual person, yes. The loophole that the rich and wealthy use is to donate any monetary value above that 3k, to a PAC or super PAC.

          • gerbler@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            4 months ago

            A PAC is a political action committee. You can only donate $3300 to a politician but if you donate 33 million to a PAC that pac can advertise, organise and campaign on the politicians behalf. Effectively sidestepping political donation laws.

  • thesporkeffect@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    28
    ·
    edit-2
    4 months ago

    This would be a great way for Harris to fully bidenize any enthusiasm the general public has for her candidacy.

    Personally I’m saving empty glass bottles for no particular reason, I hope there continues to be no reason in the future

    • JPAKx4
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      ·
      4 months ago

      Ngl, bad idea. She is doing amazing and an expert in her field. Bernie is already doing a good job representing his people, let him be.

  • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    12
    ·
    edit-2
    4 months ago

    but won fans including Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, for her skepticism towards big business.

    Huh? The GOP appointments on the board were all about supporting non-competes saying it helps business and all that garbage.

    • solrize@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      4 months ago

      Lots of Republicans don’t like Amazon. Khan became famous as an academic by publishing articles saying how Amazon needed to be reined in, that existing antitrust law wouldn’t do it, and that such-and-such changes should be made. She got brought into the FTC basically because of that.

  • Ænima@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    edit-2
    4 months ago

    I’ll start donating the maximum I can afford if she tells him to fuck off publicly! Or, just tell the douch she’ll do it, then call him the day she confirms the pick is the same, and thank him for the donations. Fuck these ghouls.

  • Steve@communick.news
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    I’m not exactly a fan of Harris. But her inability to keep staffers, means she had no problem just accepting Biden’s entire campaign team. And I actually do hope the same for most of his agency appointments. Lina Khan most especially.