FTC Chair Lina Khan Responds To Pushback

Editor’s Note: On Wednesday, billionaire tech tycoon and Democratic donor Reed Hoffman called on Vice President Kamala Harris, if she becomes president, to oust Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan, who’s taken an aggressive approach to enforcing antitrust laws — and is currently scrutinizing a merger involving two of Hoffman’s companies. On Friday, another media tycoon called Khan “a dope.” Meanwhile, presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Harris herself has remained silent on the issue.

What does Khan think about all this? And what would an administrative shake-up — by way of former President Donald Trump’s reelection or Harris’ potential staffing changes — mean for antitrust enforcement, consumer protection, and monopoly power in the United States? The Lever’s founder and editor-in-chief David Sirota spoke with Khan to learn her thoughts.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.