FTCWatch
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January 13, 2026
One year in, the FTC and Trump administration chart a new course
The Federal Trade Commission, structured by Congress to be a politically diverse group with staggered terms, has not reflected that original intent in the first year under new Chairman Andrew Ferguson.
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January 13, 2026
Calendar
Jan. 27 — The Federal Trade Commission is holding a workshop on “Moving Forward: Protecting Workers from Anticompetitive Noncompete Agreements.” It will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC. For more details, go to: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/ftc-announces-new-date-workshop-noncompete-agreements.
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January 13, 2026
Ethanol market remains competitive, report finds
The US ethanol industry’s low level of concentration and large number of participants suggest the exercise of market power to set prices, or coordinate on price or output levels, is unlikely, according to a Federal Trade Commission report.
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January 13, 2026
Companies rethink trade secret strategies even without FTC noncompete ban
Even after the Federal Trade Commission under the second Trump administration abandoned a Biden-era proposal to ban noncompete agreements, federal regulators and state legislatures are continuing efforts to curb their use. For companies seeking to protect their trade secrets, employment agreements remain a key tool, but one that may be losing its force.
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January 13, 2026
People — Former FTC bureau head Levine starts anew in NYC
Samuel Levine, who formerly headed the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, is now leading a unit with a similar mission in New York City, promising to use the position to provide “economic relief” for residents.
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January 13, 2026
Privacy Corner: Youth advocate Ava Smithing pushes against ‘unchecked power’ online
Telling the story of her eating disorder isn’t easy for Ava Smithing. For the sake of change, the advocacy director for Young People’s Alliance says it’s necessary to relive one of her worst moments.
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January 13, 2026
Trump’s involvement in Warner deal follows past presidential moves
When President Donald Trump promised to get involved in reviewing the sale of Warner Brothers Discovery, he was echoing the practice of some previous chief executives who played a role in the outcome of antitrust and merger cases.
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January 13, 2026
LivCor, DOJ reach tentative agreement over rent-fixing suit
The Department of Justice has reached a tentative agreement with LivCor that would bar algorithmic coordination and the exchange of competitively sensitive data with rivals as part of an antitrust lawsuit targeting rent-fixing by landlords.
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January 13, 2026
HOTDOG Act calls for FTC study on stadium concession prices
A Democratic congressional effort to require a Federal Trade Commission study of concession prices at stadiums and airports has been renewed, after a previous attempt failed to be included in an appropriations bill last year.
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January 13, 2026
Robocall complaints rose in FY 2025, biennial report says
The Federal Trade Commission received more than 2.6 million Do Not Call complaints in fiscal year 2025, an increase from the prior fiscal year. Consumers said most of the violations came via robocalls, according to the agency’s biennial report to Congress.
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January 13, 2026
White House drops plan to nominate Baasch to FTC
The White House no longer plans to nominate Ryan Baasch to be a member of the Federal Trade Commission, as he will be promoted to a role as deputy director of the National Economic Council and deputy assistant to the president, a White House official said.
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January 13, 2026
IT executive accused of defrauding federal government
A federal grand jury returned an indictment accusing Victor Marquez, the owner of two information technology companies, of a scheme to defraud the US government.
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January 13, 2026
On the Shelf: Life of a legal, judicial giant
Running the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice is the high point of most people’s careers. For Robert Jackson, it wasn’t even in the top three of the most significant government jobs he held.
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January 13, 2026
Neil Averitt commentary: The problem with both Warner Bros. bids
The pursuit of Warner Brothers is being reported like a sporting event, with the question being which corporate suitor — Netflix or Paramount — will emerge triumphant. But on the antitrust merits neither acquisition should be permitted.
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December 10, 2025
Supreme Court considers FTC’s executive power, ‘for cause’ removal protections
The Supreme Court seemed poised Monday to give the president the power to remove members of independent agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission for any reason, a departure from the FTC Act’s removal protection.
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December 10, 2025
Proposed law targets junk fees on hotels, travel
Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Janelle Bynum announced legislation to eliminate excessive fees in the ticketing, hotel and entertainment industries and bring transparency to the marketplace.
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December 10, 2025
Calendar
Jan. 27 — The Federal Trade Commission is holding a workshop on “Moving Forward: Protecting Workers from Anticompetitive Noncompete Agreements.” It will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC. For more information, go to: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/12/ftc-announces-new-date-workshop-noncompete-agreements.
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December 10, 2025
US agencies in early stages of mulling anti-scam strategies
After eliminating the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team at the Department of Justice this year, the DOJ announced in November the Scam Center Strike Force to address “cryptocurrency-related fraud and scams.”
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December 10, 2025
AI-powered toys raise alarms this holiday season
A talking stuffed animal that has inappropriate conversations with children sounds like a script for a Hollywood comedy. But this holiday season, parents are being warned that artificial intelligence-powered toys could pose serious safety and privacy risks for their children.
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December 10, 2025
AI partnerships proliferate amid lax US antitrust scrutiny
Business partnerships between Big Tech and AI players of all shapes and sizes offer an easy target for federal antitrust enforcers who have revived a previously neglected tool for cracking down on anticompetitive corporate governance.
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December 10, 2025
Order against NextMed over deceptive ads gets final nod
The Federal Trade Commission announced the final approval of an order against telemedicine company NextMed. It requires the company to stop deceptive ads of weight-loss programs and end unfair billing and cancellation practices.
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December 10, 2025
People — Wait, veteran lawyer, joins Michael Best
Amanda Wait, a seasoned antitrust lawyer, is now heading the burgeoning competition practice at Michael Best.
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December 10, 2025
Neil Averitt commentary: 2025 year in review
When a new administration takes office, the year is often marked by quick changes in general policy, which can be far more important than specific cases. This was especially true in the head-snapping transition from the Biden to Trump eras.
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December 10, 2025
RealPage settles with DOJ, agrees to stop sharing pricing data
RealPage has agreed to stop using competitors’ sensitive data to decide rental prices as part of an antitrust settlement with the Department of Justice.
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December 10, 2025
Lawmakers press Amazon to display product origins
Amazon and other online retailers should prominently show where their products come from on every product listing, according to a letter to Amazon from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.