Invoked, 51-46: Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #37 Mark Meador to be a Federal Trade Commissioner for the term of seven years from September 26, 2024.

DOJ statements regarding its antitrust victory against Google today focuses on censorship/content moderation. “Google’s unlawful dominance allows them to censor and even deplatform American voices," AAG Slater says.

NEW: We have the House Judiciary markup draft -- GOP proposing to transfer all Federal Trade Commission antitrust functions to DOJ, kneecapping core FTC regulatory power. Hailey Fuchs politico.com/live-updates/2…

NEW: One Agency Act already out of reconciliation bill before House Judiciary. Amendment adopted "removes the section" that consolidates FTC antitrust enforcement into DOJ

Google argued during the hearing that any divestiture would be inappropriate because it would hurt advertisers if they lost access to Google's tools. Judge Brinkema seemed skeptical of those arguments.

Ferguson says the Biden Admin FTC had hired employees "beyond what we could afford" and left the agency in a difficult financial position. He also said the FTC has cut $6 million in contract spending for this year already.

Ferguson specifies the ultimate headcount goal for the FTC is in the 1,100 range, ideally without layoffs.

The Trump Administration has proposed cutting the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust budget by 11%, including the elimination of 51 employees. With Anna Langlois globalcompetitionreview.com/gcr-usa/articl…

Per this doc, @BedoyaFTC, who Trump tried to fire from the FTC but who has sued contending the move was illegal, has formally resigned. He "can no longer afford to go without any source of income for [his] family." courtlistener.com/docket/6980119…

DOJ permits T-Mobile's $4.4 billion purchase of US Cellular

FTC says an oil exec cannot seek to overturn the order barring him from Exxon's board of directors. However, it "plans to consider his arguments" under a different process for reopening final orders