Ah yes, more claptrap about Don and "America First" lookin out for folks who are left behind by rapacious corporations. Perhaps these tough regulators can look into Don's crypto scams? For everyone's reading assignment I'd suggest boning up on Don's meme coin, surely the biggest scam ever by a US prez. It's astounding corruption. Then maybe add some writings on autocracy by Anne Applebaum. Get a grip Oren, this is a classic authoritarian movement. To succeed, autocrats depend on the acquiescence of elites. Why did you join them?
Cass's complete silence on the breathtakingly corrupt crypto scams coming out of the Trump administration say more about what he thinks "America First" means than all his other writings combined. As long as Trump gestures towards "helping the working man" he and his family are free to enrich themselves through blatant corruption. Just make sure the proles believe he's looking out for them and he can strip-mine American wealth and prosperity for himself, while people like Cass and his buddy JD Vance try to reverse engineer Trump's moronic impulses on trade into some kind of coherent plan that will benefit us all.
I know many a lifelong Dem who no longer feel affinity for the party. They didn’t change. The party moved away from them. Yes Trump is an extreme narcissist, but the guy loves his country. He has been consistent over the years that other countries have taken advantage of America. Why can’t we sell American cars in Japan, etc. Why do we allow other NATO countries to underfund. China has trounced over trade norms since their admission to WTO. Nobody has addressed these and it is naive to think someone else would have. We are nowhere near autocracy. Stop being so hysterical. Dems were talking about packing the Supreme Court. Biden bragged about flouting Supreme Court student loan decision. Schumer threatened Supreme Court justices “you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price “.
Trump has taken US propaganda meant to subdue its "allies" for reality.
- It is well known that US firms are regularly excepted from sanctions. Firms from other countries almost never.
- It is widely believed that Gaddafi was deposed because his plans for an African currency threatened the reserve position of the dollar. There are similar claims about other regime change operations. The dollar is so high because the US wants it that way and goes to great length to achieve it. The result is of course a big trade deficit.
- A decade ago the EU had a growing defense industry. It withered because of US pressure. The US doesn't care about how much its allies spend on defense but it cares a lot about how much they spend on American weapons.
Hmm, an odd way to show love for one's country, at least to this lifelong Republican. Inciting an armed insurrection leading to the first non-peaceful transfer of power in the nation's history. Fabrication of the big lie, which continues today, seeking to undermine the bedrock of democracy-faith in free and fair elections. But let's leave that and his myriad other autocratic acts aside. It's just fiction that the post-war order has left the US as a victim. Don (when he isn't bragging publicly about "acing" a test meant to diagnose dementia, or instructing us to ingest bleach) repeating it incessantly doesn't make it true. It's just part of his schtick, and I'm tired of the shit-talking of my country. The post-war order we created led to the most economically prosperous period in human history, and a period devoid of the major power conflict so common for centuries. All with the US at the center. We were the big winner, not the big loser. Was it perfect? Of course not, we face many challenges. We always will. But claiming we are a victim shows a lack of awareness of the prosperity and power we enjoy vs the rest of the world. Data doesn't lie. Traveling the world drives this point home. I'll put it more simply-where would you rather live, what country does it better, what period in history would you prefer to live in?
In the USA. However, unlike the postwar period, we have a real competitor that is willing to do whatever it takes to leverage themselves to advantage at other’s expense. Useful idiots welcome. It’s not the 50’s anymore.
On this we agree. Perhaps the question is, who is the useful idiot? Accordingly, do you think it wise that we have just pitched our longtime allies overboard, rather than enlisting them in the project? After all, one major advantage of China is scale, which we only surmount in conjunction with said allies. But hey, perhaps you're right, and the self-described "very stable genius" is playing 4D chess and this is all going according to plan. Perhaps I'm right and he's a corrupt, small, authoritarian wannabe idiot. Read the public statements of his first term top officials, almost all of whom were fired after he assured us they were "the best people" when he hired them. Do you believe them, or him?
Agree, Joepa did not. He even proved it himself in the summer of 24 when he finally acted, numbers went way down then. Also agree with your comment on the views of existing legal immigrants, D’s seem unable to understand that. That doesn’t negate the need for legislation, administrative actions are not permanent. Ironically, R’s may never again get the D’s to concede so much. Regardless, we also need to fix the other side of the equation so we’re able to facilitate the legal immigration we need. Our fertility rate is better than some advanced countries, but not sufficient. The last thing we want to be is China. Estimates vary, but their population is projected to fall by as much as half by the end of the century. Population decline crushes an economy. And immigration done right produces more than just more bodies. It draws the most ambitious and industrious to your shores, like my grandparents. So far, no one wants to move to China, they want to come here. For me, that’s a market signal we want to nourish, not extinguish. I fear Don’s actions work in the opposite direction. I shudder when I read that (formerly) allied governments now issue burner phones to their staff traveling to the US for fear of recent border actions.
Thoughtful answer. However Biden did not need legislation as evidenced by the dramatic reduction of border encounters since Trump inauguration. I have a problem letting millions across without due process and then insisting that years and untold amounts of money be spent to send people home who came here illegally. I live in NYC and have been told by many hardworking legal immigrants (workers in my building, taxi drivers, restaurant workers) that they resent those that came in illegally since they did it the right way. I’m guessing your grandparents came here legally. My ancestors did.
Immigration is a decades old bipartisan issue. Neither party actually wants a solution, they want the issue, similar to entitlement reform. I agree Joepa had failed border policies, and he rightfully paid a huge price. We should have an orderly, secure border. Hopefully you’ll agree that Don openly tanked a substantive bipartisan immigration bill where D’s went further than they ever have. Hopefully you’ll also agree that sending legal residents to foreign prisons without due process, then defying Supreme Court orders to bring them back (after the administration admitted in court they were sent mistakenly) is about as un-American as it gets. I also see immigration as our secret sauce, and a major advantage over China. They face massive demographic challenges including population decline over the next several decades. I live in the rust belt, where the only population growth for most of our hardest hit communities comes from immigration. I just reviewed the latest census data for my state, and all the net growth was from immigration. I want the smartest students and scientists coming to study and work here, not China. I want the person who has the guts to pack up their children and everything they own, then schlep for hundreds of miles to end up in a place they don’t understand, all for a dream. My grandparents were immigrants. Don’s mother and two of his three wives are immigrants. This is America, not China, people want to be here. So far…
Clearly Ds have provided insufficient answers. They lost. That said, AOC didn't win their primary, Joepa did by running against their fringe, and Don was elected by swing voters in swing districts that also voted for Obama and Joepa. Joepa then continued most of Dons China tariffs, rebuilt alliances, and produced some industrial policy such as the chips act. Yes, Joepa had many, many failings too. But neither party has all the answers, and regardless the long term answers will require a level of consensus our current structure is unable to produce. We need to grow up, come together as a country and realize our enemies are not fellow Americans but those who want to destroy us. This is a multi-decade project that requires our smartest people working together on behalf of something larger than self. Don is the worst possible type leader to lead such an effort. Give me anyone, far left or far right, as long as they are smart, normal, honorable, of high character, and respectful of our institutions. Hell, Don can't even articulate his own tariff strategy. His staff disagrees with him and among themselves over what the strategy is. Is it re-shoring, leverage for negotiation, or revenue for more budget busting tax cuts? Or is it really about meme coins, power, and retribution?
Failings? I’ll say! Failure to defend the border. 10 million illegals during Biden administration. Does the party responsible for this love the country or are they, if not in actuality, at the least acting like the enemy within?
I forgot to ask. What did you think of Don and JD gaslighting folks with the Haitian pet eating fiasco? Legal residents the town sought out as an economic lifeline, legal residents defended by the R governor. To me, it's an example of what demagogues like Don and JD do, pick on the least among us, dehumanizing them, in pursuit of political power. Serious leaders actually concerned about the economic health of our communities wouldn't act in such a way. And it sure seems to be the opposite of what I learned in church Sunday school all those years back...
Yea I agree that was nonsense. He is quite a piece of work. Hence my original comment where is Ike. Vance is a smart guy and does care about poor working people.
Thanks for the back and forth. Perhaps our partners need a wake up call. I fear they may become China’s useful idiots. I never said he is playing 4D chess and I’m as apprehensive as the next guy how this will all play out.
I too have been conditioned to think tariffs bad free trade good. At the same time it’s easy to see that in a crisis not being able to manufacture critical products is a very unwise strategy.
We won't tariff our way to victory. It may play a role, but not as implemented so far. We need to get over the fiction that China is only about cheap labor and intellectual property theft. They dominate many spheres of the future economy, and they dwarf us in scale. It's not just his obliteration of our alliances. It's horrifying to watch Don squander so many of our advantages with his attacks on universities, research funding, technical specialties in the gvmt, etc. And, opposition to the chips act? Don has no plan. He's a flimflam man, whose money came from inheritance and being a game show host, his actual businesses went bankrupt. There is zero chance he's orchestrating a long term plan. It's government by gas pain. He's always the wrong answer to the right question. Good luck America.
What’s the alternative AOC, Jasmine Crockett? When I watch Democratic presidential debates anyone with any worthwhile point of view is far off to the side and wins a negligible percentage in primaries.
I agree that a more effective D party would be welcome. Being unable to defeat Don, literally the most unpopular candidate/president in history is quite an indictment of their brand. But this isn’t about ideology. Don has no beliefs on issues, he was a longtime D and has been on every side of every issue (except his love of tariffs and his hatred of brown people, on those he’s consistent). This is a classic authoritarian movement, such movements historically find purchase in times of economic and societal transition when it’s easy to blame institutions and offer simple solutions. This is a specific version, a “personalist” dictatorship focused on one person, not a party/ideology. This is all about Don enriching himself and his family, coupled with his narcissistic retribution campaign. Oren fails to acknowledge this, he remains mired in debates with fellow elites over arcane economic policy, as if this is a battle of ideas. One of Oren’s reading assignments reflects this by criticizing those standing up to Don because they don’t address the root causes of the technology/information/communication revolution that led us here. This may salve his guilty conscience and keep the funders happy, but it is a gross misreading of the situation. The mission now is not proper implementation of DonOrenomics to reverse decades of economic transition with the hope of a payoff 30 years hence. It’s thwarting the autocrat now, before our republic is lost. There will be plenty of time to debate whether automation or wimpy trade policy is most to blame for the plight of the working class. Bad policy can be fixed if, and only if, our liberal democracy is intact. American Compass can either put its shoulder to the wheel, or stay tethered to Don. My money says Oren stays tethered to Don since he’s already bet his professional reputation on tariffs. History is replete with the acquiescence of elites concerned first with themselves, not the fate of their nation. I suspect Oren is just another.
Fuck you and your persistent normalization of our autocratic presidency- I hope you never get that federal appointment you are so clearly desperate for.
Thanks for linking to Gail Slater's address. I'm becoming a little more optimistic about the future of our country, given that antitrust enforcement has grown more aggressive since Trump 1.0. But with the exception of a few (including you, Mr. Cass), the new administration is pretending as though Kanter (former AAG of Antitrust at DOJ) and Khan (former FTC chair) did not just recently energize antitrust activity to levels not seen for decades. History will likely remember, but wouldn't it be sporting of the new AAG to give credit where credit is due?
> What does it mean that the housemate does both the cooking and laundry?
I think you misread that part. The housemate is better at both, but he is not *doing* both. The point of comparative advantage is to outsource your lesser skill regardless of the absolute value.
That’s besides your point, but I wanted to mention it in case it was an unintentional mistake.
I am in 100% agreement with the Trump criticisms. But I disagree with the Oren-hate here, criticizing him not engaging in Trump criticism. That's not his goal with Understanding America / American Compass.
Yet Donny is selling access to the White House with his Meme Coin, Doing commercials for Tesler on the White House Lawn and Gutting The Consumer Protection Agency!!!
All the Conservative talking points in the world fail to cover that disgusting display of "monopoly"?
Can you even fathom the right wingnut media if Biden or Obama did this?
As I have said before Oren, your Republican party I will join. The other parties, no thanks. They are lost in corruption and are misguided. Keep it coming your ideas and thoughts are spot on!
Meanwhile, Trump illegally fired FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter; both Antitrust champions in my book. I'd love, and have been waiting, to hear your thoughts on those firings.
Ah yes, more claptrap about Don and "America First" lookin out for folks who are left behind by rapacious corporations. Perhaps these tough regulators can look into Don's crypto scams? For everyone's reading assignment I'd suggest boning up on Don's meme coin, surely the biggest scam ever by a US prez. It's astounding corruption. Then maybe add some writings on autocracy by Anne Applebaum. Get a grip Oren, this is a classic authoritarian movement. To succeed, autocrats depend on the acquiescence of elites. Why did you join them?
Cass's complete silence on the breathtakingly corrupt crypto scams coming out of the Trump administration say more about what he thinks "America First" means than all his other writings combined. As long as Trump gestures towards "helping the working man" he and his family are free to enrich themselves through blatant corruption. Just make sure the proles believe he's looking out for them and he can strip-mine American wealth and prosperity for himself, while people like Cass and his buddy JD Vance try to reverse engineer Trump's moronic impulses on trade into some kind of coherent plan that will benefit us all.
I know many a lifelong Dem who no longer feel affinity for the party. They didn’t change. The party moved away from them. Yes Trump is an extreme narcissist, but the guy loves his country. He has been consistent over the years that other countries have taken advantage of America. Why can’t we sell American cars in Japan, etc. Why do we allow other NATO countries to underfund. China has trounced over trade norms since their admission to WTO. Nobody has addressed these and it is naive to think someone else would have. We are nowhere near autocracy. Stop being so hysterical. Dems were talking about packing the Supreme Court. Biden bragged about flouting Supreme Court student loan decision. Schumer threatened Supreme Court justices “you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price “.
Trump has taken US propaganda meant to subdue its "allies" for reality.
- It is well known that US firms are regularly excepted from sanctions. Firms from other countries almost never.
- It is widely believed that Gaddafi was deposed because his plans for an African currency threatened the reserve position of the dollar. There are similar claims about other regime change operations. The dollar is so high because the US wants it that way and goes to great length to achieve it. The result is of course a big trade deficit.
- A decade ago the EU had a growing defense industry. It withered because of US pressure. The US doesn't care about how much its allies spend on defense but it cares a lot about how much they spend on American weapons.
Hmm, an odd way to show love for one's country, at least to this lifelong Republican. Inciting an armed insurrection leading to the first non-peaceful transfer of power in the nation's history. Fabrication of the big lie, which continues today, seeking to undermine the bedrock of democracy-faith in free and fair elections. But let's leave that and his myriad other autocratic acts aside. It's just fiction that the post-war order has left the US as a victim. Don (when he isn't bragging publicly about "acing" a test meant to diagnose dementia, or instructing us to ingest bleach) repeating it incessantly doesn't make it true. It's just part of his schtick, and I'm tired of the shit-talking of my country. The post-war order we created led to the most economically prosperous period in human history, and a period devoid of the major power conflict so common for centuries. All with the US at the center. We were the big winner, not the big loser. Was it perfect? Of course not, we face many challenges. We always will. But claiming we are a victim shows a lack of awareness of the prosperity and power we enjoy vs the rest of the world. Data doesn't lie. Traveling the world drives this point home. I'll put it more simply-where would you rather live, what country does it better, what period in history would you prefer to live in?
In the USA. However, unlike the postwar period, we have a real competitor that is willing to do whatever it takes to leverage themselves to advantage at other’s expense. Useful idiots welcome. It’s not the 50’s anymore.
On this we agree. Perhaps the question is, who is the useful idiot? Accordingly, do you think it wise that we have just pitched our longtime allies overboard, rather than enlisting them in the project? After all, one major advantage of China is scale, which we only surmount in conjunction with said allies. But hey, perhaps you're right, and the self-described "very stable genius" is playing 4D chess and this is all going according to plan. Perhaps I'm right and he's a corrupt, small, authoritarian wannabe idiot. Read the public statements of his first term top officials, almost all of whom were fired after he assured us they were "the best people" when he hired them. Do you believe them, or him?
Agree, Joepa did not. He even proved it himself in the summer of 24 when he finally acted, numbers went way down then. Also agree with your comment on the views of existing legal immigrants, D’s seem unable to understand that. That doesn’t negate the need for legislation, administrative actions are not permanent. Ironically, R’s may never again get the D’s to concede so much. Regardless, we also need to fix the other side of the equation so we’re able to facilitate the legal immigration we need. Our fertility rate is better than some advanced countries, but not sufficient. The last thing we want to be is China. Estimates vary, but their population is projected to fall by as much as half by the end of the century. Population decline crushes an economy. And immigration done right produces more than just more bodies. It draws the most ambitious and industrious to your shores, like my grandparents. So far, no one wants to move to China, they want to come here. For me, that’s a market signal we want to nourish, not extinguish. I fear Don’s actions work in the opposite direction. I shudder when I read that (formerly) allied governments now issue burner phones to their staff traveling to the US for fear of recent border actions.
Thoughtful answer. However Biden did not need legislation as evidenced by the dramatic reduction of border encounters since Trump inauguration. I have a problem letting millions across without due process and then insisting that years and untold amounts of money be spent to send people home who came here illegally. I live in NYC and have been told by many hardworking legal immigrants (workers in my building, taxi drivers, restaurant workers) that they resent those that came in illegally since they did it the right way. I’m guessing your grandparents came here legally. My ancestors did.
Immigration is a decades old bipartisan issue. Neither party actually wants a solution, they want the issue, similar to entitlement reform. I agree Joepa had failed border policies, and he rightfully paid a huge price. We should have an orderly, secure border. Hopefully you’ll agree that Don openly tanked a substantive bipartisan immigration bill where D’s went further than they ever have. Hopefully you’ll also agree that sending legal residents to foreign prisons without due process, then defying Supreme Court orders to bring them back (after the administration admitted in court they were sent mistakenly) is about as un-American as it gets. I also see immigration as our secret sauce, and a major advantage over China. They face massive demographic challenges including population decline over the next several decades. I live in the rust belt, where the only population growth for most of our hardest hit communities comes from immigration. I just reviewed the latest census data for my state, and all the net growth was from immigration. I want the smartest students and scientists coming to study and work here, not China. I want the person who has the guts to pack up their children and everything they own, then schlep for hundreds of miles to end up in a place they don’t understand, all for a dream. My grandparents were immigrants. Don’s mother and two of his three wives are immigrants. This is America, not China, people want to be here. So far…
Clearly Ds have provided insufficient answers. They lost. That said, AOC didn't win their primary, Joepa did by running against their fringe, and Don was elected by swing voters in swing districts that also voted for Obama and Joepa. Joepa then continued most of Dons China tariffs, rebuilt alliances, and produced some industrial policy such as the chips act. Yes, Joepa had many, many failings too. But neither party has all the answers, and regardless the long term answers will require a level of consensus our current structure is unable to produce. We need to grow up, come together as a country and realize our enemies are not fellow Americans but those who want to destroy us. This is a multi-decade project that requires our smartest people working together on behalf of something larger than self. Don is the worst possible type leader to lead such an effort. Give me anyone, far left or far right, as long as they are smart, normal, honorable, of high character, and respectful of our institutions. Hell, Don can't even articulate his own tariff strategy. His staff disagrees with him and among themselves over what the strategy is. Is it re-shoring, leverage for negotiation, or revenue for more budget busting tax cuts? Or is it really about meme coins, power, and retribution?
Failings? I’ll say! Failure to defend the border. 10 million illegals during Biden administration. Does the party responsible for this love the country or are they, if not in actuality, at the least acting like the enemy within?
I forgot to ask. What did you think of Don and JD gaslighting folks with the Haitian pet eating fiasco? Legal residents the town sought out as an economic lifeline, legal residents defended by the R governor. To me, it's an example of what demagogues like Don and JD do, pick on the least among us, dehumanizing them, in pursuit of political power. Serious leaders actually concerned about the economic health of our communities wouldn't act in such a way. And it sure seems to be the opposite of what I learned in church Sunday school all those years back...
Yea I agree that was nonsense. He is quite a piece of work. Hence my original comment where is Ike. Vance is a smart guy and does care about poor working people.
Thanks for the back and forth. Perhaps our partners need a wake up call. I fear they may become China’s useful idiots. I never said he is playing 4D chess and I’m as apprehensive as the next guy how this will all play out.
I too have been conditioned to think tariffs bad free trade good. At the same time it’s easy to see that in a crisis not being able to manufacture critical products is a very unwise strategy.
We won't tariff our way to victory. It may play a role, but not as implemented so far. We need to get over the fiction that China is only about cheap labor and intellectual property theft. They dominate many spheres of the future economy, and they dwarf us in scale. It's not just his obliteration of our alliances. It's horrifying to watch Don squander so many of our advantages with his attacks on universities, research funding, technical specialties in the gvmt, etc. And, opposition to the chips act? Don has no plan. He's a flimflam man, whose money came from inheritance and being a game show host, his actual businesses went bankrupt. There is zero chance he's orchestrating a long term plan. It's government by gas pain. He's always the wrong answer to the right question. Good luck America.
What’s the alternative AOC, Jasmine Crockett? When I watch Democratic presidential debates anyone with any worthwhile point of view is far off to the side and wins a negligible percentage in primaries.
And Dems have achieved escape velocity to the left. Where are you Ike?
I agree that a more effective D party would be welcome. Being unable to defeat Don, literally the most unpopular candidate/president in history is quite an indictment of their brand. But this isn’t about ideology. Don has no beliefs on issues, he was a longtime D and has been on every side of every issue (except his love of tariffs and his hatred of brown people, on those he’s consistent). This is a classic authoritarian movement, such movements historically find purchase in times of economic and societal transition when it’s easy to blame institutions and offer simple solutions. This is a specific version, a “personalist” dictatorship focused on one person, not a party/ideology. This is all about Don enriching himself and his family, coupled with his narcissistic retribution campaign. Oren fails to acknowledge this, he remains mired in debates with fellow elites over arcane economic policy, as if this is a battle of ideas. One of Oren’s reading assignments reflects this by criticizing those standing up to Don because they don’t address the root causes of the technology/information/communication revolution that led us here. This may salve his guilty conscience and keep the funders happy, but it is a gross misreading of the situation. The mission now is not proper implementation of DonOrenomics to reverse decades of economic transition with the hope of a payoff 30 years hence. It’s thwarting the autocrat now, before our republic is lost. There will be plenty of time to debate whether automation or wimpy trade policy is most to blame for the plight of the working class. Bad policy can be fixed if, and only if, our liberal democracy is intact. American Compass can either put its shoulder to the wheel, or stay tethered to Don. My money says Oren stays tethered to Don since he’s already bet his professional reputation on tariffs. History is replete with the acquiescence of elites concerned first with themselves, not the fate of their nation. I suspect Oren is just another.
Fuck you and your persistent normalization of our autocratic presidency- I hope you never get that federal appointment you are so clearly desperate for.
You wouldn’t have this problem if you had normalized the Democratic Party. Tack to the center. Not so hard.
Thanks for linking to Gail Slater's address. I'm becoming a little more optimistic about the future of our country, given that antitrust enforcement has grown more aggressive since Trump 1.0. But with the exception of a few (including you, Mr. Cass), the new administration is pretending as though Kanter (former AAG of Antitrust at DOJ) and Khan (former FTC chair) did not just recently energize antitrust activity to levels not seen for decades. History will likely remember, but wouldn't it be sporting of the new AAG to give credit where credit is due?
> What does it mean that the housemate does both the cooking and laundry?
I think you misread that part. The housemate is better at both, but he is not *doing* both. The point of comparative advantage is to outsource your lesser skill regardless of the absolute value.
That’s besides your point, but I wanted to mention it in case it was an unintentional mistake.
Since you don’t think selling access to the White House is “substantive”…
I am in 100% agreement with the Trump criticisms. But I disagree with the Oren-hate here, criticizing him not engaging in Trump criticism. That's not his goal with Understanding America / American Compass.
Yet Donny is selling access to the White House with his Meme Coin, Doing commercials for Tesler on the White House Lawn and Gutting The Consumer Protection Agency!!!
All the Conservative talking points in the world fail to cover that disgusting display of "monopoly"?
Can you even fathom the right wingnut media if Biden or Obama did this?
As I have said before Oren, your Republican party I will join. The other parties, no thanks. They are lost in corruption and are misguided. Keep it coming your ideas and thoughts are spot on!
Selling access to the White House with a Meme coin that only lines the pocket of the "President" isn't corruption? Dude, read the Constitution. OMG
Try saying something substantive next time. I’m sure you can do better than merely making a high-pitched screeching noise.
Hmm, selling access to the White House isn't "substantive" to you?
Meanwhile, Trump illegally fired FTC Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter; both Antitrust champions in my book. I'd love, and have been waiting, to hear your thoughts on those firings.
The most optimistic thing we are seeing is companies pushing the anti-trust argument themselves like Epic Games.
A good sign.