The Department of Justice has just released new Draft Merger Guidelines. What are the implications - not just for how the Draft Guidelines might affect economic questions, but also for freedom of thought and the rule of law? In this afternoon session, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki will discuss these issues, the development of the Draft Guidelines and what comes next. Featuring: Hon. Jonathan S. Kanter, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice Doha Mekki, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice Prof. Todd J. Zywicki, George Mason University Foundation Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University Moderator: James M. Burnham, President, Vallecito Capital, LLC

Judge Gregory Katsas and Ashley Keller sit down for a wide-ranging discussion of his career as a conservative plaintiff’s lawyer, how he thinks about corporate rights and corporate power, and what Citizens United might say about competing First Amendment interests of corporations and human citizens.

In the second part of this interview, Matt and Prof. Kleinfeld discuss the roots of authoritarian trends we should be worried about in the United States and debate how ideological attitudes among few powerful elite have power over our cultural institutions and way of thinking.

In Part 1 of Open Minds with Matt Stoller, we hear about how Matt's formative years shaped his interest in economics and government. Matt tells us about how he thinks about politics in a way that bends categories and how antitrust relates to contemporary problems.

Prof. Randy Barnett joins Prof. Joshua Kleinfeld to discuss how his life experiences have informed his libertarian convictions. Along the way, he has rubbed shoulders with some of the giants in Libertarian political philosophy and made significant contributions to the legal discourse - with over 24,000 citations. Now among the most highly regarded libertarian legal academics, Prof. Barnett considers how libertarian premises might be refined to address current institutional culture war challenges.

Finally, we turn to the present moment and consider the current challenges to American free speech and culture. How does cancel culture contribute to professional blacklisting at law firms and universities? Professor Volokh tackles this issue and addresses the role of social media companies in restricting speech and participating in canceling.

What are the fundamentals of how free speech law works and what are the outer limits of free speech protection? Is it constitutional to allow voters to to wear a Trump hat while casting a ballot? Tune in to hear Professor Volokh's perspective.

What made Professor Volokh the independent and influential thinker he is today? It began with an unusual childhood and education. He discusses how his early years shaped his career path, how he has developed his approach to law and doctrine, and which major justification of free speech most resonates with him.