The Majority Report

Episode

3/24 How Amazon Embedded Itself Then Took Over America w/ Alec MacGillis

March 24, 2021

Sam and Emma host ProPublica journalist Alec MacGillis and author of “Fulfillment:Winning and Losing in One-Click America” to discuss how Jeff Bezos has used America’s infrastructure to make Amazon the most dominant monopoly in the US. Alec explains how Amazon has been a driving force of regional inequality and has stunted prosperity and business activity around the country, including in the cities where it resides. Starting with Amazon’s founding in Seattle, Alec talks about the conglomerating effect of tech companies and Amazon’s ability to strategically avoid paying taxes through setting up warehouses in states with a smaller sales tax and moving profits offshore. Through the interview, Alec explores the question as to whether this is an issue specifically with Amazon’s unethical company practices or if this is indicative of a fundamental flaw in our capital structure that awards massive trusts. With the majority of Democrats believing that Amazon is the most trustworthy institution in America, what can be done to reverse the domination of these tech monopolies?

And in the Fun Half: Medhi Hassan calls out the Biden administration for funding COBRA instead of the more cost efficient option, Medicare for All, Mike Lindell uses the word “suckabuck,” the hat caller is back, minimum wage jobs at Friendly’s, Meghan McCain is impressively unimpressive, plus your calls and IMs!

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