The Corner Newsletter: Trump’s Risky Port Deal (November, 18, 2025)

In this issue, we explore how a deal by shipping giant MSC and BlackRock to buy dozens of port terminals from a Hong Kong-based operator will concentrate international trade in the hands of a single foreign corporation and threaten national security, despite the U.S. asset manager’s involvement.

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Amicus Brief Urges Ohio Court of Appeals to Uphold State’s Authority to Designate Google as a Common Carrier

The Open Markets Institute filed an amicus brief in State of Ohio v. Google, urging the Fifth District Court of Appeals of Ohio to recognize the state’s authority to designate Google Search as a common carrier—just as courts and legislatures have long done for railroads, telegraphs, telephones, and other corporations that hold themselves out to serve the public. 

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Open Markets Files Amicus Brief Defending Congress’s Constitutional Authority to Limit Presidential Removal Power and Protect the Federal Trade Commission

The Open Markets Institute filed an amicus brief led by Policy Counsel Tara Pincock, Legal Director Sandeep Vaheesan, and Jamie Crooks of Fairmark Partners defending Congress’s authority under the Constitution to restrict the President’s ability to remove officials at executive agencies and departments. The brief argues that Congress, under the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I, has broad powers to structure the federal government and ensure that the execution of the law remains independent from direct presidential control. 

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The Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets Lauds the European Commission’s Investigation Into Google’s Anticompetitive Search Conduct

Dr. Courtney C. Radsch, Director of the Center for Journalism & Liberty at Open Markets Institute issued a statement regarding the European Commission’s investigation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) into anticompetitive conduct by Google, which appears to be using its monopoly control of search and visibility to discriminate against news publishers.

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Washington Monthly - Trump Promised a Shipbuilding Boom. He’s Sinking It Instead

Transportation analyst Arnav Rao argues that Donald Trump’s promise to revive U.S. shipbuilding has unraveled amid leadership failures, bureaucratic dysfunction, and neglect of the nation’s maritime industrial base—leaving America’s shipyards weaker and less prepared for economic and national security challenges.

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Washington Monthly - How Democrats Can Save Social Security—and Win Elections

Policy director Phil Longman gives a riveting argument about how America can save Social Security and strengthen retirement security by making the system fairer—taxing the wealthy more, expanding benefits for working- and middle-class Americans, and addressing decades of policy failures that fueled inequality.

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Report - End Point or Setback? A Retrospective of the Maine Public Power Ballot Initiative

Legal director Sandeep Vaheesan co-authors a report examining why Maine's "Pine Tree Power" initiative failed despite broad support for public ownership, offering strategic lessons on how advocates can overcome corporate spending and messaging to win future public power campaigns.

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The Open Markets Institute Applauds Worker Ric Davidson and Legal Team for Stepping Up to Defend the Federal Non-Compete Ban

The Open Markets Institute commended Texas-based worker Ric Davidson, his counsel at Gustafson Gluek, Burns Charest, and Towards Justice for stepping in to defend the Federal Trade Commission’s landmark ban on non-compete clauses—an essential policy to protect workers’ freedom to change jobs and start new businesses. 

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