Articles by Ashley Baker
Pruning Redundant API Prompt Tokens with Tree-Sitter in Rust for AI CLI Agents
Autonomous AI CLI agents such as Aider, Cursor, Claude Code, and Continue operate on iterative feedback loops. In each turn of an interactive debugging or code generation session, these tools ship codebases, AST-derived context, dependency graphs, terminal execution outputs, and conversational histories across the wire to Large Language Model (LLM) APIs. As repositories scale, the volume of context injected into API payloads degrades inference performance.
Webinar Video: The Fall of Humphrey's Executor: Trump v. Slaughter and the Future of the FTC
On June 29, 2026, a divided Supreme Court overruled Humphrey’s Executor v. United States (1935) and held that Congress may not shield Federal Trade Commissioners from removal by the President. Writing for a 6–3 majority in Trump v.
Video: Ashley Baker on State Attorneys General and Antitrust at the Lexington Institute
On July 24, 2026, Ashley Baker, Executive Director of the Committee for Justice, delivered remarks at the Lexington Institute’s Capitol Hill conference on AI, cybersecurity and technology policy. Her remarks address the shift in antitrust and consumer protection enforcement from federal agencies to more than 50 state attorneys general, from the Live Nation-Ticketmaster, Nexstar-Tegna and Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery cases to new state pre-merger notification and algorithmic pricing laws.
Podcast: Agency Power, Antitrust, and the Supreme Court with Ashley Baker
Ashley Baker, Executive Director of the Committee for Justice, joined Dr. Vance Ginn on Episode 216 of the Let People Prosper Show to discuss a question at the center of today’s debates over the administrative state: how much power should unelected federal agencies have? The conversation covers Trump v.
CFJ Webinar: The Paramount Merger Litigation: Can State AGs Stop the Deal?
After an extensive investigation, the Department of Justice closed its review of Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery without challenging the transaction, concluding that it was unlikely to harm competition or American consumers. One month later, a coalition of twelve state attorneys general led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued to block the deal. A twelve-day trial is now scheduled to begin in March 2027.
CFJ Op-Ed: California is suing to preserve Hollywood’s decline
Committee for Justice Executive Director Ashley Baker has published a new op-ed in The Orange County Register arguing that California’s lawsuit against the Paramount Skydance / Warner Bros. Discovery merger would do little to revive Hollywood. Instead, she warns, the state is trying to preserve a struggling status quo.
CFJ Op-Ed: Brussels reaches into the server racks
Committee for Justice Executive Director Ashley Baker has published a new op-ed in The Washington Reporter warning that the European Union’s Digital Markets Act is now being stretched beyond consumer-facing platforms and into the cloud infrastructure that powers the modern digital economy.
CFJ Op-Ed: The Merger isn't Killing Hollywood. Hollywood Already Did That
In a new Washington Examiner op-ed, CFJ Executive Director Ashley Baker argues that state attorneys general challenging Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery are misreading both the merger and the state of Hollywood. Hollywood’s Real Problem The op-ed argues that Hollywood is already in serious decline. Ticket sales are far below historic levels, monthly moviegoing has dropped sharply, and box office revenue has been propped up mainly by higher ticket prices.
Statement Regarding Chatrie v. United States Decision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2026 — The Supreme Court today in Chatrie v. United States held that the government conducts a search when it uses a geofence warrant to compel a technology company to produce a user’s location records.
SCOTUS Overrules Humphrey’s Executor v. United States.
Ashley Baker, Executive Director, The Committee For Justice welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Slaughter, holding that the for-cause restriction on removing Federal Trade Commissioners violates the separation of powers and overruling Humphrey’s Executor v. United States. “Today the Court corrected one of the longest-standing errors in its separation-of-powers jurisprudence.
Coalition Letter in Support of the NDO Fairness Act (H.R. 6048 and S. 3663)
Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Thune, Majority Leader Scalise, Minority Leader Jeffries, and Minority Leader Schumer: We, the undersigned, write to urge swift passage of the NDO Fairness Act (H.R. 6048 and S. 3663) and to ask that the bill be sent to President Trump for his signature at the earliest possible opportunity.
CFJ Urges FTC and DOJ to Return HSR Filings to Their Statutory Purpose
FTC Docket ID: FTC-2026-0298 The Committee for Justice has submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice in response to their Request for Information (RFI) on potential revisions to the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Premerger Notification and Report Form.
CFJ Op-Ed: Brazil’s Digital Power Grab: Europe’s Regulatory Playbook Goes Global
Committee for Justice Executive Director Ashley Baker has published a new op-ed in the Washington Examiner highlighting a troubling trend: Brazil is adopting European-style digital regulations that disproportionately target leading American technology companies. Framed as efforts to promote “fairness” and rein in “gatekeepers,” these policies closely mirror the European Union’s Digital Markets Act—extending its regulatory model far beyond Europe’s borders.
CFJ Op-Ed: Securing Property Rights Means Reining In Proxy Advisors
Committee for Justice Executive Director Ashley Baker has published a new op-ed in The National Law Review arguing that reining in dominant proxy advisory firms is not an act of regulatory overreach, but a necessary defense of property rights and fiduciary accountability. The piece, titled “Protecting Property, Not Regulating Markets: Why Reining In Proxy Advisors Is Essential,” challenges the common assumption that any effort to discipline proxy advisors represents anti-market intervention.
Protecting Property, Not Regulating Markets: Why Reining In Proxy Advisors Is Essential
For proponents of limited government and free markets, the instinct to oppose federal intervention is both natural and usually correct. The phrase "regulatory crackdown" typically signals a bureaucratic overreach that stifles innovation. However, regarding the duopoly of proxy advisory firms—Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis—conservatives must fight the urge to view this as a standard "market vs. state" conflict.
A Federal AI Moratorium Is the America-First Policy the Constitution Requires
State attempts to regulate artificial intelligence violate the Commerce Clause and risk crippling U.S. innovation. By Ashley Baker and Jeffrey Depp The question of who should regulate artificial intelligence has become one of the most politically heated fights in the country and has sharply divided the Republican party.
Amicus Brief in Support of Rehearing in Epic v. Google Antitrust Appeal
The following is the statement of Committee for Justice Executive Director Ashley Baker: "The Committee for Justice (CFJ) filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to stay a Ninth Circuit ruling against Google in the high-profile Epic v. Google case.
Letter from Malibu
How To Remove Water Stains From Your Ceiling—No Matter How Old They Are It’s less intimidating than you think. So you noticed a water stain on the ceiling: First of all, don’t panic. “The first step to dealing with water …
Op-Ed: Europe Is Going After America’s Biggest Companies. Trump Must Push BackCommittee for Justice
The administration should leverage an essential legal tool against unfair practices in digital markets. Op-Ed Published in National Review by CFJ Executive Director Ashley Baker: Europe’s campaign to undermine American tech is finally getting the attention it deserves.
Amicus Brief in Support of Rehearing in Epic v. Google Antitrust Appeal
The following is the statement of Committee for Justice Executive Director Ashley Baker: "The Committee for Justice filed an amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit in support of rehearing en banc in Epic Games v. Google. CFJ’s brief stresses that the Ninth Circuit panel opinion represents a fundamental break from both Supreme Court precedent and long-settled antitrust law and policy. This follows our amicus brief filed earlier this month urging the Ninth Circuit to stay the district court’s injunction.
Amicus Brief in Support of Stay in Epic v. Google Antitrust Appeal
Ashley Baker Aug 19 2 min read The following is the statement of Committee for Justice Executive Director Ashley Baker: "The Committee for Justice filed an amicus brief urging the Ninth Circuit to stay the district court’s injunction, emphasizing that the ruling represents an extreme departure from settled antitrust law.
High Desert, High Style
Bishop’s Lodge is the buzziest hotel in the SouthwestBy Ashley BakerAny interest in a delicious $26 lunch for two—including sopaipillas—at a sit-down …
Letter to Congress Regarding 2026 FTC Appropriations
A legal and policy advocacy organization that educates the public and policymakers about the rule of law and constitutionally limited government.
Too Much Is Just Right
Meg Stalter's Refreshing Diet Coke Dress Is Not "Too Much," And Might Just Be The Perfect Amount Of Comedic Genius Why wear a dress shaped like a Coke bottle when you can be the whole box? This is Meg Stalter. Whether she's creating the most iconic viral videos like 2021's hit "Hi Gay," or starring in the nine-time Emmy-winning show Hacks, Meg is really that girl. If you recently saw her appearance on The Late …
Inside Jared Leto's Sex Scandal
1 day ago Darren Aronofsky's radical drug-addiction drama was highly acclaimed and angrily slated when it came out in 2000. Today, this Hubert Selby Jr adaptation is no less contentious. When Requiem for a Dream debuted 25 years ago in May 2000, it drew both rave reviews and a firestorm of controversy. The …
Father and Child
1 day ago All you need for this program is a set of dumbbells and commitment to a new daily routine. HAVE A PAIR OF DUMBBELLS? That’s all you need to build well-rounded strength, and that’s exactly what you’re doing with this dumbbell challenge. This is the perfect opportunity to reset your fitness regimen in …
Ashley Baker Discusses Antitrust and the First Amendment
Curt Levey a few seconds ago 1 min read Ashley Baker, CFJ’s Executive Director, will be a panelist at Steptoe’s Sixth Annual Regulatory Symposium on Monday, May 14. Ashley will be part of the 2:15 pm ET breakout session entitled “Antitrust and the First Amendment.” Thepanelwill address issues surrounding censorship, the First Amendment, and the role of Big Tech firms – including the extent to which the antitrust laws present a solution to anticompetitive effects within the marketplace of ideas.
Rimowa | Flipboard
5 hours ago These Vehicles Will Be The Least Affected By Trump’s Tariffs, Statistics Show If there’s one thing that’s for certain about President Trump’s twisted labyrinth of international trade tariffs, it’s that U.S. consumers will pay more in the months ahead for a new car, truck or SUV.
Grutter v. Bollinger Attorney: Century of Racial Preferences Finally Comes to an End
In a landmark decision today, the Supreme Court effectively overruled Grutter v. Bollinger, striking down the use of race in university admissions. The Committee for Justice and others filed an amicus brief, authored by the Pacific Legal Foundation, supporting this challenge to race-based admissions. Committee for Justice president Curt Levey, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiff in Grutter v.
In Blow to Administrative State, SCOTUS Strikes Down Biden’s Debt Cancellation
Committee for Justice president Curt Levey released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling today in the student debt cancellation cases, in which CFJ filed anamicus brief: The big loser today was not just the Biden Administration and its attempt to unconstitutionally circumvent the legislative branch, born of frustration with Congress’s refusal to enact student debt forgiveness.
Federalist Society Webinar: Assessing the Federal Data Privacy Landscape: A discussion of the American’s Privacy Rights Act
Congress has been working on comprehensive federal data privacy legislation for decades without reaching agreement. But the finish line may be closer today than before. With the recent introduction of the American’s Privacy Rights Act (APRA), the chairs of the Senate and House Commerce Committees announced a bipartisan compromise, hoping to end the legislative stalemate. A panel of data privacy experts will take a deeper look at APRA, including its provisions and implications.
Letter Regarding 2025 Federal Trade Commission Funding
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) writes in support of the FY2025 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill’s provisions related to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The combination of a reduction in the FTC’s funding level for FY2025 and appropriately targeted prohibitions on expenditure of the agency’s monies will help to return some normalcy in the space of mergers and acquisitions, fairness in commission procedure, and competition matters.
Supreme Court Preview with Ashley Baker
This week we talk about the long history of the Lewis Powell memo of 1971, innovation in textile recycling, how Tokyo has kept housing prices low, and the Biden administration making government less transparent. Our interview this week is with Ashley Baker of the Committee for Justice. We discuss taxes, due process, administrative law, separation of powers, and regulation by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison.
Debut Clip and Introduction
Who is Ashley Baker? Welcome to CenterClip! Ashley Baker, Director of Public Policy at the Committee for Justice *The Audio Op-Ed Page of Political Commentary. Hear the rest of the Clip above, or in the CenterClip App*
The FTC Tries to Create its Own Virtual Reality
The Federal Trade Commission ignores consumers, endangers start-up investment while attempting to manage a market that does not exist. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission sued Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. to prevent its acquisition of Within Limited, a start-up that makes the virtual reality fitness app Supernatural.
Split Vote to Advance Bedoya Nomination Underscores GOP’s Disapproval of Federal Trade Commission
The Committee for Justice released the following statement by its director of public policy, Ashley Baker, on the Senate’s tie vote today — broken by the Vice President — to advance the nomination of Alvaro Bedoya to the Federal Trade Commission: The Senate's 50-50 vote, along party lines, to advance President Biden’s nomination of Alvaro Bedoya to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says less about Senate Republicans' views on Bedoya as a nominee than it does about their view of the FTC.
Penguins Pummeled by Brutal Bees
Sci and Tech writer Ashley Baker discusses how bees have recently killed a group of African penguins At least 63 penguins are thought to have died as a result of bee stings following an extremely rare incident in South Africa. The endangered African penguins were found dead on Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, a suburb of Cape Town. The remains of several Cape honey bees were found near the scene.
Coalition of 17 Supports the Consumer Welfare Standard in Ad Markets
Today, the Committee for Justice provided a statement for inclusion in the record of the Subcommittee’s September 15th hearing, “Stacking the Tech: Has Google Harmed Competition in Online Advertising?” The letter was submitted by a group of legal experts, economists, and consumer and taxpayer advocates who believe in the importance of promoting competitive markets and defending the rule of law.
Schumer Reaches New Low in Threatening Justices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. -- The following is a statement by Committee for Justice director of public policy Ashley Baker on Senator Schumer’s explicit threats directed at Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh in his remarks today at a pro-abortion rally: "Senator Schumer reached a new low today when he stood on the Supreme Court steps and threatened Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
From Humphrey’s Executor to the DC Circuit
Today the Supreme Court heard arguments in Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a case that will determine the constitutionality of the agency’s leadership structure. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was notably active from the bench, and had some interesting very interesting questions for the litigants. This was to be expected, as the case involves an issue that is very close to the Court’s newest justice.
Comments to the SEC Regarding Proxy Voting Rules
On February 2, 2020, the Committee for Justice filed comments to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the Commission's Proposed Amendments to Exemptions from the Proxy Rules for Proxy Voting Advice. We believe that Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule change regarding proxy advisory firms is a positive step towards implementing much-needed reforms.
CFJ Joins Conservative Leaders in Support of Lawrence VanDyke
Lawrence VanDyke testifies on Capitol Hill, Oct. 30, 2019. (Sen. Josh Hawley/YouTube) Conservatives are proud to support the nomination of Lawrence VanDyke to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and once again reject the baseless smears of the American Bar Association. That VanDyke is an eminently qualified jurist is not in doubt. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and served as editor of the Harvard Law Review.
AFP v. Becerra Amicus Brief
Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Xavier Bacerra: Brief of Amici Curiae Center the Cato Institute, the Committee for Justice, and Texas Charter Schools Association in Support of Petitioner Download PDF Question Presented: NAACP v. Alabama ex rel. Patterson, 357 U.S. 449 (1958), and its progeny held that courts should apply narrow tailoring to violations of the freedom of association.
Should the Court Overrule Chevron? Amicus Brief Filed in Valent v Saul
Valent v. Saul: Brief of Amici Curiae Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, the Committee for Justice, and Reason Foundation in Support of Petitioner Download PDF [Note: Blog summary forthcoming] Questions Presented: Petitioner Michelle Valent performed unpaid volunteer work for her brother’s veterans organization while receiving disability benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act.
Schumer Reaches New Low in Threatening Justices
Note: This email contains two statements. The first is from Ashley Baker on Senator Schumer's remarks. The second press release on the abortion-related case is from Curt Levey.
No, the Supreme Court Did Not Take a Bite Out of Apple (At Least Not D
Today, in a 5-4 decision in Apple v. Pepper, the Supreme Court affirmed the Ninth Circuit and held that iPhone users are direct purchasers of apps under Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois (1977). The decision allows a lawsuit, brought by users of Apple’s iPhone who allege that the company is violating federal antitrust laws by requiring them to buy apps exclusively from Apple’s App Store, to move forward.
NBA Playoffs are here! Warriors in trouble without Boogie Cousins? Russ Wilson gets paid & Tiger wins 5th Masters!!!
This week we welcome editor and chief of The Carolina Blitz Vashti Hurt who talks all things Carolina ESPECIALLY Duke! We also talk Lebron and the Lakers, the return of Jason Witten and the crazy world of the Pittsburgh Steelers!
MAGIC QUITS LAKERS!! D. Wade & Dirk retire, UVA wins NCAA title & Aaron Rodgers gets DRAGGED!
This week we welcome editor and chief of The Carolina Blitz Vashti Hurt who talks all things Carolina ESPECIALLY Duke! We also talk Lebron and the Lakers, the return of Jason Witten and the crazy world of the Pittsburgh Steelers!
WRESTLEMAINIA IS HERE and a special guest joins us! Chargers WR disses LeVeon Bell on pass the tea and the Wizards fire GM!
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MAJOR NFL rule change, Lebron misses playoffs for the first time in over 10 yrs and Gronk & McGregor retires!!!!!
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