This week has seen the end of the outgoing US administration, and that included the stepping down of the chair of Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lina Khan. While I doubt she was actually prone to anger, she certainly inspired some in her critics. Most probably don’t know what the FTC does, but her time as the head of the agency was a reversal of years anemic enforcement of the nation’s anti-trust rules.

I’m certainly not one to praise the government for its long and opaque sheafs of rules. On the other hand, Khan’s tenure included strong advocacy for policies helping both the American consumer, and indirectly, its workers.

The latest example of this can be found in the lawsuit the FTC filed just last week, against farm equipment manufacturer John Deere. According the the FTC website, “Deere’s unlawful practices have limited the ability of farmers and independent repair providers to repair Deere equipment, forcing farmers to instead rely on Deere’s network of authorized dealers for necessary repairs.”

It went on to quote Khan:

“The FTC’s action today seeks to ensure that farmers across America are free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice—lowering costs, preventing ruinous delays, and promoting fair competition for independent repair shops.”

Most of us would probably agree that our farmers need their independence, and it’s best not to tie their hands when they’re doing their work.

Khan rose to prominence when she published a smart takedown of corporate giants and lax anti-trust enforcement.

She was appointed to head the FTC and change the direction of the agency. She succeeded in lawsuits such as blocking the massive $25 billion dollar merger of the Albertson’s and Kroger grocery chains.

Her tenure at the FTC is memorable for such strong actions and the credibility she earned. In the end, most people will have little knowledge of the impact she had on the American worker. But what is clear is that many corporate executives have her respect and saw her as a worthy opponent. On TV, Jon Stewart was perhaps the one who revealed the extent of this when he had her on his show, last April.

Stewart said:

“I wanted to have you on a podcast, and Apple asked us not to do it.” Apparently during his time hosting a show (and a podcast) for the tech giant, they told Stewart not to talk with her.

Quite a bit of respect, I’d say.