Author Archives: Yves Smith

Senators Unveil Legislation To Protect Patients Against Surprise Medical Bills

Medical bills are so out of hand that despite the power of the health industry lobbyists, some Senators are taking on the worst abuses.

Links 9/19/18

Marcie Frost‘s Poor Job as CalPERS CEO – “The Place is Being Run Like a High School, Not a Business,” IT and Operational Failings

More on Frost’s misrule at CalPERS.

Florence is the Worst Flood in East Coast History. Here’s How Locals Describe It.

Eyewitness accounts of Florence and its aftermath.

Chevron Arbitration Ruling Against Ecuador ‘Completely Off Base’

A secret corporate arbitration panel in the Hague ruled that Ecuadorean courts’ $9.5 billion judgement against Chevron for environmental damages is illegal and should not be enforced. An expert argues that the decision is a travesty.

Links 9/18/18

Michael Hudson: The Lehman 10th Anniversary Spin as a Teachable Moment

Why you should take conventional wisdom about the Lehman collapse and the crisis with a fistful of salt.

J.D. Alt: Paying for Hurricanes

A reminder that the budgetary “paying for things” framing is a way to deny resources to citizens.

Gaius Publius: Brett Kavanaugh’s #MeToo Moment — Questions Raised As His Accuser Comes Forward

The Kavanaugh row gets messier.

CalPERS’ PR Strategy on CEO Marcie Frost’s Resume Lies Backfiring

How CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost’s media mavens are only digging a deeper hole in the scandal over her misrepresentations before and after her hiring.

Why Central Banks Should Not Be Inflation Nutters

Central banks need to stop fighting the last war.

Links 9/15/18