Author Archives: Yves Smith

This Week’s Unholy Mix of Drought, Wind, and Fire in Southern California: A Warning of an Accelerating Insurance Crisis in Climate-Risk Areas?

More and more homeowners are understandably worried about what insurance increases might look like in the face of intensifying climate risks.

Americans’ Rage at Insurers Goes Beyond Health Coverage – The Author of ‘Delay, Deny, Defend’ Points to 3 Reforms that Could Help

On the prevalence of claims processing fraud by insurers and what if anything can be done about it.

China’s Government Bond Market Sounding Loud Deflationary Alarm. Is the Japanification China Has Warded Off Finally Arriving?

China’s investors are in freakout mode about deflation risks. Can its government turn the fundamentals around?

Links 1/8/2025

Europe Races to Refill as Gas Reserves Dwindle

A look at another act of European self-destruction in the name of harming Russia, here on the gas supply front.

What Has Happened to Our Grand Experiment, the Internet?

With AI threatening to crapify online life and even generate geopolitical chaos, Congress needs to reinstate the Office of Technology Policy

Links 1/7/2025

DOGE: Nations Aren’t Corporations and ‘Efficiency’ Means Austerity

Why DOGE, if implemented on the scale intended, will be a train wreck for the great majority of Americans.

Health Insurers Limit Coverage of Prosthetic Limbs, Questioning Their Medical Necessity

Another type of example of how health insurers screw patients.

Who Benefits from Russia’s War in Ukraine

Contrary to plans, Ukraine war sanctions against Russia enriched many of Russia’s top businessmen, including those sanctioned personally.

Michael Hudson: Cracks in the Empire – Is the American Superpower Fading?

Michael Hudson provides a new, wide-ranging talk on the US hegemony-preservation efforts and what they mean for Europe, Russia, and BRICS.

Eight Israeli Lawmakers Demand Acceleration of the Extermination in Gaza by Destroying Remaining Food, Plus Water and Energy Infrastructure

Inhabitants of Gaza aren’t dying fast enough to suit some Knesset members, so they describe how to hurry the process along.