Author Archives: Yves Smith

Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Highlights America’s Fading Geopolitical Influence

Why Russia is not as isolated as the US press would have you believe. The US has wrongfooted some recent dealing with influential countries.

Fog of Financial Sanctions: Visa and Mastercard Shutdown in Russia Whacks Consumers

Russia is scrambling to deal with being shut off Visa and Mastercard.

Links 3/1/2022

New IPCC Report Highlights Urgency of Climate Change Impacts

IPCC: Missing Paris targets would harm human health and biodiversity worldwide, and risk irreversible losses sooner than previously thought.

CODEPINK Says Stop the War in Ukraine. Russian Troops Out. No NATO Expansion

A call for an end to the war in Ukraine….on sensible terms, which means it won’t get done.

America Defeats Germany for the Third Time in a Century: The MIC, BARE and OGAM Conquer NATO

Why America is operating abroad to advance the interests of arms dealers, oil & gas, and Big Finance, and not its citizens.

A Very Preliminary Look at the Partial Suspension of Russia’s Access to SWIFT

News on the partial SWIFT cutoff for Russia was fuzzy. Despite being included, its central bank intervened in FX markets this AM. What gives?

Plan to Fix Postal Service Shifts New Retirees to Medicare — Along With Billions in Costs

A new scheme to make Medicare funding look worse to plug phony Post Office budget holes.

There’s No Sugarcoating Hershey’s Abuse of Workers and Union-Busting Tactics

Hershey is not nice.

The Private Equity Industry in the New Interest Rate Environment

Private equity has been a big winner thanks to a long-term trend of falling interest rates. What happens in a less favorable environment?

“Bankruptcy For Moderna, Definitely Pfizer”

Pfizer and Moderna stocks have tanked over liabilty worries. The case made by vocal critic Edward Dowd.

Is 4% the “Magic Number” for Mortgage Rates to Prick the Housing Market (and Stocks)?

Is the housing market about to hit a tipping point?

Links 2/24/2022

Russia Moves Troops into Donbass [Updated]

Even though it was clear that Russia would stage a military operation in Donbass, the speed of its action still caught many by surprise.

What the Latest Science Says About Antarctica and Sea-Level Rise

Why Antarctica is a huge wild card in the progress of sea level rises.