Author Archives: Yves Smith

Is This the Beginning of the End for Labour?

Brexit and Covid should have paved the way for a Labour romp. Instead, Labour tried to win a patriotism contest with the Tories and lost.

Musical Interlude (“On the Path of Decent Groove”): Taking an Irish Turn

Today’s musical interlude features Irish string performers in traditional and more contemporary styles.

Bank Shot: Financial Giants’ Return to Manhattan Gives Smaller Businesses Hope

Some bank CEOs are telling their workers to return to the office in the next few months. If Covid stay tame, will other companies follow?

Links 5/7/2021

Fed Shamelessly Gives Warnings of Vague and Ominous Risks While Saying Don’t Expect Us to Do Anything About It

The Fed tells the world: Don’t expect us to be ready for the next financial crisis. It’s just too hard.

Reducing Methane Is Crucial for Protecting Climate and Health, and It Can Pay for Itself – Yet Emissions Are Still Rising Fast, A New UN Report Warns

After a long period of fracking boosterism in the US, reducing methane emissions is finally getting the attention it warrants.

The Tattered Histories of Possible Future Ambassadors….Like Rahm Emanuel

A surprising number of ambassadors at prominent posts are patraonge picks. And who gets rewarded for what isn’t pretty.

‘Cry No Tears for These Death Profiteers’: Pharma Stocks Plunge as Biden Backs Vaccine Patent Waiver

Biden is suddenly backing a patent waiver for foreign manufacture of Covid vaccines. But do the mechanics make this a headfake?

Seychelles, World’s Most Vaccinated Country, Hit by Covid Surge….Including Among the Vaccinated

A big Covid surge in the Seychelles, a heavly vaccinated country, calls into question relying on vaccines as the route to normalcy.

Michel Barnier’s Brexit Diaries Published; Stinging Take of UK Strategic and Negotiating

Barnier’s Brexit diaries confirm the notion that the UK side was not up to the task and didn’t have the self-awareness to recognize that.

California Bill Seeks to Prevent Hospital Administrators from Practicing Medicine Without a License

An important vehicle for doctors to take back control by keeping administrators from playing at medicine has oddly stayed under the radar.

Links 5/5/2021

Dan Walters, Dean of Sacramento Columnists, Blasts CalPERS’ Corruption-Friendly Secret Lending Bill

Dan Walters, Sacramento’s most respected political columnist, calls out CalPERS’ corruption.

Jared Holst: Getting Kinky for the Sake of Data

Apple is now promising to give users more control over who gets their data. But will they make it more seductive to give it away?