Author Archives: Yves Smith

Quarantine Cat Tricks

Cat intermission.

Public Health and Private Profits Under COVID-19 Pandemic

More discussion of how the private sector is undermining responses to Covid-19.

In a Slap in the Face to Progressives, Biden Appoints Larry Summers, a “Literal Architect of Neoliberalism,” to Economic Advisory Role

If you need proof that Biden doesn’t give a damn about oridinary people, his bringing Larry Summers in from political exile should convince you.

CalPERS Out of Control: Stunningly High Number of Personal Trading Violations, Yet Board Ignored the Misconduct

CalPERS yet again manages to exceed expectations in a bad way.

Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton With Michael Hudson: How The US Makes Countries Pay For Its Wars – Economics Of American Imperialism

Economist Michael Hudson explains how American imperialism has created a global free lunch, where the US makes foreign countries pay for its wars, and even their own occupation.

Links 4/25/2020

Diary of Samuel Pepys Shows How Life Under the Bubonic Plague Mirrored Today’s Pandemic

Samuel Pepys’ emotional roller coaster during a plague outbreak, and search for treatments in a medical fog, suddenly seems familiar.

Is There Deflation or Inflation in Our Future?

We don’t have a recovery in sight, but some economists are already worried about inflation.

‘No Warming, No War’: Report Details How US Militarism and Climate Crisis Are Deeply Interwoven

“In the face of both COVID-19 and the climate crisis, we urgently need to shift from a culture of war to a culture of care.”

Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton With Michael Hudson: US Coronavirus “Bailout” Is a $6 Trillion Scam

Michael Hudson explians why the coronavirus bailouts are even more of a gimmie to the rich than they look.

Coronavirus-Induced Food Supply Disruptions Hitting Farmers, Poor Consumers

Food scarcity is already starting to bite in the US and is likely to become a serious problem in much of the world.

Become a Manufacturing Powerhouse in 2020—An Economic Recipe for Our Times

On bringing manufacturing back home.

Mitch McConnell to State Pension Funds: Drop Dead

Prominent Republicans are threatening to gore the public pension fund ox.

Inequality and the Coronavirus: Destroying American Society From the Top Down

Coronavirus is exposing the severity of inequality in the US, particulary limited access to health care and the health costs of poverty.

Our Extraordinary 50th Earth Day

The Earth Day milestone occurs in the shadow of the coronavirus.