Category Archives: Banana republic

Taleb Questions CalPERS Ben Meng’s Competence and Honesty in Defending Missed $1 Billion Hedge Gain; Taleb Estimates CalPERS Net Loss on Meng’s “Alternative Mitigation” Over Two Years at $19 Billion

Nassim Nicholas Taleb calls out one of CalPERS CIO Ben Meng’s Big Lies, and unearths an even bigger one.

DemocracyWatch: Global Pandemic Power Grabs

Yet another pandemic downside….

Lockdown Rebelliousness: Denying that Coronavirus Is in Charge

The supposed irresistable force of the economy is losing out to the immovable object of the coronavirus.

The Really Really Yucky Airlines Bailout

The airlines are at the trough. It’s not quite as unseemly as the 2008 bank bailouts, but that’s an awfully low bar.

Fatal Combination: Bailouts and Bank Rescues in Money-Driven Political Systems

A tidy case study into how much money it takes to buy Congressional votes.

Some Comments on the Sanders Campaign

Thoughts on the Sanders kneecapping.

The Federal Reserve’s Coronavirus Crisis Actions, Explained (Part 5)

Muni purchases are finally here

The Coming Battle for the COVID-19 Narrative

Will the disruption of Covid-19 deal a major blow to market ideology?

How to Pay for the Pandemic War

Government responsese to the pandemic are making a hash of one of the comparatively easy issues.

New York Fed, FDIC Tout “Opacity in a Banking Crisis” to Keep Corporations, Hedge Funds, PE Firms & Counterparties in the Dark about Weak Banks

An article by Fed and FDIC researchers argues for hiding banks’ dirty laundry. Too bad the authorities didn’t make banks shape up instead.

India’s Poorest Now Have Access to Basic Bank Accounts, and Many Already Received their First Cash Stimulus Payment By Last Saturday; Meanwhile the IRS May Get You Your $1200 Check in Five Months

A tale of two stimuli: the Modi government has already made some direct deposits; some Americans will wait five months to receive checks.

What Wall Street Doesn’t Want You to Know About Hospital Emergency Rooms

A coronavirus whistleblower winds up also exposing that private equity has too much say in running emergency rooms.

Key Official Missing in Action: North Carolina Treasurer, Sole Fiduciary of Its Pension, Has Covid-19 but State Refuses to Say More

Key public officials are abusing their position if they keep the severity of their Covid-19 illness under wraps.