Category Archives: Banana republic

Trump’s Border Wall is a Multi-Billion Dollar Corporate Handout

How Trump made the long-standing border boondoggle even bigger.

California’s New Transparency Law Reveals Steep Rise In Wholesale Drug Prices

Drug price data in Califorinia shows mind-boggling increases in wholesale prices since 2019. Of course, the industry claims that that information is misleading.

The IMF Convenes in Washington, Deaf to the Suffering It Causes Across the Planet

A brief reminder of the IMF record of failure and harm.

PG&E Blackout Round-Up, Mini-Grids, and Thoughts on The Jackpot

PG&E’s bankruptcy woes, possibilities for a more resilient grid, and “androgenic, systemic, multiplex, seriously bad sh*t” (The Jackpot).

Income-Based Repayment Becoming a Costly Solution to Student Loan Debt

A proposal to fix income-based repayment schemes for student loan debt unwittingly illustrates the deficiencies of “preserve the status quo” approaches.

Unsustainable California: No Easy Remedy for PG&E Blackouts, Fire Risks

California prototypically lead the US. It’s PG&E infrastructure failure and lack of good remedies to escalating wildfire risks are the latest example.

Marketers Want Even More Control Over Hospitals

Another distubing example of MBA infestation at hospitals.

The Census Fails to Count 100 Million People as Living in Poverty

IPS Fellow Karen Dolan, who works with the Poor People’s Campaign, discusses her new study on poverty in the US.

Greenpeace Report: How Companies Still Have it Wrong on Plastic Pollution “Solutions”

Greenpeace publishes report on woeful state of plastic pollution “solutions”.

CalPERS to Announce Loss of JJ Jelincic in Board Election; Dirty, Illegal Tactics Against Jelincic Undermine Legitimacy of Incumbent’s Win

CalPERS’ allies defeated pro-accountability board challenger JJ Jelincic via dirty, illegal tactics and massive dark money spending.

Trump’s Executive Order is a Backdoor Privatization of Medicare

Why Trump’s “expansion” of Medicare Advantage is an insurer boondoggle at the expense of taxpayers and patients.

Brexit: Whither Boris?

It seems likely that Johnson will resign rather than be in office October 31 and risk being held responsible by the Brexit Party for an extension. But when would he pull that trigger?

The Self-Set Impeachment Trap

The Democrats are going about impeachment in a particularly stupid way.