Category Archives: Regulations and regulators

Aducanumab: The Drug That Breaks Medicare?

Biogen plans to price-gouge for the barely-effective Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab to such a degree that it could bust Medicare.

U.S. Vaccine Diplomat Cajoles Producers to Support Low-Cost Off-Shore Vaccine Hubs

The Biden administration should push the WTO to waive COVID vaccine patents before heading off for vacation and encourage U.S. producers to ramp up low-cost vaccine production worldwide.

Gurbir Grewal Takes Helm as SEC Director of Enforcement, Breaking BigLaw Stranglehold

The new SEC director of enforcement takes up his post today, the first in this position since 2005 to enter without strong recent corporate ties.

FTC Votes 5-0 to Crack Down on Companies For Thwarting Right to Repair

FTC issues new policy statement announcing a tougher enforcement stance on company repair and warranty practices.

The Delta Variant Thrives in a State of Political and Public Health Discord

More worries about Delta.

World’s Coral Scientists Warn Action is Needed Now to Save Even a Few Reefs from Climate Change

Coral reefs are the canary in the coal mine. The collapse of these ecosystems is the first unequivocally tied to climate change.

As UN Human Rights Chief Urges Stricter Rules, Snowden Calls for End to Spyware Trade

An investigation revealing abuse of NSO Group’s Pegasus malware led Snowden to declare: “This is an industry that should not exist.”

Hospital ‘Trauma Centers’ Charge Enormous Fees to Treat Minor Injuries and Send People Home

The trauma center ripoff provides more evidence that the medical industry is primarily in the business of exploitation, not care.

Biden Targets Non-Compete Agreements, Which Restrict the Job Opportunities of Millions of Low-Wage Workers

Biden goes after non-compete agreements….but will this effort make a difference?

Robinhood’s Revealing Ad Pitch: We’re All Investors, Alone

The latest Robinhood campaign is more raspberry than rah rah.

When Counterculture Goes Mainstream: A Dispatch from the 2021 Bitcoin Conference

How Bitcoin hard-core loyalists see the future of their project.

Industry Calls the Climate Shots in the Biden Administration

And you believed Biden on climate change?

Michael Hudson Discusses Financialization, Rentierism, and Other Favorite Topics with Jessi Ora of Swedish Positiva Pengar Group

Michael Hudson gives another wide-ranging, tour de force interview. Enjoy!

Steve Wozniak Endorses the Right to Repair

Last week, President Joe Biden and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak endorsed the right to repair.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic: When Innovation Fails, or Rather Works Too Well

The opioid crisis provides a deadly example of why innovation often is simply a new-fangled form of predation.