Thursday, January 15, 2026

Crash Landing? Part 2 – The Usual Suspects

What parts of the financial system are most vulnerable to a crash?

The Pushback Against Biometric Surveillance and Control Systems Is Growing on Both Sides of the Atlantic

“Taking our data without notice isn’t convenient, it’s creepy.”

What’s Actually Behind the Banking Crisis? Why You Pay When They Play.

Law and economics expert Walker Todd explains how a financialized system creates havoc and why it’s time to rethink banking

2:00PM Water Cooler 3/23/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Energy Transition Advocates Get A Reality Check

Big Oil rollls out new messaging designed to stoke worry about green energy plans.

Links 3/23/2023

Crash Landing? Part 1 – Bonfire of the Banks

Satyajit Das looks at how banks got themselves into so much trouble and what the recent bailouts portend.

The Fed Accused of ‘Playing With Fire’ After Latest Rate Hike

The Fed confirms that its priority is crushing workers, and it believes it’s protected banks enough to allow it to continue.

Kshama Sawant: Workers Strike Back

Sawant wants to take more forceful and concerted steps to advance workers’ interest. How do her ideas stack up?

2:00PM Water Cooler 3/22/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

How Monetary Policy Affects Bank Lending and Financial Stability: A ‘Credit Creation Theory of Banking’ Explanation

Another nail in “loanable funds”, which justfies austerity but does not explain how central banks produce credit and monetary growht.

Eurasian Integration Including Iran Proceeds Despite US “Maximum Pressure” Campaign 

The Riyadh-Tehran rapprochement could bring much-needed infrastructure investment in Iran, which is situated at the center of China and Russian-led Eurasian integration efforts, but countries will have to defy or work around US sanctions.

Links 3/22/2023

How the Current Refusal to Deal Harshly with Failing Banks and Their Executives Will Create an Even Bigger Crisis

Why the expected official response to this bank panic wil make matters much worse, just not right away.

Medicare Advantage Uses Algorithms to Block Care for Seniors

How AI is institutionalizing Medicare Adantage fraud, to the degree that appeals of denials often outrun the patient’s life.