March 19, 2025
Blog Post Congressional OversightEthics in GovernmentFinancial RegulationIndependent AgenciesRevolving DoorSECTrump 2.0
Tough Questions for Paul Atkins
Senators shouldn’t go easy on Trump’s nominee to lead the SEC. Here are some things they ought to ask him about.
March 07, 2025
Week Seven: One Nation Under God, Indivisible
The seventh week of Trump’s presidency was a stark reminder of how little the public’s wellbeing factors into his administration’s decisions. This week, the administration reiterated its position that it’s open season for corporate predators, RFK Jr. moved to abolish public input into public health regulations, co-president Elon Musk found new ways to exploit the federal contracting system, banking regulators chose Wall Street over Main Street, and a corporate lobbyist stepped in to facilitate the sale of precious public lands to lumber companies.
January 28, 2025
Trump's FDIC Hastens the Next Banking Crisis
When the next banking crisis happens, remember that Trump and his loyalists weakened already short-handed regulatory agencies.
January 06, 2025
RELEASE: By Stepping Down Early, Michael Barr Preemptively Acquiesces to Trump’s Deregulatory Agenda
“Barr’s decision exemplifies anticipatory acquiescence—something that other public officials must avoid if they do not wish to expedite Trump’s looting of America.”
December 04, 2024
RELEASE: Donald Trump’s Nomination of Paul Atkins to Chair the SEC Is a Huge Gift to the Crypto Industry
If Atkins is confirmed by the Senate, crypto grifters will surely rejoice at their newfound freedom to swindle, but most investors in the U.S. will be much less safe.
October 28, 2024
State Insurance Commissioners Are Far Too Important to Ignore
The deeply intertwined crises of climate change, insurance rate hikes and cancellations, and housing injustice are escalating. State insurance regulators cannot tackle these problems on their own, but their role in aggravating or ameliorating them deserves greater scrutiny.
October 15, 2024
The Worst Milton Since Friedman
Climate disasters, what to do about them, and why the Fed needs to step up
October 11, 2024 | The New Republic
What Harris Needs to Say About Hurricanes
Kamala Harris should speak plainly about climate change—and then talk about the many things she could do as president to fix the home insurance crisis.
September 18, 2024
Jay Powell's Delay Caused Unnecessary Damage
The Fed chair’s deferral of interest rate cuts has hurt the clean energy transition and inflicted other economic harms.
September 10, 2024
Powell Should Recuse Himself from Basel Endgame Process
An Open Letter to Fed Chair Powell: Recuse Yourself from Basel III Endgame
August 23, 2024
Ignore The Neolibs: Harris’ Price Gouging Ban Is Good Politics And Economics
All the wrong people hate the proposal, and that’s a good thing!
August 21, 2024
RELEASE: Jay Powell Is Biden’s Worst Appointee
Before Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell talks monetary policy at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, RDP wants to remind people how awful Powell has been—on interest rates, climate risk, and financial regulation.
August 21, 2024
Matt Yglesias’ Weird Approach To Crypto
Matt Yglesias recognizes cryptocurrency can be dangerous. He also wants Harris to be nicer to crypto. Why? Pure vibes.
August 15, 2024 | The Sling
The Fed Chair Thinks Wall Street Should Have Veto Power over Financial Regulations. That’s a Mistake.
By instructing regulators to acquiesce to the big bank CEOs who have led a historically fierce campaign in opposition to the Basel framework, Powell is practically inviting financial industry executives to quash, through negative public feedback, any regulation they don’t like.
August 07, 2024
RELEASE: Republicans’ Failure to Push for Quick Confirmation of Christy Goldsmith-Romero Shows Their Real Goal Was to Weaken Bank Regulation, Not Protect FDIC Workers
The fastest way to remove FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg is to confirm Christy Goldsmith-Romero to lead the agency. Republicans say they want to get rid of Gruenberg, so why aren’t they calling for the immediate confirmation of Goldsmith-Romero?