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PROFILE

Dean Baker Guest

Dean Baker

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Center for Economic and Policy Research

Dean Baker is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, an independent, left-of-center, economic research organization based in Washington, DC. He is the author of Taking Economics Seriously, The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Rich, Plunder and Blunder: The Rise and Fall of the Bubble Economy, The End of Loser Liberalism: Making Markets Progressive and False Profits: Recovering from the Bubble Economy.

FROM Dean Baker

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Can Bernie Sanders Break Up the Big Banks? Bernie Sanders has promised to break up the country’s biggest financial institutions during his first year in office. It’s one of the central tenets of his campaign, and last week he was asked about how he’d do that in an interview with the editorial board of the New York Daily News. He’s now being criticized for seeming vague and evasive. But is the criticism fair? As the California primary nears, we will periodically examine the promises candidates are making. Today: How would Sanders break up the big banks?

10 MIN, 14 SEC Apr 06, 2016

The Federal Reserve, the Economy and You

The Federal Reserve, the Economy and You Wall Street, the banks, business and organized labor are all waiting to see if Janet Yellen and the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates tomorrow. They're only talking about a quarter of one percent — but that's a lot when rates are close to zero, as they've been for the past nine years. Those who want to see an increase are worried about inflation. Those who want to keep things as they are say a hike would be bad for employment. We hear what's at stake for the prices you pay and the security of your job — not to mention business investment and profit.

31 MIN, 26 SEC Sep 16, 2015

Are Government Workers Facing a Broken Promise?

Are Government Workers Facing a Broken Promise? Public workers may not be getting the retirement pay they've traditionally been guaranteed by contracts, laws and state constitutions. Last week, a federal bankruptcy ruling declared that Detroit's pension plans for city workers could be modified , just like any other debts owed by the city. That has other cities threatening to declare insolvency, in part to cut pension payments. But some Democrats, as well as Republicans, are already saying that state and local governments can't afford to make contributions any more. What's in store for firefighters, police officers, trash collectors and teachers who've accepted modest pay knowing their old age would be taken care of?

34 MIN, 40 SEC Dec 09, 2013

Obama Budget: New Consensus or Continued Gridlock?

Obama Budget: New Consensus or Continued Gridlock? Partisanship has left the budget process in shambles since 2010, but this year the Republican Congress and Democrats in the Senate have both passed spending plans. Having refused to start the proceedings in February, as required by law, President Obama has waited to weigh in. Tomorrow, he's expected to take what Washington calls a "risk" by proposing social-program reductions that infuriate many Democrats. The White House calls that "conciliatory," and hopes that Republicans will agree. But they're likely to balk at the tax increases on which his cuts are conditioned. Social Security, Medicare and "the Sequester" are part of the package, with the deficit, tax reform and the debt limit looming on the horizon. We hear what to expect from the White House, with both parties already thinking about the mid-term elections next year.

32 MIN, 29 SEC Apr 09, 2013

Looking Over the edge of the Fiscal Cliff

Looking Over the edge of the Fiscal Cliff The "fiscal cliff" means all income-tax payers are in for an increase and most government programs are in for massive reductions by the first of next year. What if the re-elected President and the lame-duck Congress can't make a deal? Would gridlock necessarily lead to another recession? We look at the financial picture and ask which players have the most to gain or lose in the aftermath of last week's election.

27 MIN, 9 SEC Nov 12, 2012

The Continuing Disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street

The Continuing Disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street Although it's down a bit today, the Dow hit 13,000 this week for the first time since May, 2008. NASDAQ flirted with 3000. One US company, Apple, is now valued at over $500 billion, higher than the gross domestic product of Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Saudi Arabia or Taiwan. Yet manufacturing growth has slowed, construction spending has slipped, and consumer spending remains weak. Both housing construction and Americans' after-tax income actually fell in January. What accounts for the disparity? How important is it? What can be done about it? And how will all this play out in this year's elections?

35 MIN, 50 SEC Mar 02, 2012

Republicans Take Aim at Medicare

Which Way, L.A.?

Republicans Take Aim at Medicare Republican House Speaker John Boehner met President Obama at the White House today, but they failed to make a deal to avoid a government shutdown on Friday. Meanwhile, Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia blamed the stalemate on a "lack of [Democratic] leadership in the Senate." As the battle raged over this year's federal budget today, the chair of the House Budget Committee, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan, presented his much-awaited plan for cutting the deficit and restructuring Medicaid and Medicare. We hear the details and look at the political consequences.

24 MIN, 4 SEC Apr 05, 2011

Money, Medicare and Next Year's Election

Money, Medicare and Next Year's Election As the White House and Congress struggled to avoid a government shutdown based on this year's budget, chair of the House Budget Committee, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan, presented his much-awaited plan for next year. Republicans claim it would save almost $6 trillion in ten years by spending cuts, restructuring Medicaid and Medicare and providing a choice of private insurance plans. Critics say it would make the rich richer and require the old and the sick to shoulder rising healthcare costs on their own. Does anybody expect the package to become law, or is it designed to shape debate about the role of government in next year's presidential campaign?

34 MIN, 5 SEC Apr 05, 2011

Wisconsin and the Rights of Government Employees

Which Way, L.A.?

Wisconsin and the Rights of Government Employees Wisconsin's public employee unions say they've agreed to Republican Governor Scott Walker's proposed increases in pension and healthcare contributions. But they're into the second week of protests over his demand that collective bargaining rights be limited.

25 MIN, 51 SEC Feb 21, 2011

Standoff Continues in Wisconsin

Standoff Continues in Wisconsin In Madison, protesters packed the Capitol again today as Wisconsin's Governor refused to negotiate his controversial budget bill. Republican Scott Walker's plan is aimed at a $137 million shortfall. The state's public employee unions say they've agreed to Walker's proposed pay cuts and pension contributions, but are into the second week of protests over his demand that collective bargaining rights be limited. The minority Senate Democrats have left the state to prevent Republicans from enacting the Governor's proposal. President Obama's accused Walker of an "assault against unions," and minority Senate Democrats have left the state to prevent Republicans from changing the law. We get the latest's on a bitter dispute focused on government workers and the economy.

38 MIN, 17 SEC Feb 21, 2011

Can We Afford to Rescue Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

Can We Afford to Rescue Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were established to promote the American dream of home-ownership, by subsidizing mortgages backed by the federal government. When the housing bubble burst two years ago their risky loans left taxpayers on the hook for nearly a half-trillion dollars. The New York Times reports that in the first three months of this year, they took over a foreclosed home every 90 seconds, and they now own more homes than there are in the city of Seattle

27 MIN, 16 SEC Jun 22, 2010

House Republicans Say No Deal to Obama Stimulus Plan

House Republicans Say No Deal to Obama Stimulus Plan Polls show that everybody wants to fix the economy, but grassroots partisans don’t agree about how to do it, and that’s reflected in Washington. President Obama went to Capitol Hill today but, even before he got there, House Republican leaders called for a “no” vote on his stimulus package , and the President’s much publicized courting of John McCain appears less than successful. The Arizona Senator called the plan “just the old spending practices of liberal Democrats.” Is the Obama plan the best way to create jobs or a grab-bag of special interest giveaways? Does it properly balance tax cuts and spending?

Jan 27, 2009

The Writers' Strike

The Writers' Strike Despite the presence of a federal mediator, yesterday's last minute talks between television and film writers and the Alliance of Film and Television producers went nowhere. Today members of the Writers Guild of America began carrying picket signs in New York and Los Angeles. Should the rest of the nation care? We hear how new media are changing the world of entertainment and America's cultural economy.

30 MIN, 41 SEC Nov 05, 2007

Recommended

Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret?

Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.

51 MIN, 12 SEC May 26, 2017

Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump

Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.

51 MIN, 13 SEC Jun 06, 2017

Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad

Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.

51 MIN, 17 SEC May 22, 2017

Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies

Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.

51 MIN, 16 SEC May 25, 2017