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Vox
Editor-in-Chief of Vox; former staff writer and blogger for the Washington Post and columnist for Newsweek; former associate editor at the American Prospect
PROFILE
Ezra Klein
Guest
FROM Ezra Klein
To the Point
The Anti-Hillary Campaign Is Up and Running Hillary Clinton hasn't announced her presidential candidacy, but her every move is being analyzed as if she had. This week, after she charmed 5000 professional women with talk of breaking the "glass ceiling," comment on her own status as part of the 1% was inevitable. (Clinton got her usual fee of $300,000 for delivering that populist message.) A Republican PAC has produced a TV spot using the voice of Elizabeth Warren out of context as if she'd attacked Clinton's links to "powerful interests," and there are claims of conflicts of interest between her work as Secretary of State and contributions to the Clinton Foundation.
To the Point
Who's in Control on Capitol Hill? In Washington today, a reported deal to reopen the government and raise the debt limit by Thursday was on-again, off again. Deal or no deal, there’s no guarantee that another, similar crisis won’t arise a few weeks from now. Tea Party Republicans want an end to business as usual, and new sources of funding allow them to thumb their noses at the traditional GOP. Today’s plan by the House was rejected by the Obama White House—although it was similar to the Senate plan with some amendments. Who’s in control on Capitol Hill? What about next year’s elections? Is real compromise possible in Washington’s 24-hour goldfish bowl?
Which Way, L.A.?
Fallout after JP Morgan's $2 Billion Loss One of Wall Street's most powerful women, Ina Drew, resigned as chief investment officer at JP Morgan Chase today, taking responsibility for the firm's $2 billion loss. Yesterday, CEO Jamie Dimon told Meet the Press , "We think Dodd Frank, which we supported parts of, gave the FDIC the authority to take down a big bank. And when it happens,…the board should be fired, the equity should be wiped out, the bank should be dismantled and the name should be buried in disgrace….This is a very unfortunate and inopportune time to have had this." Reporter Ezra Klein writes the Wonkblog at the Washington Post. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
To the Point
Fallout after JP Morgan's $2 Billion Loss One of Wall Street's most powerful women, Ina Drew, resigned as chief investment officer at JP Morgan Chase today, taking responsibility for the firm's $2 billion loss. Yesterday, CEO Jamie Dimon told Meet the Press , "We think Dodd Frank, which we supported parts of, gave the FDIC the authority to take down a big bank. And when it happens,…the board should be fired, the equity should be wiped out, the bank should be dismantled and the name should be buried in disgrace….This is a very unfortunate and inopportune time to have had this." Reporter Ezra Klein writes the Wonkblog at the Washington Post. Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy
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Fallout from Super Committee Failure Perhaps to the surprise of no one, the Super Committee has failed . Republicans and Democrats were supposed to come up with a deficit reduction deal, but in the end Republicans once again refused to substantially raise taxes, preferring instead to cut domestic programs, and Democrats stood by their mantra of achieving deficit reduction goals by balancing new taxes and spending cuts. Both sides are trying to figure out how to deal with the consequences: $1.2 trillion in mandated spending cuts set to take effect in January 2013. Who will bear the brunt of those cuts? Military spending is supposed to face huge cuts, but will legislators and lobbyists let that happen? What about other economic issues on the Congressional agenda? What will happen when voters go to the polls a year from now? Will deficit reduction and bi-partisanship failure be on their minds?
To the Point
Fallout from Super Committee Failure Perhaps to the surprise of no one, the Super Committee has failed . Republicans and Democrats were supposed to come up with a deficit reduction deal, but in the end Republicans once again refused to substantially raise taxes, preferring instead to cut domestic programs, and Democrats stood by their mantra of achieving deficit reduction goals by balancing new taxes and spending cuts. Both sides are trying to figure out how to deal with the consequences: $1.2 trillion in mandated spending cuts set to take effect in January 2013. Who will bear the brunt of those cuts? Military spending is supposed to face huge cuts, but will legislators and lobbyists let that happen? What about other economic issues on the Congressional agenda? What will happen when voters go to the polls a year from now? Will deficit reduction and bi-partisanship failure be on their minds?
To the Point
West Wing Shake-up Aims to Right Course Ahead of Re-Election Campaign There's been a major shakeup at the Obama White House. Chief of Staff William Daley has shifted day-to-day operations to a veteran Congressional staffer, Pete Rouse. Ezra Klein reports for the Washington Post .
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Is Time Running Out on the Eurozone? With a bigger economy than the United States, the Eurozone has the resources to avoid a break-up. But does it have the political will? With Greece imposing drastic austerity measures, Germany's parliament gave Chancellor Angel Merkel a bigger vote than expected today in support of increasing the Eurozone's bailout fund . We hear about the latest efforts to hold it together and the prospects for a double-dip recession worldwide.
To the Point
Is Time Running Out on the Eurozone? The German Parliament today approved expanded powers for the European Union's main bail-out fund , a big victory for Chancellor Angela Merkel. But with Greece in the throes of protest over austerity measures, there's still concern that the can is being kicked down the road. How much longer will frugal Germans be willing to support other countries they regard as undisciplined spenders? Could Greece still default on its debt? Would that trigger an economic "contagion" threatening the global economy with drastic consequences for the United States?
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Another Government Shutdown? Washington is once again on the verge of shutting down the government in the midst of partisan politics over spending plans. The Senate is scheduled to take a test vote today on a stop-gap spending bill that includes money for disaster relief. Ezra Klein is a columnist for the Washington Post .
To the Point
Another Government Shutdown? Washington is once again on the verge of shutting down the government in the midst of partisan politics over spending plans. The Senate is scheduled to take a test vote today on a stop-gap spending bill that includes money for disaster relief. Ezra Klein is a columnist for the Washington Post .
To the Point
Wall Street Reacts with Optimism ahead of Obama's Job Package Republican candidates will be debating tonight in California, as the nation waits for President Obama's speech on jobs to a joint session of Congress tomorrow night. Early today, stocks rose, reportedly on news that he'll propose a $300 billion package. Ezra Klein is staff reporter and blogger at the Washington Post .
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Will the Senate and Congress Pass the Debt-Ceiling Deal? Late last night, the President and Congressional leaders announced a debt-ceiling deal . The trade-off is deficit reduction that relies entirely on spending cuts and no increases in taxes. It still may not pass both houses, but here's how it stands. Almost no Democrats are willing to go past tomorrow's deadline without raising the debt ceiling. But a lot of Republicans are willing to risk the first default in American history. It's a dynamic that doesn't create a deal so much as it creates a "ransom." We hear what the President and leaders of Congress agreed to and what it could mean for their partisan rank and file, the American people and the global economy.
To the Point
Will the Senate and Congress Pass the Debt-Ceiling Deal? Late last night, the President and Congressional leaders announced a debt-ceiling deal . The need for last night's so-called compromise was forced by Tea Party Republicans ready to risk the first default in American history, but they still might not vote for it. The President says he had no choice but to reduce the debt with drastic cuts and no revenue, so angry liberal Democrats might not vote for it either. It's a dynamic that doesn't create a deal so much as it creates a "ransom." If it does pass, the spending cuts might further slow the economic recovery. It won't create jobs, and it lets unemployment extensions expire for 14 million Americans. We hear about the terms of the deal and what might happen if it passes — or fails.
Which Way, L.A.?
President Obama Addresses Entitlements Last week the Republicans , and yesterday the President , laid out their long-term plans for reducing the deficit, defining differences that will be crucial in next year's election campaigns. But major decisions are on tap for today and tomorrow before Congress takes off for a two-week recess. We hear about Medicare, taxes, women's rights and deficit reduction.
To the Point
Is a 'Great Debate' Finally Beginning? Last week, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan said the Republicans' plan to reduce the deficit would restructure entitlement programs and cut taxes. Yesterday, President Obama said he'd reduce the deficit by increasing taxes on the richest Americans and keeping entitlement programs as they are. But each plan carries risks for the author as well as the opposition, and both parties are struggling to maintain a united front. In the last two days before a two-week recess, is Congress setting the stage for compromise or a bloody political battle leading to next year's elections?
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To the Point
The Kavanaugh Factor and the Midterm Elections Republicans have secured their long-term goal: a right-wing majority on the U.S. Supreme Court. There are conflicting expectations for rulings on abortion, immigration, voting rights--and the powers of both the White House and Congress. In this divided nation, public trust in the rule of law is also at stake. How will the bitter battle over Brett Kavanaugh impact next month’s midterm elections?
LRC Presents: All the President's Lawyers
And now, tax issues Adding a new area of law to the list of President Trump’s legal issues...