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New Yorker magazine
Staff writer at the New Yorker magazine and a columnist for Fortune; author of How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities
PROFILE
John Cassidy
Guest
FROM John Cassidy
To the Point
Boston and the Modern Manhunt The toll from the Boston Marathon bombings is three dead and 48 still hospitalized with the total number of injured now 264. The surviving suspect's condition is said to be "fair." The motivation behind the atrocity may never be known but, in the meantime, there are many other unanswered questions.
Which Way, L.A.?
Ditching Big Bad Banks: Are There Alternatives? Big banks bailed out because they were "too big to fail" are now jacking up fees on small businesses and individual consumers. Bank of America plans to impose a $5 monthly fee on depositors who use debit cards. Citibank says it’ll raise fees on accounts with less than $15,000.
To the Point
Big Banks: Are There Alternatives? Bank of America plans to impose a $5 monthly fee on depositors who use debit cards and Citibank says it'll raise fees on accounts with less than $15,000, igniting the latest firestorm over personal and small-business finance.
Which Way, L.A.?
Is What Wall Street Makes Worth What It Takes Wall Street is making money again and financial institutions could hit record profits, but the unemployment rate went up last month and businesses complain they can't get credit. Meanwhile, President Barak Obama yesterday cut a deal that will extend the Bush tax cuts for another two years.
To the Point
Wall Street's Disconnect with the American Economy Wall Street is making money again and financial institutions could hit record profits, but the unemployment rate went up last month and businesses complain they can't get credit. Meanwhile, President Barak Obama yesterday cut a deal that will extend the Bush tax cuts for another two years.
To the Point
The Financial Crisis and the Presidential Campaign With Washington Mutual the latest Wall Street domino to fall, Democrats blame John McCain for urging House Republicans to hold up the taxpayer bailout. President Bush says it just has to happen , but it's unclear if McCain wants to kill the highly unpopular measure or broker a compromise.
To the Point
The Housing Crisis Is Eating America's Economy Home foreclosure may become an industry in itself. Today's New York Times features a California company called You Walk Away , which is looking for clients whose mortgages are now worth more than their houses, so they can't refinance to meet rising payments.
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KCRW Features
Could agave become Santa Barbara’s next major crop? In many ways, growing agave in Santa Barbara makes a lot of sense. Not only does it use very little water and thrive on generally inhospitable land, but it can act as a fuel break for wildfires.
Zócalo's Connecting California
A vote to end sheriff elections Californians are either really bad at choosing county sheriffs, or the system isn’t working. Maybe it’s both.