The Trump administration has proposed $50 billion of emergency aid for airlines ravaged by widespread cancellations amid the coronavirus pandemic. But critics are deriding it as a bailout to an industry that made bad financial decisions. Resistance to the plan emerged among Democrats and even some Republicans. They’re concerned that extra money … Continue reading Airlines are begging for a bailout, but they’ve used 96% of their cash on stock buybacks over the past 10 years. 

The U.S. needs protection for households — that families are not foreclosed on or evicted, that they have income to weather the storm, that credit scores aren’t ruined, that kids are not denied school lunches. It’s not about lowering interest rates, it’s about making sure Americans who are living paycheck to paycheck … Continue reading Don’t look to the Fed for help on the coronavirus — Congress has the money and power – MarketWatch

“We just could not generate much interest,” a researcher said of the difficulty in getting funding to test the vaccine in humans. This is why you don’t cut budgets on these things. Source: Scientists were close to a coronavirus vaccine years ago. Then the money dried up. Continue reading Scientists were close to a coronavirus vaccine years ago. Then the money dried up.

The 14th Amendment says states that infringe the vote must lose representation in Congress. It’s time to actually make this happen. Interesting! Source: Politico – The Lost 110 Words of Our Constitution Continue reading The Lost 110 Words of Our Constitution

The United States ranks No. 39 in the world in measurements of children’s survival, health, education and nutrition — and no country in the world has excess carbon emissions at levels adequate … Continue reading US ranks lower than 38 other countries when it comes to children ‘flourishing,’ report says – CNN

A pretty good explanation. Source: Medicare for All: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) – YouTube Continue reading Medicare for All: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Americans looking to cut back on meat are following a movement forged by a groundbreaking book, ‘Diet for a Small Planet.’ More than 21 pounds of protein fed to a cow made just one pound of protein for people. Source: Plant-Based Meat Has Roots in the 1970s – The New York Times Continue reading Plant-Based Meat Has Roots in the 1970s – The New York Times

A shift toward a single-payer Medicare For All system in US healthcare could be a potential balm to the system’s current admin cost crisis. When people ask how much it’s going to cost, this is part of the answer – at least $600 Billion a year less than it currently costs. Source: … Continue reading New Study – Single-payer system could save US $600 billion in administrative costs

Huzzah for overeating and watching athletes brutalize each other. Boo the fact that climate change is an existential threat to Miami. Maybe it will take a city like Miami going underwater for people to wake up to climate change? Source: Not to Ruin the Super Bowl, But the Sea Is Consuming Miami … Continue reading Not to Ruin the Super Bowl, But the Sea Is Consuming Miami | WIRED

Inexplicable problems require a whole new kind of economic thinking – and MMT is more logical than you probably think it is. “Modern monetary theory (MMT) uses iron-clad rules of accounting to … Continue reading Why you need to know about modern monetary theory

Why a 17-year-old is a better economist than Steve Mnuchin. The International Monetary Fund makes regular estimates of worldwide subsidies to fossil fuels — subsidies that partly take the form of tax breaks and outright cash grants, but mainly involve not holding the industry accountable for the indirect costs it imposes. In … Continue reading Opinion | Greta Versus the Greedy Grifters – The New York Times

Survey authors: “We now observe an Alice in Wonderland moment of elite buoyancy and mass despair.” Because it’s true. Source: People no longer believe working hard will lead to a better life, survey shows – Hack – triple j Continue reading People no longer believe working hard will lead to a better life, survey shows