Hiltzik

Hiltzik views baseball labor talks as a fundamental conflict between billionaires and peons. During these negotiations, baseball owners seek increased wealth, while players are focused on maintaining their existing gains.

A political farewell involving Hiltzik highlights someone who was a friend to Social Security in Congress. Rep. John Larson previously fought hard in Congress to protect Social Security, raising questions about whether his much younger successor will fulfill this same role.

Hiltzik reports that ordinary Americans struggle to fund their 401(k) plans while plutocrats accumulate millions tax-free. The article notes that tax-advantaged retirement accounts, initially devised for the middle class, have been exploited by the rich. Consequently, plans are now being considered to close these financial loopholes.

Hiltzik warns that Trump's new anti-vaccine orders concerning child vaccines are dangerous. These orders are expected to encourage vaccine refusals, thereby placing millions of children at risk.

The Trump administration's investments in corporate stocks have established it as a significant shareholder in 30 companies, according to Hiltzik. This situation has raised concerns among voters and economists regarding 'crony capitalism'.

According to Hiltzik, federal agencies are issuing tariff refunds to large corporations. Companies like Apple and Amazon are collecting billions in these refunds, but the revenue may not be passed along to their customers.

AI firms are launching IPOs to raise billions in capital, but the article questions the source and destination of the funds. The piece suggests these IPOs could potentially burst the AI bubble.

The article highlights that Trumpian attacks on science have caused billions in damage to farmers and ranchers and violated scientists' freedom of speech. It describes these actions as part of a broader right-wing assault on science that could worsen.

Colossal Biosciences claims to be working on reviving extinct species like dodos and mammoths, but according to this analysis, they are not close to achieving this goal. The article expresses skepticism about the company's claims and timeline for de-extinction technology.

The Justice Department is criticizing UCLA and other medical schools for considering race in their student selection process, claiming it gives too much weight to this factor. The author argues that the Justice Department's analysis is fundamentally racist. This criticism may impact how medical schools approach diversity in their admissions.

A surge in data center construction in Nevada threatens the electricity supply for 49,000 Californians, despite local opposition blocking or delaying similar projects elsewhere. The affected Californians will not have a say in the Nevada projects. This situation highlights potential regional electricity supply issues.

The article discusses the Trump accounts and their comparison to Social Security, with proponents claiming they will be better. However, the author advises against believing this hype. The Trump accounts are said to be $1,000 accounts.

Economists blame gas stations and consumer behavior for the rapid rise and slow fall of gasoline prices. This phenomenon is known as the rocket-and-feathers effect. Gas prices tend to increase sharply but decrease slowly.

The stock market has declined following the US-Iran conflict initiated by Trump, but the reaction is not as severe as expected. The article questions why the market's response remains muted despite the escalation.

A new Social Security proposal aims to cap benefits at $50,000 per person, which critics argue disproportionately harms the working class while shielding the wealthy from higher taxes. The plan is criticized for favoring rich taxpayers over low- and middle-income workers.

Republicans, led by Ted Cruz, are advocating for another capital gains tax cut, which the article criticizes as a tax break for the wealthiest 1%. The author argues that this policy is widely seen as unfavorable.