Joe Biden Is Trying to Block a Student Debt Victory
Joe Biden ran for president promising student debt relief. His administration now appears to be doing the opposite, trying to overturn a recent ruling that helps those bankrupted by student loans.
141 Articles by: Julia Rock
Julia Rock is a reporter for the Lever.
We’re in a Climate Crisis — But the Pipelines Keep Coming
Federal officials are approving fossil fuel projects that enrich shareholders, fleece customers, and exacerbate the climate crisis.
The Bernie Left Is Taking on Machine Politics — and Each Other
Rhode Island has long been one of the most corrupt and machine-driven states in America. A new left movement is trying to change that — but they can’t agree on how.
Pete Buttigieg Is Not Disclosing His Dark Money Donors
After his failed 2020 presidential run, Pete Buttigieg started a dark money group. It hasn’t disclosed its donors as promised.
Fossil Fuel Company Enbridge: Climate Change Means We Need to Make Money Now, Not Later
The pipeline giant Enbridge is making a novel argument in defense of jacking up consumer prices: the climate crisis is heating up, so Enbridge needs to make higher profits now.
How Dark Money Bought Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court Seat
In her confirmation hearings, Amy Coney Barrett feigned ignorance of dark money groups. But she should be very familiar with such groups: new documents show that dark money bankrolled her Supreme Court nomination.
Before the Deadly Tornadoes, Corporations Blocked a Bill That Could Have Protected Workers
Lawmakers and corporate lobbyists stymied recent proposed legislation to protect employees’ jobs when they flee an unsafe workplace — exactly the kind of protection that could have saved the Amazon workers who died at work during tornadoes over the weekend.
New Yorkers Need a Utility Consumer Advocate. Gov. Hochul Just Vetoed One.
New York is one of the few states without an independent office to fight for ratepayers’ rights against utility companies. With her recent veto of proposed legislation to create such an office, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to keep it that way.
Six Things You’re Not Hearing About Inflation
The current conversation about inflation serves corporate interests.
Big Pharma’s Favorite Democrats Saved the Drug Industry Half a Trillion Dollars
Corporate Democrats like Senator Kyrsten Sinema saved Big Pharma $450 billion by watering down the party’s drug pricing plan.
Unions Are Inadvertently Propping Up Fossil Fuels
Workers’ retirement savings are being used to bankroll oil and gas companies’ climate destruction.
Lies, Damn Lies, and CBO Statistics
The Republican-led Congressional Budget Office is using gimmicks and fuzzy math to “prove” that the richest country on Earth can’t afford a decent welfare state.
Democrats Doing Big Pharma’s Bidding Are Being Rewarded
House Democrats say they aren’t sabotaging their party’s drug pricing plan. But their recent donation hauls from Big Pharma suggest otherwise.
Insurance Companies Are Trying Desperately to Stop Medicare Expansion in the Budget Reconciliation
The health insurance industry is spending big to halt efforts to expand Medicare benefits — and running false ads claiming Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin are protecting seniors rather than privatizing Medicare.
Joe Manchin Isn’t Against Entitlements — as Long as They’re for Rich People Like Him
For the poor and working class, Joe Manchin demands work requirements for child tax credits. Yet for the rich, he’s happy to support — and personally benefit from — work-free income.
Why Won’t Biden’s Health Secretary Lower Drug Prices?
Joe Biden’s health secretary Xavier Becerra has called on the feds to limit pharmaceutical price gouging in the past. But now that he is in a position to actually lower drug prices, he’s dragging his feet.
Rahm Emanuel Is Back, Thanks to Some Corporate-Funded Rehabilitation Efforts
Rahm Emanuel ended his two terms as Chicago mayor in complete disgrace. Lucky for him, Washington welcomed him back into the fold with open arms — after business interests quietly funneled him millions to push their agenda.
Bernie to House Progressives: Don’t Back Down
It’s do-or-die time for the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. So Bernie Sanders is rightly insisting that House progressives reject the bipartisan infrastructure bill until it’s linked to the reconciliation bill’s passage.
The Fight Against the Line 3 Pipeline in Minnesota
Activists are fighting the construction of the Line 3 tar sands pipeline in Minnesota — a pipeline that would have devastating consequences for indigenous people in the state and for all of us around the planet.
Lauren Boebert’s Anti-Climate Legislation Is a Self-Enrichment Scheme
The Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert is spearheading amendments that could gut Democrats’ climate bill — while also benefiting her husband’s fossil fuel business.