Providing an effective voice for American consumers in an era when special interests dominate public discourse, government and politics. Non-partisan.
Days after selling her tobacco stock and donating the proceeds to an anti-smoking program at UCSF, Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann, chancellor of the…
Jul 1, 2010Greater government oversight is crucial to protecting consumers, said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, a left-leaning Santa Monica-based advocacy group. "The…
Jul 1, 2010Towards the end of Session 1, a great deal of the questioning focused on why the government paid Goldman 100 cents on…
Jul 1, 2010Session 2, with opening statements occuring now (links provided), has these witnesses set to testify: Eric R. Dinallo Former Superintendant New York…
Jul 1, 2010There has been an interesting colloquy of sorts between Commissioners Keith Hennessey and Bob Graham about the purpose of the Commission. Hennessey…
Jul 1, 2010Thomas has been questioning GS' David Viniar for a good 5 minutes on whether the Federal Government paid Goldman 100 cents on…
Jul 1, 2010Brooksley Born is asking GS execs about their derivatives operations. GS is continuing to assert that they integrate their businesses, and don't…
Jul 1, 2010After Thomas is done questioning, Angelides interjects and is incredulous that Goldman Sachs had a "scientific" methodology of pricing that was based…
Jul 1, 2010Bill Thomas, Vice Chairman and Former Ways & Means Chairman, is questioning Goldman's David Lehman on the technical aspects of how GS…
Jul 1, 2010Andrew Forster, AIG's former CFO, explains why he thinks Goldman's aggressive marking down of AIG's assets was mailicously motivated. Forster explains the…
Jul 1, 2010A big focus of the hearings today will be on the Collateral Call Disputes between AIG and Goldman in the run-up to…
Jul 1, 2010Today I will be liveblogging Day 2 of the FCIC's hearings. Witnesses are giving their opening statements now. Set to testify in…
Jul 1, 2010Unlike the previous session with AIG's Cassano, this session with Gary Cohn, President of Goldman Sachs, and Craig Broderick, head of credit,…
Jun 30, 2010Consumer Watchdog Says Average 15% Rate Could Still be Excessive Under Proposed ‘Prior Review’ Rate Regulations Santa Monica, CA -- Anthem Blue…
Jun 30, 2010My wireless had been knocked out for several hours, so apologies for the blackout. We are about an hour and a half…
Jun 30, 2010Google woos people with its “don’t be evil” slogan and assures us that everything it does is meant to enhance our online…
Jun 30, 2010Representatives from AIG are asserting good faith and denying that credit default swaps (CDSs) or over-the-counter derivatives were ever sold without due…
Jun 30, 2010The session with the "experts" is over. It is not entirely clear if the Commission learned anything new, especially considering the disparate…
Jun 30, 2010