What you need to know to navigate today's most critical debates.
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One Mancession Later, Are Women Really Victors in the New Economy? (The Nation)
Many commentators were quick to declare women the winners of the "mancession." So what did they win? As ND2.0 Editor Bryce Covert explains, a lot of crummy, dead-end jobs and a stagnant pay gap. Congrats?
Our Anti-Government Hypocrisy (TAP)
Harold Meyerson notes a survey that shows Americans oppose business regulations, except those that protect their health and safety and rein in powerful industries. But aside from all the existing ones and all the ones they want to add, total opposition.
What a difference a decade makes on income inequality (Maddow Blog)
Steve Benen points out that long ago, in the bygone age of 2002, Republicans like Rick Santorum were discussing the problem of growing income inequality without putting money in the swear jar for offending the delicate ears of the rich.
Mortgage Fraud Task Force Skeptics Wait For Strong Leader, Swift Action (HuffPo)
Having Eric Schneiderman head the new mortgage fraud task force won over many progressives, but critics like Roosevelt Institute Fellow Matt Stoller prefer to withhold their endorsement until it actually does something. Call it the Pet Rock Standard.
Pressure Grows on Fannie and Freddie to Cut Principal on Loans (NYT)
California AG Kamala Harris has asked Fannie and Freddie to halt foreclosures in her state until they can offer homeowners a genuine alternative. FHFA Director Edward "Hey, I Don't Even Listen to the President" DeMarco will probably not be persuaded.
For the Costliest Homes, Foreclosure Comes Slowly (WSJ)
If underwater borrowers don't want to be kicked out of their homes, there's a trick to getting banks off their backs: They just need to be wealthy and have phenomenally expensive mortgages the banks would prefer to keep on their books.
Gas in the US Elections (Truthout)
Dean Baker writes that the GOP hopes to pull the classic political trick of pinning blame for high gas prices on the president, despite the mildly inconvenient facts that (a) he can't really be held responsible for them and (b) Republican policies wouldn't help.
Growing Number Of Americans Can't Afford Food, Study Finds (HuffPo)
There are going to be a lot of growling stomachs in those quiet rooms where we're supposed to discuss inequality, as a new report shows the number of Americans who struggled to feed their families rose to 18.6 percent even as unemployment fell.
Magic Mountain (New Yorker)
Nick Paumgarten reports from inside the weird world of Davos, filled with important people conducting high-minded debates about the nature of the economy, discussion panels no one attends, pockets of protest, and a lot of espresso bars.
The Economic Impact of Leap Day (Slate)
Matthew Yglesias writes that having one extra day in the year doesn't really make the economy 1/366th awesomer, so its main significance will continue to be for 16-year-olds who are dying to celebrate their fourth birthday.
With additional research by Roosevelt Institute intern Elena Callahan.