"What you need to know to navigate today's economic debate."

Fight On, Goldman Sachs! (NYT)
Frank Rich on how Goldman's struggle to escape a reputation as the symbol of Wall St. corruption is yielding some positive results for financial reform.

Berating the Raters (NYT)
Paul Krugman invokes New Deal-era financial regulation, calling for the release of e-mails that expose the crucial role of credit ratings in the financial crisis.

They've Got It: Fixes for the Financial System (NYT)
Intellectually honest economic ideas from experts unhindered by practical motivations, including Roosevelt Institute Chief Economist Joe Stiglitz.

Out of the Black Hole (AmericanProspect)
The Roosevelt Administration's implementation of financial regulation serves as a model for reigning in risky derivatives that have wrought economic havoc.

Bank of America to Name Chairman (WSJ)
Bank of America Corp. directors Frank Bramble and Charles Holliday are the leading contenders to become chairman this week of the largest U.S. bank in assets.

Financial Reform's Big Unknowns (WaPo)
Robert Samuelson on what kind of reform we can really expect from the current bill moving through congress.

Too Big for Us to Fail (AmericanProspect)
Simon Johnson and James Kwak deconstruct the vast political power of the financial sector and what this power means for ending "too big to fail."

"What you need to know to navigate today's economic debate."

Obama Cooper Union Speech: Financial Reform Speech To Keep Pressure On Wall Street (HuffPo)
Today Obama will talk about changing Wall Street in the city that most relies on its profits.

Obama Leaves Value-Added Tax on Table (NYT)
President Obama has said that he would still consider a Value-Added Tax (VAT), even after the Senate has declared it a non-option.

Shelby Says Deal Is Close, Will Get 'Substantial' GOP Support (TPM)
As the Senate moves toward a final bill on financial reform, support from some unlikely GOP'ers has begun to sprout.

The Busted Homes Behind a Big Bet (WSJ)
This piece profiles the real victims of Goldman's casino mentality: American homeowners who can no longer afford a roof over their heads.

After Goldman (NYT)
The big banks are still one step ahead of the game as legislators make a final push for financial reform in the wake of Goldman and its malpractices.

Bill Black Warns That Financial Reform Bill Won't Stop The Wall Street Crime Wave (HuffPo)
Roosevelt Institute Braintruster Bill Black isn't convinced that financial reform in Washington will be able to curb corruption on Wall St.

Did ACA Know Paulson Was Going Short? (Reuters)
Felix Salmon sifts through what little testimony has been made public in the Goldman case, only to come out with more questions than answers.

Financial Reform Moves Forward, Progressive Senators Will Offer Strong Amendment (DailyKos)
Financial reform legislation has seen a glimmer of bipartisanship as Senator Lincoln (D-AR) tries to reign in derivatives and excess risk.

"What you need to know to navigate today's economic debate."

Goldman Sachs Vampire Squid Gets Handcuffed (NewEconomicPerspectives)
Roosevelt Institute Braintruster L. Randall Wray outlines years of financial abuse at the hands of Goldman Sachs, finally coming to a head as the SEC moves forward with its investigation.

Congress Divided Over Financial Reform Bill (CNN)
Republicans are digging their heels in as financial reform debate heats up in the Senate.

Goldman Sachs: Too Big to Obey the Law (HuffPo)
Simon Johnson wonders whether an SEC investigation will really be able to dig up the roots of one of the most entrenched and corrupt financial firms of our time.

Goldman Sachs Faces U.K. Investigation (CBS)
The financial firm is officially being investigated on both sides of the pond.

Why Do Women Still Earn Less Than Men? (TIME)
April 20 is Equal Pay Day, and to commemorate this occasion, TIME profiles the pay gap, noting that women still make only 78 cents on the male dollar.

The Court, Money and Politics (NYT)
The fate of electoral politics is only one thing at stake as the battle for a new Supreme Court nominee rages on.

Goldman Sachs Hires Ex-White House Counsel (CBS)
In a stunning move, Goldman Sachs has hired former White House Counsel Greg Craig to do its bidding as the SEC prepares its case.

Goldman Profit Beats Estimates as Firm Battles SEC (BusinessWeek)
Even as the SEC goes forward to investigate how Goldman swindled billions from consumers, the giant is still turning record profits.

"What you need to know to navigate today's economic debate."

The Non-Existent Hand (LRB)
Dispelling the myth of a rational, self-regulating market, Roosevelt Institute Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz shifts the debate on the financial crisis from finger-pointing on Wall St. to a reconsideration of Keynesian values.

Greenspan's Delusions (TheNation)
Chris Hayes responds to Greenspan's paltry defense before the FCIC, finding little more than scapegoating and revisionist history.

Has Obama's NASA Strategy Fizzled at Launch? (TIME)
Obama visited Cape Canaveral yesterday to reassure NASA and its workers of the federal government's commitment to space exploration and preserving industry jobs threatened by budget cuts.

Fighting Foreclosures (NYT)
This editorial in the Times reacts President Obama's underwhelming plan for keeping Americans in their homes, insisting that not nearly enough has been done to address the broader impact of the mortgage crisis.

The Fire Next Time (NYT)
Paul Krugman reacts to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's call for ending big bank bailouts, maintaining that financial crises--like fires--must be stopped from spreading.

The Few: Sensible Republican Senators On Financial Reform (BaselineScenario)
Simon Johnson profiles Republican strides at bipartisanship and substantial financial reform in the Senate.

Journalism's Parasites (TruthDig)
David Sirota examines the current state of journalism and intellectual honesty in the media as many seek to take advantage of the revenue crisis hitting the print industry.