Prospect Weekend Reads Week of August 7th Stories from the week you don’t want to miss!
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The Great
American Hospital Shell Game: The share price of Medical Properties Trust, which has a large portfolio of hospitals, is half as much now as it was at this time last year. As Maureen Tkacik explains, this is in part because of a pattern of dubious financial deals with some
of its largest tenants.
The Small Town That's Connecting America: Hickory, North Carolina was once the furniture capital of the world. Now, in a Bidenomics success story, it is home to nearly half the country’s fiber-optic cable production. Ramenda Cyrus has the story. It's Natural That People Feel Bad About the Economy Right Now: The American economy is rebounding, but most Americans still have a negative view of the economy. Read David Dayen on how that disconnect isn't really a disconnect, but a time lag as inflation
decelerates. Biden Admin to Restore Labor Rule Gutted in 1980s: This rule change could raise the salaries of the lowest-paid workers on infrastructure ranging from highways and bridges to battery plants, hydrogen production facilities, and semiconductor fabs. Lee Harris has the story. Making a Federal Case out of Remote Work: The Biden White House and some congressional leaders want federal employees back in their offices, but as Gabrielle Gurley writes, remote work and flexible schedules are here to stay.
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