Our writing fellow handpicks his Best of 2022.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


View this email in your browser
<[link removed]>

 

 

I have been at the

**Prospect** in some capacity since Joe Biden's inauguration. But 2022
was my first full year as a writing fellow. My favorite stories from the
year range across labor, politics, the campaign trail, and regulatory
updates. The following stories best capture the moments of the year
where as a journalist, I elucidated a deeper understanding of how power
operates in Washington, the corporate boardroom, and how the rest of us
live with those consequences.

Democratic Leadership Still Supporting the House's Only Anti-Abortion
Democrat
<[link removed]>:
Just before the Supreme Court officially overturned

**Roe v. Wade**, Democrats had already dropped the ball in every way
possible. They had no plan in place anticipating a post-

**Roe**world. But one instance early on most exemplified the limitations
of "vote blue no matter who!" Democratic leadership doubled down in
its support for the House's only anti-choice Democrat: Henry Cuellar.
What didn't catch as much traction but was equally important was how
support for Cuellar went further than lawmakers. Some of the DCCC's
premiere firms had worked on behalf of Cuellar too.

Hell in Amy's Kitchen
<[link removed]>:
This piece encapsulated the insincerity wage workers endure from
companies that love to call themselves a "family." News flash!
Family doesn't try to crush your unionization efforts. But Amy's
Kitchen does.

Welcome to Hell
<[link removed]>:
Covering labor is one of the most gratifying experiences I've had as a
journalist. My monthslong investigation into Mars, Inc.'s (yes, the
candy company) empire of veterinary hospitals across the country began
almost a year ago. In January 2022, I was tipped about the suicide of a
former Mars Petcare employee. Most coverage of the veterinary medicine
industry has focused on veterinarians and private equity's entryway
into the space. But the real juggernaut is Mars, Inc., and the
indignities suffered by the industry's technicians and assistants.
During a series of interviews conducted over a monthlong stretch,
workers described a toxic environment that included gaslighting,
physical exhaustion, psychological decay, and suicidal ideation. The
company says they've made proactive steps to rectify this environment;
meanwhile, the workers say otherwise.

Buy Now, Pay Later Overextends and Spies on Consumers
<[link removed]>:
Earlier this year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced
that it was investigating the business and data collection practices of
the leading buy now, pay later companies. I wrote about the pending
report earlier this year, but when the actual report was released, the
reality of the BNPL industry was worse than onlookers and the CFPB
expected.

Churros in the American Dystopia
<[link removed]>: At
the Colorado State Fair, most people didn't care about the day-to-day
horse race of American politics. Nor could they fit neatly into any
defined box of Democrat, Republican, progressive, etc. My dispatch
allowed people to express their passionate, messy, and sometimes
contradictory views of why they feel America is on the wrong track.

Republicans Seize on Congressional Stock Trading Ban
<[link removed]>:
For a couple of months this year, it seemed like Congress could pass a
bipartisan congressional stock trading ban. But in the weeks leading up
to the midterms, Speaker Nancy Pelosi sabotaged the best chance of a
passable bill. Republicans, of course, took the opportunity to slam
Democrats as corrupt on the campaign trail, even as most of their
members had no real commitment to passing a congressional stock trading
ban.

Sen. Gillibrand Hires Former Crypto Lawyer
<[link removed]>:
Crypto's collapse is probably the least surprising thing that happened
this year. As the industry reaches a low point, you'd expect
Washington to distance itself from crypto. Instead, a former crypto
lawyer is now on Capitol Hill, suggesting that the industry's
influence will not be waning anytime soon.

READ MORE FROM JAROD FACUNDO >> 
<[link removed]>

Follow Jarod on Twitter <[link removed]>

All of the reader support we receive funds our editorial mission:
illuminating stories about ideas, politics and power. If you value
independent journalism that informs readers about about the most
critical issues facing our lives, consider becoming a member today
<[link removed]>.

If you're already a member, thank you for your support!

We don't have a corporate benefactor. We survive thanks to readers who
care about what we do. We can't do this work without you.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY
<[link removed]>

Click to Share this Newsletter

[link removed]


 

[link removed]


 

[link removed]


 

[link removed]


[link removed]

Copyright (c) 2022 The American Prospect. All rights reserved.

To opt out of American Prospect membership messaging, click here
<[link removed]>.

To manage your newsletter preferences, click here
<[link removed]>.

To unsubscribe from all American Prospect emails, including newsletters,
click here
<[link removed]>.
_________________

Sent to [email protected]

Unsubscribe:
[link removed]

The American Prospect, Inc., 1225 I Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC xxxxxx, United States