Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 22, 2024 at 6:19 PM

"legalized tax dodging"

It was big “news” last week when the Dow Jones hit 40,000 for the first time ever. As an aside, I’ll note how out of proportion the media’s obsession with the stock market is compared to its almost nonexistent coverage of corporate price gouging and tax dodging, along with other metrics that act…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 21, 2024 at 7:13 PM

make corporations pay their taxes

It was big “news” last week when the Dow Jones hit 40,000 for the first time ever. As an aside, I’ll note how out of proportion the media’s obsession with the stock market is compared to its almost nonexistent coverage of corporate price gouging and tax dodging, along with other metrics that act…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 20, 2024 at 6:47 PM

tell DOJ: investigate Boeing for manslaughter

Boeing is guilty. The United States Department of Justice has found that the aerospace giant is guilty of violating the “deferred prosecution agreement” it entered into after two of its 737 Max airplanes crashed in 2018 and 2019, claiming 346 lives. “Deferred prosecution agreement” is legal jarg…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 19, 2024 at 6:06 PM

tell Rep. Matt Gaetz to apologize

“Stand back and stand by.” As you may recall, that’s what Donald Trump told the Proud Boys — during a presidential debate on live TV in 2020 — when asked if he would denounce violence from white supremacist groups. And here’s what Rep. Matt Gaetz posted on social media this past Thursday while …

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 17, 2024 at 7:56 PM

this congressman owes us an apology

“Stand back and stand by.” As you may recall, that’s what Donald Trump told the Proud Boys — during a presidential debate on live TV in 2020 — when asked if he would denounce violence from white supremacist groups. And here’s what Rep. Matt Gaetz posted on social media yesterday while appearing…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 16, 2024 at 7:12 PM

did Boeing commit homicide?

Boeing is guilty. The United States Department of Justice has found that the aerospace giant is guilty of violating the “deferred prosecution agreement” it entered into after two of its 737 Max airplanes crashed in 2018 and 2019, claiming 346 lives. “Deferred prosecution agreement” is legal jarg…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 15, 2024 at 5:24 PM

letting big campaign contributors evade disclosure

For generations, commonsense disclosure rules have let the American people know who is giving how much to which political candidates. That transparency is essential to our democracy — so that we know who the biggest spenders are and, in turn, who our politicians could be indebted to. But, shock…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 14, 2024 at 6:11 PM

who is giving how much to which candidates

For generations, commonsense disclosure rules have let the American people know who is giving how much to which political candidates. That transparency is essential to our democracy — so that we know who the biggest spenders are and, in turn, who our politicians could be indebted to. But, shock…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 13, 2024 at 5:06 PM

a perverse 'gold rush' underway right now

Are you ready for robot fighter jets? The United States Air Force is testing F-16 fighter jets controlled by artificial intelligence — even conducting training dogfights in American airspace between aircraft “piloted” by AI and those with human crews. The Air Force says it will deploy armed, au…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 10, 2024 at 6:01 PM

robot fighter jets

Are you ready for robot fighter jets? As we speak, the United States Air Force is testing F-16 fighter jets controlled by artificial intelligence — even conducting training dogfights in American airspace between aircraft “piloted” by AI and those with human crews. The Air Force says it will dep…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 8, 2024 at 6:33 PM

artificial intelligence threatens democracy

“Policymakers must rush to put in place protections or we’re facing electoral chaos.” That’s what I told The New York Times in a story on deceptive content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) technology — audio, imagery, and video known as “deepfakes” — being used to mislead voters and fom…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 7, 2024 at 6:51 PM

massive possibility for fraud

“Policymakers must rush to put in place protections or we’re facing electoral chaos.” That’s what I told The New York Times in a story on deceptive content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) technology — audio, imagery, and video known as “deepfakes” — being used to mislead voters and fom…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 6, 2024 at 7:29 PM

the price of gas

Dirty energy behemoth ExxonMobil is buying a Texas oil company called Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion. In approving the deal — the largest oil industry merger in two decades — officials at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have barred Pioneer’s former CEO, Scott Sheffield, from servin…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 4, 2024 at 8:00 PM

did Big Oil collude with OPEC to raise gas prices for American consumers?

As we speak, dirty energy behemoth ExxonMobil is buying a Texas oil company called Pioneer Natural Resources for $60 billion. In approving the deal — the largest oil industry merger in two decades — officials at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have barred Pioneer’s former CEO, Scott Sheffield…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 2, 2024 at 7:33 PM

no other Supreme Court on the planet is like this

The United States is the only major constitutional democracy on Earth that allows lifetime tenure for judges on its highest court. A bill in Congress — the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act — would institute term limits of 18 years for Supreme Court justi…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

May 1, 2024 at 6:05 PM

Supreme Court term limits

The United States is the only major constitutional democracy on Earth that allows lifetime tenure for judges on its highest court. A bill in Congress — the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act — would institute term limits of 18 years for Supreme Court justi…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 30, 2024 at 7:01 PM

term limits at Supreme Court

The United States is the only major constitutional democracy on Earth that allows lifetime tenure for judges on its highest court. A bill in Congress — the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization (TERM) Act — would institute term limits of 18 years for Supreme Court justi…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 19, 2024 at 7:41 PM

astounding facts about the very wealthiest Americans

Some astounding facts about the very wealthiest Americans: There are approximately 806 billionaires in the United States.* That’s roughly 1 billionaire for every 417,265 non-billionaires. The average net worth of an American billionaire today is over $7 billion. The combined fortunes of all of th…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 18, 2024 at 6:11 PM

make the billionaires pay their taxes

Some astounding facts about the very wealthiest Americans: There are approximately 806 billionaires in the United States.* That’s roughly 1 billionaire for every 417,265 non-billionaires. The average net worth of an American billionaire today is over $7 billion. The combined fortunes of all of th…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 17, 2024 at 6:49 PM

tell Congress: protect workers from extreme heat

Are they out of their minds? Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that would *stop* local communities from adopting rules to protect workers from extreme heat. Last month, California financial regulators *blocked* safeguards that would protect indoor workers from extreme heat. A…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 16, 2024 at 7:09 PM

Trump on trial for election interference

Yesterday, I spoke to the media outside the New York City courthouse where Donald Trump is on trial for election interference. I reminded the media of some basic facts: When the Access Hollywood tape (“grab ’em by the p***y”) was revealed on October 7, 2016, many people thought it would be the e…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 15, 2024 at 6:52 PM

at courthouse for start of Trump's trial

This is a historic day. For the first time in our nation’s history, a criminal trial against a former president is underway. I’ve just finished speaking to the media outside the New York City courthouse where Donald Trump’s election interference case began this morning. I reminded the media of…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 13, 2024 at 6:36 PM

an argument against the very premise of democracy itself

Earlier this week, Public Citizen filed a brief in Trump v. United States. That’s the U.S. Supreme Court case in which Donald Trump asserts absolute immunity from prosecution for criminal charges over his attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. The case will be heard on Ap…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 11, 2024 at 7:28 PM

rocket man

As I write this, Elon Musk is the third-richest person on Earth, with a net worth estimated at $194.4 billion.* Musk owns a company called SpaceX. SpaceX makes rockets and satellites, carries out launches (more than 300 over the past 15 years), and has become a fixture of the military-industrial…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 10, 2024 at 6:33 PM

make Elon Musk pay

As I write this, Elon Musk is the third-richest person on Earth, with a net worth estimated at $192.8 billion.* Musk owns a company called SpaceX. SpaceX makes rockets and satellites, carries out launches (more than 300 over the past 15 years), and has become a fixture of the military-industrial…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 9, 2024 at 6:30 PM

our brief in Trump's Supreme Court immunity case

Yesterday, Public Citizen filed a brief in Trump v. United States. That’s the U.S. Supreme Court case in which Donald Trump asserts absolute immunity from prosecution for criminal charges over his attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. The case will be heard on April 25. …

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 8, 2024 at 7:32 PM

what we just told the Supreme Court about Donald Trump

Today, Public Citizen filed a brief in Trump v. United States. That’s the U.S. Supreme Court case in which Donald Trump asserts absolute immunity from prosecution for criminal charges over his attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. The case will be heard on April 25. Her…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 7, 2024 at 10:42 PM

this should be illegal

$12.1 billion. That’s how much Big Pharma lavished on America’s doctors from 2013 to 2022, according to a new study, for things like travel, meals, drinks, honoraria, consulting, and outright gifts. About 826,000 physicians received such payouts from drug or device makers over that ten-year span…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

April 5, 2024 at 5:29 PM

they're practically bribing doctors

$12.1 billion. That’s how much Big Pharma lavished on America’s doctors from 2013 to 2022, according to a new study, for things like travel, meals, drinks, honoraria, consulting, and outright gifts. About 826,000 physicians received such payouts from drug or device makers over that ten-year span…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 30, 2024 at 7:26 PM

we have been attacked

Public Citizen is under attack from a dark money political operation bankrolled by multiple right-wing billionaires. In a letter to the Department of Justice, the dark money outfit No Labels named Public Citizen as a group that it thinks should be investigated under the federal RICO statute — wh…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 28, 2024 at 7:02 PM

tax the billionaires

If you think the super-rich pay too much in taxes, this email may not be for you. But if you’ve ever wondered about wealthy people not paying their fair share, read on. How utterly out of whack is our tax “system”? The wealthiest Americans (the top 0.1% — or the richest 1 out of every 1,000) en…

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  President · [email protected]

March 27, 2024 at 9:21 PM

no evidence

Public Citizen is under attack from a dark money political operation bankrolled by multiple right-wing billionaires. In a letter to the Department of Justice, the dark money outfit No Labels named Public Citizen as a group that it thinks should be investigated under the federal RICO statute — wh…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 27, 2024 at 5:26 PM

update on attack

The response to my earlier note about the attack on Public Citizen has been overwhelming. It is a powerful thing to know that so many people are ready to stand with us as we face this challenge. My original message is copied below in case you missed it. I hope you’ll give it a look. - Robert …

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  Robert · [email protected]

March 26, 2024 at 10:10 PM

attacked

Public Citizen is under attack from a dark money political operation bankrolled by multiple right-wing billionaires. In a letter to the Department of Justice, the dark money outfit No Labels named Public Citizen as a group that it thinks should be investigated under the federal RICO statute — wh…

See More from Robert

  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 26, 2024 at 5:46 PM

we are under attack

Public Citizen is under attack from a dark money political operation bankrolled by multiple right-wing billionaires. In a letter to the Department of Justice, the dark money outfit No Labels named Public Citizen as a group that it thinks should be investigated under the federal RICO statute — wh…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 25, 2024 at 6:29 PM

our tax 'system' makes no sense

If you think the super-rich pay too much in taxes, this email may not be for you. But if you’ve ever wondered about wealthy people not paying their fair share, read on. How utterly out of whack is our tax “system”? The wealthiest Americans (the top 0.1% — or the richest 1 out of every 1,000) en…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 22, 2024 at 6:59 PM

no immunity for Trump

Donald Trump has officially asked the U.S. Supreme Court to grant him immunity for his illegal attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. The Supreme Court will hear the case on April 25. (We don’t know how long it will take the Court to rule after that.) Trump’s lawyers have…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 20, 2024 at 5:32 PM

being president is not supposed to be a license to commit crimes

Yesterday, Donald Trump’s lawyers officially asked the U.S. Supreme Court to grant Trump immunity for his illegal attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election. The Supreme Court will hear the case on April 25. (We don’t know how long it will take the Court to rule after that.) T…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 19, 2024 at 7:41 PM

no more leniency for Boeing

Two Boeing 737 Max airplanes crashed in 2018 and 2019, claiming 346 lives. Despite evidence of misconduct by the company, federal law enforcement officials agreed not to prosecute Boeing if it promised, essentially, not to do it again. These barely-a-slap-on-the-wrist corporate leniency deals are…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM

airplane maker should be investigated for homicide

Two Boeing 737 Max airplanes crashed in 2018 and 2019, claiming 346 lives. Despite evidence of misconduct by the company, federal law enforcement officials agreed not to prosecute Boeing if it promised, essentially, not to do it again. These barely-a-slap-on-the-wrist corporate leniency deals are…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 17, 2024 at 7:43 PM

fighting back against corporate price gouging

During the pandemic, Corporate America jacked up prices on all kinds of consumer goods. From fresh fruits and vegetables to corn chips and breakfast cereal, from soup and soda pop to aluminum foil and toilet paper, prices seemed to go up with every trip to the grocery store. These price hikes wer…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 16, 2024 at 7:13 PM

shrinkflation

During the pandemic, Corporate America jacked up prices on all kinds of consumer goods. From fresh fruits and vegetables to corn chips and breakfast cereal, from soup and soda pop to aluminum foil and toilet paper, prices seemed to go up with every trip to the grocery store. These price hikes wer…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 15, 2024 at 5:44 PM

this is how we know about corporate and government corruption

This one may sound a little wonky, but stick with me — it’s really important. You’ve probably heard of the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. It’s the landmark 1967 law that has been instrumental in revealing information about corporate and government corruption, unsafe foods and medicines, F…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 14, 2024 at 5:46 PM

close this Supreme Court loophole

This one may sound a little wonky, but stick with me — it’s really important. You’ve probably heard of the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. It’s the landmark 1967 law that has been instrumental in revealing information about corporate and government corruption, unsafe foods and medicines, F…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 12, 2024 at 8:12 PM

what do you want to happen?

Some days, it feels like the bad news overshadows the good. The very foundations of our society are at risk as extremist forces within the Republican Party — in abject fealty to Donald Trump — push blatantly anti-democratic measures and threaten outright political violence in the naked pursuit of…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 11, 2024 at 6:31 PM

killer robots

Killer robots and computerized nuclear annihilation were themes of many science fiction movies in the 1980s. The thing is, those films were warning us what NOT to do. But with the rush to develop — and cash in on — ever more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, it is not at all o…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 9, 2024 at 6:57 PM

"Some gave a little blood, and others gave their very lives."

The right to vote is increasingly under attack in America. Here’s what I’m talking about: The landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 contained a provision requiring states with histories of voter suppression to get federal approval (or “preclearance”) for any changes to their voting laws. Congress r…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 6, 2024 at 8:32 PM

letting workers die

I’m going to say something controversial: People who work outdoors in extreme heat should get breaks for water and shade. “Wait, what’s so controversial about that, Robert?” Well, apparently it’s controversial for Republicans in Florida. Florida — whose official nickname is, famously, The Suns…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 5, 2024 at 6:10 PM

the right to vote is under assault

The right to vote is increasingly under attack in America. Here’s what I’m talking about: The landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 contained a provision requiring states with histories of voter suppression to get federal approval (or “preclearance”) for any changes to their voting laws. Congress r…

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  Public Citizen · [email protected]

March 4, 2024 at 7:35 PM

'a little blood'

The right to vote is increasingly under attack in America. Here’s what I’m talking about: The landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 contained a provision requiring states with histories of voter suppression to get federal approval (or “preclearance”) for any changes to their voting laws. Congress r…

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