Courts & Law

The Trump Administration’s Plan for Protecting Consumers? Politely Ask Companies to Behave

Andy Kroll / ProPublica Aug 31, 2026 The "new" Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took a fintech startup's word that it had corrected a serious breakdown. Customers learned the hard way that this wasn’t true. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

Books

When Today Is the Day You Could Be Fired

Sasha Abramsky / OR Books Jan 16, 2026 In “American Carnage,” federal workers describe the chaos and pain they experienced during Elon Musk and DOGE’s unprecedented cuts to government agencies and programs. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

Editorial Cartoons

Elon Musk Cuts

Dave Whamond Feb 13, 2025 Dig deeper

Opinion

The Coming Unfettered Scam Economy

Robert Reich / Substack Feb 12, 2025 The shuttering of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau doesn't seem like a coincidence given Trump World’s interest in selling risky financial products. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Business & Economy

How the Predatory Tribal Lending Industry Has Survived

Joel Jacobs, Megan O’Matz / ProPublica Dec 27, 2024 Despite lawsuits, prosecutions and federal crackdown attempts, the tribal lending industry has adapted, providing exorbitant loans to financially vulnerable consumers. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

Student Loan Borrowers Lose an Advocate at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Ilana Novick Aug 27, 2018 Seth Frotman, in a scathing resignation letter to acting director Mick Mulvaney, says the agency “has turned its back on young people and their financial futures." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Loan Scandal Costs Wells Fargo $1 Billion; None of Fine Goes to Victims

KEN SWEET / The Associated Press Apr 20, 2018 The banking giant will pay $500 million to the U.S. Treasury and $500 million to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's civil penalties fund. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

New Banking Bill Could Lead to More Housing Discrimination

Eric Ortiz / Truthdig Mar 13, 2018 Tim Kaine, Mark Warner and 10 other Democratic senators are backing Republican reform legislation that helps Wall Street and hurts Main Street. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Hamstringing of a Consumer Protection Agency

Jesse Eisinger / ProPublica Feb 16, 2018 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has quickly been subsumed into the Trump administration, and banks, student-loan agencies and payday lenders are the winners. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Business & Economy

The Swamp Fighters: A Report From Behind the Lines

John Light and Susannah Jacob / Moyers and Company Dec 4, 2017 Dennis Kelleher, founder of Better Markets, talks about the nonprofit organization's effort to protect the public interest on Wall Street. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

Who’s the Boss at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

Bernard Condon / The Associated Press Nov 25, 2017 The departing head of the government agency appoints a deputy to temporarily fill his spot, but the White House then names its own interim leader. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

A Federal Regulator Probes Wells Fargo’s Mortgage Practices

By Jesse Eisinger / ProPublica Jun 7, 2017 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is following up on reports that the scandal-ridden bank improperly charged customers from Los Angeles to Oregon. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )