Author: Patrick M. Brenner

When Silence Speaks: The Optics of Editorial Conflict

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 18, 2026
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A statistical coverage disparity raises transparency questions at the Financial Times.

Tags Abbas Khalaf, Apollo Global Management, Aquarian Acquisition, Asset Management, Athene, Brighthouse Financial, Capital Markets, Conflict Of Interest Disclosure, Corporate Governance, Corporate Media Ethics, Coverage Disparity, Editorial Conflict Of Interest, Editorial Independence, Editorial Safeguards, Editorial Standards, Ethical Journalism Practices, Financial Journalism Analysis, Financial Media Scrutiny, Financial Times, Global Atlantic, Global Financial Media, Governance And Oversight, Industry Coverage Imbalance, Institutional Credibility, Institutional Trust Erosion, Insurance And Annuity Market, Insurance Industry Reporting, Insurance Sector Coverage, Journalism Integrity, KKR, Lebanese Economy Minister, Life Insurance Industry, Life Insurer Market Share, Media Accountability, Media Bias Concerns, Media Ethics, Media Governance, Media Independence Standards, Media Transparency Protocols, MetLife, Michel Khalaf, Newsroom Transparency, Patrick M. Brenner, Perceived Conflict Of Interest, Perception Versus Proof In Journalism, Private Capital In Insurance, Private Equity In Insurance, Public Trust In Media, Recusal Policy, Reputation Risk In Media, Roula Khalaf, Southwest Public Policy Institute, The Optics Of Editorial Conflict, Transparency In Journalism, When Silence Speaks

Conservatism Courts Culture Debt Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Transparency Updates

The Washington Times: The dangers of credit card populism

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 15, 2026
No Comments on The Washington Times: The dangers of credit card populism

Capping interest rates won’t create a fairer system.

Tags 10 Percent Interest Rate Cap, Access To Affordable Credit, Affordability Debate, Annual Percentage Rate, APR Regulation, Banking Industry Economics, Banking Regulation, Bernie Sanders, Bipartisan Populism, Capital Reallocation Effects, Consumer Credit Policy, Consumer Finance Policy, credit access, Credit Card Competition, Credit Card Ecosystem, Credit Card Interest Rate Cap, Credit Card Populism, Credit Card Reform Debate, Credit Card Rewards Programs, Credit Card Rewards Redistribution, Credit Market Distortions, Credit Score Tiers, Credit Underwriting Standards, Debit Card Interchange, Deep Subprime Lending, Donald Trump Economic Policy, Durbin Amendment, Economic Consequences Of Rate Caps, Economic Shortages From Price Controls, Federal Financial Regulation, Federal Reserve Study, FICO Scores, Financial Behavior Economics, financial inclusion, Financial Market Intervention, Financial Services Populism, Financial Services Regulation, Fraud Protection Costs, Government Price Controls, High FICO Borrowers, House Financial Services Committee, Interchange Fee Caps, Interchange Fees, Jim Himes, Josh Hawley, Lending Contraction, Market Distortions, Modern Payment Systems, New York Fed Study, Payment Processing Industry, Price Controls, Regulatory Overreach, Retailer Interchange Debate, Rewards Versus APR Competition, Richmond Federal Reserve, Risk Allocation In Lending, Risk Based Pricing, Scott Bessent, Subprime Borrowers, Usury Laws, Usury Limits, Zero Liability Protection

Conservatism Culture Cybersecurity Debt Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Housing Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Technology Top Issues Transparency Updates

Weakening Tri-Merge Would Make Housing Less Affordable

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 6, 2026
1 Comment on Weakening Tri-Merge Would Make Housing Less Affordable

Why cutting credit reporting costs won’t fix housing affordability, and may make it worse.

Conservatism Courts Crime and Justice Culture Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Government Transparency and Accountability Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance Political Thought Progressivism Public Opinion Top Issues Transparency Updates

Fiduciary Standards Start With Transparency

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 4, 2026
No Comments on Fiduciary Standards Start With Transparency

The loudest voices demanding “fiduciary purity” in America’s retirement debate are often the least willing to submit themselves to basic public scrutiny. That contradiction is now impossible to ignore. This week, the Pinpoint Policy Institute filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service alleging that the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard (IFS) has failed […]

Conservatism Culture Domestic Policy Government Regulation Government Transparency and Accountability Health Care Life New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Health Public Opinion Top Issues Updates

Government Can’t Reduce Smoking by Attacking Safer Alternatives

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date January 31, 2026
1 Comment on Government Can’t Reduce Smoking by Attacking Safer Alternatives

New Mexico legislators are considering higher taxes and new restrictions on nicotine products such as nicotine pouches. These proposals are typically framed as public-health measures. In practice, they risk doing precisely the opposite—nudging smokers back toward cigarettes, expanding illicit markets, and increasing preventable disease. Cigarettes remain the most dangerous nicotine product legally sold in the […]