More Americans are going bankrupt. What does that mean? : NPR

Experts say this shows that a growing number of Americans have reached the point where the pressure of their debt has overcome the stigma of bankruptcy. 

 "It's telling us that consumers are having a harder time coping with their financial obligations," said Sasha Indarte, a professor of finance at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School...

 https://www.npr.org/2026/07/29/nx-s1-5896065/personal-bankruptcy-rates-rising

How Private Equity Gutted Local Malls: Joann Fabrics, Red Lobster, Clair

It’s the same story every time: Private equity marches in, a few wealthy investors buy the outfit, strip out the assets, load the company up with debt, and suck money out of it until it collapses. 

Then, after thousands and thousands of workers have been laid off, after pensions get raided, and after stores close, those private equity firms walk away with their pockets stuffed with cash. 

And there goes your local mall and all the stores you grew up with.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_7SQDuUKQs

 

Del Monte collapse leaves California peach growers stranded. ‘No place else to go

https://youtube.com/shorts/cKCUO8DyoWI?si=jP4yKToKMbD-Uh8E

Bankruptcies hit 15-year high in 2025 as tariffs roiled corporate America - The Washington Post

But in a shift from previous years, the rise in filings is most apparent among industrials — companies tied to manufacturing, construction and transportation. The sector has been hit hard by President Donald Trump's ever-fluid tariff policies — which he's long insisted would revive American manufacturing. The manufacturing sector lost more than 70,000 jobs in the one-year period ending in November, federal data shows…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/12/27/corporate-bankruptcies-economy/

Clergy abuse survivors frustrated by New Orleans archdiocese’s protracted bankruptcy

"The more you delve into the financial crimes, the sex crimes, priests breaking their vows," Adams told the National Catholic Reporter, "it's caused me to question if I'm in the right church. My son's baptismal certificate was signed by two priests; both are now in prison for sex crimes. 

"If I genuinely believe that the true presence of Christ is in the Eucharist and the sacraments given to us by Jesus, there's no place else to go. That doesn't make going into church any easier. My great-grandmother was a daily communicant. I think her words would be 'Put your faith in Christ and in the Eucharist, and not church leaders who have normalized deception and abuse.' I remain hopeful that my love for God and his church is greater than the pain and anger caused by his priests and bishops."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/28/new-orleans-archdiocese-bankruptcy-abuse-settlement

 

We Went To Nebraska: The Beef Crisis Will Shock You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1_MI_5FHoc

 

 

US farmers say Trump’s $12bn package not enough to undo damage from tariffs

Donald Trump, having promised to "NEVER LET OUR FARMERS DOWN", appeared to come through for them this month when he unveiled a $12bn aid package. Industry leaders say thousands of farms will still go bust this year…

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/dec/22/trump-aid-package-us-farmers

 

We Went to Arkansas. The Farm Crisis Will Shock You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl02K72QFS0

 

This Meta data center is the size of Manhattan. It could bankrupt Louisiana farmers

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7mN1WbxDbnQ

 

JOANN Fabrics, Party City, Toys R Us, Red Lobster — private equity drove them all to the ground

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9qgkDEGXMlw

 

Brief: What Will Universal Healthcare Actually Require? (Conspirituality podcast)

In 2022, Oregonians passed Measure 111, which amends the state constitution to declare access to affordable healthcare a right for every citizen. As it happens, this was the first ballot Derek voted on when moving to the state.

Now that the long journey to universal healthcare is a reality in Oregon, what does that actually entail? Derek is joined by two members of the nonprofit organization, Health Care for All Oregon: Collin Stackhouse, the Social Media Coordinator, and Rebecca Schoon, an Associate Professor of Public Health at Pacific University, who’s on the board. Together, they map out the journey ahead.
Interview: 

https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/brief-universal-healthcare-oregon

Joann’s is Closing in May. You Can Blame Private Equity

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fetutHjc91A

New Orleans archbishop fires food bank leaders for refusing to fund abuse settlement

Because Second Harvest is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, donations it receives must be used for the organization's stated purpose, which is feeding the hungry. Several people who have been affiliated with Second Harvest tell Guardian reporting partner WWL Louisiana they are worried the archbishop's actions Thursday could jeopardize millions of dollars in funding for Second Harvest, including a recent $25m donation from the foundation run by novelist and billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/30/new-orleans-archbishop-fires-food-bank-leaders

 

Mitt Romney Debunks Donald Trump's 'Successful Businessman' Con

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fZkydGOYlh8

US supreme court blocks Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement that would shield Sacklers from lawsuits

Controversial deal would have protected billionaire family owners from further liability over US opioid epidemic

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/jun/27/us-supreme-court-purdue-pharma-opioids

Judge Orders Sale of Alex Jones’s Personal Assets but Keeps Infowars in Business - The New York Times

The ruling will allow the conspiracy theorist to continue broadcasting on Infowars, while the Sandy Hook families pursue payment of $1.4 billion in defamation damages...

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/14/us/politics/infowars-bankruptcy-alex-jones.html

Alex Jones to liquidate assets to help meet $1.5bn judgment

The Infowars host dropped his petition for bankruptcy protection, now opting instead for liquidation of company

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/07/alex-jones-liquidation-assets-sandy-hook

Relatives ask bankruptcy judge to liquidate Alex Jones company

Far-right conspiracy theorist, who was forced to pay $1.5bn in damages over false hoax claim, complains of unfair treatment…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/03/alex-jones-sandy-hook-payment

Opinion | How the Supreme Court Case on Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family Could Change Bankruptcy Law - The New York Times

The maker of OxyContin is one in a long line of companies that have turned Chapter 11 into a legal Swiss Army knife, tackling problems that are a mismatch for its rules. Managing costly and sprawling litigation through bankruptcy can be well intentioned. But Chapter 11 was designed around the goal of helping financially distressed businesses restructure loans and other contract obligations. 

If companies instead turn to bankruptcy to permanently and comprehensively cap liability for wrongdoing — the objective not only of Purdue Pharma but also of many other entities over recent decades — they can shortchange the rights of individuals seeking accountability for corporate coverups of toxic products and other wrongdoing...

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/04/opinion/purdue-sackler-supreme-court.html

Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna reveal bill to ‘cancel all medical debt’ | US news | The Guardian

Sanders and Khanna described the legislation as vital for many families' financial security, as millions of Americans struggle with the burden of medical debt. According to a 2022 investigation by NPR and KFF Health News, more than 100 million Americans, including 41% of adults, hold some kind of healthcare debt. A KFF analysis of the Census Bureau's survey of income and program participation suggests that Americans owe at least $220bn in medical debt.

"This is the United States of America, the richest country in the history of the world. People in our country should not be going bankrupt because they got cancer and could not afford to pay their medical bills," Sanders said in a statement...
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/08/bernie-sanders-ro-khanna-medical-debt-bill