Podcast appearances and mentions of neil barofsky

We hear from Dr. Thaer Ahmad, a Palestinian American doctor who spent time in Gaza trying to administer to a civilian population under relentless siege. Plus, Constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, takes apart the Supreme Court's decision to grant the president of the United States the powers of a king. Dr. Thaer Ahmad is a Palestinian-American emergency physician who has made numerous relief trips to Gaza. Dr. Ahmad is Assistant Program Director for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Chicago's Advocate Christ Medical Center. He also serves as the Global Health Director and Medical Ethics Director for the Emergency Department at Advocate Christ. Dr. Ahmad is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a board member for MedGlobal, a medical humanitarian NGO that works at building healthcare capacity and reducing health inequities globally.I don't think [Palestinian healthcare workers] get enough credit for what they've had to deal with over these last several months… These doctors are also displaced. Their families are displaced. They are living out of tents and they are showing up every day at the hospital to treat the community that's there. They've not been paid—the health ministry collapsed—they have no money. They're totally dependent on the scarce aid that gets in. These doctors are showing up to work when they should be in line at the bakeries that are producing some of the bread—where they should be in line collecting some of the aid that's being distributed. But they're showing up.Dr. Thaer AhmadI work with MedGlobal. They're doing fantastic work on the ground. They're in Gaza—more than 110 physicians and nurses who are Gazans are running medical points throughout the Gaza Strip. They have a malnutrition center that they're also using to help with the starvation that we were talking about. So I think that that's an excellent organization to contribute to—medglobal.org .Dr. Thaer AhmadBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law.  Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.[On Trump v. United States]: The court gave nothing more than the equivalent of, “We know when it's not immune when we see it, but otherwise you try to guess what that's going to be.”Bruce FeinIt's a judicial counter-revolution. It's a violation because it basically turns the Constitution into a scrap of paper—it means whatever the Justices want it to mean. It doesn't have to find even a single word in the Constitution to justify the opinion.Bruce FeinIt's really a judicial coup d'etat that occurred on July 1, 2024. It's hard to fathom the belief that these six judges think they're going to get away with it. There is going to be all kinds of damage to all kinds of people—regardless of their political labels—and there's going to be a big pushback. Do they think they're going to get away with it? These unelected, lifetime-position judges?Ralph NaderNews 7/10/24 In Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. Haaretz reports that in the immediate wake of the October 7th attack, the Israeli Defense Forces implemented the ominously named “Hannibal directive” which “directs the use of force to prevent soldiers being taken into captivity.” In other words, the explicit order of the Israeli military was for Israelis to kill Israeli soldiers to prevent them from being taken hostage by Hamas, in order to deny the group leverage in negotiations. As Haaretz reports, this directive also put civilian lives at risk. The Hannibal Directive had been a secretive but official Israeli policy since the 1986 capture of three soldiers by Hezbollah in Lebanon, but was formally revoked in 2016. 2. Lancet, the prestigious British medical journal, has published a study estimating that as many as 186,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a direct or indirect result of the genocidal Israeli military campaign. This casualty count, far higher than the commonly cited figure of under 40,000, supports estimates offered by advocates. If accurate, this would mean Israel has wiped out nearly 8% of the total population of the Gaza Strip.  3. Due to previous legal entanglements, the United Autoworkers union is subject to a consent decree with the federal government. Included within this consent decree is a federal monitor assigned to the union. Yet, the Detroit News reports that this monitor, Neil Barofsky, went far beyond his mandate to pressure the union over its position on the crisis in Gaza. According to this report, following UAW's official call for ceasefire, Barofsky called UAW president Shawn Fain to share his “concerns” about the union's position. Later, Barofsky signed off on an email which included an ADL complaint about the union's call for a ceasefire. Benjamin Dictor, outside counsel for the UAW, wrote to Barofsky saying “Your call to President Fain on an issue so blatantly outside of the Monitor's jurisdiction was inappropriate…[and] represents a surprising lack of integrity.”   4. More misbehavior from the ADL is on display in a recent expose from the Guardian. According to this report, based on a leaked internal memo from 2020, “the ADL collected information on a Black Indianapolis activist, Tatjana Rebelle, who worked on Deadly Exchange, a national campaign against an ADL-backed program to send US police officials for training with the Israeli military.” Rebelle is quoted in this piece saying “It scared the s**t out of me…It stopped me from moving forward because I don't want to put people in my life at risk – I work with youth, so it stopped me in my tracks.” The ADL calls itself the “leading anti-hate organization in the world,” with a straight face. 5. AP reports Boeing has taken the deal offered by the Department of Justice, and will “will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two crashes of 737 Max jetliners that killed 346 people.” The plea deal, which must still be approved by a federal judge, dictates that Boeing must pay an additional $243.6 million fine and submit to independent monitor-ship for three years, among other provisions. Ike Riffel, whose sons Melvin and Bennett died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash, is quoted saying “Boeing has paid fines many a time…When people start going to prison, that's when you are going to see a change.” 6. President Biden shows no intention of stepping aside as the Democratic nominee. This is despite open calls from prominent Democratic lawmakers, such as Jerrold Nadler and Adam Schiff, as well as a full-blown revolt from major Democratic donors like Abigail Disney. Recent polls show Biden losing most swing states by a substantial margin, including an AARP poll in Wisconsin showing him running 12 points behind Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin. Infuriating many of those who wish to avoid a second Trump term, Axios reports “President Biden indicated…[in his interview with George Stephanopolous] that he would be at peace if he lost to former President Trump ‘as long as I gave it my all.'” 7. Hurricane Beryl is ravaging Texas, leaving millions without power, according to CNN. This widespread power outage will only compound an incoming heatwave, with the Houston heat index reaching 100 degrees on Tuesday. Las Vegas hit a record high temperature of 120 degrees the same day, per Fox 5. As many have remarked, this is likely to be the coldest summer for the rest of our lives. 8. The Daily Beast reports the Pope has excommunicated Carlo Maria Vigano, an ultra-conservative archbishop who served as the Vatican's ecclesiastical diplomat to Washington from 2011 to 2016. A long time opponent of Pope Francis, Vigano has become increasingly unhinged in his criticisms, including accusing the supreme pontiff of being a “servant of Satan.” Other wild claims he has made in recent years include retweeting a Marjorie Taylor Greene post stating that  “The Covid vaccines are killing people,” and calling Black Lives Matter protests the machinations of “the children of darkness.” Vigano was accused of schism and found guilty.  9. In the United Kingdom, the New Arab reports five pro-Gaza independent candidates won seats in the House of Commons, including Shockat Adam, who defeated shadow Cabinet minister Jonathan Ashworth. Most prominent of these however is Left-wing luminary and former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who successfully defended his seat in Islington North after being expelled from the Labour Party over his criticism of Israel. Reuters reports that upon his victory, Corbyn said voters are “looking for a government that on the world stage will search for peace, not war.”  10. Finally, beating all expectations, the French Left emerged victorious from the second round of legislative elections. The New Popular Front lead by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, won the most seats, followed by Macron's centrist bloc, after the two formed a “Republican Front” to defeat the Far-right, led by Marine Le Pen. Now, negotiations are underway to choose the country's next Prime Minister, according to France24. Mélenchon has campaigned on a very simple platform, stating “I'm not saying we will create a paradise from one day to the next, but we will put an end to hell.” This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard.   Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Shoot us a Text.It's Tuesday, and we're talking about how Shawn Fain is under investigation, how a letter suggests Tesla would be better off with the dealer network, and how Apple is embracing AI.UAW President Shawn Fain is under investigation for alleged retaliation against other union leaders, raising significant concerns within the organization. Independent federal monitor Neil Barofsky is investigating claims from UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock, who alleges retaliation for her refusal to authorize certain expenditures. Fain also faces accusations of retaliating against Rich Boyer, leader of the union's Stellantis department.Fain took over Boyer's duties at the end of May. Complaints alleged that the change came because Boyer refused to engage in acts of financial misconduct to benefit others, according to the court filing.Barofsky's probe began in February, and has faced document turnover delays. Only 2,600 of approximately 116,000 relevant documents have been reviewed, with the DOJ alleging that “[the Union's position is] making it difficult, if not impossible, for the Monitor [Barofsky] to fulfill his mandate to remove fraud, corruption and illegality from within the UAW."”Fain's response, “Taking our union in a new direction means sometimes you have to rock the boat, and that upsets some people who want to keep the status quo.”Haig Partners has published an open letter to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, urging him to consider a strategic partnership with dealers to propel Tesla into its next growth phase. They argue that such a partnership could transform Tesla's market position and profitability.Haig argues for the Advantages of Dealer Partnership:Buying Experience: Dealers provide in-person interactions, trade-ins, financing, and insurance.Service Improvements: More service centers reduce wait times and increase convenience.Higher Margins: Dealers can offer added benefits, allowing for higher vehicle prices.Capital Efficiency: Dealer networks require no investment from Tesla, freeing up capital.Support for Self-Driving Tech: Dealers can help deploy and maintain Tesla's robotaxi fleet.Apple's WWDC keynote revealed major AI advancements for its devices, focusing on enhancing user experiences across various platforms.Apple Intelligence (AI): New personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, emphasizing security and on-device processing.Siri Upgrade: Deep integration with enhanced control and ChatGPT support for better query handling.AI in Apps: New features in Mail, Messages, Photos, and more, including email summarization and custom emojis.New Features in iOS 18: RCS support, scheduled texts, satellite SMS messaging, and more colorful Tapback options.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

This Day in Legal History: University of Alabama DesegregatedOn June 11, 1963, a pivotal moment in the American Civil Rights Movement unfolded at the University of Alabama. Governor George Wallace famously stood in the doorway of Foster Auditorium to block the enrollment of two African-American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, symbolizing his commitment to segregation. This act of defiance came to an end when President John F. Kennedy federalized the Alabama National Guard, compelling Wallace to step aside under military pressure. The successful enrollment of Malone and Hood marked a significant step towards educational desegregation in the South. On the same day, President Kennedy delivered a landmark Civil Rights speech, addressing the nation and emphasizing the moral and legal necessity of ending racial discrimination. Kennedy's speech highlighted the importance of civil rights as a fundamental issue of morality, equality, and justice, urging Congress to pass comprehensive civil rights legislation. This address and the events at the University of Alabama signaled a turning point, showcasing the federal government's commitment to enforcing desegregation and protecting civil rights. The confrontation in Tuscaloosa and Kennedy's impassioned plea laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which aimed to eradicate racial discrimination across various facets of American life.United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain is currently under investigation by the union's federal corruption monitor, Neil Barofsky, for allegations of retaliating against another union officer. This investigation poses a significant threat to Fain, who has built a reputation as a reformist leader closely allied with the Biden administration. The court-appointed monitor's 36-page report details claims of increased resistance from the union, including delays in providing documents mandated by a consent decree established in 2020 to avoid a federal takeover.Fain, who narrowly won the presidency last year by pledging transparency and reform, now faces accusations that challenge his public image. The same day the report was filed, the UAW achieved a landmark contract with Ultium Cells LLC, which significantly raised wages for workers. This victory followed Fain's success in unionizing a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, though efforts to unionize a Mercedes plant in Alabama failed.The monitor's report highlights at least two officials who allege retaliation for refusing to approve certain expenditures. One incident involves Fain reassigning duties from Vice President Rich Boyer, purportedly for “dereliction of duty,” though Boyer claims it was due to his refusal to engage in financial misconduct.Fain has denied these allegations, attributing them to his disruptive efforts to reform the union. He maintains that the UAW leadership is committed to democratic principles and serving its members, and welcomes the investigation to clear any doubts. The report also suggests that the UAW's cooperation with investigations has declined since February, complicating the monitor's efforts to address corruption.This investigation into Fain is connected to another probe involving Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock, who alleges that her power was curtailed in retaliation for not approving expenditures beneficial to Fain's office. The U.S. Department of Justice supports the monitor's claims, noting that the union's actions are impeding efforts to eliminate corruption within the UAW.UAW President Under Investigation by Federal Court Monitor (2)A secret recording of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, made public by liberal activist Lauren Windsor, reveals him supporting the idea of returning the country "to a place of godliness." The authenticity of the recording, shared on social media and with Rolling Stone, has not been independently verified by Reuters. Alito is heard agreeing with Windsor's statement about the necessity for believers in God to fight for the country's return to godliness.When questioned about political polarization, the voice identified as Alito's suggests that deep ideological differences make compromise difficult and predicts that one side will ultimately prevail. Windsor argues this reveals a bias, undermining judicial impartiality. James Duff, executive director of the Supreme Court Historical Society, condemned the secret recording as inconsistent with the event's spirit.Alito is also under scrutiny for flags linked to former President Trump's election fraud claims flying outside his homes. Despite Democratic calls for his recusal from related cases, Alito denied familiarity with the flags' symbolism and stated that his wife was responsible for the flag-flying.Supreme Court's Alito appears to back US return to 'godliness' in secret recording | ReutersThe 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has decided against adopting a pioneering rule that would regulate the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by lawyers in its proceedings. Initially proposed in November, the rule would have required lawyers to verify the accuracy of citations and legal analysis generated by AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Misrepresentation could have led to sanctions or filings being dismissed.The court's decision was influenced by public comments from the legal community, which largely opposed the rule, arguing that existing regulations already ensure the accuracy of court filings. Some other federal appeals courts have also considered similar regulations due to incidents where AI-generated briefs included fictitious citations. Despite scrapping the proposed rule, the 5th Circuit emphasized that parties and counsel are still responsible for ensuring their filings are truthful and accurate. The court made it clear that using AI will not excuse any violations of existing rules.5th Circuit scraps plans to adopt AI rule after lawyers object | ReutersIn November, Arizona voters will decide on a proposal that would grant homeowners greater property tax refunds. This proposal allows taxpayers to seek refunds for expenses incurred due to the state's inability to mitigate what is deemed a "public nuisance" caused by unhoused populations. I argue that a more compassionate approach would incentivize contributions to initiatives that assist the unhoused rather than compensating homeowners for their presence.This proposal risks fostering negative perceptions of unhoused individuals by framing homelessness as a detriment to homeowners. Traditionally, property taxes have funded public services that benefit communities, including support for vulnerable populations. State governments often use tax revenues to combat housing shortages and provide relief to economically disadvantaged groups. The proposed policy in Arizona, however, shifts this focus, potentially causing long-term harm by categorizing homelessness as a homeowner inconvenience.Arizona faces an affordable housing crisis, with a statewide shortage of 270,000 homes and a 72% rise in homelessness in Phoenix over the past six years. The proposal could drain state resources and set a precedent for taxpayers to claim refunds whenever state policies are perceived to cost them money. This shift undermines broader efforts to fund social services and could lead to selective taxpayer funding of services.A humane alternative would involve increasing property taxes in areas with high unhoused populations to fund comprehensive social services. This could include affordable housing, shelters, mental health services, and job training programs. Taxpayers could receive incentives for donations to approved nonprofits assisting the unhoused, creating a virtuous cycle where increased funding reduces homelessness and, consequently, lowers property tax bills.As Arizona voters consider this proposal, they will influence how the state addresses homelessness and the role of property taxes in supporting community welfare. They can proceed forward with either compassionate approaches that can mitigate homelessness or reinforce social divisions by using tax policy to marginalize the unhoused.Arizona Property Tax Bill Would Harm Unhoused to Help Homeowners This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Jennifer Taub is Professor of Law at Western New England University School of Law, but is perhaps better known for her book, 'Big Dirty Money: the Shocking Injustice and Unseen Cost of White Collar Crime', and for her media appearances analyzing corporate governance, white collar crime, and banking and financial market regulation issues. Jennifer is a vigorous legal scholar and researcher with a myriad of peer reviewed articles to her credit. Her first book, 'Other People's Houses: How Decades of Bailouts, Captive Regulators, and Toxic Bankers Made Home Mortgages a Thrilling Business', followed the financial crisis, and was called a must read by no less an expert than Neil Barofsky, the Inspector General of TARP, the government's main program that prevented a general financial system collapse.Jennifer's research is methodical, but anything but dispassionate. To read Big Dirty Money is to become angry. To quote one review "Be prepared to blow your top. It's likely that you'd be familiar with most, if not all of the crimes that Taub details, but having them all in one place is like eating a plate full of habaneros. You'll get red face bug-eyed, sputtering, and pretty righteously hot under the collar".On this episode of Outside In, Jennifer talks with Jon about how big a problem white collar crime is in the US, the class based legal system and why she wants student loan forgiveness.

Host Kristin Calve sits down with Neil Barofsky, partner with Jenner & Block and head of their COVID-19 response team, to discuss what he anticipates within the financial and regulatory ...

In this second episode of Fraud Eats Strategy, Scott Moritz speaks to Neil Barofsky, a partner at Jenner & Block and the former Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program about these issues. We will explore the increased discovery of financial crimes that occur in a down cycle of the economy and how organizations can use fraud risk assessments to identify fraud, pursue avenues of recovery and strengthen their organizations against the potential negative consequences of fraud.

To listen to the full episode for free, head to cafe.com/preet and sign up to receive a link. Members of the CAFE Insider can listen to this episode in the podcast player of their choice. In this special episode of CAFE Insider, “The Oversight Wars,” Preet and Anne are joined by Neil Barofsky, who served as the Special Inspector General for TARP, the chief watchdog in charge of policing the 2008 Wall Street bailout. Drawing on Neil’s experience overseeing the last massive government stimulus package, Preet and Anne break down all the latest issues and developments, including: — The challenges inherent in the oversight system outlined in the stimulus law, and the incredible amount of power in the hands of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. — Trump’s decision to appoint Brian Miller, one of his own White House lawyers, to the position of Inspector General for Pandemic Relief, and the importance of having independent-minded, qualified lawyers in oversight roles.  — The news that Trump has fired Michael Atkinson, the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community, ostensibly as payback for his role in bringing to light the whistleblower complaint that ultimately led to the President’s impeachment.  Preet and Anne also break down the latest politically-charged legal news, including: — The disturbing new report from the DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz exposing widespread problems with the FISA warrant application process. — The legal battle over voting in Wisconsin, the Supreme Court’s last-minute decision mandating that they move forward with the election, and the implications for the upcoming November election.  To hear the full episode, head to cafe.com/preet to receive a link.

Neil Barofsky was TARP’s chief inspector general, its top cop, with a mandate to flush out waste, fraud and abuse, now he talks with Bill Moyers about the CARES act.

The “Trump, Inc.” podcast has long explored how people have tried to benefit through their proximity to the Oval Office. And we're going to continue digging into that as the Trump administration is tasked with rolling out more than $2 trillion in bailout money.   We spoke to two people this week to help us understand the stakes. “Some policymakers sitting in the Treasury Department or some other government agency have this awesome power to say, ‘You get the money, you go out of business,.’” said Neil Barofsky, who served as the government’s watchdog for the 2008 bank bailout. “One of the most important things we can do is make sure that power is exercised fairly, consistently, and, most importantly, consistent with the policy goals that underlie this extraordinary outpouring of taxpayer money.”  We also spoke with journalist Sarah Chayes, a former NPR correspondent who has reported on corruption and cronyism in countries experiencing economic shock. She said powerful players often “take advantage of adversity and uncertainty to enrich themselves.”  But Chayes also described something else. She coined it “disaster solidarity.” That’s when there’s so much suffering, so much adversity, “that people's tolerance for selfish, hogging, me-first behavior is really low.”  And that’s where you come in. We want your help to dig into the coming bailout. If you know something, please tell us. Sign up for email updates from Trump, Inc. for the latest on WNYC and ProPublica's investigations.

This is our third and final installment of shows looking back on the financial crisis of ten years ago. It was such a big moment we felt we needed to devote most of September to remembering how the U.S. financial system was brought to its knees. Today we get the inside account from Neil Barofsky, the former Inspector General of TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) and author of Bailout: An Inside Account of How Washington Abandoned Main Street While Rescuing Wall Street. As you’ll hear, the discussion is basically a play-by-play of how the Treasury Department bungled the financial bailouts. At the height of the financial crisis in 2008, Barofsky gave up his job as a prosecutor in the esteemed U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York City, where he had convicted drug kingpins, Wall Street executives, and perpetrators of mortgage fraud, to become the inspector general in charge of overseeing administration of the bailout money. It’s fascinating to hear him talk about how from the onset, his efforts to protect against fraud and to hold big banks accountable for how they spent taxpayer money were met with outright hostility from Treasury officials in charge of the bailouts. Barofsky offers an insider’s perspective on the mishandling of the $700 billion TARP bailout fund. There’s no holding back as he reveals the extreme lengths to which our government officials were willing to go in order to serve the interests of Wall Street firms at the expense of the broader public, and at the expense of effective financial reform. Just like the book, this interview delivered an incredible account of Barofsky’s plunge into the political hot-seat of Washington, as well as a vital revelation of just how captured by Wall Street our political system is and why the too-big-to-fail banks have become even bigger and more dangerous in the wake of the crisis. If you have a money question, just email me! “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  https://apple.co/2pmVi50

Neil Barofsky, author of Bailout and the former Special Inspector General for the TARP program, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book and the government bailouts by the Bush and Obama Administrations. Barofsky recounts what he learned about how Washington works and the incentives facing politicians and bureaucrats. His book and this interview are a workshop in public choice economics. Along the way he unravels some of the acronyms of the last few years including TARP, TALF, and HAMP. The conversation concludes with lessons learned by Barofsky and what might be done in the future to prevent the corruption and ineffectiveness of past bailouts.

Neil Barofsky, author of Bailout and the former Special Inspector General for the TARP program, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book and the government bailouts by the Bush and Obama Administrations. Barofsky recounts what he learned about how Washington works and the incentives facing politicians and bureaucrats. His book and this interview are a workshop in public choice economics. Along the way he unravels some of the acronyms of the last few years including TARP, TALF, and HAMP. The conversation concludes with lessons learned by Barofsky and what might be done in the future to prevent the corruption and ineffectiveness of past bailouts.

Neil Barofsky, author of Bailout and the former Special Inspector General for the TARP program, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his book and the government bailouts by the Bush and Obama Administrations. Barofsky recounts what he learned about how Washington works and the incentives facing politicians and bureaucrats. His book and this interview are a workshop in public choice economics. Along the way he unravels some of the acronyms of the last few years including TARP, TALF, and HAMP. The conversation concludes with lessons learned by Barofsky and what might be done in the future to prevent the corruption and ineffectiveness of past bailouts.

*Stimulating political talk* Paul Ryan as radical as Todd Akin, bullshit Romney ad attacks Obama over medicare, Matt Taibbi stone cold stunners wallstreet analysts, Neil Barofsky goes on CNBC, "fiscal cliff" nonsense peddled by politicians, 40% of US food wasted according to new report, study: 1 in 5 americans cant afford food, Mitt Romney to donors: i would say more but media is here, government destroys $1 billion in pot, Prince Harry naked in Vegas, record radiation found in Fukushima fish, USDA suspends slaughterhouse for animal abuse.