Banks Get Their Pro-Merger Regulator
Jonathan McKernan, Trump’s choice to run the nation’s financial watchdog, pushed for bank megamergers that his predecessor fought to prevent in the name of consumer protection.
Archive
Explore all of The Lever’s reporting that holds the powerful accountable.
Prison CEOs Predict Jackpot Off Immigration Crackdown
On earnings calls, corporate leaders at for-profit detention companies are predicting a jackpot off Trump’s agenda.
Musk Just Scored More Government Cash While Pushing Education Cuts
As the billionaire was reportedly slashing Education Department contracts, SpaceX secured a multimillion-dollar “supplemental” deal from NASA.
Trump Just Canceled Ethics
The president is taking a sledgehammer to the last few remaining vestiges of checks and balances.
Musk Targets His Companies’ Regulators
The billionaire’s push to kill the CFPB followed his social media company’s deal that might have been scrutinized by the agency.
Greenland, Stargate, And Other Sci-Fi Adventures
A tech bro treasure hunt, a dictator-funded AI moonshot, and much more from The Lever this week.
YOU LOVE TO SEE IT: Whale Of A Win
Right whales get their rights back, abortion providers are handed a shield, Trump has an antitrust moment, and a tractor company is told to repair its values.
Chemical Companies Ask Trump’s EPA To Hide Potential Disasters
Biden increased transparency around the risks of chemical disaster — industry lobbyists just asked Trump’s new EPA chief Lee Zeldin to roll that back.
Trump Purges Inspectors General Investigating Musk’s Businesses
At least five federal agencies that have investigated Musk companies had their inspectors general axed by Trump.
The American Dream (Water Not Included)
Real estate developers are running a dark-money campaign to overturn new housing rules — and ignore basic laws of nature.