Below, we've compiled some of our best reporting of the year. To get accountability journalism like this straight to your inbox in 2023, subscribe. It’s free to sign up. Accountability for right-wing billionaire Charles Koch. On March 14, 2022, Popular Information
I appreciate the work you do. I’d like to see you do a deep dive into the Medicare Advantage insurance plans. They advertise so heavily during the open enrollment period, makes me think it’s a huge money-making scam for the private insurance market and a way forward in undermining Medicare as a whole.
Yes please, Medicare Advantage is a boon to private and even religious based insurers that limits care and produces mountains of profit that should have gone to taking care of older people! Also AARP is a big actor in the racket and they sell their mailing lists to ad fuel to the fire to get people to switch to Medicare Advantage!
We looked into Medicare Advantage, saw that there are downsides even without the issues being flagged. We decided to stick with Medicare Gap Insurance (aka Supplement). Plan G works best for us, but folks have different needs.
Also, be aware that third party search sites that claim to be able to find the "right" plan for you that is available in your county (not all plans are available everywhere), are NOT honest. They OMIT to list plans that they don't get a cut from.
There are far too many parasites in the US medical care supply chain.
It’s really confusing and the medigap plans are expensive. I think newbies to Medicare, age 65 and likely to be the healthiest Medicare enrollees, get sucked into the Advantage plans that are cheap and include dental, vision, and drugs. They are managed care which means everything beyond regular doctor visits must be pre-approved, meaning time delays and possible denial. Changing to Medigap after Advantage is difficult if not impossible, and there are penalties if no drug plan is chosen initially, and drug plans, vision, and dental add significant costs. Because the Advantage plans are a fairly recent addition to Medicare, there is a fear that costs may balloon with aging and advanced care costs, but we just don’t know yet But I’m betting the Advantage plans are killing it profit wise. Finding help to navigate puts you in the hands of middlemen taking their cut, but figuring it out on your own is crazy hard. Medicare was supposed to give seniors peace of mind in affordable access to healthcare. The advantage plans muddy the waters. This is something seniors need help navigating, and I’m curious to know the real costs to consumers throughout the system.
Leah, I agree that Medicare Advantage deserves investigative reporting on its impact on Seniors' health and care options. The complexity of the entire Medicare signup process is baked in the cake by Congress. No matter how CMS tries to simplify communications and offer help via local senior centers, it's a complex decision-making process every year for people whose capacity for internet use and complexity is inevitably in decline. There is huge opportunity for predatory profiteering at every step of the way, every sign-up period. My USPS box and email inbox are full of such "opportunities" every October.
Charles KKKoch leads the pack for treason, subversion and corruption of the RNC--because of KKKoch, today’s RNC is run like a crime syndicate, funneling money under the cynical euphemism of “Citizens United.” Nothing will improve unless that POS ruling is overturned.
wow i kept up with some of your reporting but not all. you have done amazing research and reporting this year. i am currently a paid subscriber; retiring this year so have to cut back on subscriptions but am hoping to keep this one going. too valuable!
Popular Information was one of the first newsletters on Substack that I signed up for. When Judd took the newsletter to subscriber mode, I couldn't afford it. Several subscribers had donated "gift" subscriptions & Judd kindly signed me up for that. The next time renewal came around, I was happy to pay the annual fee. Now I'm going to see if I can pay this forward and perhaps offer a "gift" subscription for another interested reader.
Several Wells Fargo BOD members had to step done after defrauding was exposed in 2013 leading to significant penalties and oversight beginning in 2016, the CEO resigning and losing hundreds of millions $, and retribution for thousands of customers (many black and brown) targeted. Interestingly, the BOD was aware of fraud but deemed it immaterial!! Immaterial fraud - is that a thing?!?https://restorepublictrust.org/majority-of-wells-fargo-board-ousted-while-chao-was-rewarded-by-the-trump-administration/
Three of several BOD members were Mitch McConnell's wife Elaine Chao (confirmed by US Senate to Trump's cabinet AFTER fraud discovered and SEC fined), Enrique Hernandez, Jr (elected as Chair of McDonalds AFTER fraud discovered) and Lloyd Dean (elected to McD BOD after fraud discovered).
Now, under Hernandez Chairmanship, McD allegedly has numerous governance issues including sexual harassment, discrimination and shareholder litigation. For example, one lawsuit allege the BOD covered up the former CEO Easterbrook alleged harassment with staff by doing a 'fake' investigation and terminating WITHOUT cause allowing him to leave with over $50M.
Some very powerful men attribute increasing oversight over those in power to those who are 'WOKE' to distract from the status quo. It would be great for Judd to take this on in 2023 to truly understand what does Independent Director mean and how many powerful BOD members sit on multiple BODs and are using their power to:
- corrupt
- institute their extreme plutocratic and conservative religious beliefs broadly and under the radar
- and use company monies to secretly fund political and religious values based agendas they support personally.
Similar to the rise of monopolies, oversight of public (.e.g. McD) and private Cos (e.g. Twitter), corrupt BOD members are failing Americans and if not exposed will continue to destroy our democratic and (real) capitalistic way of life. We must follow the money and these exclusive clubs with members that serve on multiple BODs, even after overseeing FRAUD, until the SEC and elected officials hold them accountable to crimes committed in plain view - that prohibits them from holding ANY BOD seat. Kinda like how GOP want to barr felons from voting forever!
FYI - most shareholder votes for Co donations to be transparently disclosed are voted down. 90% of shares owned by individual shareholders are by persons worth over $1MM and the rest of votes are controlled by investment advisors who are - you guessed, part of the same exclusive club. Avg Americans are not shareholders casting votes and thus no voice
You are doing extraordinary work that is shining light where it's needed. Although I believe in thorough investigation of all issues, I'm ready to generalize that those in favor of corruption are finding malevolent ways to promote causes that bring harm (e.g.,Koch Industries, Wells Fargo, and practically everything Donald Trump touches). Your work is important and we can all feel gratified that what you're unearthing is getting publicized in larger venues.
Please readers. Subscribe with a paid subscription to Popular Information. $60 is well worth keeping real news in the high beams and as evidenced here, makes an impact on what is happening in the USA. No whining you can't afford it.
You can't not afford the truth. Quit eating out once a month or dropping bucks on things you don't need.
Another great year of accountability reporting, which again begs the question, "Why can't people (especially corporations and politicians) just do the right things?"
I appreciate the work you do. I’d like to see you do a deep dive into the Medicare Advantage insurance plans. They advertise so heavily during the open enrollment period, makes me think it’s a huge money-making scam for the private insurance market and a way forward in undermining Medicare as a whole.
I've heard BAD things about "Medicare-Advantage." Like it's a scam from the word go!
Yes please, Medicare Advantage is a boon to private and even religious based insurers that limits care and produces mountains of profit that should have gone to taking care of older people! Also AARP is a big actor in the racket and they sell their mailing lists to ad fuel to the fire to get people to switch to Medicare Advantage!
We looked into Medicare Advantage, saw that there are downsides even without the issues being flagged. We decided to stick with Medicare Gap Insurance (aka Supplement). Plan G works best for us, but folks have different needs.
Also, be aware that third party search sites that claim to be able to find the "right" plan for you that is available in your county (not all plans are available everywhere), are NOT honest. They OMIT to list plans that they don't get a cut from.
There are far too many parasites in the US medical care supply chain.
It’s really confusing and the medigap plans are expensive. I think newbies to Medicare, age 65 and likely to be the healthiest Medicare enrollees, get sucked into the Advantage plans that are cheap and include dental, vision, and drugs. They are managed care which means everything beyond regular doctor visits must be pre-approved, meaning time delays and possible denial. Changing to Medigap after Advantage is difficult if not impossible, and there are penalties if no drug plan is chosen initially, and drug plans, vision, and dental add significant costs. Because the Advantage plans are a fairly recent addition to Medicare, there is a fear that costs may balloon with aging and advanced care costs, but we just don’t know yet But I’m betting the Advantage plans are killing it profit wise. Finding help to navigate puts you in the hands of middlemen taking their cut, but figuring it out on your own is crazy hard. Medicare was supposed to give seniors peace of mind in affordable access to healthcare. The advantage plans muddy the waters. This is something seniors need help navigating, and I’m curious to know the real costs to consumers throughout the system.
Leah, I agree that Medicare Advantage deserves investigative reporting on its impact on Seniors' health and care options. The complexity of the entire Medicare signup process is baked in the cake by Congress. No matter how CMS tries to simplify communications and offer help via local senior centers, it's a complex decision-making process every year for people whose capacity for internet use and complexity is inevitably in decline. There is huge opportunity for predatory profiteering at every step of the way, every sign-up period. My USPS box and email inbox are full of such "opportunities" every October.
Thank you so much for your incredible, invaluable work this year, Judd!
Charles KKKoch leads the pack for treason, subversion and corruption of the RNC--because of KKKoch, today’s RNC is run like a crime syndicate, funneling money under the cynical euphemism of “Citizens United.” Nothing will improve unless that POS ruling is overturned.
wow i kept up with some of your reporting but not all. you have done amazing research and reporting this year. i am currently a paid subscriber; retiring this year so have to cut back on subscriptions but am hoping to keep this one going. too valuable!
Popular Information was one of the first newsletters on Substack that I signed up for. When Judd took the newsletter to subscriber mode, I couldn't afford it. Several subscribers had donated "gift" subscriptions & Judd kindly signed me up for that. The next time renewal came around, I was happy to pay the annual fee. Now I'm going to see if I can pay this forward and perhaps offer a "gift" subscription for another interested reader.
I am a proud paid subscriber and will renew my subscription when it comes up for renewal. You are doing amazing work that deserves to be supported.
Looking forward to seeing what trees the team shakes in 2023.
Several Wells Fargo BOD members had to step done after defrauding was exposed in 2013 leading to significant penalties and oversight beginning in 2016, the CEO resigning and losing hundreds of millions $, and retribution for thousands of customers (many black and brown) targeted. Interestingly, the BOD was aware of fraud but deemed it immaterial!! Immaterial fraud - is that a thing?!?https://restorepublictrust.org/majority-of-wells-fargo-board-ousted-while-chao-was-rewarded-by-the-trump-administration/
Three of several BOD members were Mitch McConnell's wife Elaine Chao (confirmed by US Senate to Trump's cabinet AFTER fraud discovered and SEC fined), Enrique Hernandez, Jr (elected as Chair of McDonalds AFTER fraud discovered) and Lloyd Dean (elected to McD BOD after fraud discovered).
Now, under Hernandez Chairmanship, McD allegedly has numerous governance issues including sexual harassment, discrimination and shareholder litigation. For example, one lawsuit allege the BOD covered up the former CEO Easterbrook alleged harassment with staff by doing a 'fake' investigation and terminating WITHOUT cause allowing him to leave with over $50M.
Some very powerful men attribute increasing oversight over those in power to those who are 'WOKE' to distract from the status quo. It would be great for Judd to take this on in 2023 to truly understand what does Independent Director mean and how many powerful BOD members sit on multiple BODs and are using their power to:
- corrupt
- institute their extreme plutocratic and conservative religious beliefs broadly and under the radar
- and use company monies to secretly fund political and religious values based agendas they support personally.
Similar to the rise of monopolies, oversight of public (.e.g. McD) and private Cos (e.g. Twitter), corrupt BOD members are failing Americans and if not exposed will continue to destroy our democratic and (real) capitalistic way of life. We must follow the money and these exclusive clubs with members that serve on multiple BODs, even after overseeing FRAUD, until the SEC and elected officials hold them accountable to crimes committed in plain view - that prohibits them from holding ANY BOD seat. Kinda like how GOP want to barr felons from voting forever!
FYI - most shareholder votes for Co donations to be transparently disclosed are voted down. 90% of shares owned by individual shareholders are by persons worth over $1MM and the rest of votes are controlled by investment advisors who are - you guessed, part of the same exclusive club. Avg Americans are not shareholders casting votes and thus no voice
A good year, Judd. 2023 will be challenging. Keep DeSantis in your
your spotlight, please.
You are doing extraordinary work that is shining light where it's needed. Although I believe in thorough investigation of all issues, I'm ready to generalize that those in favor of corruption are finding malevolent ways to promote causes that bring harm (e.g.,Koch Industries, Wells Fargo, and practically everything Donald Trump touches). Your work is important and we can all feel gratified that what you're unearthing is getting publicized in larger venues.
Congratulations on a great year. You set a standard for truth in journalism one wishes would be taken up by journalists everywhere. Thank you.
Keep fighting the good fight Judd and staff. To the future and beyond!!!
Please readers. Subscribe with a paid subscription to Popular Information. $60 is well worth keeping real news in the high beams and as evidenced here, makes an impact on what is happening in the USA. No whining you can't afford it.
You can't not afford the truth. Quit eating out once a month or dropping bucks on things you don't need.
Thanks Judd and team for making a difference!
Another great year of accountability reporting, which again begs the question, "Why can't people (especially corporations and politicians) just do the right things?"
We really appreciate the work you do Judd (we are donors to help you continue). Thanks!
And wishing you health and more really valuable investigative successes in 2023.
Warm regards,
Donald & Stephanie.
Thank you three, wishing you all the best.