Patti Mohr

What is a K-Shaped Economy? And Why Does It Matter?

28Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Big Tech, Digital Economy, Global Economics, Types of News: Analysis, United States

What is a K-Shaped Economy? And Why Does It Matter?

The U.S. Economy Produces Winners and Losers The K-shaped economy produces winners and losers. A K-shaped economy emerges when the economy as a whole grows but different segments of the population experience the growth with vastly different outcomes. It depicts a point in time when economic inequality grows. Those with high incomes and savings make more money while those who have limited savings and have moderate to low incomes face economic hardship, such as high debt and higher costs of health care, housing, and groceries. Meanwhile, those who are not invested in the stock market—somewhere between 37 percent (Gallop) or 57.2 percent (Philadelphia Federal Reserve)—do not benefit from gains in the market. Economic Growth as Both a Reality and an Illusion The reason for notic...

U.S. Phones, Telecom Companies Still Subject to Spying

4Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Big Tech, Digital Economy, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief, United States

U.S. Phones, Telecom Companies Still Subject to Spying

Trump Scraps Proposed Sanctions on China’s Spy Agency December 4, 2025—A year after it became known that the Chinese government hacked into the U.S. telecommunications systems, gaining access to millions of phones, the systems remain vulnerable to spying, according to senators, a panel of experts, and officials at the Federal Communications Commission. “Our nation’s communications networks are facing rapidly evolving threats ranging from fraud and espionage to sabotage,” said Sen. Deb Fischer at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Tuesday. In late 2024, U.S. officials became aware of a Chinese government cyberespionage operation targeting global telecommunications systems. That became known as the “Salt Typhoon” attack, the worst telecommunications compromise in the nation’...

22Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Arms Sales, Military Industry, Diplomacy and International Law, WAR: Dispatches & Dialogue

When Weapon Sales Boomerang: The Case of John Gunther Dean

Looking Back in History: Weapons Used in 1980 Assassination Attempt Against a U.S. Ambassador Were Made in America John Gunther Dean survived the Nazi Holocaust as a child by immigrating to the United States in 1939. He became a naturalized citizen and went on to serve the country as ambassador to five countries: India, Thailand, Lebanon, Denmark, and the Khmer Republic. In the late 70s and early 80s when serving in Lebanon, the Lebanese were asking the United States to stop sending sophisticated weapons to Israel. Civilians in the southern part of the country were getting hammered by battles. Israel and its Lebanese Christian allies were clashing with PLO-aligned guerrillas. Peacekeeping forces were getting killed, along with civilians. Historic news clip about the assassinat...

Musk Pushes Robotics After Winning Tesla $1 Trillion Pay Plan

7Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Big Tech, Digital Economy, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Types of News: Brief

Musk Pushes Robotics After Winning Tesla $1 Trillion Pay Plan

Why the GER is covering this story: This story cuts to the heart of corporate responsibility, the ability of shareholders to influence corporate decisions, the evolving role of AI in the workplace and human relations, and inequality. November 7, 2025—Tesla’s board and CEO Elon Musk have won their proposal to pay Musk $1 trillion via stock options over the next decade with over 75 percent support from shareholders. Shortly after the company announced the results, Musk took the stage and emphasized a focus on robots. He said robots “are the future” for everything from health care and criminology. He added, however, that “things get wild from an economic point of view.” “Every human on Earth is going to want to have their own personal R2-D2 or C-3PO,” Musk said. “So who wouldn’t...

Norway’s Wealth Fund Votes ‘No’ on Tesla’s Trillion Payout to Musk

4Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Types of News: Brief

Norway’s Wealth Fund Votes ‘No’ on Tesla’s Trillion Payout to Musk

November 4, 2025—Norway’s Norges Bank Investment Management voted against both Tesla’s board proposals on executive pay, including the plan to distribute $1 trillion to CEO Elon Musk over the next decade. This year’s proxy vote is a significant test of shareholder power. The $2 trillion fund is the world's largest sovereign wealth fund. It has a $11.7 billion stake in Tesla, which represents just over one percent of the company’s shares. “While we appreciate the significant value created under Mr. Musk’s visionary role, we are concerned about the total size of the award, dilution, and lack of mitigation of key person risk- consistent with our views on executive compensation. We will continue to seek constructive dialogue with Tesla on this and other topics,” the fund said in its reas...

Risk and Rewards of Bank Deregulation in Trump 2.0

3Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Big Tech, Digital Economy, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Types of News: Brief

Risk and Rewards of Bank Deregulation in Trump 2.0

Trump’s Changes Boost Big Banks and AI Carry Market Risks November 3, 2025—Deregulation of industry is a significant feature of Trump 2.0. In his second term, President Donald Trump is signing executive orders and presidential memoranda that require agencies to pause, review, or repeal rules affecting energy production, air quality, environmental protection, and banking. In the financial sector, the Trump administration is: Reducing the amount of cash banks need to hold (a.k.a. capital requirements). Cutting certain exam requirements for small, community banks effective Jan. 1, 2026. These relate to the National Flood Insurance Program, fair lending risk assessments, and other regulatory requirements. (See the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, https://occ.gov/news-issuances/...

Musk’s $1 Trillion Demand on Tesla Shareholders

28Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Global Economics, Types of News: Analysis

Musk’s $1 Trillion Demand on Tesla Shareholders

Proxy Vote is a Test of Shareholder Power, Musk's Value Versus Per-Share Worth October 28, 2025—In just over a week, Tesla shareholders are scheduled to meet virtually and at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Texas to decide on corporate governance and a $1 trillion incentive package for CEO Elon Musk.Shareholders are voting up until the end of the day November 5 in time for the annual meeting the following day. Front and center of the decisions this year is a generous pay package for Musk worth $1 trillion over the next 10 years. Politics Hurts Brand, Shareholder Activists Say The proposal faces a pushback from a coalition of shareholder and public interest groups under a banner called “Take Back Tesla.” It includes groups like Public Citizen, Stop the Money Pipeline, Ame...

Consumers Likely to Pay Two-Thirds the Expense Cost of Tariffs, S&P Says

24Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Economics, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

Consumers Likely to Pay Two-Thirds the Expense Cost of Tariffs, S&P Says

Companies Face $1.2 Trillion Cost Shock in 2025 October 24, 2025—Businesses are facing a $1.2 trillion tariff-related expense burden this year, and companies are likely to pass on two-thirds of some costs to consumers, according to S&P Global. S&P Global evaluated estimates from 15,000 sell-side analysts for its report, “Margin Math: A $1.2 trillion expense propagates through supply chains in 2025.” Overall, across the global equity market, which represents roughly 9,000 public companies worth $130 trillion, companies are expected to face a $1.2 trillion cost shock due to higher tariffs. At the company level, firms face an expense shock of $907 billion. Firms are likely to pass on part of the burden—an estimated $592 billion—to consumers. Meanwhile, companies are likely to...

ICJ: Israel Must Allow Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through UN Agencies

22Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

ICJ: Israel Must Allow Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through UN Agencies

Judgment Strikes Blow to Israeli Laws Against UNRWA October 22, 2025—The International Court of Justice, the highest judicial body of the United Nations, ruled today that Israel is obligated as the occupying power to allow humanitarian aid to the people in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the court ordered Israel 1.) to respect the prohibition on the forcible transfer of a population and 2.) allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit detainees. Today’s decision comes at the request of the UN General Assembly, specifically after Israel’s legislature voted to block UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, from work. The ICJ is considering three separate cases relating to Israel-Palestine. Today’s 71-page Advisory Opinio...

17Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Trump Negotiates US-Saudi Defense Deal

Middle East Moves Closer to Regional Military and Security Integration October 17, 2025—President Donald Trump is in talks with Saudi Arabia over a defense deal involving military and intelligence cooperation, the Financial Times reported today. The newspaper reported that a White House aide suggests the two leaders could sign something when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Washington next month. Regional Integration The two countries have long discussed security deals, many of which are related to the Abraham Accords. Details of such discussions are often muted and known to even officials serving on the House and Senate Foreign Policy Committees. On September 29, Trump announced via executive order the United States will provide NATO-life security guarantees for ...