James Baratta

New York, United States

New York-based journalist & writer covering inst’l investment at MandateWire from the @FT | @ftsguild | @ithacacollege ‘22 | RTs ≠ endorsements

Featured in: Favicon

mandatewire.com Favicon

commondreams.org Favicon

truthout.org Favicon

fair.org

latinorebels.com Favicon

theithacan.org Favicon

ithacavoice.org Favicon

prospect.org Favicon

progressive.org Favicon

znetwork.org

Articles

Unchecked Balances

1 week ago | prospect.org | James Baratta

At least historically, the expectation has been that the attorney general of the United States is wholly independent of political influences and ethically uncompromised. Given that the AG is entrusted with leading the entire criminal prosecution authority of the U.S., upholding the rule of law is a job requirement.
House Republicans Take Their Turn at Ravaging CFPB

2 weeks ago | prospect.org | James Baratta

Much to the delight of Wall Street and billionaires everywhere, the Trump administration, Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, and Project 2025 architect Russell Vought have waged a war against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Private Equity’s Do-or-Die Moment

2 weeks ago | prospect.org | James Baratta

The year 1978 is not just noteworthy for the election of Pope John Paul II and National Lampoon’s Animal House. It was also the year that a little investment banking firm known as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts announced plans to take manufacturing conglomerate Houdaille Industries private through a leveraged deal, using the company’s assets and future cash flows as collateral to secure debt financing for the acquisition.
It’s Not Easy Being Green

Oct 14, 2024 | progressive.org | James Baratta

It’s inevitable: Private equity will play an integral role in the global energy transition. These private investment firms have already backed over $25 billion in energy transition deals, with many plans to invest substantially more in the sector. But as institutional investors such as pension funds grow their allocations in private equity funds, public workers’ retirement savings become more exposed to climate-related financial risk.
Florida Invests in Catastrophe

Aug 7, 2024 | prospect.org | James Baratta

This article appears in the August 2024 issue of The American Prospect magazine. Subscribe here. Florida is at the forefront of climate disaster, rattled by four major hurricanes since 2017 (Irma, Michael, Ian, and Idalia), which caused the deaths of almost 300 Floridians and resulted in hundreds of billions of dollars in economic losses.
Private Equity’s Green Façade Is Being Funded by Your Pension

Oct 16, 2023 | znetwork.org | Ryan Bieber |James Baratta

In the years following the approval of a citywide Green New Deal in Ithaca, New York, the idyllic college town garnered headlines for its ambitious plan to become carbon-neutral by 2030. The city had secured roughly $100 million in private funding to decarbonize the entirety of its building stock. And the list of financiers—including Goldman Sachs and Microsoft—was bound to raise some eyebrows.
Private Equity’s Green Façade  Is Being Funded by Your Pension

Oct 16, 2023 | progressive.org | James Baratta |Ryan Bieber

In the years following the approval of a citywide Green New Deal in Ithaca, New York, the idyllic college town garnered headlines for its ambitious plan to become carbon-neutral by 2030. The city had secured roughly $100 million in private funding to decarbonize the entirety of its building stock. And the list of financiers—including Goldman Sachs and Microsoft—was bound to raise some eyebrows.
Debt Abolition Activists Gear Up for Countersummit as World Bank and IMF Meet

Oct 6, 2023 | truthout.org | Ashley Smith |JP Sottile |James Baratta |Alnoor Ladha

Activists in the global movement for debt abolition are gearing up to mobilize in Marrakesh, Morocco, where the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are holding their annual meeting October 9-15, despite the devastating earthquake that laid waste last month to whole sections of the country.