Cezary Podkul
Cezary Podkul is a reporter for ProPublica who writes about finance.
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Cezary Podkul is a reporter for ProPublica who writes about finance. Previously, he worked as a reporter at The Wall Street Journal and Reuters where he specialized in data-driven news stories. His work with Carrick Mollenkamp for Reuters’ Uneasy Money series was a finalist for the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. He has covered energy and commodities and the private equity industry, among other beats, after leaving investment banking in 2008 to pursue journalism.
Cezary earned a B.S. in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and is a 2011 alumnus of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia Journalism School, where he won the Melvin Mencher Prize for Superior Reporting. He is fluent in Polish.
Bet Big, Then Go Short
Governments that borrow money to fund their pensions often pay less into their pension funds in future years than they're supposed to. Here’s how the 20 biggest pension bonds deals since 1996 have worked out.
What Chris Christie Didn’t Say at His Campaign Kickoff
The New Jersey governor pledges to “tell it like it is,” but his fiscal record and rhetoric don’t line up.
How Illinois’ Pension Debt Blew Up Chicago’s Credit
After a court ruling, the state’s legacy of borrowing to cover public employee pensions landed a $2.2 billion problem in the city’s lap.
Another Big Tobacco Bond Deal, Cajun Style
Facing a giant budget deficit, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal plans to borrow $750 million against future income from a landmark legal settlement with cigarette makers.
Parsing Chris Christie’s Pension Math
The New Jersey governor counts past pension borrowing as “school aid” in his budget – but not when it undercuts his claim of spending more on pensions than prior governors.
Behind Christie’s Budget Claims, a More Controversial Legacy
N.J. governor closed budget gaps by borrowing, shifting money from trust funds and paring back tax credits
Chris Christie’s Budget ‘Sins’
In pledging to fix New Jersey’s ailing finances, Gov. Chris Christie promised to avoid one-time budget fixes he called “sins of the past.” A review by ProPublica and The Washington Post shows he’s committed some of the same sins – and some new ones.
Years After Tobacco Deals Sold, SEC Says Rating Agencies Still Conflicted
The latest Securities and Exchange Commission examination of credit rating firms found problems similar to those documented in ProPublica's investigation of tobacco bonds.
Behind New Jersey's Tobacco Bond Bailout, A Hedge Fund's $100 Million Payday
When New Jersey decided to bail out some of its tobacco bonds, the state gave up $400 million in future revenues to pocket $92 million immediately, an arrangement that also helped one savvy investor cash in on a big bet.