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Jake Bernstein

Jake Bernstein was a business and financial reporter for ProPublica.

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Jake Bernstein was a business reporter for ProPublica. He was featured in the Best Business Writing in 2012 and 2013.

In April 2011, Bernstein and colleague Jesse Eisinger were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a series of stories on questionable Wall Street practices that helped make the financial crisis the worst since the Great Depression.

Prior to joining ProPublica, Bernstein worked at The Texas Observer, an investigative biweekly, for six years, and as its executive editor from 2004 to 2008. Bernstein began his career in Central America, where for several years he reported on efforts to end longstanding civil conflicts. He served as a staff writer for the Pasadena [Texas] Citizen and then for the Miami New Times. His work has received numerous state-level and national journalism awards, and The Texas Observer, under his leadership, was named Best Political Magazine of 2005 by Utne Reader. Bernstein is co-author of Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency (2006).

Fed Tapes

Secret Tapes Hint at Turmoil in New York Fed Team Monitoring JPMorgan

Examiners are reportedly blocked from doing their job as "London Whale" trades blow up.

Fed Tapes

Senate Hearing Set on Secret Recordings at N.Y. Fed

A banking subcommittee will explore the case of fired examiner Carmen Segarra and whether the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is too soft on institutions it supervises.

Fed Tapes

Inside the New York Fed: Secret Recordings and a Culture Clash

A confidential report and a fired examiner’s hidden recorder penetrate the cloistered world of Wall Street’s top regulator — and its history of deference to banks.

In Turnabout, N.Y. Moves to Shut Troubled Rehab Clinic

Records show state officials knew for years about problems at New York Service Network, including allegations of overbilling and violations of patients’ rights exposed by a ProPublica investigation.

Fed Tapes

Judge Tosses Retaliation Lawsuit by Fired N.Y. Fed Examiner

Ruling: Carmen Segarra's claim that she was dismissed for not withdrawing a critical finding about Goldman Sachs is not protected by federal law.

MIA In The War On Cancer: Where Are The Low-Cost Treatments?

Big Pharma’s focus on blockbuster cancer drugs squeezes out research into potential treatments that are more affordable. Says one researcher: “What is scientific and sexy is driven by what can be monetized.”

Caramadre Gets Six Years for Investment Scheme Involving Terminally Ill

Judge cites “very real emotional and psychological victimization" of dying participants who took cash for assigning their death benefits to investors.

The Wall Street Money Machine

SEC Issues More Fines Over Magnetar Deals – and Appears to Move on

There have now been more than $435 million in SEC settlements regarding one of the most notorious groups of mortgage securities deals behind the financial crisis.

New Allegations from Fired Examiner Describe Chaotic Workplace at New York Fed

The Fed has denied allegations by Carmen Segarra, who says she was wrongly terminated after refusing to back off findings that were critical of Goldman Sachs.

N.Y. Fed Asks Court to Dismiss Fired Goldman Examiner’s Lawsuit

Responding in a wrongful termination case, the New York Federal Reserve disputes Carmen Segarra’s claim that Goldman Sachs lacked firm-wide conflict-of-interest policies.