The Washington Post reports that Robert Litan, an economist at the Brookings Institution and a Clinton administration official, is an "unlikely defender" of Phil Gramm, a former senator and top economic adviser to John McCain. It's not clear why anyone would view Litan's defense as surprising.
Litan has been a vocal advocate of deregulation in many industries. In fact, he headed up a major project with the conservative American Enterprise Institute on deregulation that published papers and books. It would have been surprising if Mr. Litan was not sympathetic to Mr. Gramm's efforts to reduce regulation in the financial sector.
I’m writing to you today with a sense of urgency that I haven’t felt since I began my journalism career. As executive editor of The American Prospect, I’ve witnessed firsthand how independent journalism serves as a crucial bulwark against the erosion of our democratic institutions. Today, that role is more vital than ever. Can you step up today and show your support?
The winds of authoritarianism are blowing stronger. We’re seeing alarming signs of a coordinated effort to silence critical voices and undermine the very foundations that support progressive causes. As Bob Kuttner presciently wrote in our August 2024 issue, a weaponized IRS could attack the very foundations of the progressive movement. We need readers to step up and help us dig in for the long haul.
We’re falling behind in our spring fundraising campaign, and with so much at stake we can’t afford to come up short. If you value fearless, independent journalism that holds the powerful accountable and defends democracy, now is the time to step up. The American Prospect depends on reader support to stay in the fight. Pitch in today and help us close the gap. Please consider making a donation today.
–David Dayen, Executive Editor
Copyright 2025 | The American Prospect, Inc. | All Rights Reserved
