Jake Bernstein is 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).
Articles
Oct. 31, 12:57 p.m.
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.
Sep. 26, 4 a.m.
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.
May 1, 9:42 a.m.
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.
April 24, 10:14 a.m.
Ruling: Carmen Segarra's claim that she was dismissed for not withdrawing a critical finding about Goldman Sachs is not protected by federal law.
April 23, 4:45 a.m.
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.”
Dec. 16, 2013, 4:34 p.m.
Judge cites “very real emotional and psychological victimization" of dying participants who took cash for assigning their death benefits to investors.
Dec. 12, 2013, 5:38 p.m.
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.
Dec. 6, 2013, 12:09 p.m.
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.
Nov. 15, 2013, 2:42 p.m.
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.
Oct. 28, 2013, 1:29 p.m.
Ex-New York Fed examiner fired after criticizing Goldman Sachs has advice for Janet Yellen: It will take tough oversight to stop the next financial crisis.
Oct. 18, 2013, 4:27 p.m.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged an asset manager with fraud for its role in one of the most notorious groups of mortgage securities deals behind the financial crisis.
Oct. 17, 2013, 9:18 a.m.
A new study finds that New York’s three-quarter houses are dangerous and unsanitary and residents say they are compelled to use drug clinics that pay kickbacks to landlords.
Oct. 15, 2013, 1:46 p.m.
A federal judge rejected the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s plea to seal documents in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former bank examiner who claims she was fired for doing her job.
Oct. 14, 2013, 2:02 p.m.
At issue: Whether internal emails, records related to supervision of Goldman Sachs are confidential and shouldn’t have been made public as part of Carmen Segarra’s wrongful termination case.
Oct. 10, 2013, 1:44 p.m.
Lawyer Carmen Segarra said she was pressured to change her finding that the way Goldman Sachs managed conflicts of interest was flawed.
Sep. 9, 2013, 10:43 a.m.
Homeless and struggling with sobriety, Lillian Imbert faced a choice: Go to useless counseling sessions at New York Service Network or be evicted from her “sober” home. Her story shows how drug treatment clinics and landlords traffic in indigent alcoholics and addicts, all at taxpayer expense.
March 4, 2013, 9:15 a.m.
Joseph Caramadre, who recruited dying people to help him and investors cash in on insurance death benefits, claims he is innocent and blames his lawyers and state of mind for his plea.
Nov. 19, 2012, 5:01 p.m.
Joseph Caramadre made a profit dealing in insurance products that paid out when someone died. He said he paid the terminally ill to participate, creating win-win deals. Now, he's pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft.
Aug. 29, 2012, 10:20 a.m.
The story of Joseph Caramadre moved dozens of ProPublica readers to debate the ethics of insurance and corporate behavior.
