The collapse of in
California, followed by in
New York, ignited a banking crisis that shook up financial markets and the
economy. The federal government stepped in to stop the contagion, guaranteeing deposits at the failed banks beyond the FDIC-insured limit of $250,000. Critics said that would just encourage banks to take even bigger risks with depositors’ cash. Editorial cartoonists viewed the bank bailouts with a jaundiced eye. In the lead image, Nick Anderson draws Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen “yellin’ " from a cliff’s edge that the banking system is safe. Some took shots at banking deregulation, with imagery of “Cocaine Bear” binging on it (Drew Sheneman); trains and banks on
fire after safety rules were relaxed (Mike Luckovich); and Barney Frank’s transformation from architect of the Dodd-Frank banking regulations to a member of the board of one of the failed banks. Anderson, Sheneman, Steve Breen and David Horsey mocked the federal government for protecting greedy bankers from themselves. Other news items in this week’s gallery include
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s view of the
Russian invasion of
Ukraine as a “territorial dispute,” exposing a split in the
Republican Party over continued aid to Ukraine; an aerial confrontation over the Black Sea between a Russian
fighter jet and a U.S. surveillance drone; Mexico’s exports of deadly fentanyl to the United States; and the lengthy
Academy Awards show. Cartoons were drawn by Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Steve Breen, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.