Hi, I'm Andrew

I'm an economics and data journalist based in New York. I also take pictures.

As featured in:

Business & Finance

Gift Travel: Israel's Backdoor Lobby

This year, Israel will account for over a quarter of all free travel gifted to Congress members, and AIPAC is overwhelmingly setting the agenda.

What 'Tintin' Tells Us About Imperialism

From the Middle East to Latin America, Belgium’s most famous reporter exposed the contours of European colonialism and the emergence of fascism.

For Many Millennials, Homeownership Is Still Out of Reach

Buying a home has long been considered the gateway for building wealth. But for many, that gate remains firmly locked.

Dollar General Gets a Slow Start in Healthcare Race

While DG has expanded its selection of health products, the goal of providing services remains distant.

What Is Fair Trade Investing?

Fair trade investments promote fair trade with producers in developing nations. Basic fair trade philosophies call for a living wage for suppliers of raw goods and materials, as well as respect for strong environmental practices .

What Are War Bonds?

A war bond is a debt instrument created to raise money for military operations during conflict. While they helped governments fund wars and gave citizens a way to contribute, the returns were often modest.

What Is a No-Fee ETF? History and Criticism

A no-fee ETF, or zero-fee ETF, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that can be bought and traded without paying a commission or fee to a broker. An increasing number of brokerages have been offering investors the chance to buy or sell these securities for free in order to remain competitive with other platforms.

Last Mile Warehouses Raise Questions in Hunts Point

New logistics centers could increase pollution and congestion in a neighborhood already known as “Asthma Alley.”

How to Spend "The People's Money"

Mott Haven residents proposed programs under the new participatory budgeting process.

AOC's Career Comes Full Circle

After the latest redistricting in the Bronx, Rep. Ocasio-Cortes returned to the place where her career started.

Inflation, Theft Put Discount Retail at a Big Discount

Bargain stores like Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Big Lots have dialed back their earnings as consumers feel the pinch.

Meet Your New Dealers

They faced harsh penalties for selling drugs on the street. Now they're first in line to run New York's legal dispensaries.

Technology

Semiconductor Manufacturers Are Coming Back to the US. Finding Workers Is a Different Story.

The CHIPS Act is bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S., but finding workers will be harder.

Welcome to the "Battery Belt"

Electric vehicles are creating a new manufacturing industry in the rust belt.

Why You Should Fix Your Own Stuff

Companies like Apple and Microsoft don’t want you to repair your own tech, because they make a fortune from planned obsolescence. But learning to do it yourself brings empowerment.

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency

Smart ADAptor

Cardano Creator Charles Hoskinson discusses the lessons from past blockchain projects.

Inside the Cryptocurrency Casino

Reflections on the blockchain and crypto industry after two years as a crypto journalist.

The Hinman Paradox: How Ripple Will Get the SEC to Look the Other Way

Ripple’s legal game plan in its lawsuit with the SEC over the status of its XRP token.

Numbers

The DG Distribution Map is intended to highlight the rural density of Dollar General Stores. It's based on a 3-layer scrape of Dollar General's store location database, cross-matched against the Census Bureau's town/county directory. If you want to run the scrape yourself, you can download the Python files from my GitHub repository.

Gift travel can act as a backdoor lobby to influence Congress and other political bodies. Israel is by far the largest destination for international travel in both the House and the Senate. Based on a scrape of thousands of congressional disclosures, I determined that Israel accounted for about 28% of privately-funded House travel in 2025.