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Available Episodes

5 of 179

Modern munis: policy, data, and credit in transition
Managing Editor Paul Greaves, Curation Editor Stephanie Fagnani and Head of Public Policy and Municipal Strategy Tom Kozlik at Hilltop Securities discuss how federal policy and artificial intelligence are reshaping the municipal market. This episode dives into the evolving dynamics of municipal finance in the face of shifting federal funding and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). We explore whether federal dollars act as a stabilizer or a source of uncertainty for investors and examine sectors facing structural challenges—like higher education—that amplify these funding shifts. Our conversation also looks at how declining federal support impacts municipal bond supply and demand. Then, we pivot to AI: why it’s not just a tech story but a public finance story, how it could reshape infrastructure investment, and the opportunities and risks it creates for municipalities. Finally, we discuss the race between AI adoption and energy infrastructure readiness—and what that means for local governments and investors.
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18:47
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18:47
Disaster aid dilemma - The state budget perspective
The latest Debtwire Municipals Muni Lowdown podcast features Managing Editor Paul Greaves discussing state funding of disasters with Peter Muller, Senior Officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts and Journalist Kunal Kamal.Peter was one of the lead authors for the recently published issue brief by Pew entitled "What Waning Federal Disaster Aid Would Mean for State Budgets."The podcast begins with Peter discussing the impetus for this issue brief.The discussion shifts to the following topics:The exclusion of the US territories from this analysis.Highlighting how federal disaster aid can rival or exceed some states’ reserves in major disaster years and the ability of states to withstand repeated disasters.The headwinds faced by states due to FEMA denials rising sharply in 2025 and slower rollout of disaster aid.Discussing whether there is an appropriate risk-sharing model between the federal, state and local governments.Whether states create/maintain a standalone disaster reserve.Examining whether certain states are more or less prepared to face a scenario of significantly reduced federal support?
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15:47
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15:47
PREPA's Perpetual Bankruptcy
The latest Muni Lowdown podcast features Senior Policy Analyst Javier Balmaceda of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Senior Reporter Simone Baribeau discussing PREPA's bankruptcy proceedings with Managing Editor Paul Greaves.Simone initiates the discussion with an overview of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority's (PREPA) and current status.Javier moves the dialogue towards the following issues:PREPA operationsUtility privatization (including the latest with New Fortress Energy and LUMA Energy).The affordability of rate hikes The podcast closes with Javier providing a view on the perspective of island residents and customers.
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18:12
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18:12
Spotlight on Chicago Public Schools
The latest Debtwire Municipals Muni Lowdown podcast features Managing Editor Paul Greaves discussing public pensions with Justin Marlowe, Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and Curation Editor Stephanie Fagnani.Justin begins the podcast by providing a brief overview of challenges faced by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) over the decade and how it connects to the current situation with CPS.Justin follows up with an analysis of why, despite its troubled history, why CPS bond trading has experienced surprisingly little negative impact and whether there exists potential for deterioration moving forward.Justin segues the discussion into CPS’ perpetually underfunded pension liability and whether that presents a significant problem moving forward.The conversation shifts into a comparison of the factors that led the City of Detroit to file for municipal bankruptcy versus the current hurdles that Chicago must overcome.Justin concludes with thoughts on why despite Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s labor union background, the relationship between the city’s teacher’s union and the city remains strained.
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22:12
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22:12
Public Pension Plans
This Muni Lowdown podcast features Managing Editor Paul Greaves discussing public pensions with Jean-Pierre Aubry, associate director of research at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College and Curation Editor Stephanie Fagnani.Jean-Pierre kicks off the podcast explaining the center’s Public Plans Database that is leveraged to analyze plans.The conversation shifts to discussing the key takeaways from the research brief that Jean-Pierre served as the lead author for entitled The Funded Status of Public Plans Keeps Improving – Albeit Modestly.Jean-Pierre segues into why any improvements to funded ratios going forward will be at best, modest.Jean-Pierre transitions into discussing why the increasing share of new hires are important in understanding the cost side of the equation for public pension plans.Jean-Pierre concludes with thoughts on the challenges to developing and/or maintaining a fiscally sound pension plan.
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17:47
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17:47