Welcome to MattPhifer.com!

Welcome to MattPhifer.com! I am a lawyer barred in the District of Columbia who recently worked as a reporter covering health-care litigation for Bloomberg Law following my graduation from the American University Washington College of Law in May 2017. My legal interests are in a variety of different types of law and legislation, including international law and voting rights law. Before attending law school I went to school for broadcast journalism and worked in broadcast journalism. I have produced on-air work for ABC News On Campus, hosted and produced a news radio show in Central New York, and worked for NBC. If you click around my site you can see some of my journalistic work.

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The Week by the Numbers: January 12-18, 2014

By Matt Phifer

3 – Golden Globes for “American Hustle”

“American Hustle” led the way at the Golden Globes, collecting three prizes, “Best Musical or Comedy”, “Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy” for Amy Adams and “Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, Musical or Comedy” for Jennifer Lawrence.  The movie “Dallas Buyers Club” and TV shows “Breaking Bad” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” all won two Golden Globes.  “12 Years A Slave” won the Golden Globe for best drama.

85 – Age Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned on January 15th

Wednesday marked what would have been Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 85th birthday.  The former civil rights leader who made his iconic “I have a dream” speech just over 50 years ago was remembered throughout the later part of the week in the lead up to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday.  King was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

$30.7 Million – Amount of money Clayton Kershaw will make per year according to his new contract

The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed their ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw to a seven year deal worth a whopping $215 million.  Kershaw’s contract, in which he’ll make an average of $30.7 million per year, is the largest contract ever given to a pitcher in Major League history.   Kershaw won his second Cy Young Award in 2013 while leading the majors with a 1.83 earned run average and topping the National League with 232 strikeouts.

$765 Million – Concussion settlement by the NFL was rejected by a federal judge

U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody questioned whether the NFL’s $765 million settlement with more than 4,500 former players over concussions was enough compensation.  She asked for detailed financial information on a plan that would cover over 20,000 players for 65 years.  She wrote that she had concerns about the “fairness, reasonableness and adequacy of the settlement.”  Brody was also concerned that not all players suffering from degenerative brain disease and similar ailments would receive help with their medical costs.

$1.1 Trillion – Spending bill approved by the House of Representatives

A $1.1 trillion spending bill for the fiscal year was approved by the House of Representatives in a 359-67 vote on Wednesday.  The 1,582 piece bill was introduced on Monday night.  Despite Tea Party and conservative groups such as Heritage Action and Club for Growth’s warnings, 166 House Republicans voted for the bill.  The Democratic-controlled Senate will vote on the bill early this week.

 

 

January 21, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: January 12-18, 2014

The Week by the Numbers: January 5-11, 2014

By Matt Phifer

3 – Players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame

On Wednesday afternoon the Baseball Hall of Fame announced its 2014 class of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas.  Maddux and Glavine both gained fame pitching (Maddux for the Braves and Glavine for the Braves and the Mets.).  Thomas, who played with the A’s, Blue Jays and White Sox is the first player to spend most of his career as a designated hitter to be elected to the Hall of Fame.  A player must receive 75 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in order to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

4 – Year extension of U.S. funding to the International Space Station

The White House and NASA announced on Wednesday that they would extend funding for the International Space Station four more years to 2024.  This will allow the space station to continue conducting research, solidify the market for commercial space systems and lay the groundwork for deep space exploration.  The extension will add four years to the working life of the station, but will require the budget approval of the president and Congress each year from 2021 to 2024.

74,000 – Jobs added in December

The December jobs report revealed that 74,000 jobs were added in the month of December, the weakest job growth since January 2011.  The low growth was disappointing to economists who were expecting 193,000 additional jobs.  The unemployment rate did fall in December to 6.7 percent, but that was mostly associated with people leaving the labor force.

At least 70 million – People affected by the Target security breach

On Friday, Target announced that more people than previously thought may have been affected by the security breach in which personal information was taken from customers’ credit and debit cards.  The original number of 40 million was increased to at least 70 million with the possibility of as many as 110 million people being affected.  The 70 million number represents around one-third of all American adults.  Target discovered while investigating the security breach that data collected over time on 70 million people and stored separately from in-store data was also stolen.  The stolen information could be used to set up counterfeit cards, withdrawal money from accounts or to make purchases.

January 13, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: January 5-11, 2014

The Week by the Numbers: December 29, 2013 – January 4, 2014

By Matt Phifer

Almost 30 – Percent gain in the stock market in 2013

2013 was the best year on Wall Street since 1997 with investors seeing a nearly 30 percent gain on investment.  It was a record-breaking year with the Dow Jones closing on highs 52 times despite various issues like the turmoil in Egypt, the Boston Marathon bombings and speculation of a change in Federal Reserve policies.  The Dow Jones closed the year with a new record high of 16,576.66.  The S&P 500 saw 45 new highs and went up 29.6 percent, the biggest gain in 16 years.  The Nasdaq returned to a level not seen since September 2000.  

1,058 – Candidates have made the short list to be part of a Mars colony

Mars One, which launched in 2011 and has the goal of beginning a colony on Mars by 2025, has narrowed its candidate list to 1,058 possible Martian colonists from over 200,000 applicants.  The applicants will have to undergo rigorous tests including simulations of life on Mars as well as isolation tests in order to determine who will make the final cut.  Only 24 of the 1,058 will be selected to make the mission, which Mars One hopes to accomplish in 2025.

Over 1 million – People have signed up for Obamacare

Over 1 million Americans signed up for Obamacare in the month of December, pushing the total number of enrolled citizens to roughly 1.1 million by the end of 2013.  The majority of those who signed up did so in the week before the deadline to have coverage in January.  The numbers still fall far short of the Obama administration’s initial projections that 3.3 million people would be signed up for healthcare through the federal and state exchanges by the end of the year.

January 8, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: December 29, 2013 – January 4, 2014

The Week by the Numbers: December 15-21, 2013

By Matt Phifer

2 – Winning tickets sold for the $636 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot

There were two winning tickets in Tuesday December 17th, Mega Millions lottery worth $636 million.  One ticket was sold in a small newsstand in Atlanta, while the second was sold in California.  The $636 million prize is the second largest lottery jackpot in American history.  The largest jackpot was worth $656 million.  The winning numbers were 8, 14, 17, 20, 39; Mega Ball: 7.  The winners can receive their money in two ways, either getting $318 million over time or $170 million in cash one time.

 64 – Senators voted to pass a budget deal

In a 64-36 vote, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan budget deal that would fund the government through 2015.  What the deal does not address is the debt limit, meaning a debt ceiling fight could still be on the horizon in late February or early March.  President Obama signed the bill into law on Thursday December 26th.

40 Million – Credit and debit card accounts may have been affected by a security breach at Target

On December 19th, Target confirmed that information from up to 40 million credit and debit cards may have been stolen in a period between the day before Thanksgiving and December 15th.  The cards affected include Target cards as well as cards issued by other companies.   The Secret Service is investigating the incident.  The breach means the thieves could in theory make counterfeit cards, withdrawal money from accounts or make purchases using the stolen accounts.

January 3, 2014 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: December 15-21, 2013

The Week by the Numbers: December 8-14, 2013

By Matt Phifer

-135.8 Degrees Fahrenheit – Coldest Temperature Reading in Earth History

Over the past week NASA confirmed a new record for the lowest recorded temperature in Earth’s history of -135.8 degrees Fahrenheit, recorded in August 2010 by a NASA satellite.  The record-breaking temperature was recorded on an ice plateau in East Antarctica.  The record is not official because the World Meteorological Association, which keeps the official world weather records, only accepts temperature readings from on-site thermometers.  The current record is -128.6 degrees in Vostok, Antarctica on July 21, 1983.  The -135.8 degree temperature is 50 degrees colder than the lowest recorded temperatures in North America.

9 Percent – Drop in Homelessness across the United States since 2007

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released the 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress on Friday and it showed a nine percent decline of homelessness in the United States since 2007.  The report also showed a 23 percent drop in unsheltered homelessness over the same time frame.  The report says that more than half of the U.S.’s homeless population comes from five states: California, New York, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts.

37 Years – China Achieved the First Soft Lunar Landing in 37 Years

China successfully landed its first lunar probe on Saturday, the first lunar probe to achieve a soft landing on the moon in 37 years.  The unmanned Chang 3 lander contained a six-wheel robot called “Yutu” or “Jade Rabbit”.  The rover will embark on a three month mission of scientific exploration.   The Chang 3 lander will set up an antenna and transmit pictures back to Earth.

1,501 Votes – Jameis Winston’s Margin of Victory in the Heisman Race, the largest in history

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, at 19, became the youngest winner of the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious award, on Saturday night.  His 1,501 vote margin of victory over Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron is the largest in the award’s history.  Winston wowed fans by throwing for 3,820 yards and 38 touchdowns while leading Florida State to an undefeated season, an ACC championship and a chance to play for the BCS National Championship.  Winston’s Heisman win comes just days after the Florida state attorney’s office decided not to charge the quarterback with sexual assault in relation to a December 2012 incident in which a woman claims she was raped by Winston.  State Attorney Willie Meggs told reporters there was not enough evidence for a conviction.  Top-ranked Florida State will play #2 Auburn on January 6th in Pasadena, California for the national championship.

 

December 17, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: December 8-14, 2013

The Week by the Numbers: December 1-7, 2013

By Matt Phifer

7.7 Percent – November Unemployment Rate, the lowest since December 2008

The Labor Department revealed the November unemployment rate to be 7.7 percent, down from 7.9 percent in October.  It is also the lowest unemployment rate in four years.  The economy added 146,000 jobs over the course of the month.

56 – More Countries now have access to iTunes

On Tuesday Apple made iTunes available in 56 more countries including Russia, Turkey, India and South Africa.  The additions nearly doubles iTunes’ geographic footprint at 119 countries.  More than 20 million songs will be available for users, including international stars and artists that will be of interest in individual countries.    Pricing will vary by country.

82 mph – Speed of the Metro-North Train that derailed in the Bronx

Initial black box data from the Metro-North Train that derailed on December 1 show that the train was entering a 30-mph curve at 82 mph.   Four people were killed and over 60 were injured when the train jumped the tracks in the Bronx.  Engineer William Rockefeller later told investigators he was “in a daze” before the incident.  Initial toxicology reports came back negative.

95 – Former South African President Nelson Mandela died at age 95

Former South African President and anti-Apartheid leader Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95 in Johannesburg on Thursday.  Mourners gathered outside of Mandela’s home to create a makeshift memorial as leaders from around the world sent condolences to Mandela’s family and the people of South Africa.  Mandela leaves a legacy of peace and forgiveness as well as a united South Africa, a concept that at one time was not considered possible.

5 Billion – Records of Cell Phone Locations Collected by the NSA

The Washington Post reported that the NSA is collecting nearly 5 billion records a day on the locations of cell phones worldwide.  The information was discovered in the materials provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.  According to the Post, the records feed a vast database of at least hundreds of millions of devices.

December 10, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: December 1-7, 2013

The Week by the Numbers: November 24-30, 2013

By Matt Phifer

109 Yards – Distance Auburn’s Chris Davis Returned a Missed Field Goal to Win the Iron Bowl

On Saturday, 4th-ranked Auburn knocked off their heated rival, #1 Alabama, in the Iron Bowl with one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of college football as Chris Davis returned a 57-yard field goal attempt that fell short 109 yards to give Auburn a 34-28 victory as time expired.  The Auburn faithful stormed the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium as college football analysts and experts hailed the touchdown as one of the greatest moments in the history of the game.  Auburn’s win insured a spot for them in the SEC Championship Game this week while dashing Alabama’s hopes of a third straight national championship.

$14.2 Million – Price Paid for one of the First Books Printed in America

One of 11 surviving copies of the Bay Psalm Book, the first book printed in America, was sold at Sotheby’s New York for $14.2 million on Tuesday.  The $14.2 million price tag is the most ever paid for a book at an auction, surpassing an $11.5 million winning bid for James Audubon’s “Birds of America” in December 2010.  The book was one of 1,700 printed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1640 and is considered one of the rarest books in the world.  The Old South Church in Boston sold the book to fund building repairs and its ministry.

$48.5 Million – Value of Kobe Bryant’s Two-Year Contract Extension

On Monday, the Los Angeles Lakers signed Kobe Bryant to a two-year contract extension valued at $48.5 million.  The amount of the contract was not publicly announced, but a source reported the figure to ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne.  The deal will keep the 35-year-old Bryant as the highest paid player in the NBA as the 2007-08 league MVP will make $23.5 million during the 2014-15 season and $25 million in the second year of the extension.

$1 Billion – Amount of Money Spent Online on Thanksgiving, A New Record

Adobe Systems, which analyzes 180 million visits to over 1,000 U.S. retail sites, says that over $1 billion was spent online on Thanksgiving, the most ever.  Internet shopping was bigger than ever this year with eBay reporting a 35% increase and Amazon.com reporting a 25% increase by noon eastern time on Black Friday.  The big online numbers may be part of why the reports of store violence and overall ugliness were down this year.

 

December 2, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: November 24-30, 2013

The Week by the Numbers: November 17-23, 2013

By Matt Phifer

6 – Number of Times Jimmie Johnson has won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship

On November 17th, Jimmie Johnson won his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title with a ninth place finish in the season ending Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, edging Matt Kenseth by 19 points in the final points standings.  Johnson, at 38, is the youngest six-time champion and trails only Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt in number of championships.  (Petty and Earnhardt each won 7.)  Johnson’s six titles also come within an eight season span.  He won his first five consecutively from 2006-2010.

50 – Years since the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy

Friday marked the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas.  Dallas marked the day with its first ever city-sponsored ceremony to pay tribute to Kennedy in Dealey Plaza, the place where Kennedy was gunned down 50 years before.   Kennedy family members paid their respects at Arlington National Cemetery, where the president is buried under an eternal flame.

$13 Billion – JPMorgan Chase’s Settlement with the Justice Department

On November 19th, the Justice Department announced a $13 billion settlement with JPMorgan Chase over a number of lawsuits connected to its sale of troubled mortgages that helped lead to the financial crisis.  The $13 billion amount is roughly half of the bank’s yearly earnings.  The settlement includes a $2 billion penalty, $7 billion of compensatory damages that will be tax deductible and $4 billion that will go toward consumer relief.  JPMorgan says they expect to meet their obligations by 2017.

November 26, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: November 17-23, 2013

The Week by the Numbers: November 10-16, 2013

By Matt Phifer

15 – Hawaii became the 15th State to Legalize Gay Marriage

A bill legalizing gay marriage passed Hawaii’s senate on November 12th by a vote of 19-4.  Governor Neil Abercrombie called the special session in order to pass the bill, which he quickly signed into law a day later, making Hawaii the 15th state to legalize gay marriage.

1,776 Feet – The Height of One World Trade Center, Officially Denoted as the Tallest Building in America

The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat officially designated One World Trade Center, at 1,776 feet, as America’s tallest building.  One World Trade Center’s official height includes the spire on top of the building, which was a source of controversy.  Spires are allowed to be used in the measurement of a building’s height, but antennas are not.  The council determined that the top of One World Trade Center is a spire, not an antenna.  Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel disagreed with the decision, saying that the spire is an antenna, which he believes should keep it from being ranked as taller than Chicago’s Willis Tower (Formerly known as the Sears Tower.).

About 106,000 People – Signed Up for Health Insurance Through the Federal and State Marketplaces Created by the Affordable Care Act in the First Month

The first statistics of the number of Americans who enrolled in health insurance through the federal and state marketplaces were released by the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and the numbers were very low.  Only about 106,000 people had signed up for health insurance in the first month.  Of that, only 26,794 signed up using Healthcare.gov, the problematic federal exchange website.  That number is far short of the administration’s projections in an internal memo from September that said the administration expected 464,920 people would sign up in the first month.

November 22, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Week by the Numbers: November 10-16, 2013

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