Meet Herb Allison, Fannie Mae’s New CEO

white men with money Sept. 8, 2008

Meet Herb Allison, Fannie Mae’s New CEO

By Jessica Pressler, a writer living in New York. She has contributed to New York Magazine since 2007.

“After joining TIAA-Cref, Mr. Allison fired 500 employees, or about 8 percent of the work force, in a round of cutbacks that employees nicknamed Herbicides.” Yikes. [NYT]

Earlier: The For-Idiots, By-Idiots Guide to the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Bailout

Tags:

Show Leave a Comment

Meet Herb Allison, Fannie Mae’s New CEO

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission.

Most Viewed Stories

Editor’s Picks

THE FEED

just asking questions

just asking questions

Los Angeles Shouldn’t Rebuild the Same Way Again

Environmental historian Char Miller makes a case for retreating from the hills.

the body politic

the body politic

Pete Hegseth Is a Test

By Rebecca Traister

Inside the Senate’s torturous debates over Donald Trump’s worst cabinet nominee.

los angeles wildfires

los angeles wildfires

Firefighters Making Progress Against L.A. Fires: Updates

By Intelligencer Staff

The latest scenes and news from the city’s horrifying fire crisis.

Most Popular

los angeles wildfires

los angeles wildfires

How Is Hollywood Impacted by the L.A. Wildfires?

By Vulture Staff

Meghan Markle has pushed back the release of her new Netflix show.

The Two Competing Futures of Self-Driving Cars

By John Herrman

Autonomous fleets versus a Hertz in every garage.

Anita Bryant Is Winning

The late anti-gay crusader leaves behind a venomous legacy.

Escaping Los Angeles

By Kerry Howley

A week of wind, fire, and devastation.

america's mayor

america's mayor

Can Donald Trump Pardon Rudy Giuliani?

By Margaret Hartmann

Trump’s regaining pardon power in 2025 probably won’t help his former lawyer with his many messy legal cases.

america's mayor

america's mayor

Giuliani Held in Contempt for Second Time This Week

By Margaret Hartmann

The judge said Giuliani’s continued defamation of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss shows “real chutzpah.”

early and often

early and often

Congress Doesn’t Reflect America’s Religious Profile

A new survey from Pew shows Congress is more Christian than the nation, but not necessarily Christian Nationalist.

Tiktok’s Final Appeal to the Supreme Court Didn’t Go Too Well

By John Herrman

It’s looking like the ban is going to happen, and probably right before Donald Trump once again takes office.

los angeles wildfires

los angeles wildfires

The New Threat to Los Angeles Firefighters: Drones

Aerial gawkers are getting in the way, damaging one plane and forcing it to land.

early and often

early and often

Will Trump Just Let California Burn?

The president-elect has been threatening for years to cut off disaster assistance to “Gavin Newscum” and other California officials.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Why Does Trump Want Greenland? His Imperialistic Threats, Explained.

By Margaret Hartmann

Some of Trumps threats to take over Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal are based on actual U.S. strategic goals. Others are just idiotic.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Trump Ambassador Picks: Who’s in His ‘Diplomatic Clown Car’

By Margaret Hartmann

His team includes Ivanka’s ex-con father-in-law, Don Jr.’s ex-fiancée, several billionaire pals, and lots of people with no diplomatic experience.

the approval matrix

the approval matrix

The Approval Matrix: Beware Knockoff Bodega Zyn

Our guide to what’s highbrow, lowbrow, brilliant, and despicable.

Trump’s Sentencing Marks the End of a Saga That Helped Him Get Reelected

Sure, he’s officially a felon. But he’s also the 47th president.

early and often

early and often

Biden Leaves Office Less Popular Than Trump After January 6

Trump has made an incredible comeback in popularity, while Biden will exit on a downward trajectory.

early and often

early and often

The Congestion-Pricing Haters Need to Get a Grip

Reasonable skepticism makes sense, but opponents of New York’s watered-down program have become unhinged.

los angeles wildfires

los angeles wildfires

The Battle of Malibu in Photos

Photographs by Sinna Nasseri

Going from burning house to burning house with firefighters.

los angeles wildfires

los angeles wildfires

Running From the L.A. Fires With Nowhere to Go

Photographs by Michelle Groskopf

Scenes from the Pasadena Civic Center, where escapees have gathered to wait out disaster.

early and often

early and often

Carter’s Funeral Reminded Us How Presidents Ought to Behave

Donald Trump could learn a lot from the 39th president’s commitment to honesty, human rights, and self-improvement.

california wildfires

california wildfires

How Do You Stop a Hurricane Made of Fire?

California fights wildfires like wars, but this one may be unwinnable.

What Were Obama and Trump Chatting About at Jimmy Carter’s Funeral?

By Benjamin Hart

Five theories about their surprisingly cheerful interaction.

early and often

early and often

Trump Won’t Get the Inauguration Day He Wanted

The president-elect is annoyed that flags will be half-staff for Jimmy Carter and angry that the Senate won’t have his Cabinet in place.