Watchdog How Protecting Consumers Can Save Our Families, Our Economy, and Our Democracy

The necessary story of how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau became a powerful force for good in the lives of everyday Americans after the 2008 financial crash.

Every day across America, consumers face issues with credit cards, mortgages, car loans, and student loans. When they are cheated or mistreated, all too often they hit a brick wall when they challenge the financial companies. People are fed up, but few have the resources or expertise to fight back on their own. Growing problems in the increasingly one-sided finance markets blew up the economy in 2008. In the aftermath, Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In Watchdog, former CFPB Director Richard Cordray shows how the Bureau quickly became a powerful force for good, suing big banks for cheating or deceiving consumers, putting limits on predatory lenders, simplifying mortgage paperwork, and stepping in to help solve problems raised by individual consumers. Along with providing a powerful explanation of how the financial industry became so dominant in American life, Watchdog tells a hopeful story of how our system can be reformed by putting government back on the side of the people, to strengthen our families, safeguard the marketplace, and establish a new baseline of fairness in our democratic society.

Richard Cordray served for six years as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Before joining the Consumer Bureau, Rich served as Ohio's Attorney General. He also served as Ohio Treasurer, where he led the State's banking, investment, debt, and financing activities. He previously taught at Ohio State's law school and served as a state legislator and as Ohio's first Solicitor General. Cordray has argued seven cases before the United States Supreme Court, including by special appointment of both the Clinton and Bush Justice Departments.