President Biden devoted a lot of words at his State of the Union last week to fairness. He called for higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, who saw plummeting rates under the last administration’s tax cuts, and condemned runaway CEO pay.
This week, we look at some new research connecting the two issues. Sarah Anderson, William Rice, and Zachary Tashman share their report findings — released only today — that 35 of America’s biggest profitable corporations have paid their CEOs more than they’ve paid in taxes for the last five years on record.
By overpaying CEOs and underpaying for their taxes, the authors explain, these companies are funneling wealth to the top, starving the public programs that help working people, and more generally warping our economy and democracy. Don’t miss their piece about how to fix it!
Also this week, Sonali Kolhatkar explains how efforts to reform unfair cash bail systems are running into election-year politics. And Jim Hightower sees a possible end to the “anti-woke” hysteria in politics.
Finally, the “New This Week” section of last week’s newsletter had the wrong link to last week’s cartoon. The correct one is below, alongside this week’s. Sorry about that!
New This Week…
More for Them, Less for Us | Sarah Anderson, William Rice, and Zachary Tashman
Tesla, Ford, Netflix, and T-Mobile are among scores of profitable U.S. firms that pay their top executives more than they pay in federal taxes.
Cash Bail Is Unfair and Violates Due Process | Sonali Kolhatkar
Should poor people await trial behind bars while the rich go free? In the latest election year culture war, some Republicans say yes.
The End of Anti-Woke Politics? | Jim Hightower
It turns out most Americans are “woke,” with even Republicans rejecting Ron DeSantis’s efforts to “Floridize” the country.
CARTOON: Collateral Damage | Khalil Bendib
In Gaza, the Biden administration is abetting the very violations of international law it’s condemned in Ukraine.
CARTOON: Tipping the Scales | Khalil Bendib
Donald Trump’s reelection bid gets an assist from his Supreme Court appointees.
In Case You Missed It…
We Need a ‘Marshall Plan’ for Public Media | Chris Mills Rodrigo
Local news is too important for our democracy to live and die by ad dollars or fundraising. Public funding could help.
Voters Want More Transit Options. Politicians Should Listen. | Liam Crisan
With over 70 percent of voters saying the government should fund more public transit, it’s no surprise imaginary transit maps keep going viral.
Life Happens. That’s Why We Need a Safety Net. | Xzandria Armstrong
I went from casting movie stars to experiencing homelessness. Now I’m organizing my neighbors for a living wage and a better safety net.
Backlash: Women’s History Month in a Post-Roe World | Martha Burk
Hell hath no fury like a woman deprived of her basic rights.
