Robert Reich

Tesla earned $2.3 billion in the United States in 2024.

You'd think it paid a lot in taxes, right?

Well it paid precisely $0 in federal income taxes last year.

You want waste and fraud? Look at what some big corporations and the rich are getting away with.

Tesla Paid Zero Federal Income Tax in 2024, Despite $2.3 Billion in Income

This brings Tesla’s average tax rate over the past three years to 0.4 percent.

The richest man on earth owns X.

The second richest man on earth is about to be a major owner of TikTok.

The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.

See the problem here?

This is what oligarchy looks like.

The richest man owns X.

The second and third richest men control Google.

The fourth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The fifth richest man owns The Washington Post.

And now the sixth richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros.

See the problem here?

Netflix Backs Out of Bid for Warner Bros., Paving Way for an Ellison Takeover

The richest man on earth owns X.

The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.

The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.

See the problem here?

DOGE recommends cuts to the FAA.

Hundreds of workers get fired, including those tasked with producing air traffic navigation maps.

Now Starlink is reportedly in line to take over a $2 billion contract to upgrade the nation's air traffic control systems.

See how this works?

A grassroots movement is calling on all Americans to abstain from shopping with major retailers tomorrow, February 28, as part of an “economic blackout.”

I encourage you to join. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/boycott

Over 100,000 seats are up for grabs in 2025 — governors, mayors, city councils, state representatives, judges, school boards, and more.

Taking back our power starts now.

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Samuel Alito flew two flags used by insurrectionists.

Clarence Thomas' wife plotted to overturn the 2020 election.

Both justices refused to recuse themselves from SCOTUS cases related to the January 6th plot.

It's a stain on our nation that this has effectively been forgotten.

The oil industry buys off Congress. No action on climate.

The NRA buys off Congress. No action on guns.

Insurance companies buy off Congress. No action on health care.

The list goes on and on.

Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.

The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe.

Will we listen to his words today?

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The richest man in the world spent more money than most of us will see in our lifetimes to lose a state Supreme Court race by 10 points.

And the fact his $25 million was a drop in the bucket compared to what he's spent on other elections is exactly why we must overturn Citizens United.

Last night was the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's midnight ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British troops.

I want to take a moment to share an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence's grievances against King George III.

Remind you of anyone?

Do you know how much CEO pay has skyrocketed since 1978?

100%? 500%?

Try 1,085%

Meanwhile, the $7.25/hr fed. minimum wage hasn't budged in 15 years and the tipped min. wage has been $2.13/hr since 1991.

This is what I mean when I say the system is rigged.

CEO Pay Has Risen 1,085% Since 1978, But for Workers? Just 24% | Common Dreams

CEOs at top US companies saw their pay skyrocket by 1,085% since 1978, while typical worker pay only increased by 24%

The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe. Will we listen to his words today?

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“We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests.” -FDR, 1941

That one person can drag us into a war without consulting or even notifying Congress, or our allies, or fully explaining to the American people why this is necessary, is absolutely bonkers.

Reminder that Congress has the power to stop all of this. Where the hell are they? Hello?

What do these corporations have in common?

Netflix
Ford
Tesla
T-Mobile
Duke Energy
DISH Network
Metlife
Dominion Energy
United States Steel

In recent years, they all paid their execs more than they paid in taxes.

This is what a corporate-rigged system looks like.

The richest man owns X.

The second and fourth richest men control Google.

The third richest man owns The Washington Post.

The fifth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

And now the sixth richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros.

See the problem here?

Undocumented immigrants paid an effective federal income tax rate of 5.27% in 2022.

That means they paid a higher effective tax rate than 5 of the richest Americans…and a higher effective tax rate than 55 mega corporations.

So let me ask you: who are the real freeloaders?

Socialism is what they called public power.

Socialism is what they called social security. 
 
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
 
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.

—Harry Truman, 1952

The irony of the richest man in the world almost single-handedly destroying an agency designed to help the world’s poor, so that the U.S. federal budget has more room for another giant tax cut for the richest man in the world and his pals, should not be lost on anyone. [Cartoon by Mike Luckovich]