yahoo news | Bernie Sanders calls out Bezos, Musk, Bloomberg, and Buffett in billionaire tax ...

Bernie Sanders has renewed his call for a billionaire wealth tax, publishing a scathing op‑ed in The Guardian that names the nation’s richest individuals and lays out stark figures on inequality. He argues that the current tax code is “totally rigged—written by representatives of the wealthy to benefit the wealthy,” noting that 60 % of Americans live paycheck‑to‑paycheck and 85 million are uninsured or underinsured. Citing a Rand Corporation estimate that nearly $80 trillion has shifted from the bottom 90 % to the top 1 % over the past half‑century, Sanders declares that “the richest people in America have never ever had it so good.”

In partnership with Rep. Ro Khanna, Sanders introduced the “Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act,” which would levy a 5 % tax on the estimated 938 U.S. billionaires, projected to raise $4.4 trillion over ten years. The legislation would allocate the first‑year revenue to $3,000 tax‑credit checks for anyone earning under $150,000, fund the repeal of Medicaid cuts, expand universal childcare, guarantee a $60,000 minimum salary for teachers, extend Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and finance the construction of 7 million affordable housing units. Sanders highlights the disparity in effective tax rates, pointing out that Elon Musk’s $805 billion net worth is taxed at only 3.3 %—lower than the 8.4 % paid by an average truck driver—while Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg each pay rates well under 2 %, compared with double‑digit rates for typical workers such as teachers, nurses, and firefighters.

Public opinion appears to be shifting in favor of such measures. Polls show Californians supporting a one‑time billionaire tax by a two‑to‑one margin to protect health‑care coverage, and a majority of New Yorkers backing a proposed 2 % surtax on millionaires and billionaires. Nationwide, more than six in ten Americans believe the wealthy and large corporations pay too little, and one in five consider extreme wealth morally wrong. Nevertheless, many ultra‑wealthy individuals—Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Howard Schultz, and others—are relocating assets and residences to states like Florida, anticipating or reacting to potential tax changes, underscoring the political and economic stakes surrounding Sanders’ proposed tax.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/bernie-sanders-calls-bezos-musk-163411806.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

#berniesanders #rokhanna #randcorporation

yahoo news | Lawmaker shares theory behind Epstein accountant's U-turn

Rep. Ro Khanna told “MS NOW” that he believes the sudden reversal by Jeffrey Epstein’s former accountant, Richard Kahn, was driven by political pressure from former President Donald Trump. Kahn had initially testified before the House Oversight Committee that Epstein’s estate paid a settlement to “Jane Doe 4,” the woman who alleges Trump raped her at age 13 in the 1980s. Within hours, Kahn’s attorney walked back the claim, offering only a vague “neither confirm nor deny” stance on any settlement.

Khanna pointed to the fact that the FBI had interviewed Jane Doe 4 four separate times, arguing that such repeated questioning lends credibility to her allegations and suggests the settlement story was not fabricated. He warned that Trump could have instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi—or her successor—to launch a prosecution against Kahn or otherwise retaliate, creating a chilling effect that would make the accountant “bite his tongue” and retract his testimony.

The lawmaker’s theory hinges on the interplay between the high‑profile nature of the case, the potential for Trump‑linked political retribution, and the stark contrast between Kahn’s initial admission and his rapid repudiation. If Khanna is correct, the retraction may reflect fear of legal consequences rather than a genuine lack of evidence, leaving the question of whether any settlement was actually disbursed unresolved.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/bizarre-turnaround-from-epstein/

#rokhanna #jeffreyepstein #donaldtrump #houseoversightcommittee #janedoe4

yahoo news | ‘Many have tried. Few have succeeded’: Tech, labor brace for years-long war in C...

Tech investors and executives are now pouring millions of dollars into California politics in what they describe as a multi‑year offensive against the state’s powerful public‑employee unions. From backing San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s bid for governor to fielding a challenger to Rep. Ro Khanna, Silicon Valley‑backed groups such as the Meta‑funded “California Leads” super PAC, the “Grow California” venture backed by Tim Draper and Chris Larsen, and Garry Tan’s nascent “Garry’s List” are mapping the electoral landscape, recruiting candidates, and committing tens of millions to future cycles. The push was sparked by a proposed billionaire wealth tax that prompted figures like Sergey Brin and Larry Page to move assets out of state, and is framed as a response to what tech leaders see as a Democratic‑union‑driven policy regime that raises taxes, fuels budget deficits, and inflates the cost of living for innovators.

These emerging political outfits are deliberately structuring themselves for longevity rather than a single election. Maria Davidson’s “California Renewal” aims to build a nine‑figure endowment to fund tools, campaign contributions, and candidate development over multiple cycles, while the “Govern California” coalition, led by former labor‑opponent David Crane, pools money from local chapters to assure lawmakers they have permanent backing. Both corporate‑sponsored efforts (Meta, Google, Uber‑style spending) and wealthy‑individual‑driven initiatives are conducting polling, targeting roughly ten key legislative districts for the 2026 cycle, and planning to expand their influence into the 2028 and later contests, with the ultimate goal of reshaping California’s power structure in favor of tech interests.

Labor unions, however, remain a formidable counterweight. Decades of organizing have given them a sophisticated statewide apparatus, deep candidate‑recruitment networks, and a reservoir of voter credibility that can out‑match even outsized tech spending. Union leaders such as Lorena Gonzalez argue that issues like AI regulation and the wealth tax resonate with ordinary Californians, positioning labor’s message as the one that “actually matters” to voters. While some business strategists caution that a rushed, short‑term influx of money may not topple entrenched union influence, tech‑backed groups see the current political climate as a catalyst for building lasting infrastructure—anticipating that by the 2030s, and perhaps even into the 2032 presidential cycle, they will have a durable presence capable of challenging labor’s dominance.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/many-tried-few-succeeded-tech-120000557.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

#mattmahan #rokhanna #siliconvalley

yahoo news | The Epstein files made him a political star. Then he posted six words to social...

The Epstein files made Rep. Ro Khanna a national political star, propelling him from a Santa Clara Democrat to the center of a high‑profile bipartisan effort that forced the release of investigative documents on the late Jeffrey Epstein. The victory, achieved with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, thrust Khanna into the spotlight just as California billionaires were fleeing the state to avoid a proposed wealth tax. In response, Khanna posted a sarcastic six‑word tweet—“I will miss them very much”—which ignited a backlash from Silicon‑Valley executives and crystallized the tension between his district’s extreme wealth and his progressive platform championed alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Khanna is now leveraging that moment to position himself as a populist challenger to the Democratic establishment, co‑authoring a national wealth‑tax bill with Sanders and courting disaffected Trump voters in an effort to broaden the party’s appeal. He argues that “courage” in modern American politics means standing up to the most powerful interests in his own district, and he has begun building a coalition that includes anti‑interventionist policies, a war‑powers resolution with Massie, and a “new tech social contract” aimed at addressing economic inequality as artificial intelligence reshapes jobs. While his ambition to run for president in 2028 is evident—through frequent media appearances, trips to early‑voting states, and outreach to independent voters—he remains a marginal figure in Democratic primary polls, though some conservatives see his anti‑war stance as a refreshing alternative.

The wealth‑tax proposal, which would levy a 5 percent levy on billionaires’ assets, has provoked fierce opposition from Silicon‑Valley leaders who fear it will stifle investment and trigger capital flight. Prominent critics such as Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan have funded a challenger, entrepreneur Ethan Agarwal, to contest Khanna’s seat, accusing the congressman of betraying the district’s prosperity. Despite the pushback, Khanna maintains that the debate on billionaire taxation is essential, pointing to emerging alternative proposals from tech figures and emphasizing that his district’s voters—who previously backed Sanders—still value his advocacy for research funding and progressive policies. Labor groups and local constituents, many of whom credit Khanna with championing “people over billionaires,” continue to back him, underscoring the complex, split‑screen battle between progressive ambition and Silicon‑Valley wealth that defines his current political crossroads.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/epstein-files-made-him-political-120000126.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

#rokhanna #jeffreyepstein #berniesanders #siliconvalley

#RoKhanna cites a resignation by #JoeKent over the #Iran war, saying there was “no imminent threat” and calling it a betrayal of promises as Americans die. #War

In his remarks, #RoKhanna says JoeKent, described as an intelligence official and veteran, resigned and claimed there was “no imminent threat to go to war in Iran.” He adds Kent believes Israeli officials influenced the decision and says ... https://instagr.am/p/DWACrm0gahR/

Did Israel drag Trump and the US to war with Iran?

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/michael-f-brown/did-israel-drag-trump-and-us-war-iran