626. Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System
· 1 h 04 min · Episode 626
Episode 626. Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System
Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. Stephen Dubner finds one of the few people in Washington who is willing to tell the truth — and it’s even worse than you think.
• SOURCES:
• Jessica Riedl, senior fellow in budget, tax, and economic policy at the Manhattan Institute.
• RESOURCES:
• "The House Wants to Pass Trump’s Agenda in One Big Bill. Here’s What’s in It." by Margot Sanger-Katz and Alicia Parlapiano (New York Times, 2025). • "Correcting the Top 10 Tax Myths," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2024). • "Spending, Taxes, and Deficits: A Book of Charts," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2024). • "Why Did Americans Stop Caring About the National Debt?" by Jessica Riedl (Reason, 2024). • "A Comprehensive Federal Budget Plan to Avert a Debt Crisis," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2024). • "When Does Federal Debt Reach Unsustainable Levels?" by Jagadeesh Gokhale, Kent Smetters, and Mariko Paulson (The Wharton School of Business, 2023). • "The Limits of Taxing the Rich," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2023).
• EXTRAS:
• "Farewell to a Generational Talent," by Freakonomics Radio (2024).
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Links in the notes 10
- https://manhattan.institute/person/jessica-riedl
- https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/02/21/upshot/house-gop-budget-blueprint.html
- https://manhattan.institute/article/correcting-the-top-10-tax-myths?utm_source=press_release&utm_medium=email
- https://media4.manhattan-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/Budget-Chart-Book-2024.pdf
- https://reason.com/2024/07/13/the-debt-lies-we-tell-ourselves/
- https://manhattan.institute/article/a-comprehensive-federal-budget-plan-to-avert-a-debt-crisis-2024
- https://budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2023/10/6/when-does-federal-debt-reach-unsustainable-levels
- https://manhattan.institute/article/the-limits-of-taxing-the-rich
- https://freakonomics.com/podcast/farewell-to-a-generational-talent/
- https://pcm.adswizz.com
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