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Articles by Jesse Eisinger
No, President Trump, the Income Tax Wasn’t a Mistake. But It Was an Accident.
No, President Trump, the Income Tax Wasn’t a Mistake. But It Was an Accident. Published April 13, 2025 ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
No, President Trump, the Income Tax Wasn’t A Mistake. But It Was an Accident.
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.
GoLocalProv | News | Behind the Scenes of Justice Alito’s Unprecedented Wall Street Journal Pre-buttal
Six hours later, The Wall Street Journal editorial page posted an essay by Alito in which he used our questions to guess at the points in our unpublished story and rebut them in advance. His piece, headlined “Justice Samuel Alito: ProPublica Misleads Readers,” was hard to follow for anyone outside ProPublica since it shot down allegations (notably the purported consumption of expensive wine) that had not yet been made.
Behind the Scenes of Justice Alito’s Unprecedented Wall Street Journal Pre-Buttal
FILE - Associate Justice Samuel Alito joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Alito writing in the Supreme Court's opinion,"Roe was egregiously wrong from the start," that overturned Roe v. Wade made the top three of a Yale Law School librarian's list of the most notable quotations of 2022. ((AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) This story was originally published by ProPublica.
Juan Williams to Karl Rove: 'You're whining because Joe Biden did a good job in Ukraine'
Fox News contributors Juan William and Karl Rove clashed over whether President Joe Biden could take any credit after Russian President Vladimir Putin faced a military insurrection over the weekend. "Well, I tell you, Joe Biden looked pretty good this weekend, didn't he?" Williams said during a panel discussion on Fox News Sunday. "I mean, boy, he's led the allies. He warned early about Putin invading Ukraine." "Who looks like a weak leader right now?" he added.
Putin looked like a 'rat in the corner' until he was bailed out with withdrawal: former ambassador
According to the former United States Ambassador to Russia, Vladimir Putin's response to the called-off Wagner Group revolt exposed him as being weak and severely damaged his tough-guy reputation. Appearing on MSNBC with host Jonathan Capehart, ex-Ambassador Michael McFaul stated the Russian president ended up looking like a "rat in the corner" during the biggest crisis of his career.
Behind the scenes of Justice Alito’s unprecedented Wall Street Journal pre-buttal
A slight change in the small print in Donald Trump's online disclosures reveals an increase in the money contributors have been donating to help him win the Republican Party's 2024 presidential nomination is being shifted to help to pay his legal bills. According to a report from the New York Times, the diversion of funds raises questions about the cash crunch the former president is facing with multiple indictments at the state and federal level with more expected to come.
Behind the Scenes of Justice Alito’s Unprecedented Wall Street Journal Pre-buttal
1 day ago The Court’s decision in United States v. Texas stops rogue judges from seizing control of law enforcement. More than a year ago, a Trump-appointed judge named Drew Tipton effectively seized control of parts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency that enforces immigration …
The Origins of Our Investigation Into Clarence Thomas’ Relationship With Harlan Crow
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Our reporting on the relationship between Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire and Republican megadonor, has touched off a national conversation about the ethics of the Supreme Court.
Financial Sector Archives
Posted inFinancial Sector Never-before-seen IRS records show that CEOs are sometimes making multimillion-dollar bets on the stocks of direct competitors and partners — and doing so with exquisite timing. Posted inOpinion by Posted inOpinion Posted inBusiness by Posted inOpinion by Posted inCongress by Posted inOpinion
Regulatory Failure 101: What the Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank Reveals (From ProPublica)
by Jesse Eisinger ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: A Closer Look Examining the News The collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank this past weekend were the end point in an all-too-familiar cycle: first the boom, then the breathtakingly speedy bust and then the bailout. We are now at the postmortem moment — when everyone wonders where the regulators were.
Regulatory Failure 101: What the Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank Reveals
The collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank this past weekend were the end point in an all-too-familiar cycle: first the boom, then the breathtakingly speedy bust and then the bailout. We are now at the postmortem moment — when everyone wonders where the regulators were. Silicon Valley Bank has already become notorious for how obvious its red flags were. Perhaps the most telling was the rapid growth of its borrowing from the Federal Home Loan Banks system.
So Where Were SVB’s Regulators?
The collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank this past weekend were the end point in an all-too-familiar cycle: first the boom, then the breathtakingly speedy bust, and then the bailout. We are now at the postmortem moment—when everyone wonders where the regulators were. Silicon Valley Bank has already become notorious for how obvious its red flags were. Perhaps the most telling was the rapid growth of its borrowing from the Federal Home Loan Banks system.
Hedge Fund Manager Ken Griffin Sues IRS Over “Unlawful Disclosure” of His Tax Information to ProPublica - Jesse Eisinger and Paul Kiel
by Jesse Eisinger and Paul Kiel ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
Hedge Fund Manager Ken Griffin Sues IRS Over “Unlawful Disclosure” of His Tax Information to ProPublica
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.
The Fed keeps getting more powerful. A law professor explains if that’s bad for America
Understand the importance of honest news ? So do we. The past year has been the most arduous of our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be catastrophic not only to our health - mental and physical - but also to the stability of millions of people. For all of us independent news organizations, it’s no exception. We’ve covered everything thrown at us this past year and will continue to do so with your support.
Is US Fed's growing power bad for America?
This article was first published by ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for its Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Law professor Lev Menand has a new book out on that strange institution, the Federal Reserve, what it does and how its power and responsibility have grown over time.
The Fed Keeps Getting More Powerful. Is It Bad for America?
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Law professor Lev Menand has a new book out on that strange institution, the Federal Reserve, what it does and how its power and responsibility have grown over time. Menand is an associate professor at Columbia Law School specializing in finance and regulation.
ESPN's Sean McDonough on the Stanley Cup and his return to NHL broadcasting
As he reflected Monday afternoon following his first season as the lead play-by-play voice for ESPN/ABC's NHL coverage, a nearly nine-month journey that started in the same city (Tampa) that it finished, Sean McDonough thought about speed. What he learned very quickly calling the NHL in 2022 versus broadcasting the NHL in the 1990s and early 2000s was how fast the league had become. McDonough told himself all season: Pick up the pace of your calls. "The season for us began Oct.
TikTok Tax Avoidance: Billionaire Games The Tax System
TikTok Tax Avoidance: Billionaire Games The Tax System Susquehanna founder and TikTok investor Jeff Yass has avoided $1 billion in taxes while largely escaping public scrutiny. He’s now pouring his money into campaigns to cut taxes and support election deniers. Read Full Article »
Out with the Old, In with the New
by Paul Haeder / June 23rd, 2022 The shifting baseline syndrome requires today’s people disavowing things written 10 years ago, even five years ago, but those books, articles, whitepapers and radio broadcasts are actually ahead of their time . . . And what is that expiration date for good, sound, righteous news and writing and broadcasting? I see more and more young people, and older ones, relying on up-to-the-minute news and up-to-the-minute authors to set the stage of their own personal collapse.
Who is Jeff Yass? Meet the billionaire GOP mega-donor gaming the tax system.
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Sign up for ProPublica’s The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. One day in July 1985, three young men from Philadelphia, their lawyer and a burly Pinkerton guard arrived at a horse track outside Chicago carrying a briefcase with $250,000 in cash.
The Secret IRS Files
Scripps Howard Finalist: ProPublica’s analysis of IRS data show the ultrawealthy have been sidestepping the taxes that working Americans have to pay. The Scripps Howard Awards are one of the nation’s most prestigious journalism competitions.
The Secret IRS Files
The Scripps Howard Awards are one of the nation’s most prestigious journalism competitions. With a focus on high-impact reporting, the awards recognize journalism that spurs action, news organizations that go the extra mile to expose previously undisclosed or misunderstood information and journalists who embrace new ways to connect with their audiences. The awards will air on Newsy at 8 p.m. ET on June 12.
The Secret IRS Files: How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax
This story was originally published by ProPublica. In 2007, Jeff Bezos, then a multibillionaire and now the world’s richest man, did not pay a penny in federal income taxes. He achieved the feat again in 2011. In 2018, Tesla founder Elon Musk, the second-richest person in the world, also paid no federal income taxes. Michael Bloomberg managed to do the same in recent years. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn did it twice. George Soros paid no federal income tax three years in a row.
America's Highest Earners & Their Taxes Revealed
Paul Kiel & Ash Ngu & Jesse Eisinger & Jeff Ernsthausen ProPublica April 14, 2022 AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File Which people and professions rake in the most income year after year? Which are most adept at shielding that money from the taxman? And what does this tell you about America? The top earners, of course, are often fodder for lists — but those are usually based on estimates or even speculation. Read Full Article »
America’s Top 15 Earners and What They Reveal About the U.S. Tax System
America’s Highest Earners And Their Taxes Revealed
First, for scale, this is the typical American’s income compared to what it took to get into the top 5%, e.g., a primary care doctor’s salary, or the top 1%, e.g., a successful law firm partner’s haul. How does that compare to people who most folks think of as rich, like movie stars, pop singers and sports figures? Even celebrities like George Clooney, Taylor Swift and LeBron James didn’t crack the top 400, according to ProPublica’s IRS data. Many billionaires also didn’t come close.
Taking Aim at Billionaire Tax Avoiders, Biden Proposes Minimum Tax for Ultrarich
by Paul Kiel, Jesse Eisinger and Jeff Ernsthausen ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Last year ProPublica, drawing on a trove of IRS data, gave the public its most extensive view ever of the taxes of the wealthiest Americans.
Taking aim at billionaire tax avoiders, Biden proposes minimum tax for ultrarich
Last year ProPublica, drawing on a trove of IRS data, gave the public its most extensive view ever of the taxes of the wealthiest Americans. The first article in the Secret IRS Files series put real numbers to a core truth about the U.S. tax system: Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Warren Buffett can easily shield their fortunes from taxation by avoiding the sorts of income captured on a tax return. A proposal released today by the Biden administration takes direct aim at this issue.
Taking Aim at Billionaire Tax Avoiders, Biden Proposes Minimum Tax for Ultrarich
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Join us April 12 for a live discussion about how the ultrawealthy skirt the tax system and how Biden’s new billionaire tax proposal could change that. Last year ProPublica, drawing on a trove of IRS data, gave the public its most extensive view ever of the taxes of the wealthiest Americans.
GoLocalProv | News | Hedge Fund Manager Sues IRS Over “Unlawful Disclosure” of His Tax Information to ProPublica
Ken Griffin, the multibillionaire CEO of the Citadel investment firm, sued the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department today for what he alleges was an “unlawful disclosure of Griffin’s confidential tax return information.” Beginning in 2021, ProPublica started publishing The Secret IRS Files, a series of stories on the tax avoidance techniques of the ultrawealthy. The series is based on IRS tax information covering thousands of the wealthiest Americans over more than 15 years.
When Billionaires Dodge Taxes, People ‘Lose Faith in Democracy,’ Senator Says
Miss a day, miss a lot. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day. It's free. By Jesse Eisinger, Jeff Ernsthausen and Paul Kiel Last year, ProPublica began publishing “The Secret IRS Files,” a series that has used a vast trove of never-before-seen tax information on the wealthiest Americans to examine their tax-avoidance maneuvers.
More than 5,000 Ukrainians inquire about moving to Israel: agency
Demonstrators protest outside Israel's parliament in Jerusalem against Russia's invasion of Ukraine Ahmad GHARABLI AFP The Jewish Agency said Monday that more than 5,000 Ukrainians have inquired about moving to Israel after Russia launched an invasion of their country. The agency, created in 1929 before Israel was established, processes Israeli immigration for Jews in the diaspora.
Trump forced to walk back his praise for Putin after Republicans recoil from Ukraine invasion
US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017 (AFP). Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine hasn't gone well for him so far, and it has created new problems for his longtime admirer Donald Trump.
Two Omicron infections in quick succession are possible, study shows
According to Danish research, it is possible to be infected first with Omicron BA.1 and then with the BA.2 subtype. However, this happens mainly to younger, unvaccinated people. Maurizio Gambarini/dpa According to Danish research, it is possible to be infected first with Omicron BA.1 and then with the BA.2 subtype. However, this happens mainly to younger, unvaccinated people. Maurizio Gambarini/dpa Can I contract Omicron again just after being infected?
‘The Godfather’ star James Caan reflects on Sonny’s iconic moments as film marks 50th anniversary
James Caan arrives for "The Godfather" 50th anniversary premiere screening event at Paramount Theatre in Hollywood, Florida, on Feb. 22, 2022. - Chris Delmas/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS For James Caan, “The Godfather” remains the don of all movies five decades after its premiere.
When Billionaires Don’t Pay Taxes, People “Lose Faith in Democracy”
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published. Last year, ProPublica began publishing “The Secret IRS Files,” a series that has used a vast trove of never-before-seen tax information on the wealthiest Americans to examine their tax avoidance maneuvers.
Parts of eastern Australia in crisis due to severe flooding
A man takes his boat from a street covered with flood waters in the town of Lismore. Queensland's southeast is set to endure more wild weather as the state grapples with a days-long flood crisis. Jason O’brien/AAP/dpa A man takes his boat from a street covered with flood waters in the town of Lismore. Queensland's southeast is set to endure more wild weather as the state grapples with a days-long flood crisis.
A massive oil spill helped one Louisiana billionaire avoid paying income tax for 14 years
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://pixel.propublica.org/pixel.js" async="true"></script> After the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded in 2010, environmentalists surveying the damage in the Gulf of Mexico came upon a mystery. The water had oil slicks that, because of the currents, couldn’t have originated from the site of the notorious accident.
How Massive Oil Spill Helped Billionaire Avoid Paying Income Tax for 14 Years
Miss a day, miss a lot. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day. It's free. By Jesse Eisinger, Paul Kiel and Jeff Ernsthausen After the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded in 2010, environmentalists surveying the damage in the Gulf of Mexico came upon a mystery. The water had oil slicks that, because of the currents, couldn’t have originated from the site of the notorious accident.
How a massive oil spill helped one billionaire avoid paying income tax for 14 years
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Series: The Secret IRS Files Inside the Tax Records of the .001% After the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded in 2010, environmentalists surveying the damage in the Gulf of Mexico came upon a mystery. The water had oil slicks that, because of the currents, couldn’t have originated from the site of the notorious accident.
How An Oil Spill Helped A Billionaire Avoid Taxes
AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File Phyllis Taylor’s company is responsible for the longest-running oil spill in U.S. history. That’s been a disaster for the Gulf of Mexico — but a tax bonanza for Taylor. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments Related Articles
A massive oil spill helped one billionaire avoid paying income tax for 14 years
After the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded in 2010, environmentalists surveying the damage in the Gulf of Mexico came upon a mystery. The water had oil slicks that, because of the currents, couldn’t have originated from the site of the notorious accident. With the help of satellite imagery, they figured out that oil was leaking from a different spill, a six-year-old disaster the public knew almost nothing about.
For Billionaires, Hobbies Can Slash Tax Bills
Paul Kiel & Jesse Eisinger & Jeff Ernsthausen ProPublica December 9, 2021 When the Kentucky Derby allowed spectators to return this spring, after the pandemic had curtailed attendance in 2020, the mood was euphoric. Under cloudless skies, ladies swanned about in colorful broad-brimmed hats and gentlemen donned seersucker suits, the trademark pageantry of the sport of kings. The sport’s royalty, including the billionaire owners of thoroughbreds, was well represented.
How billionaires use hobbies to slash their tax bills
When the Kentucky Derby allowed spectators to return this spring, after the pandemic had curtailed attendance in 2020, the mood was euphoric. Under cloudless skies, ladies swanned about in colorful broad-brimmed hats and gentlemen donned seersucker suits, the trademark pageantry of the sport of kings. The sport's royalty, including the billionaire owners of thoroughbreds, was well represented.
A Massive Oil Spill Helped One Billionaire Avoid Paying Income Tax for 14 Years
This story first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. After the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded in 2010, environmentalists surveying the damage in the Gulf of Mexico came upon a mystery. The water had oil slicks that, because of the currents, couldn’t have originated from the site of the notorious accident.
When you’re a billionaire, your hobbies can slash your tax bill
When the Kentucky Derby allowed spectators to return this spring, after the pandemic had curtailed attendance in 2020, the mood was euphoric. Under cloudless skies, ladies swanned about in colorful broad-brimmed hats and gentlemen donned seersucker suits, the trademark pageantry of the sport of kings. The sport’s royalty, including the billionaire owners of thoroughbreds, was well represented.
A Massive Oil Spill Helped One Billionaire Avoid Paying Income Tax for 14 Years
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. The Secret IRS Files is an ongoing reporting project. Sign up to be notified when the next story publishes. Or text “IRS” to 917-746-1447 to get the next story texted to you (standard messaging rates apply). Also: Do you have expertise in tax law, accounting or wealth management? We’d love to hear from you.
For Billionaires, A Hobby Can Slash Your Tax Bill
(AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File) Thoroughbred horses, auto racing, massive ranches, luxury hotels. The hobbies and side businesses of the ultrawealthy create huge write-offs that can let them get away with paying little or no income tax for as much as a decade at a time. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments Related Articles
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