Stephen Dubner

But first, let me just ask you, why did you write this and what were the circumstances? Because I could imagine that you or someone decided that this needs... discussion now because tax policy is always important. But I also wonder if this is just what you think about and maybe even dream about every night. Is it just something you dash off on a napkin and publish?

You write, as Washington prepares for 2025 dominated by tax policy, the debate is likely to bring a fresh recirculation of the most common myths. Let me just explore that first statement of yours. Are we sure that 2025 is going to be dominated by tax policy? Because it seems that in the first several weeks of the Trump administration, as we speak,

You write, as Washington prepares for 2025 dominated by tax policy, the debate is likely to bring a fresh recirculation of the most common myths. Let me just explore that first statement of yours. Are we sure that 2025 is going to be dominated by tax policy? Because it seems that in the first several weeks of the Trump administration, as we speak,

You write, as Washington prepares for 2025 dominated by tax policy, the debate is likely to bring a fresh recirculation of the most common myths. Let me just explore that first statement of yours. Are we sure that 2025 is going to be dominated by tax policy? Because it seems that in the first several weeks of the Trump administration, as we speak,

that the agenda has been dominated by many, many, many issues, big issues, Russia and Ukraine, Doge, immigration and so on. And one topic I'm hearing very little conversation about, so far at least, is tax policy.

that the agenda has been dominated by many, many, many issues, big issues, Russia and Ukraine, Doge, immigration and so on. And one topic I'm hearing very little conversation about, so far at least, is tax policy.

that the agenda has been dominated by many, many, many issues, big issues, Russia and Ukraine, Doge, immigration and so on. And one topic I'm hearing very little conversation about, so far at least, is tax policy.

That sounds like a nice little Washington conspiracy theory. Can you unpack it?

That sounds like a nice little Washington conspiracy theory. Can you unpack it?

That sounds like a nice little Washington conspiracy theory. Can you unpack it?

Isn't that interesting? When you say putting together four trillion, you mean in the form of extending the 2017 cuts, correct? At least. Yeah. You write that there are, quote, false narratives about taxes from both the conservative and liberal sides. Could you just lay out quickly the false narratives? Let's do first the conservative side. The conservative tax framework...

Isn't that interesting? When you say putting together four trillion, you mean in the form of extending the 2017 cuts, correct? At least. Yeah. You write that there are, quote, false narratives about taxes from both the conservative and liberal sides. Could you just lay out quickly the false narratives? Let's do first the conservative side. The conservative tax framework...

Isn't that interesting? When you say putting together four trillion, you mean in the form of extending the 2017 cuts, correct? At least. Yeah. You write that there are, quote, false narratives about taxes from both the conservative and liberal sides. Could you just lay out quickly the false narratives? Let's do first the conservative side. The conservative tax framework...

Now let me have the principal false narratives from the liberal sign.

Now let me have the principal false narratives from the liberal sign.

Now let me have the principal false narratives from the liberal sign.

Can you talk for a moment about where those misperceptions come from? Because as I hear you speak, the only legitimate source I can imagine for these misperceptions is from the politicians themselves, in which case it's the political system that is largely responsible for the misperception.

Can you talk for a moment about where those misperceptions come from? Because as I hear you speak, the only legitimate source I can imagine for these misperceptions is from the politicians themselves, in which case it's the political system that is largely responsible for the misperception.

Can you talk for a moment about where those misperceptions come from? Because as I hear you speak, the only legitimate source I can imagine for these misperceptions is from the politicians themselves, in which case it's the political system that is largely responsible for the misperception.

You make the point that Republicans typically campaign on this set of lower taxes, lower spending ideas. But if they win and especially if they control Washington, then they just spend like crazy, spend as much, if not more than Democrats.