Taxation

From Branches to Booms

A Bold Vision for Capital Gains Tax Reform The past week delivered a stark reminder that markets are still groping for solid ground. Gold, after climbing toward $5,300 an ounce in a frenzy of inflation-hedge buying, cratered to around $4,890-a 10% wipeout in a matter of days. Silver suffered far worse, plunging roughly 35% from peaks above $130. Bitcoin tested $78,000 after teasing six figures, Ethereum followed suit, and equities took their lumps too: the Russell 2000 shed more than 7%, Nasdaq proxies dropped 4–5%, and the broader indices followed in lockstep. One widely shared thread on X captured the carnage…

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Tax the Fruit, Not the Branches

A Supply-Side Answer to the Deflation Warning Anthony Pompliano dropped a clear warning this week. Truflation’s real-time dashboard shows U.S. inflation at 1.21% year-over-year-down sharply, well below the Fed’s lagging 2.7% BLS print for December. He’s been saying it for months: the real threat isn’t runaway inflation. It’s deflationary pressure from weak demand, delayed purchases, and a middle class that’s pulling back. Inflation is now at 1.2% according to @truflation.For the last year I have been warning that deflation was a much bigger risk than inflation.The Federal Reserve completely screwed this up.They must cut rates aggressively now! pic.twitter.com/WZ6dpfjYS5— Anthony Pompliano 🌪…

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Making the American Dream Affordable Again

Embracing the RSC Plan for Lower Costs and Stronger America In Texas, where families like mine are still feeling the sting of high home prices, energy costs, and healthcare bills after four years of Biden-Harris policies, the American Dream has seemed farther away than ever. But the Republican Study Committee (RSC) has delivered a powerful response: the “Making the American Dream Affordable Again” framework for the next reconciliation bill. Unveiled on January 13, 2026, this isn't just another wish list-it's a vetted, Byrd Rule-tested menu of nearly 70 policy options, with about 70 percent already introduced as bills or passed by…

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From Obamacare Failures to GOP Fixes

The GOP's Path to Overhauling Democrats Failed Health Legacy Congress has adjourned for the holiday recess without extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which expire on December 31, 2025. This locks in a reversion to the original 2010 ACA framework for 2026 marketplace plans, with projected sharp premium increases and potential coverage losses. Republican alternatives-the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (H.R. 6703) (passed by the House on December 17) and the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025 (S. 3386) (stalled in the Senate)-represent market-oriented responses but do not include subsidy extensions. Critically,…

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A Better Option Than Rebate Checks

A Case for Capital Gains Tax Relief Over Tariff Rebate Checks: Igniting Sustained Economic Growth In the wake of President Donald Trump’s bold tariff agenda, generating over $214.9 billion in 2025 alone, the United States stands at a pivotal economic crossroads. Two competing proposals have emerged to harness this tariff windfall: Trump’s $1,000-$2,000 rebate checks for American households, funded by tariff revenues, and a capital gains tax cut, as advocated in my columns "Friday Forecasting" and "It's Time to Cut the Capital Gains Tax", featuring tiered rates for U.S. stocks and a flat rate for foreign gains, as outlined in the…

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Fisking Sen. Ron Johnson’s 2025 Budget Reconciliation Analysis

Analysis of "FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation: Facts, Figures, and Analysis" by Senator Ron Johnson Introduction Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) authored the "FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation: Facts, Figures, and Analysis" report, released on June 18, 2025, which examines the U.S. federal budget’s fiscal challenges. Notably, Johnson is also recognized for producing an immigration chart that gained historical significance during a July 13, 2024, campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump, unscripted, turned to reference this chart on illegal immigration-originally shared with him by Johnson during an April 2024 plane ride-when he was grazed by a bullet in an assassination attempt.…

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It’s Time to Cut the Capital Gains Tax

Analysis: Capital Gains Tax Cuts and the Prospects for H.R. 1 The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), poised to reshape America’s economic landscape through reconciliation, presents a rare opportunity to ignite robust growth by including a capital gains tax cut. Whether modeled on Sen. Ted Cruz’s inflation-indexing approach or James Kay’s tiered-rate structure, a capital gains cut is a critical investment-focused complement to the bill’s consumption-driven tax relief, such as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime. This dual strategy maximizes economic impact, spurring both spending and investment to deliver unparalleled bang for the buck. The Taxpayer Relief Act of…

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Learning About Congressional Budgeting

Charting America’s Budget A Tale of Reconciliation, Rescissions, and Deficit Debates Before we get into the heart of this lesson, let's review how a bill becomes a law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ8psP4S6BQ In the heart of Washington, D.C., in June 2025, a fiscal tempest brews, captivating lawmakers, analysts, and citizens. H.R. 1, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a daring reconciliation bill passed the House, promising to extend Trump tax cuts and carve $1.6 trillion from federal spending. Yet, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) sounds a warning, estimating a $4 trillion deficit increase, igniting fierce debate. Meanwhile, a “DOGE rescissions package,” driven by the Department of…

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Friday Fiscal Fixes

Reforming Revenue Toward a Resilient and Investment-Oriented Economic Policy Policy Recommendations for U.S. Fiscal Reform: Tariffs, Capital Gains, and Income Taxes 📈 "Strategic tax design is not merely a budgetary exercise-it is a nation-shaping endeavor." The United States stands at a fiscal crossroads. With federal outlays approaching $6.9 trillion, annual deficits nearing $1.8 trillion, and national debt eclipsing $33 trillion, the country faces compounding challenges: an aging population straining entitlement systems, interest costs crowding out discretionary spending, and a tax system ill-equipped to drive sustainable growth. The April 22, 2025 analyses-Tuesday Trajectories and Tuesday Takeaways-offer a dual warning: fiscal paths are…

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Tuesday Takeaways

📊 Economic Wisdom Across Decades: Lindsey 1997 vs. Tuesday Trajectories 2025 A three-decade span separates Lawrence Lindsey’s 1997 testimony to the Joint Economic Committee from the April 2025 edition of Tuesday Trajectories-but the dialogue between them is surprisingly direct. This post walks through the shared Dateline: Minnesota Privilege Anything Less Than the Best is a Felony Yo, first degree! Let's kick it.  Dylan Bryan Adams, a 33-year-old fiscal policy analyst for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, was arrested on March 29, 2025, for allegedly vandalizing at least six Tesla vehicles in Minneapolis, causing over $20,000 in damages. Surveillance footage from…

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