Why do we have to pay into the new Anti-Weaponization Fund?
Summary
Host PJ Vogt interviews ProPublica journalist Jesse Eisinger about the origins of Trump’s $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. They trace its roots to an IRS leak by contractor Charles Littlejohn, which exposed widespread tax avoidance by billionaires. The discussion covers Trump’s bizarre lawsuit against his own administration and the fund’s use to compensate alleged victims of Biden-era law enforcement. Eisinger also analyzes the broader crisis in American tax policy and public trust in government.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: DB Ramverk luggage and Framer
Introduction: The origin of the billionaire tax story
The leak: Charles Littlejohn and IRS data
How billionaires avoid taxes through accounting tricks
Trump's lawsuit against the federal government
The $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization' settlement
Analysis: The constitutional crisis and slush fund risks
Sponsors: Instacart and Zapier
Public sentiment on taxing the wealthy
Zohran Mamdani and the case for government
Promo: ProPublica's Paper Trail
Sponsors: Snapple, Son of a Tailor, and Scribe
Outro: Jessica Lustop and show credits
Listen ad-free on Castria