Crash Course: Misinformation is killing Biden's tax-the-rich plans

[View this email in your browser]( Your daily update from [Salon](. Written by [Brett Bachman](. Misinformation is killing Biden's tax-the-rich effort You might have heard some version of it already: Under a Democratic tax proposal currently in the works, the IRS would be allowed to "snoop" on your finances and monitor all transactions made from Americans' bank accounts. Except, that's not exactly true. A key provision of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better plan is [currently the subject of a misinformation campaign]( that seems to originate from the banking industry, with a huge assist from conservative pundits who are giving the claims a signal boost. The rule would require financial institutions to report total annual inflows and outflows on accounts with more than $600 — not individual transactions, as many online have alleged. The information would allow the IRS to better target its audits on high earners, the Biden Administration says, with officials adding that the provision would generate close to $460 billion over the next decade to help pay for an expansion of social programs. But the industry appears to be winning the public relations campaign in a big way. Amid sustained pushback, House Democrats this week scrapped the measure from their wishlist of tax policy changes — not a total death blow, but a sign that the new reporting requirement will likely not survive the next round of talks between Congressional leaders and White House officials. You can [read more about the policy here](. How "The Activist" imploded It seemed so simple: six activists fighting against each other for funding in a Shark Tank-style reality TV show hosted by the bizarre trio of Usher, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and "Dancing With the Stars" alum Julianne Hough. But in just one week, the entire thing managed to fall apart in a fiery blaze of online criticism. The competition show will apparently be restructured as a documentary special instead. In hindsight, it seems inevitable that this was how the experiment was going to end. [Salon's Kylie Cheung has a great explainer]( tracking the entire bizarre saga from start to finish. It's all a little surreal — especially since the whole thing is supposed to premiere in just a month. (Photo illustration via Salon/Getty Images) - You're vaccinated. You've got the sniffles. [Is it a cold, allergies or a breakthrough case?]( - Mike Lindell[is begging Fox News to start airing his ads again]( — but the network refuses - Joe Biden got a big win in California — but [there's trouble ahead if Democrats can't replicate the results]( - "The situation is dire": An explosion of [COVID cases in Idaho prompts hospitals to ration resources]( - Biden [blames GOP governors for remaining vaccine hesitancy]( - Some COVID-19 survivors [are refusing vaccines — and even suing over mandates]( - Ken Jennings [tapped to join Mayim Bialik as “Jeopardy!” co-host]( ... for now - Pennsylvania GOP [subpoenas personal information of every voter]( for 2020 election “fraudit” - A fond farewell to the "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" cops, [who are ending this ride along just on time]( our TV critic Melanie McFarland writes - Trump thinks [Sept. 18 "Justice for J6" rally organized by ex-staffer]( a setup - How to [celebrate Hatch chile season]( when you're not in New Mexico - Sebastian Gorka [duped by fake Twitter account]( while followers smear young journalist - GOP lawmaker [leaves Republican Party over COVID-19 "extremists"]( - Piers Morgan will be back on TV, [returning to the warm embrace of Rupert Murdoch]( - Robert E. Lee and the Trumpists: [Why a Confederate "hero" is still important]( - And, finally, [make this spiced, no-bake chocolate "salami"]( — it's an easy end-of-summer treat to satisfy your sweet tooth Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up]( to receive Crash Course. It's time to ban unvaccinated Americans from air travel With California Gov. Gavin Newsom's victory in the rearview mirror, it's time to admit the obvious: robust COVID-19 safety guidelines are popular among the majority of Americans, and Democrats no longer need to be afraid of ruffling the feathers of a few loud Trump holdouts. Which is [why Salon's Amanda Marcotte is arguing]( that it's finally time to ban the unvaccinated from air travel. It's not exactly a new idea — Biden's top COVID-19 adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci came out in favor of the measure last week. It even has the outright support of a cool 61% of Americans in a recent Gallup poll. But the clock is ticking in order to allow enough time for the few remaining skeptics who can be reached to receive their two-shot vaccine protocol before the holiday travel season begins. "The sooner that the holdouts realize they need to get their shots to salvage their holiday travel plans, the better," Marcotte writes. "The time to ban the unvaccinated from planes is now." - "[Let Me Say This With As Much Sensitivity As I Can: Wow, That’s a Lot of Dead People and Crime]( Slate - "[Richard E. Grant Answers Every Question We Have About Spice World]( Vulture - "[The Disco Ball Is How You Know She Won’t Give You a Parking Ticket,]( The New York Times - "[The Fall of the Bin Ladens]( The New Yorker - "[Lord of the Rings actors praise Italian man who lives as a hobbit]( The Guardian Newsmax host loses his cool It all started when a Newsmax guest offered (an extremely mild) criticism of former President Donald Trump — and ended with the network's host cutting off the feed and screaming. Newsmax personality Grant Stinchfield was [in the middle of an interview with the Iraq War veteran Joe Saboe]( when his guest suggested that Trump bore at least some of the responsibility for the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan. "Cut him off, please. Cut him off now! Cut him off now!" Stinchfield yelled. "You're not going to blame this on President Trump on my show!" he continued, raising the volume despite the lack of anyone else present. "I appreciate the work that you're going. God bless you for being a veteran, god bless you for trying to get Americans out, but don't come on this program and take the talking points of the left and blame President Trump. That's not helping anybody." (Photo via Newsmax/Screengrab) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( Copyright © 2021 Salon.com, LLC, All rights reserved. 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