Osha and guest, Erin Kelly, discuss the California Billionaire Tax Act, a one-time tax on billionaires to help fund the gap left by the bill Congress passed that gave huge tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 % and cut funding for healthcare. (called "The big beautiful Bill" by its sponsors).

As a result of the cuts, our healthcare costs continue to rise, millions will lose their coverage, and hospitals and clinics will shut down, threatening the very fabric of our healthcare system.

How does the Billionaire Tax Act work to address the coming healthcare collapse? How does it work? Who pays and how much? Will it cause billionaires to flee California to avoid a one-time tax, or is that a scare tactic? Listen to learn more.

For more info https://billionairetaxnow.org/

Funding details https://www.fppc.ca.gov/

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With wealth inequality growing by the minute, and the dismantling or hollowing out of public programs, there is now, perhaps more than ever, a need for charitable giving.

In today’s interview, we’ll reveal the results of an important report on the status of the Giving Pledge - 15 years after its creation. You may be wondering, what is the Giving Pledge? Founders Bill Gates, ex-wife Melinda French and Warren Buffet established the Pledge to encourage greater charitable giving by billionaires to fulfill their commitment to the public good. Stay tuned to hear what this report reveals about philanthropic giving.

The funding bill passed in 2025 by Congress transfers even more wealth from working people to billionaires and large corporations by lowering their tax rates. Are they using that wealth to give back to the common good through charitable giving? How have things changed in the past 15 years?

Bio

Our guest is Bella DeVaan, Associate Director of the Charity Reform Initiative and a Co-editor of Inequality.org. DeVaan graduated cum laude with a B.A. in American Studies from Columbia University, where she studied inequality and philanthropy.

This podcast covers a lot of information, so I'm including relevant links.

Report on the Giving Pledge, 15 years later: https://ips-dc.org/report-giving-pledge-at-15/

https://inequality.org

https://inequality.org/subscribe

Book: Burned by Billionaires - by Chuck Collins

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Hello Friends,

This is Osha and I want to share a poem that came tumbling out yesterday morning in response to the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and all the brave souls who gathered in the streets of Minneapolis, in below freezing cold to protest. I stand with you.

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha