Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 15/09/2026On regulating AI— Giving Trump more reg authority in any area is foolish. There are no more independent reg agencies. Regs will be political. Post-Trump, there is no assurance that norms of good government will be restored. The AI Labs don’t understand their models. How will regulators? 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Ted Striggles, Who Helped His Fellow Dancers as a Lawyer, Dies at 84 www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/a... My friend Ted Striggles passed away Sunday. May his memory be for a blessing.nytimes.comTed Striggles, Who Helped His Fellow Dancers as a Lawyer, Dies at 84He was best known for the influential 1976 guide “Poor Dancer’s Almanac,” which aimed to help starving artists survive in New York. 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Mamdani Officials Will Skip Council Hearing on Second-Home Tax www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/n... This is unfortunate. The pied-a-terre tax is very difficult to administer. The Mamdani administration should take advantage of the opportunity to educate the Council and the public about these issues.nytimes.comMamdani Officials Will Skip Council Hearing on Second-Home TaxThe administration plans to submit written testimony instead of attending, city officials said. A lawsuit over the rollout of the tax is pending. 000
Reposted by Jim WetzlerMicah Lasher @micahlasher.bsky.social · 13/08/2026After a campaign hiatus, "Into the Weeds" is back! I wrote on my Substack about the factional dispute consuming the Democratic Party.substack.micahlasher.comThe Argument, 2026On the one within the Democratic Party, and the one we need to make to voters 051
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Lawsuit Takes Aim at Deal Granting Trump Sweeping Tax Protections www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/u... Bravo.nytimes.comUnion Representing IRS Workers Sues Over Trump’s Deal Granting Sweeping Tax Protections (Gift Article)The request was the first time that anyone had used the courts in an effort to directly kill the sweeping tax protections offered to the president and his family. 022
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 03/08/2026It’s illegal for the President to order IRS not to audit a specific taxpayer. So this whole agreement by the Justice Dept. to give Trump and kids a no-change on existing audits is just an end-run around that law. Wonder if this mess has anything to do with the firing of Ken Kies. 020
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Rookie mistake by Mayor Mamdani repeatedly to express glee over imposing his property tax surcharge on second homes. The tax was clearly going to be difficult to administer and to impose compliance burdens on some NYC residents. He ought to be expressing regret for this, not glee. 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 07/07/2026www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0... This gets it right IMO.theatlantic.comThe Elixir of the Payroll-Tax Cap and Other Social Security MythsProgressives are wrong about how to reform the program. Conservatives are, too. 020
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 06/07/2026I’d have more sympathy for the Belgian soccer team if its attitude was that it would rather play the full complement of US players instead of that it would prefer to benefit from a marginal red card. 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 18/06/2026Can we stop referring to Elon Musk as a trillionaire? The minute he starts to sell any SpaceX stock, the price crashes. 020
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 04/06/2026www.vanityfair.com/culture/stor... I’ve reached the pinnacle of NY success—my picture (with my wife) in Vanity Fair. Not for my career in tax policy and tax administration but for being a regular at our local Irish bar. All the best to Maureen, Mary and the rest of the team.vanityfair.comThe Last Days of Donohue’s: Saying Goodbye to the Legendary Manhattan Steakhouse After 75 YearsIt was a low-key place for the kinds of people whose names are dropped, and now it’s moving to Long Island. 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 03/06/2026How does it make sense for Trump to get his Justice Department to publicly pressure his IRS to no-change his audits this close to an election? He could accomplish the same thing in private, and the corruption wouldn’t become public until a Democratic Congress gets the info through sec 6103. 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Lot of talk about taxing AI. How about states’ modifying utility regulation so that data centers pay the marginal cost of the electricity they use instead of the (presumably much lower) average cost? 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 20/04/2026NY could neutralize a lot of opposition to the pied-a-terre tax by allowing a credit for it against income tax, so that the tax is limited to people who really don’t contribute fiscally. Would cut into revenue yield but some of that could be offset with rate adjustments. 010
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Gov. Hochul’s proposed tax on pricey 2nd homes in NYC raises constitutional issues. If limited to non-NYC residents, it violates the privileges and immunities clause. If not, there’s no exemption for people who pay the steep NYS/NYC income tax. 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 17/03/2026I get the politics of Dems proposing large middle class tax cuts. But by far the best tax cut in terms of tax policy is repealing the tariffs, which can be done with Executive action and avoids the messiness of budget reconciliation. 120
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 13/03/2026Bloomberg to Back Protégé in Crowded N.Y.C. House Race With Super PAC www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/n... Good news for Micah Lasher. IMO, he’s the most substantive candidate in the race. Our district needs a workhorse in Congress, not a show horse.nytimes.comBloomberg to Back Protégé in Crowded N.Y.C. House Race With Super PAC 001
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 05/03/2026These Republican Senators don’t appear to find the Senate a very appealing place to work. Daines is quitting a safe seat. Mullin is leaving for what, under Trump, is probably the worst job in the Executive Branch—taking orders from Stephen Miller. 010
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 26/02/2026100 years ago today, President Coolidge signed the Revenue Act of 1926. A bad bill, but it established the Joint Committee on Taxation. So today we celebrate a century of the JCT staff’s providing non-partisan advice to Congress on tax law and policy. 121
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 18/02/2026Mamdani’s threat to raise property taxes if the state doesn’t do what he wants is certainly an innovative approach to state-city relations. The state will just say “Be my guest.” 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 13/02/2026A short thread giving some random thoughts about the CA 5% wealth tax proposal on billionaires. One issue is that CA can’t commit to imposing it only once, so rich taxpayers may leave for fear of a tax that never happens. An estate tax avoids this—you only die once. 110
Reposted by Jim WetzlerMicah Lasher @micahlasher.bsky.social · 09/02/2026This endorsement means so much to me. Jerry Nadler has set an incredibly high bar for decades for smart, principled, progressive leadership on issue after issue. I’m honored beyond words to have his support. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UH1...youtube.comRep. Jerry Nadler endorses Micah Lasher for CongressYouTube video by Lasher for Congress 1104
Reposted by Jim WetzlerMicah Lasher @micahlasher.bsky.social · 09/02/2026@nadler.house.gov has been a principled, effective leader – holding Trump accountable, defending civil rights, and fighting for New York families. I’m honored to have his endorsement—and ready to continue the fight. 143
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 25/01/2026Lots of discussion about the proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires in California. One point I haven’t seen discussed: If taxpayers sell highly appreciated assets to pay the tax, they also pay state and federal capital gains tax, so the effective tax rate can be as high as 9%. 210
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 12/01/2026One of the law firms that made a deal with Trump should represent Fed Chair Powell. Would restore some lost credibility. 120
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 07/01/2026It’s astonishing how Republican Members of Congress acquiesce to Trump’s lies about rigged elections. Do they want people to think their own election victories were illegitimate? 040
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 14/11/2025Trump’s destruction of the IRS continues with the spiking of the Donald Korb nomination as Chief Counsel just before his expected confirmation. I suppose Trump’s nomination of a qualified person was too good to be true. 030
Reposted by Jim Wetzlerdavidasuper.bsky.social @davidasuper.bsky.social · 14/11/2025My latest on how easy it is to confuse who is really doing what in Congress. Issuing praise or retribution without knowing what is going on just makes matters worse. Balkinization: The Perils of Superficial Political Analysis share.google/YzYODgos1Uhz...share.googleThe Perils of Superficial Political AnalysisIn the wake of the Democratic capitulation to end the government shutdown, activists and commentators called for retribution against th... 011
Reposted by Jim WetzlerCatherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 11/11/2025OK this is amazing. Trump’s Truth Social has its own AI search tool, which company debuted a month after Trump signed an exec order to end use of “Woke AI” in federal government. Here's how it responds to questions about tariffs, who won 2020 election, Jan 6, etc: www.thebulwark.com/p/pardon-the... 32440143
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 10/11/2025Congratulations to Dean Fuleihan on being appointed NYC first deputy mayor. Great choice. 020
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 05/11/2025My take on Mamdani is that he’s another DeBlasio with four advantages. More charisma. Better work ethic. Won’t run for President. Can learn from DeBlasio’s mistakes. No need to panic. 000
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Imagine Elise Stefanik is giving some thought about foregoing a run for NY Governor after seeing the NJ result. She can run for her House seat, probably win, and maneuver to become House Minority Leader after the R’s dump Mike Johnson. 010
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 05/11/2025Be interesting to see if the Republicans abandon their gerrymandering strategy after they see the results of the Virginia House races. With those margins, the gerrymandering backfires. 050
Reposted by Jim WetzlerBobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 15/10/2025Trump's mechanism to pay the troops during the shutdown is by far the most illegal budgetary action he's taken as POTUS, potentially setting the stage to break everything. It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in. Long thread. 8748742025
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 03/09/2025Kawhi Leonard, Clippers used endorsement deal to ‘circumvent’ NBA salary cap: Report Looks like the NBA and the teams will have to hire transfer pricing specialists. More employment for economists. 110
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 30/08/2025What’s the remedy if tariffs are declared illegal? Do the businesses that paid get refunds? Do the in turn have to find to their customers? 010
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 26/08/2025www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives... Insightful perspective from famous short-seller Jim Chanos.ineteconomics.orgJim Chanos on Crypto, AI, and Casino CapitalismThe famed short-seller reminds us that technology might advance, but we’re still a pretty predictable bunch of apes. 010
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 25/08/2025So Trump wants the gov’t to take more equity ownership of private corporations. Is the problem that we provide too much corporate welfare or that Trump wants us to get some equity in exchange for the corporate welfare? I suspect the former. 010
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 23/08/2025Not sure I share the widespread concern over the Intel deal. The gov’t already committed to provide subsidies for plants to build chips for which there is no demand. Makes more sense to use the money as an equity investment to establish Intel’s technological advancement. 100
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 01/08/2025Let’s not forget that BLS also does the CPI. So if they start corrupting the data to show less inflation, that will mean lower social security benefits and higher income taxes, both of which are indexed to CPI, as well as less interest on TIPS. 232
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 23/07/2025Catherine Rampell has been the best economic journalist. For example, she was an early proponent of the view that Biden was neglecting inflation. Her leaving the Washington Post, while not surprising in light of Bezos’s right turn, is a real shame. 020
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 15/07/2025He Helped Big Companies Dodge Taxes. Now He’s Writing the Rules. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/b... Ken Kies is far more competent than the typical Trump Administration appointee. Trump has also appointed a competent IRS Chief Counsel. Let’s give them a chance.nytimes.comHe Helped Big Companies Dodge Taxes. Now He’s Writing the Rules. 030
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 25/06/2025Trump’s problem with the Fed isn’t a dispute with Powell about whether the economy needs stimulus. He needs lower interest payments on the national debt to convince the fiscal hawks in his party to lay off the unpopular spending cuts. A monetary policy of fiscal dominance would be a disaster. 010
Reposted by Jim WetzlerSteven Romalewski @sromalewski.bsky.social · 18/06/2025I got a mailing last week for my Council district with his name on it, and that sealed the fate of my RCV ballot to not rank any of the candidates he's supporting: bsky.app/profile/srom... 021
Reposted by Jim WetzlerBen Wetzler @voteben.nyc · 14/06/2025Early voting starts today. Before you vote, ask yourself what kind of Democrat you want: one who has spent the last 8 years tirelessly fighting against America's authoritarian backsliding, or one from the MAGA PAC's "anyone but Ben" list. Polls open 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. 1183
Reposted by Jim WetzlerSecond Ave. Sagas @2avesag.as · 13/06/2025In #CD4 in Manhattan, I am endorsing Ben Wetzler (@voteben.nyc) and not just because his niece and my daughter are friends. Ben is a strong pro-development voice who wants a better outdoor dining program and the busway on 34th Street. This is an open seat. He faces Carolyn Maloney's daughter. 3527
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 13/06/2025Early voting starts tomorrow in NYC’s Democratic primary. If you live on the East Side of Manhattan, please vote for my nephew Ben Wetzler for City Council. Easily the most qualified candidate. He’ll be a great representative for the district. 020
Reposted by Jim WetzlerBen Wetzler @voteben.nyc · 12/06/2025Cool thing to happen. MAGA billionaire intentionally telling people *not* to vote for you. 3233
Reposted by Jim WetzlerBen Wetzler @voteben.nyc · 11/06/2025Really proud to have your support. Let's win this! 0133
Jim Wetzler @jwetzler.bsky.social · 26/05/2025Mourning the loss of Charlie Rangel, a great Member and ultimately Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee. He was dedicated to making the tax system work for poor people, and I did annual studies for him on the tax burdens facing the poor. 020