Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. Stephen Dubner finds one of the few people in Washington who is willing to tell the truth — and it’s even worse than you think.

SOURCES:
- Jessica Riedl, senior fellow in budget, tax, and economic policy at the Manhattan Institute.

RESOURCES:
- "The House Wants to Pass Trump’s Agenda in One Big Bill. Here’s What’s in It." by Margot Sanger-Katz and Alicia Parlapiano (New York Times, 2025).
- "Correcting the Top 10 Tax Myths," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2024).
- "Spending, Taxes, and Deficits: A Book of Charts," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2024).
- "Why Did Americans Stop Caring About the National Debt?" by Jessica Riedl (Reason, 2024).
- "A Comprehensive Federal Budget Plan to Avert a Debt Crisis," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2024).
- "When Does Federal Debt Reach Unsustainable Levels?" by Jagadeesh Gokhale, Kent Smetters, and Mariko Paulson (The Wharton School of Business, 2023).
- "The Limits of Taxing the Rich," by Jessica Riedl (Manhattan Institute, 2023).

EXTRAS:
- "Farewell to a Generational Talent," by Freakonomics Radio (2024).

626. Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System