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@joshrauh asserts Gavin Newsom's premise that the wealthy pay lower tax rates…

Brief

@joshrauh criticizes Gavin Newsom's June 26, 2026 call for a national billionaires tax, saying Newsom's premise that the wealthy pay lower tax rates 'is a lie' and citing Auten & Splinter data (average tax rate 2% for the lowest quintile vs. 45% for the top 0.01%). Newsom argues 10% own two-thirds of wealth and calls for an economic reset.

Why it matters

@joshrauh asserts Gavin Newsom's premise that the wealthy pay lower tax rates than the rest 'is a lie,' citing Auten and Splinter showing the average tax rate rises from 2% for the lowest quintile to 45% for the top 0.01% of taxpayers.

Key details

  • On 2026-06-26 Gavin Newsom tweeted advocating a national 'billionaires tax' and a new social contract, claiming 10% of Americans own two-thirds of the wealth, wages have stagnated, the cost of living has skyrocketed, and the federal tax, corporate, and inheritance codes need an 'economic reset.'
Source evidence

Newsom today takes the billionaire tax fight to the national level. His premise that the wealthy pay lower tax rates than the rest is a lie. We know from Auten and Splinter that the average tax rate rises from 2% at the lowest quintile income group to 45% for the top 0.01% of taxpayers.

Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom)

It's time for a national billionaires tax and a new social contract.

10% of Americans own two-thirds of the wealth. Wages have stagnated. The cost of living has skyrocketed. 

The system is fundamentally broken.

The federal tax code, a corporate code, and an inheritance code were written for a different set of Americans. 

It’s time for an economic reset.

substack.com/@gavinnewsom

Video

— https://nitter.net/GavinNewsom/status/2070496029280276571#m