Ben Blatt

Reporter, The Upshot at The New York Times

If this profile isn't enough reading for you try my new book Nabokov's Favorite Word Is Mauve https://t.co/uoxoH4bNDe or my old book https://t.co/UyxGYvDIPB bbblatt AT gmail

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Articles

Do Californians really pay President Trump’s bills?

1 week ago | pressdemocrat.com | Ben Blatt

In his escalating conflict with President Donald Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested recently that California had some leverage over the federal government. “We pay over $80 BILLION more in taxes than we get back,” he wrote on the social platform X.
The Donor State Debate and Political Leverage

1 week ago | sfexaminer.com | Ben Blatt

In his escalating conflict with President Donald Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested recently that California had some leverage over the federal government. "We pay over $80 BILLION more in taxes than we get back," he wrote on the social platform X.
Do Californians Really Pay Trump’s Bills?

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Ben Blatt

You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. The rising tension between President Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom is reviving questions about who pays into — and who takes from — the federal government. Listen to this article · 9:08 min Learn moreGov.
Biden's I.R.S. Doubled Audits on the Wealthy, Data Shows

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Ben Blatt

At the same time, the audit rate for those making under $500,000 declined slightly in 2024, fulfilling a promise by the Biden administration. It was a promise repeated many times by President Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s administration: The Internal Revenue Service would conduct more audits of wealthy Americans, but audit rates would not rise for households earning less than $400,000 per year.
When Taxpayers Fund Shows Like ‘Blue Bloods’ and ‘SNL,’ Does It Pay Off?

1 month ago | rethinking65.com | Ben Blatt

New Yorkers — and residents of many other states — have paid more for entertainment in recent years than just their Netflix or Hulu subscriptions. Each New York household has also contributed about $16 in taxes, on average, toward producing the drama series “Billions” since 2017. Over that period, each household has also paid roughly $14.50 in production incentives for “Saturday Night Live” and $4.60 for “The Irishman,” among many other shows and movies.
When Taxpayers Fund Shows Like 'Blue Bloods' and 'S.N.L.,' Does It Pay Off?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Ben Blatt

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York has proposed an increase in the film tax credit to stay competitive with New Jersey and other states. New Yorkers - and residents of many other states - have paid more for entertainment in recent years than just their Netflix or Hulu subscriptions. Each New York household has also contributed about $16 in taxes, on average, toward producing the drama series "Billions" since 2017.
Why IRS Audits, Already at Their Lowest Levels, May Fall Further

2 months ago | rethinking65.com | Ben Blatt

The Internal Revenue Service’s audit rate has been lower this decade than in most taxpayers’ lifetimes, a New York Times analysis shows, and if the Trump administration follows through with plans to cut the agency’s workforce, audits will almost certainly become even rarer. The most recent IRS data shows the audit rate of individual taxpayers has decreased by about two-thirds since 2010. Exact comparisons of audit rates are challenging because the IRS has changed its definitions over time.
I.R.S. Audits Are at a Record Low. Trump's Cuts Could Make Them Even Rarer.

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Ben Blatt

The Biden plan to increase tax revenue through more enforcement is being reversed. That means audits will be even rarer. The Internal Revenue Service's audit rate has been lower this decade than in most taxpayers' lifetimes, a New York Times analysis shows, and if the Trump administration follows through with plans to cut the agency's work force, audits will almost certainly become even rarer.
Why Small Changes Meant Big Differences in Tariff Rates, From Bermuda to Switzerland

2 months ago | news.nestia.com | Ben Blatt |Francesca Paris |Ethan Singer

Why Small Changes Meant Big Differences in Tariff Rates, From Bermuda to Switzerland Why Small Changes Meant Big Differences in Tariff Rates, From Bermuda to Switzerland By Ben Blatt , Francesca Paris and Ethan Singer April 4, 2025 …… Read full article on The New York Times-Business America Trade
How the Math Affects Over 100 Countries

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Ben Blatt |Francesca Paris |Ethan Singer

President Trump's new tariffs on more than 100 countries used the same simple formula to calculate the rate for each of them. The formula's central value is the trade deficit, the difference between imports and exports between each country and the United States, for the year 2024. The slightly more detailed math looks like this:Mr. Trump has said these tariffs will reduce trade imbalances and level the international playing field.