Thread by @ddayen

Unsanitized today: Though easily forgotten, unemployment benefits are taxable. This is going to really hit those hurt the most economically from the pandemic. Congress can put a stop to it.
prospect.org/coronavirus/un…

The way this will work is that people who normally get refunds won't get them, and many will owe taxes instead. That throws off the long-held refund expectations of the working poor, and serve as a targeted anti-stimulus. prospect.org/coronavirus/un…

Congress has the authority, of course, to exempt all unemployment insurance since the beginning of the pandemic from federal taxation. They should go ahead and do it, or else the unemployed will be on the hook for billions at the worst possible time.
prospect.org/coronavirus/un…

Also today: Mitch McConnell's admission that he has to pass a relief bill to save the elections in Georgia—and his Senate majority—gives Dems more leverage than they might realize to get things like this done. prospect.org/coronavirus/un…