California Billionaires Are Freaking Out Over a New Tax Proposal episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 12, 2026 · 18 MIN

California Billionaires Are Freaking Out Over a New Tax Proposal

from The Journal. · host The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

An influential California labor union is gathering signatures for a proposed asset tax on billionaires. But some of California’s ultra-wealthy are threatening to pack their bags — leaving the state’s tax revenue in the balance. WSJ’s Laura J. Nelson explains what’s potentially at stake and why a billionaire exodus is harder than simply renting a truck. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - The Healthcare Costs of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill  - Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An influential California labor union is gathering signatures for a proposed asset tax on billionaires. But some of California’s ultra-wealthy are threatening to pack their bags — leaving the state’s tax revenue in the balance. WSJ’s Laura J. Nelson explains what’s potentially at stake and why a billionaire exodus is harder than simply renting a truck. Jessica Mendoza hosts.   Further Listening: - The Healthcare Costs of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill  - Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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California Billionaires Are Freaking Out Over a New Tax Proposal

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This episode was published on February 12, 2026.

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An influential California labor union is gathering signatures for a proposed asset tax on billionaires. But some of California’s ultra-wealthy are threatening to pack their bags — leaving the state’s tax revenue in the balance. WSJ’s Laura J. Nelson...

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