Senator Cory Booker: The Tax System Is Rigged — Here’s How to Fix It | Prof G Conversations

Name: Senator Cory Booker: The Tax System Is Rigged — Here’s How to Fix It | Prof G Conversations
Uploaded: 2026-03-26T20:00:01Z
Channel: The Prof G Pod – Scott Galloway

March 26, 2026

The Prof G Pod – Scott Galloway host

Senator Cory Booker guest

Watch on YouTube tax policy income inequality defense spending healthcare costs campaign finance reform fiscal responsibility food subsidies

Senator Cory Booker discusses his Keep Your Pay Act, which would make the first $75,000 of household income tax-free by closing loopholes for wealthy earners and raising corporate tax rates. The conversation explores how to fund ambitious tax cuts while addressing systemic issues like military waste, inefficient tax enforcement, food subsidies driving healthcare costs, and the corrupting influence of money in politics.

Key takeaways

• The Keep Your Pay Act would provide immediate tax relief to middle and working-class families while being funded by closing tax loopholes, raising top income tax rates from 37% to 39%, and increasing corporate tax rates from 20% to 28-29%.
• Rather than cutting entitlements, the real solution to healthcare cost crises lies in redirecting agricultural subsidies away from processed foods toward healthy options—93% currently subsidize disease-causing foods while only 7% support healthy foods.
• Tens of billions in annual defense spending is wasted due to corruption within the military-industrial complex and lack of audits; efficiency gains without raising the age for Social Security can be achieved by raising the payroll tax cap on high earners.
• Tax enforcement gaps of up to $750 billion annually could be recovered by hiring IRS agents to pursue wealthy tax cheaters with complex returns, a proven ROI strategy undermined when enforcement agencies are defunded.
• The Iran military conflict lacks congressional approval, clear justification, and has no defined endgame, creating long-term economic damage through oil disruptions while Democrats lack effective legislative strategies to counter executive overreach.
• Campaign finance corruption driven by Citizens United allows individuals and PACs to spend unprecedented sums ($20+ million) in primary races, giving wealthy interests and figures like Elon Musk disproportionate power over elected officials.