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🗞️ Story file #1250

California billionaire tax defeated in statewide vote

Nov 2, 6 AM ET to Nov 7, 8 AM ET · 1 outlet not rated for lean

📰 read it at: Mother Jones Rolling Stone ABC News AP Business Insider CNBC Los Angeles Times NPR New York Times PBS NewsHour Semafor The Independent The Washington Post Yahoo News Forbes Fortune MarketWatch Newsweek Reuters Scripps News The Hill Fox Business Just the News The Epoch Times Fox News New York Post Newsmax The American Spectator The Post Millennial Free Beacon The Washington Sun

👣 How this story traveled: from the front pages that broke it, out through TV, radio and the shows, into what people retold and what fact-checkers examined, and on into the saga it is part of. Everything here is matched to the story by our tools, so a link can be wrong; the trackers' pages say how each is made.

  1. Nov 2, 6 AM ETfirst on a front page: The Washington Sun
  2. Nov 2, 10 AM ETfirst on TV: Fox News
  3. Nov 3, 5 AM ETretold online by 46 people
  4. Nov 5, 2 PM ETpeak: on 19 front pages

📰 Spread

the front pages that ran it, hour by hour

Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6Nov 71019leftcenterrightnot rated
Front pages carrying it at each hourly run, Nov 2, 6 AM to Nov 7, 8 AM ET (peak 19), by the outlets' lean: left · center · right · not rated
Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6Nov 7Mother JonesMother JonesMother Jones, Oct 30, 5:01 PM ET: California Billionaires May Well Prevail in Their Quest to Block a State Wealth TaxLos Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times, Oct 31, 7:01 AM ET: Proposed billionaire tax could impact California sports teamsLos Angeles Times, Nov 4, 2:01 AM ET: Billionaire tax ballot measure trails; California voters reject voter IDLos Angeles Times, Nov 5, 7:01 AM ET: Why California’s billionaire tax failed to get the support many had anticipatedLos Angeles Times, Nov 5, 10:01 AM ET: Why California’s billionaire tax was a harder sell than expectedLos Angeles Times, Nov 6, 9:01 AM ET: Billionaire tax results show that Californians worry squeezing the ultra-rich would harm the economyThe Epoch TimesThe Epoch TimesThe Epoch Times, Nov 1, 1:01 PM ET: Californians to Vote on Proposed Billionaire TaxThe Epoch Times, Nov 5, 12:02 AM ET: Californians Reject Wealth Tax on BillionairesReutersReutersReuters, Nov 1, 5:01 PM ET: Prop 40 explained: California votes on taxing billionairesReuters, Nov 4, 6:01 PM ET: Billionaire tax measure trails as California tallies votesNew York TimesNew York TimesNew York Times, Nov 1, 6:01 PM ET: On the Ballot in California: The Prospects for a National Wealth TaxNew York PostNew York PostNew York Post, Nov 1, 10:01 PM ET: Even if the billionaire tax fails, California faces looming tech revoltNew York Post, Nov 1, 10:01 PM ET: Billionaire in exile blasts wealth tax as top economists warn California is already bleeding fortunesThe Washington SunThe Washington SunThe Washington Sun, Nov 2, 6:01 AM ET: California Is Testing the Appetite for a Wealth TaxThe Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post, Nov 2, 8:01 AM ET: California’s mega-rich have outspent foes 250-1 to sink ‘billionaire tax’NPRNPRNPR, Nov 2, 8:01 AM ET: Two economists studied California's billionaire tax. They reached wildly different conclusionsFox BusinessFox BusinessFox Business, Nov 2, 4:01 PM ET: Billionaire tax puts California’s economic future before midterm votersAPAPAP, Nov 3, 5:01 AM ET: California could become the first state to tax billionaires’ wealthAP, Nov 4, 8:01 AM ET: It’s too early to call the outcome of California’s proposal to tax billionairesThe IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent, Nov 3, 7:01 AM ET: Could California actually become the first state in America to tax billionaires' wealth?PBS NewsHourPBS NewsHourPBS NewsHour, Nov 3, 1:01 PM ET: California voters consider proposition to tax billionaires' wealthABC NewsABC NewsABC News, Nov 3, 7:01 PM ET: Billionaire tax: What to know about California's Prop 40Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone, Nov 4, 9:01 AM ET: California Billionaire Tax Heading for Defeat, Sparing Team Owners 4 hours agoJust the NewsJust the NewsJust the News, Nov 4, 10:01 AM ET: Outcome of California billionaire tax measure remains undecidedJust the News, Nov 4, 11:01 PM ET: Billionaire tax proposition in California failsForbesForbesForbes, Nov 4, 10:01 AM ET: California’s Wealth Tax Vote Too Close To Call—But Billionaires’ Historic Opposition Campaign Appears To Be WorkingForbes, Nov 4, 7:01 PM ET: California Billionaire Tax Appears Headed For FailureNewsmaxNewsmaxNewsmax, Nov 4, 11:02 AM ET: California Billionaire Tax Proposal Heads for DefeatThe Post MillennialThe Post MillennialThe Post Millennial, Nov 4, 12:01 PM ET: California voters reject billionaire tax—Washington voters uphold one for millionairesSemaforSemaforSemafor, Nov 4, 1:01 PM ET: California’s billionaire tax is a referendum on the tech industryBusiness InsiderBusiness InsiderBusiness Insider, Nov 4, 2:02 PM ET: What we know so far on the results for California's Prop. 40 billionaire taxScripps NewsScripps NewsScripps News, Nov 4, 3:01 PM ET: Prop 40 billionaire wealth tax in California hangs in balance as votes countedFox NewsFox NewsFox News, Nov 4, 5:01 PM ET: DSA-backed billionaire tax faces defeat in California as experts warn of economic falloutYahoo NewsYahoo NewsYahoo News, Nov 4, 5:01 PM ET: California's proposed billionaire tax appears headed for defeatYahoo News, Nov 4, 5:01 PM ET: California's billionaire tax on track for defeat...Free BeaconThe Washington Free BeaconThe Washington Free Beacon, Nov 4, 5:01 PM ET: ‘Billionaire Tax’ Appears Defeated in California, But Soak-the-Rich Approach Gains Traction ElsewhereNewsweekNewsweekNewsweek, Nov 4, 9:01 PM ET: California Prop 40 Results: Billionaire Wealth Tax ExplainedMarketWatchMarketWatchMarketWatch, Nov 5, 11:01 AM ET: Billionaires aren’t off the hook for higher taxes, even if they did dodge California’s wealth taxCNBCCNBCCNBC, Nov 5, 12:01 PM ET: California’s billionaire tax faces defeat, but Democrats plan taxes on wealthyCNBC, Nov 5, 12:01 PM ET: California’s billionaire tax faces defeat, but Democrats plan higher taxes on the wealthyThe HillThe HillThe Hill, Nov 5, 2:01 PM ET: Horrible billionaires tax defeated in liberal CaliforniaThe American Specta…The American SpectatorThe American Spectator, Nov 5, 11:01 PM ET: Even Californians Rejected a Billionaire’s TaxFortuneFortuneFortune, Nov 6, 6:02 PM ET: Voters in Silicon Valley rejected the billionaire wealth tax while those in Los Angeles and San Francisco—home to the two top AI companies—wanted it📺 TVFox News, 10:41 AM ET: Prop 45, sponsored by labor, health, and environmental organizations; Center for Biological Diversity; Kat TaylorBBC News, 3:21 PM ET: Texas turns into surprise battlegroundBBC News, 3:23 PM ET: Democrats target Republican strongholdBBC News, 3:23 PM ET: Texas turns into surprise battlegroundBBC News, 3:24 PM ET: Texas turns into surprise battlegroundBBC News, 3:24 PM ET: Democrats target Republican strongholdBBC News, 3:24 PM ET: Latino voters could shape Texas voteBBC News, 3:25 PM ET: Latino voters could shape Texas voteFox News, 4:43 PM ET: Prop 45, sponsored by labor, health, and environmental organizations; Center for Biological Diversity; Kat TaylorCNN, 8:26 AM ET: VIRGINIA VOTERS TO CONSIDERCNN, 8:53 AM ET: VIRGINIA VOTERS TO CONSIDERCNN, 9:38 AM ET: MASSACHUSETTS VOTES ONCNN, 10:46 AM ET: CALIFORNIA VOTERS CONSIDERINGCNN, 10:53 AM ET: CALIFORNIA VOTERS CONSIDERINGFox News, 5:34 PM ET: "MADE UP NUMBER". DNC CO-CHAIR WON'T GIVE PRICE TAG FOR SOCIALIST AGENDAFox News, 5:34 PM ET: "MADE UP NUMBER"Fox News, 5:45 PM ET: BERNIE-BACKED BILLIONAIRE TAX TRAILS IN CALIFORNIAFox News, 5:46 PM ET: BERNIE-BACKED BILLIONAIRE TAX TRAILS IN CALIFORNIAFox News, 12:34 AM ET: "MADE UP NUMBER". DSA CO-CHAIR WON'T GIVE PRICE TAG FOR SOCIALIST AGENDAFox News, 12:34 AM ET: "MADE UP NUMBER"Fox News, 12:45 AM ET: BERNIE-BACKED BILLIONAIRE TAX TRAILS IN CALIFORNIAFox News, 12:46 AM ET: BERNIE-BACKED BILLIONAIRE TAX TRAILS IN CALIFORNIAFox News, 10:10 AM ET: NOW: AWAITING CA BILLIONAIRE TAX ELECTION RESULTSFox News, 10:11 AM ET: CA VOTERS WEIGH ONE-TIME TAX ON BILLIONAIRESFox News, 8:22 PM ET: DEMS SHAKE DOWN BILLIONAIRESFox News, 9:29 PM ET: CALIFORNIA TAKES ANOTHER LEFT TURNFox News, 9:30 PM ET: CALIFORNIA TAKES ANOTHER LEFT TURNFox News, 11:11 PM ET: CALIFORNIA VOTERS REJECT BILLIONAIRE TAXFox News, 1:22 AM ET: DEMS SHAKE DOWN BILLIONAIRES🧶 online🧶found retold online (the day's report)
Who carried it and when: each outlet in the order it picked the story up, a bar for each headline from when we first saw it on the front page to when we last did, in the outlet's lean color (dashed: not rated); a dot marks a new headline, and a headline swapped for a new one between our hourly looks runs on to it. A gap means a look found the story gone from that front page. Beneath, its captions on TV, the radio newscasts that carried it (bigger: the lead) and when people were found retelling it. Hover for details.

📡 Wire copy

1 outlet ran the AP, Reuters headline nearly word for word

The Independent

💬 Quoted

  1. “Billionaire Tax”1
  2. “billionaire tax”1

phrases its headlines put in quotation marks; the bar is how many outlets did

📌 Linked by aggregators

3 Political Wire · Google News · Drudge Report

aggregators linking to it from their front page (they don't count as outlets covering it)

✏️ 9 outlets ran more than one headline on it (reworded, or a follow-up)
  • AP (2 wordings): “California could become the first state to tax billionaires’ wealth” → “It’s too early to call the outcome of California’s proposal to tax billionaires”
  • CNBC (2 wordings): “California’s billionaire tax faces defeat, but Democrats plan taxes on wealthy” → “California’s billionaire tax faces defeat, but Democrats plan higher taxes on the wealthy”
  • Forbes (2 wordings): “California’s Wealth Tax Vote Too Close To Call—But Billionaires’ Historic Opposition Campaign Appears To Be Working” → “California Billionaire Tax Appears Headed For Failure”
  • Just the News (2 wordings): “Outcome of California billionaire tax measure remains undecided” → “Billionaire tax proposition in California fails”
  • Los Angeles Times (5 wordings): “Proposed billionaire tax could impact California sports teams” → “Billionaire tax results show that Californians worry squeezing the ultra-rich would harm the economy”
  • New York Post (2 wordings): “Even if the billionaire tax fails, California faces looming tech revolt” → “Billionaire in exile blasts wealth tax as top economists warn California is already bleeding fortunes”
  • Reuters (2 wordings): “Prop 40 explained: California votes on taxing billionaires” → “Billionaire tax measure trails as California tallies votes”
  • The Epoch Times (2 wordings): “Californians to Vote on Proposed Billionaire Tax” → “Californians Reject Wealth Tax on Billionaires”
  • Yahoo News (2 wordings): “California's proposed billionaire tax appears headed for defeat” → “California's billionaire tax on track for defeat...”
📰 Every outlet's headline 31left to right by AllSides rating

📡 Broadcast

TV, radio, and the shows that talked about it

📺 On TV

minutes its captions were on screen, by channel; the disc is the network's lean

  1. 🐘 Fox News 6 min
  2. ⚖️ BBC News 5 min
  3. 🫏 CNN 42 s

📻 On the radio

hourly newscasts that carried it, by show; beside the count, how often it was the lead story, or the highest it came in the running order

📻🤷 No radio newscast matched to it.

🎙️ On the shows

podcasts, newsletters and streams that talked about it, by show; the bar is episodes; the disc is the show's lean by reputation

🎙️🤷 No show matched to it yet.

🕵️ Investigated, joked about

🕵️ investigative reporting on it and 🃏 satire joking about it (jokes, never counted as coverage); the bar is pieces

  1. 🃏 The Babylon Bee 1

🧶 Retelling

what people online made of it

🧩 How it's being told

The stories under this news, from our motif index, and who told each: the shows we follow by their lean, people online, fact-checkers. A story people tell, not a claim that it's true; claims are matched to this story by our tools, so a link can be wrong.

  • 🧩 Corporate welfare 🧶 online
    “Billionaires are greedy, selfish people who should be taxed heavily to pay their fair share and fund the economy.”
  • 🧩 No good billionaires 🧶 online
    “Billionaires are greedy, selfish people who should be taxed heavily to pay their fair share and fund the economy.”
  • 🧩 Oligarchy 🧶 online
    ↔️ its answer: The little guy's billions
    “Billionaires beat California's wealth tax and duped voters into banning tax increases, helped by Democratic leaders afraid of donors and voters who dream of being rich.”
  • 🧩 Owned politician 🧶 online
    ↔️ its answer: Daddy Warbucks
    “Billionaires beat California's wealth tax and duped voters into banning tax increases, helped by Democratic leaders afraid of donors and voters who dream of being rich.”
  • 🧩 Poison pill 🧶 online
    “Billionaires beat California's wealth tax and duped voters into banning tax increases, helped by Democratic leaders afraid of donors and voters who dream of being rich.”
  • 🧩 Reparations 🧶 online
    “Reparations for slavery should be funded by repossessing the wealth and compensation paid to slave owners and the monarchy.”
  • 🧩 Rich should pay their fair share 🧶 online
    ↔️ its answer: Tax-raiser, Job creators
    “Billionaires are greedy, selfish people who should be taxed heavily to pay their fair share and fund the economy.”
  • 🧩 Temporarily embarrassed millionaires 🧶 online
    “Billionaires beat California's wealth tax and duped voters into banning tax increases, helped by Democratic leaders afraid of donors and voters who dream of being rich.”
  • 🧩 They paid the slavers 🧶 online
    “Reparations for slavery should be funded by repossessing the wealth and compensation paid to slave owners and the monarchy.”
  • 🧩 Wealth hoarding 🧶 online
    “Billionaires are greedy, selfish people who should be taxed heavily to pay their fair share and fund the economy.”

🧶 Retold online

  • Billionaires beat California's wealth tax and duped voters into banning tax increases, helped by Democratic leaders afraid of donors and voters who dream of being rich. Nov 5: told by 33 people

    🦋 a post on Bluesky · 198 likes, 57 reposts

    🦋 a post on Bluesky · 66 likes, 4 reposts

  • Billionaires are greedy, selfish people who should be taxed heavily to pay their fair share and fund the economy. Nov 3: told by 7 people; told before on Oct 31, Oct 21, Oct 18, Oct 5

    🦋 a post on Bluesky · 24 likes, 5 reposts

    🦋 a post on Bluesky · 5 likes, 0 reposts

  • Reparations for slavery should be funded by repossessing the wealth and compensation paid to slave owners and the monarchy. Nov 3: told by 6 people (same issue); told before on Nov 2
    🧩 They paid the slavers

On Folklore: the latest in full, with their motifs and who is telling them.

🗣️ Names in it

CaliforniaBillionaires

🔎 Checking

what the fact-checkers looked into

🧐 No fact-checker has taken it on yet.

🧵 Persistence

the running story it belongs to

🌱 A story of its own so far: no saga yet.