It's not just tariffs. Trump is creating chaos with taxes, too.
Natasha Sarin is a Post contributing columnist and a former deputy assistant secretary for economic policy and counselor to Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen. Danny Werfel was IRS commissioner from 2023 to 2025.
We are learning in real time that President Donald Trump's significant swings in U.S. tariff policy do not create the type of stability corporations — and American consumers — need. But there's another story unfolding that is equally detrimental to the nation's future but isn't getting much attention: The gutting of the Internal Revenue Service.
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Trump's Travel Ban Courts Both Controversy and Support in Africa
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40 minutes ago
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Vision Marine Secures U.S. Battery Supply Chain Through Strategic Expansion with Octillion Power Systems
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These batteries are designed to support both Vision Marine's OEM integrations and consumer-facing electric boat offerings, delivering increased power, extended range, and improved performance-while reducing total system cost and simplifying logistics. This renewed and enhanced partnership establishes a partial U.S. supply chain for Vision Marine's proprietary E-Motion™ 180E electric outboard system, unlocking key efficiencies. In addition to supporting factory integration with third-party manufacturers, the partnership provides a reliable and consistent battery supply for Vision Marine's direct-to-consumer electric boat sales, including those produced under formal production agreements with multiple established boat manufacturers. These vessels are sold through Vision Marine's channels while retaining the original manufacturer's branding, enabling broad market reach without altering brand identity. 'Octillion has been an integral technology partner to Vision Marine for several years, powering our most high-performance programs-including multiple electric world speed record boats,' said Alexandre Mongeon, CEO of Vision Marine Technologies. 'With this expanded partnership and the support of Octillion's Nevada facility, we are positioned to scale commercial deliveries and prepare for our next record-setting performance with more power and higher efficiency.' Founded in 2009 and headquartered in California, Octillion Power Systems is a global leader in lithium-ion battery technology, with over 2 million battery systems deployed across electric vehicles, industrial equipment, and energy storage sectors. Octillion brings deep technical expertise and proven large-scale manufacturing capabilities-essential components to Vision Marine's growth roadmap. 'Having collaborated with Vision Marine since 2021 on the development of this American-built, marine-dedicated battery platform has been both technically rewarding and strategically significant,' said Paul Beach, President of Octillion Power Systems. 'We are proud to manufacture these 45.36 kWh packs at our Nevada facility and to work in close alignment with Vision Marine's team as they scale delivery and continue to push the boundaries of electric propulsion on water.' In addition to supporting near-term production, Octillion's close proximity and embedded technical collaboration introduce a new phase in Vision Marine's development strategy. By aligning with a team that has delivered over 2 million battery systems globally, Vision Marine is now embracing a more agile, partner-integrated model of innovation, leveraging Octillion's energy systems expertise to guide refinements and influence the evolution of future battery architectures. 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About Octillion Power Systems Octillion Power Systems is a U.S.-based global provider of advanced lithium-ion battery solutions for electric mobility and stationary energy storage. With over 2 million battery packs shipped worldwide, Octillion specializes in scalable, safe, and high-performance battery packs for transportation, industrial, and grid-connected applications. Visit to learn more. About Vision Marine Technologies Inc. Vision Marine Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:VMAR) is a pioneer in marine electrification. Its flagship E-Motion™ 180E system is a fully integrated high-voltage electric outboard powertrain built for OEM adoption at scale. Vision Marine designs and manufactures electric propulsion systems and boats to transform recreational and commercial boating into a zero-emission experience. Learn more at Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release constitute 'forward-looking statements.' These statements include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the benefits of the new patent, its impact on future product development and original equipment manufacturer integrations, and Vision Marine's competitive position. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could affect results are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Vision Marine undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. Investor & Company Contact Vision Marine Technologies Bruce Nurse – Investor Relations (303) 919-2913 bn@ Website: Twitter: @marine_vision Facebook: @VisionMarineTechnologies Instagram: @ YouTube: @VisionMarineTechnologies SOURCE: Vision Marine Technologies Inc View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
USA Today
43 minutes ago
- USA Today
I first went to jail at 11. Coming home at 32, I entered a different kind of prison.
I first went to jail at 11. Coming home at 32, I entered a different kind of prison. | Opinion This isn't about erasing accountability. This is about recognizing rehabilitation, maturity and the human capacity for change. Show Caption Hide Caption More than 12,000 have had their records expunged as part of Project Clean Slate Project Clean Slate, started in 2016 by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, reached a milestone - and DeShaun is overjoyed to be No. 12,000. Fox - 2 Detroit I spent most of the first half of my life in carceral settings. My first incarceration was at 11 years old. By 17, I was serving what amounted to a juvenile life sentence, followed by 15 consecutive years in prison. When I came home at 32, I stepped into a different kind of prison: one built from stigma, systemic barriers and the persistent shadow of a criminal record. That's why clean slate, expungement and pardon legislation aren't abstract policy ideas to me ‒ they are deeply personal, transformational tools that can open doors otherwise locked shut. These aren't about erasing accountability. They're about recognizing rehabilitation, maturity and the human capacity for change. They're about giving people a real chance to rejoin the communities they never stopped loving. After my release, I refused to be defined by my record. Instead, I became the first formerly incarcerated person ever hired by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware. I helped anchor and launch the state's first federal reentry court, a visionary model that is still operating today and successfully serving Delawareans. I didn't just reenter society ‒ I helped reimagine what reentry could look like. But even with that level of access and success, I still faced unnecessary hurdles that clean slate legislation would have helped eliminate. Momentum for record-clearing legislation is growing Across the country, momentum for record-clearing legislation is growing. In recent months, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed the Expungement Reform Act into law, expanding eligibility for record clearance. Thousands of Marylanders who have stayed out of trouble and paid their dues now have a shot at housing, education and employment that was previously denied to them due to an outdated or irrelevant criminal record. This follows a broader national trend. Twelve states ‒ including Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Utah ‒ have enacted clean slate laws that automatically seal eligible criminal records after a certain period of time. Opinion: I worked for this office under the DOJ. Funding cuts will make you less safe. These laws increase employment, reduce recidivism and improve public safety. And they do it without requiring the person to navigate complicated and expensive legal processes that often disproportionately exclude the poor and people of color. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, nearly 1 in 3 American adults in the working age population has some type of criminal record, most of them for nonviolent offenses or arrests that never led to a conviction. Yet even decades later, these records can restrict access to housing, employment and education. The collateral consequences can be lifelong. We have a moral imperative to clean slates. We also have a financial one. The Center for Economic and Policy Research estimates that the U.S. economy loses between $78 and $87 billion annually in gross domestic product due to the employment barriers faced by people with criminal records. That's not just a policy failure ‒ it's an economic one. Opinion: PTSD can land veterans in prison. Restoring VA care honors sacrifices and struggles. Clean slate laws create stronger, more stable communities. When people can access jobs and housing, they pay taxes, raise their families and contribute to the fabric of our economy. The data is clear: When you give people a fair chance, most take it and run with it. At the federal level, the introduction of the Weldon Angelos Presidential Pardon Expungements Act is a potential game-changer. Named for a man who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for a first-time nonviolent offense and later pardoned, this bipartisan bill would allow people who have received presidential pardons to petition for record expungement. Currently, a pardon removes penalties but not the stigma. Even after a presidential pardon, individuals still face the barriers tied to their record. This bill would be the first of its kind to create a federal pathway for record expungement, offering real relief and real second chances. We have to close the federal gap We are living through a political moment where tough-on-crime rhetoric is once again on the rise. However, the facts don't support the fear. What we need now is not a return to mass incarceration, but a doubling down on policies that work: Clean slate laws, investment in reentry programs and fair hiring practices. These policies have broad bipartisan support. A recent Clean Slate Initiative survey found that both Democrats and Republicans in many states overwhelmingly back record clearance as a pathway to economic self-sufficiency, family stability and safer communities. I'm proud of what I've accomplished since coming home. I've built businesses, created training pipelines for returning citizens, and helped lead justice reform efforts at the local and national levels. None of that would have been possible without the belief ‒ first in myself, then from others ‒ that I could be more than the worst thing I ever did. Clean slate legislation codifies that belief into law. It says to every person coming home: You are more than your past. You deserve a future. Let's make sure our laws reflect that truth, not just for me, but for the millions who are still locked out of opportunity, even after serving their M. Soliman is the founder of Soliman Consulting LLC and is serving a four-year appointment on the Delaware Workforce Development Board.
