Helen Flannery
@helenofips.bsky.social
Queen of Charts. Researching the relationship between charity and inequality at the US Institute for Policy Studies.
Reposted by Helen Flannery
This is worth an hour watching with your family on how to spot and avoid malign psychological manipulation.
@dianebenscoter.bsky.social, Founder & Executive Director of Antidote, & former cult member & deprogrammer, describes techniques for how to best support people who are trapped in psychologically manipulative communities.
Cambridge Disinformation Summit webinar series.
youtu.be/OottZUfQbns?...
Cambridge Disinformation Summit webinar series.
youtu.be/OottZUfQbns?...
Diane Benscoter on effective interventions to support someone trapped by psychological manipulation
YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit
youtu.be
June 14, 2026 at 7:26 PM
This is worth an hour watching with your family on how to spot and avoid malign psychological manipulation.
Reposted by Helen Flannery
fab visualization by @helenofips.bsky.social of the top 20 U.S. charities over the last 34 years:
the most important story in 21st century philanthropy is the rise and (concerning) dominance of donor-advised funds, which don't have payout or adequate transparency requirements
the most important story in 21st century philanthropy is the rise and (concerning) dominance of donor-advised funds, which don't have payout or adequate transparency requirements
May 28, 2026 at 7:11 PM
fab visualization by @helenofips.bsky.social of the top 20 U.S. charities over the last 34 years:
the most important story in 21st century philanthropy is the rise and (concerning) dominance of donor-advised funds, which don't have payout or adequate transparency requirements
the most important story in 21st century philanthropy is the rise and (concerning) dominance of donor-advised funds, which don't have payout or adequate transparency requirements
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Effective tax rate paid by Jeff Bezos from 2014 to 2018: 0.98%
Effective 2025 federal tax rate paid by Amazon: 1.4%
Typical tax rate paid by the average American: 14.5%
Just thought I should point that out.
Effective 2025 federal tax rate paid by Amazon: 1.4%
Typical tax rate paid by the average American: 14.5%
Just thought I should point that out.
May 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Effective tax rate paid by Jeff Bezos from 2014 to 2018: 0.98%
Effective 2025 federal tax rate paid by Amazon: 1.4%
Typical tax rate paid by the average American: 14.5%
Just thought I should point that out.
Effective 2025 federal tax rate paid by Amazon: 1.4%
Typical tax rate paid by the average American: 14.5%
Just thought I should point that out.
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Donor-advised fund awards are famously non-transparent, but only a few people on earth can make a $30-million-plus donation. Here’s what DAF megatransfers reveal.
Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/mwpr56kr
#DonorAdvisedFunds #Philanthropy #Billionaires #Nonprofits
Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/mwpr56kr
#DonorAdvisedFunds #Philanthropy #Billionaires #Nonprofits
Where Are Billionaires with DAFs Sending Their Money? A Hidden-in-Plain-Sight Guide
Donor-advised fund awards are famously non-transparent, but only a few people on earth can make a $30-million-plus donation. Here’s what DAF megatransfers reveal.
tinyurl.com
May 12, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Donor-advised fund awards are famously non-transparent, but only a few people on earth can make a $30-million-plus donation. Here’s what DAF megatransfers reveal.
Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/mwpr56kr
#DonorAdvisedFunds #Philanthropy #Billionaires #Nonprofits
Michael Kavate(@kavate.bsky.social) Reports: tinyurl.com/mwpr56kr
#DonorAdvisedFunds #Philanthropy #Billionaires #Nonprofits
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Wondering where your 2025 tax dollars are going?
IPS policy experts Lindsay Koshgarian and @hannahomestead.bsky.social break down some of those numbers—including why the average American taxpayer paid over $4,000 this year for weapons and war.
IPS policy experts Lindsay Koshgarian and @hannahomestead.bsky.social break down some of those numbers—including why the average American taxpayer paid over $4,000 this year for weapons and war.
The Average Taxpayer Shelled Out Over $4,000 for War and Weapons Last Year - Institute for Policy Studies
The Average Taxpayer Shelled Out Over $4,000 for War and Weapons Last Year
ips-dc.org
April 21, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Wondering where your 2025 tax dollars are going?
IPS policy experts Lindsay Koshgarian and @hannahomestead.bsky.social break down some of those numbers—including why the average American taxpayer paid over $4,000 this year for weapons and war.
IPS policy experts Lindsay Koshgarian and @hannahomestead.bsky.social break down some of those numbers—including why the average American taxpayer paid over $4,000 this year for weapons and war.
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Our co-editor @sarahanderson.bsky.social in conversation with the great Janine Jackson at FAIR.
"It’s not that these companies don’t have the resources to be paying something other than poverty wages; it’s that they’re choosing to use their resources to enrich those at the top."
fair.org/home/its-all...
fair.org/home/its-all...
‘It’s All About Keeping Wages at Poverty Levels to Overpay Their CEOs’: CounterSpin interview with Sarah Anderson on poverty wages
"It's our taxpayer money that is going into those public assistance programs that these companies are using to make this model workable."
fair.org
April 21, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Our co-editor @sarahanderson.bsky.social in conversation with the great Janine Jackson at FAIR.
Reposted by Helen Flannery
You cant collect revenue if no one is trained, or even present to do the job. Our former, the last competent Commissioner of the IRS explains.
Watch IRS Cutbacks: US Revenue at Risk - Bloomberg
As President Trump has made cutting government bloat a priority for his second term in office, the IRS has been one of the hardest hit agencies. How will personnel and funding cuts affect the IRS? For...
www.bloomberg.com
April 7, 2026 at 1:01 PM
You cant collect revenue if no one is trained, or even present to do the job. Our former, the last competent Commissioner of the IRS explains.
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Our co-editor @sarahanderson.bsky.social on solving the wage suppression factor in the affordability crisis through:
⬆️ federal minimum wage
💪 union rights
⬆️ taxes on corporations with big CEO-worker pay gaps
www.marketwatch.com/story/multim...
⬆️ federal minimum wage
💪 union rights
⬆️ taxes on corporations with big CEO-worker pay gaps
www.marketwatch.com/story/multim...
Multimillion-dollar CEO pay at these 20 low-wage companies is costing you. This is now the only fix.
CEO pay at the “low-wage 20” averages $18.6 million, while many of their median workers rely on taxpayer-supported Medicaid and SNAP.
www.marketwatch.com
April 7, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Our co-editor @sarahanderson.bsky.social on solving the wage suppression factor in the affordability crisis through:
⬆️ federal minimum wage
💪 union rights
⬆️ taxes on corporations with big CEO-worker pay gaps
www.marketwatch.com/story/multim...
⬆️ federal minimum wage
💪 union rights
⬆️ taxes on corporations with big CEO-worker pay gaps
www.marketwatch.com/story/multim...
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Get ready for a shakeup in the world of donor-advised funds
www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/the-com...
www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/the-com...
The Coming DAFpocalypse
The Policy Director of IPS's Charity Reform Initiative predicts the number of donor-advised funds will shrink in the years to come.
www.insidephilanthropy.com
March 5, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Get ready for a shakeup in the world of donor-advised funds
www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/the-com...
www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/the-com...
Reposted by Helen Flannery
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Helen Flannery
U.S. billionaires made record-breaking extreme wealth gains last year. But "Average taxpayers like you and I," says IPS @inequality.org researcher @ocampomar.bsky.social in @truthout.org, "still pay income tax at triple the rate of the wealthiest Americans."
Top 15 US Billionaires Gained Nearly $1 Trillion in Wealth in Trump’s First Year
The US has 935 billionaires, roughly a dozen of whom have jobs within the Trump administration.
truthout.org
January 16, 2026 at 1:01 PM
U.S. billionaires made record-breaking extreme wealth gains last year. But "Average taxpayers like you and I," says IPS @inequality.org researcher @ocampomar.bsky.social in @truthout.org, "still pay income tax at triple the rate of the wealthiest Americans."
Reposted by Helen Flannery
One of the reasons to believe smartphones and social media are bad for kids and teens is the fact that the people who make these technologies forbid them to their own kids.
Thank you @neildegrassetyson.com for having me on StarTalk! Full episode in their pod feeds.
Thank you @neildegrassetyson.com for having me on StarTalk! Full episode in their pod feeds.
January 7, 2026 at 7:27 PM
One of the reasons to believe smartphones and social media are bad for kids and teens is the fact that the people who make these technologies forbid them to their own kids.
Thank you @neildegrassetyson.com for having me on StarTalk! Full episode in their pod feeds.
Thank you @neildegrassetyson.com for having me on StarTalk! Full episode in their pod feeds.
Reposted by Helen Flannery
NEW: Not only is there "certainly no fentanyl involved" between Venezuela and the U.S., but the region's most prolific drug traffickers have often in fact been U.S. allies.
In a new BBC interview, IPS drug policy scholar @sanho.bsky.social dismantles Trump admin claims. Watch:
In a new BBC interview, IPS drug policy scholar @sanho.bsky.social dismantles Trump admin claims. Watch:
VIDEO: The Worst Drug Traffickers Are Often U.S. Allies - Institute for Policy Studies
VIDEO: The Worst Drug Traffickers Are Often U.S. Allies
ips-dc.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:29 PM
NEW: Not only is there "certainly no fentanyl involved" between Venezuela and the U.S., but the region's most prolific drug traffickers have often in fact been U.S. allies.
In a new BBC interview, IPS drug policy scholar @sanho.bsky.social dismantles Trump admin claims. Watch:
In a new BBC interview, IPS drug policy scholar @sanho.bsky.social dismantles Trump admin claims. Watch:
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Best Data Visualization Projects of 2025, a.k.a. my favorites flowingdata.com/2025/12/31/b...
Best Data Visualization Projects of 2025
Many data things were made this year. These are my favorites.
flowingdata.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Best Data Visualization Projects of 2025, a.k.a. my favorites flowingdata.com/2025/12/31/b...
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Core faculty Juniper Lovato recently joined Across the Fence to discuss artificial intelligence. Check out the episode "What Does a Computer Scientist (and Philosopher) think of A.I.?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5V8...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5V8...
11/05/25 What Does a Computer Scientist (and Philosopher) think of A.I.?
YouTube video by Across the Fence
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Core faculty Juniper Lovato recently joined Across the Fence to discuss artificial intelligence. Check out the episode "What Does a Computer Scientist (and Philosopher) think of A.I.?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5V8...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5V8...
Reposted by Helen Flannery
In addition to profiting from shoppers, Amazon is profiteering from ICE's mass deportations this year by powering government surveillance systems.
This holiday, shop local and help wrangle power back from billionaires.
Ab West on @inequality.org
This holiday, shop local and help wrangle power back from billionaires.
Ab West on @inequality.org
This Black Friday Weekend, Skip Amazon
The e-commerce giant is powering ICE’s deportation raids while profiting handsomely from Trump administration contracts.
inequality.org
December 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
In addition to profiting from shoppers, Amazon is profiteering from ICE's mass deportations this year by powering government surveillance systems.
This holiday, shop local and help wrangle power back from billionaires.
Ab West on @inequality.org
This holiday, shop local and help wrangle power back from billionaires.
Ab West on @inequality.org
Reposted by Helen Flannery
October 29, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Helen Flannery
This is it. It ain't easy but it's how we win. The only way out is through. ❤️
AOC: We have a future to fight for, and we're either going to do that together or you're going to be left behind. It's not about Progressive. It's not moderate, it's not liberal. This is about do you understand the assignment of fighting fascism right now? And the assignment is you come together…
November 5, 2025 at 3:34 AM
This is it. It ain't easy but it's how we win. The only way out is through. ❤️
Reposted by Helen Flannery
friends with large accounts, I'm not going to pester you personally but just generally speaking, I would sure appreciate a signal boost on this thing. We seem to have leveled out, and since this is a one-shot (won't be in bookstores) I'd like to get it out there as much as possible.
Our Long National Nightmare by Tom Tomorrow
Relive the trauma of the last five years through the cartoons of Herblock Award winner and Pulitzer nominee Tom Tomorrow.
www.kickstarter.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:46 PM
friends with large accounts, I'm not going to pester you personally but just generally speaking, I would sure appreciate a signal boost on this thing. We seem to have leveled out, and since this is a one-shot (won't be in bookstores) I'd like to get it out there as much as possible.
What do you do when you work on wealth inequality and your childhood hero becomes a billionaire? You write them a letter.
inequality.org/article/an-o...
#Springsteen #Billionaire
@inequality.org
inequality.org/article/an-o...
#Springsteen #Billionaire
@inequality.org
An Open Letter to the Boss
You’re a billionaire now, Mr. Springsteen. Please don’t stay one.
inequality.org
September 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM
What do you do when you work on wealth inequality and your childhood hero becomes a billionaire? You write them a letter.
inequality.org/article/an-o...
#Springsteen #Billionaire
@inequality.org
inequality.org/article/an-o...
#Springsteen #Billionaire
@inequality.org
Reposted by Helen Flannery
NEW: Hundreds of rich people have signed the Giving Pledge to donate half of their wealth. 15 years on, their lack of progress shows our critical need to fix philanthropy — and tax them more.
REPORT by @chuck77.bsky.social, @bdevaan.bsky.social, @helenofips.bsky.social and @dpetegorsky.bsky.social:
REPORT by @chuck77.bsky.social, @bdevaan.bsky.social, @helenofips.bsky.social and @dpetegorsky.bsky.social:
The Giving Pledge at 15
15 years on, the Giving Pledge is unfulfilled, unfulfillable, and not our ticket to a fairer, better future.
ips-dc.org
July 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
NEW: Hundreds of rich people have signed the Giving Pledge to donate half of their wealth. 15 years on, their lack of progress shows our critical need to fix philanthropy — and tax them more.
REPORT by @chuck77.bsky.social, @bdevaan.bsky.social, @helenofips.bsky.social and @dpetegorsky.bsky.social:
REPORT by @chuck77.bsky.social, @bdevaan.bsky.social, @helenofips.bsky.social and @dpetegorsky.bsky.social:
Reposted by Helen Flannery
This link between privilege dependence and rule breaking is also why private charity can't substitute for a tax-funded social safety net. Because, like with the public school example, even well-meaning nonprofits can end up reproducing inequalities when they have to cater to wealthy donors. 4/
July 27, 2025 at 8:32 PM
This link between privilege dependence and rule breaking is also why private charity can't substitute for a tax-funded social safety net. Because, like with the public school example, even well-meaning nonprofits can end up reproducing inequalities when they have to cater to wealthy donors. 4/
Reposted by Helen Flannery
An insightful new statistical analysis of American #inequality from Bob Lord of @ips-dc.org and @patrioticmillionaires.org: “Since 2012, the concentration in our country’s wealth has almost entirely been limited to just our richest 0.01 percent.” www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Yes, America Is an Oligarchy
Over the past dozen or so years, about half the concentration of wealth in the U.S. has benefited just 19 families.
www.rollingstone.com
July 26, 2025 at 12:46 AM
An insightful new statistical analysis of American #inequality from Bob Lord of @ips-dc.org and @patrioticmillionaires.org: “Since 2012, the concentration in our country’s wealth has almost entirely been limited to just our richest 0.01 percent.” www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Helen Flannery
🔴 Watch the Henry Wallace Symposium LIVE: us02web.zoom.us/j/85433611380
July 17, 2025 at 3:56 PM
🔴 Watch the Henry Wallace Symposium LIVE: us02web.zoom.us/j/85433611380
Reposted by Helen Flannery
Holy shit, a real masks-off moment. Trump's IRS says churches can continue to claim tax benefits as a nonprofit even while explicitly endorsing candidates.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/u...
I.R.S. Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates From the Pulpit
www.nytimes.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Holy shit, a real masks-off moment. Trump's IRS says churches can continue to claim tax benefits as a nonprofit even while explicitly endorsing candidates.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/u...